Novels by reeswift

Chapter Sixtyno longer lowkeyThe little Zephaniah is a typical adorable kid, you wouldn't imagine he'd become a star years later.

Chapter Fifty NineJourneyUmawang ang labi ko't hindi lubusang rumehistro sa akin ang sinabi ni Zephaniah. Para akong namanhid ako sa kinatatayuan.

Chapter Fifty EightbucketlistZephaniah's words carried a different weight upon them like he has been holding this for so long. A part of me was ready to listen, a part wanted to be listened instead.

Chapter Fifty SevensideHindi ko alam kung ano'ng ibig niyang sabihin roon. Although perplexed and nervous, I tried to act non-chalant.

Chapter Fifty Sixstart"Tell me about it Kelsey, ano'ng mayroon sa inyo ni Zephaniah?" Nakabalik na kami sa sariling opisina ay hindi pa rin ako tinitigilan ni Kat.

Chapter Fifty Fivelabel"I'm getting therapy next week." Sage's eyes wandered around the room. Ramdam ko ang pagkabalisa niya sa mga dapat na sasabihin.

c a t h e r i n e The hallways before our first class never fail to be so busy and noisy. Students from here and there are flocking, always got something to tell each other. But today is different because their eyes would so often drift at me. I am not totally unaware that I am still the subject of their shameless gossips. The consuming chaos is exhausting me by the second, so I made my way out of the crowd to get to our classroom, which is wide empty thirty minutes before class. There, I made the phone call to Vernon that I have been meaning to do since yesterday.“Hey." I forced energy. I am never an enthusiastic person, but just to be more interesting, I feigned the vitality. There was nothing from the other line but the soft whiz of the city breeze and of Vernon’s subtle breaths. Realizing that he is not speaking, I continued. “Uh, since you were suspended because of me, I

“I can’t remember, sir.” “Here are your photos.” Mr. Jung push

v e r n o n“Good for you, you’re suspended,” Mark mumbled in between munching his gimbap.

My walk towards the principal's office took me to the far memories of my relationship with my father. Along the corridors echoed my mother's dialogues to me when I was a child."It's not that your father doesn't love you, Catherine.." Mom would often say every time my dad scores so well in proving me unimportant. Both of my parents were just 16 when they had me. They were never married, of course. Eventually, both of them had their own families. Often, I would feel like I am stuck in the middle like I belong nowhere. I feel like I wasn't supposed to exist in the first place.My mom took custody of me. My dad, on the other hand, promised to fulfill his responsibility to me but they remained just that--promises lacking actions. His consequent absences on all of my birthdays and all of the other special occasions are just the surface of his failed parenting. "It's just that he has a hard way showing it. Love can be tough, you know?" Mom, in her e

In my attempt to understand his sudden impassivity, my gaze lingered on the resurrection of Vernon's ice-cold facąde. He seemed a master to putting on and off the mask of joy and apathy, I noticed that too well. It seemed to me as though such emotions are nothing but accessories which he'd purposely display on chosen occasions. Right now, his air of playfulness has vanished and so is the tricky grins and the sardonic humor. He stood across me still, his face fixed firmly for the coldness he was trying to mask.The late sun rays from the Victorian windows shadowed Vernon's face in bastard amber. Amid how serene it was supposed to look, he feigned his austerity. His hard expression a reflection of the customary warmth gone faster than the dying sun in the late afternoon.I could have forced him to honesty but I remained mute opposite to him.Suddenly, my phone rang loudly in the silence of the empty book shelf aisle. Elvis's Presley's deep and monoton

"Was it because of me?" I asked the obvious. Vernon was quick to shake his head. He tried to act non-chalant but it came out as a struggle. Beneath his hazel brown eyes was the concealed dismay, and perhaps, the overbearing sadness. Funny how I read him now. Days before, I would have a hard time comprehending his emotions which are always unforseeable behind his high walls. Strangely, we've come to this point--that it was just a number of days yet it felt long enough to know him. "No, of course not." Vernon clenched his jaw. Based on my observations, it's a natural tic when he's trying to supress whatever intense emotion he's feeling. "I know it's because of me. I'll fix it. Don't worry. I'll talk to my father." Completely panicked now, I almost went to leave for my father's office until Vernon held my wrist back. "Catherine." He called sternly, abruptly letting go of his grasp. "It's--" He bit his lip, ne