When Time Stands Still (Acosta Series #2)

Prologue

It was Saturday night, supposedly a relaxing time for me, when I got a call from Snow, telling me that her cousin was drunk as hell and was asking me to take him home because she was busy with her babies.

"Mrs. Rivera," she uttered, trying to convince me—although, apparently, she doesn't need to do that, because I feel obliged to really do what she wants.

It's not because I don't have a choice. It was just that she called me 'Mrs. Rivera', and it was a slap in the face that I'm still married to his cousin. We're still processing the paper, and waiting, so we can finally say we're divorced. But for now, he's still my responsibility—like what I promised him in front of the altar.

"I'm sorry, Euna. I just need to take Silas to his dad because he won't stop crying until he sees Gavin!" She said, panicking while trying to console her baby, who is crying continuously.

I shook my head, smiling a little because of the thought that Snow would do anything for her babies—including taking Silas to the hospital just because he missed his dad even at this late hour. She's a great friend and mother, so there's no reason not to do her a favor. Another thing is that I was her son's godmother. I don't want to say 'no'.

That's just really urgent. Because if not, she'd choose to do it first, no matter what, as long as she could do it, instead of calling for someone's help.

But I guess Silas is already throwing tantrums because he wants to see his dad. Ang kulit pa naman ng batang 'yon. I think he got that attitude from Gavin, as Snow said.

"It's an emergency. Silas, that kid, really! I don't want to bother you, but I need to! Lagot kasi si Chant kay tita, gosh," she uttered and laughed nervously.

Yes. She's right. She really needs it because I know that Tita Dorris will be mad if she doesn't see Chant in their house, and learned that he was trying to get himself poisoned with alcohol all along.

"No worries. Just give me the address. Take care," I said before I ended the call.

As soon as I sat down on the couch, I let out a heavy sigh and wondered why these things were happening to me. I just wanted to have a peaceful moment, but I think I can't have it because of my work and him. That fucking man and his interruptions.

Ako tuloy ang naiistress dito.

How am I supposed to face that man every time after not having communicated for over three years? I mean, I was hearing things about him, and sometimes we can't help but meet, especially since I am his cousin—Snow's friend. We saw each other, but never once did we talk. No conversation.

It just feels like we are bound to bump into each other at any time.

He's the ex-husband that can't just stop showing up in front of me. I get that our universe is not big enough to not let us meet.

"But all of the people, why me?" I asked myself and stomped my feet, rolling my eyes, before I took my car key and immediately drove away to BGC.

Why am I taking Chant's problem, anyway?

When I arrived to one of the popular clubs in BGC, I was looking for Chant everywhere with my creased eyebrows because he's really an inconvenient to me. I even got stuck in traffic for 30 minutes just to get here! And of course, my sufferings won't stop here because I know for sure, I need to get him inside the car—he's a giant man, and it's hard!

Then, I'm going to prepare myself because I'm sure that he'll throw up anytime. Plus, I hate going to clubs. It's loud, and it makes my head ache.

I don't like it here. But of course, I don't have a choice.