The next morning, I got up and prepared for work,
slipping into my usual all-black double-breasted suit and a pair of silhouette
heels. I didn't have time to make breakfast, so I left the house without
wasting another second.
Out on the street, I hailed a cab and told the
driver my destination. When we arrived at Vienna Suites, I stepped out, paid
him, and took a deep breath before walking into the building. Work—my perfect
escape from the emotional turmoil that had settled deep within me.
As I entered the anteroom, the staff greeted me
with their usual respect.
"Good morning, ma'am."
"Good morning to you all," I responded with a
polite smile before heading straight to my office.
After dropping my laptop sleeve and handbag on my
desk, I stepped out for my routine check-ups, silently praying that no one
would approach me with complaints—I wasn't in the mood. First stop was the
kitchen department. Thankfully, everything was in order. I proceeded to inspect
the other departments, relieved to find that everything was running smoothly.
"Good… good… at least everything is in check," I
murmured to myself before heading back to my office.
I settled in and began sorting through the
documents I had left before my trip, reviewing financial analyses from the past
few days. By the time I finished, I checked the time—it was well past
lunchtime.
I quickly placed an order for a BLT Bean
Salad with a Vintense Lovely Red Cheeks mocktail and a bottle of water.
A few minutes later, a hostess arrived with my meal, setting it down on my desk
before leaving. Closing my laptop, I focused on my food, eating until I was
satisfied. Once done, I pushed the golden platter aside and returned to my
work, completely immersing myself in it—so much so that Jayson and his demons
didn't cross my mind.
Hours slipped away.
By the time I was done, it was already 6 PM.
Packing up the remaining unfinished documents, I stored them in the table's
case and left the building.
When I finally reached home, it was a few minutes
past eight, and most food kiosks had closed. Luckily, I wasn't that hungry.
Entering my house, I placed my phone on the modern coffee table and went
straight to the bathroom for a shower.
Later That Night…
I stepped out of the shower, wrapped in a blue
robe, and made my way to the living room. Picking up my phone and a glass of
chilled water, I retreated to my bedroom.
Curious, I checked my phone to see if there were
any messages from Jayson. But to my greatest disappointment—none.
No missed calls.
No texts.
Nothing.
Oddly enough, I wasn't even surprised. And that was
what scared me the most.
Sighing, I placed my phone on the bedside drawer
and drifted off to sleep.
Two Days Later…
Still nothing from Jayson.
The silence gnawed at me, filling me with unease. I
picked up my phone, contemplating whether to call him, but something inside me
held me back. I couldn't explain it, but I just couldn't bring myself to dial
his number.
I drowned myself in work, using it as a shield to
block out my emotions. Then, one evening, he finally called—apologizing for
ghosting me. His reasons were vague, almost meaningless, and yet, I could sense
it…
He felt more distant.
We argued a little before I eventually caved and
accepted his apology. And just like that, we continued as if nothing had
happened.
A Surprise Encounter
One cozy Saturday evening, I decided to visit the
mall to pick up some groceries. As I stepped out of the cab, a firm hand
suddenly stopped me mid-stride.
Startled, I turned around—only to be met with a
familiar face.
Nathan Hydes.
I gasped, shocked to see him. I thought he had
traveled back.
"Hello, Miss Morgan," he greeted with a pleasant
smile.
"Nathan… Hi," I replied, smiling back. "I thought
you had already left."
"No, not yet," he chuckled. "Still handling some
business. Haven't seen you in a while… You don't check up on me. Thought we
were friends."
His last words caught me off guard. Friends?
I simply smiled and promised to check in on him
soon. As we walked into the mall, we exchanged contacts before parting ways.
After finishing my shopping, I booked a ride since
my groceries were too many to carry. The cab arrived thirty minutes later, and
I headed home.
Not long after I settled in, my phone rang. It was
Nathan.
Clearing my throat, I answered softly, "Hello,
Nathan…"
"Hey, Mandy. You home already?"
"Yeah, just got back a few minutes ago. What about
you?"
"Same here. I just got to my hotel room and figured
I'd call. Hope you don't mind…" He hesitated briefly before adding, "Are you
free tomorrow? Let's hang out."
I opened my mouth to decline, but he quickly
interjected, "And don't say no."
I chuckled. "Mmm… Fine, I'll try."
"Great. See you then. Take care."
After I was
done talking with Nathan, I set down my phone on the coffee table and headed
into the kitchen to prepare something to eat.
An hour later, dinner was ready. I served a small
portion onto a golden salver and carried it to the living room, settling onto
the sofa. As I scrolled through Netflix, I decided to watch Fate: The
Winx Saga, a fantasy series about fairies with supernatural abilities,
including a girl raised in the human world who unknowingly possesses the most
powerful and dangerous gift of all—The Dragon Flame.
Time slipped away as I became engrossed in the
show, watching for nearly three hours. When I finally tore my gaze from the
screen, I stretched and turned off the TV before making my way to the bedroom.
A warm shower was exactly what I needed to wash away the fatigue of the day.
Afterward, I slipped into bed, letting the comforting silence of the night lull
me into rest.
Sunday Revelations
The next morning, I attended church, wearing a
mixed-colored kaftan gown with a scarf wrapped around my head.
During the sermon, the pastor emphasized Isaiah
26:3— "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is
stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."
The words hit me deeply. I knew I had been worrying
about something I couldn't even put into words.
After the service, I went home, looked up the verse
again, and prayed for clarity.
Just as I finished, my phone rang.
It was Nathan.
"Good afternoon, Nathan. Happy Sunday," I greeted.
"Good afternoon, gorgeous," he replied smoothly. "I
just realized I didn't mention where we'd be meeting. Can you be at De
Angels in two hours?"
"Alright," I agreed.
I took a short nap, then rushed to get ready,
slipping into a shiny sequined green gown with a matching shawl and six-inch
silhouette heels.
At De Angels, Nathan was already
waiting in the VIP lounge. His eyes swept over me appreciatively.
"My goodness… Miss Mandy, you look ravishing," he
complimented.
I smiled as we took our seats. We ordered our
meals, enjoyed good conversation, and by the time we left, I genuinely felt
lighter.
Nathan even helped me book a cab home.
Once inside, I texted him: "Hey,
Nathan… Just got home. Thank you again for today. I really had fun."
Minutes later, he replied:
"I had fun too. It was nice talking to you.
Take care."
For the first time in a long while, I went to bed
smiling.
The Real Truth Unfolds
But that peace didn't last.
Later that night, I checked my phone, hoping—just
maybe—Jayson had texted me.
Nothing.
Yet, to my shock, he was online. Not only that… but
he had posted something on Instagram.
My heart sank.
I had sent him messages days ago, and he had left
them unread. But he had the time to be online? To post?
There it was. The real truth.
Tears welled in my eyes. The painful realization
crashed down on me.
I meant nothing to him.