We Inevitably (Book 1)

Into Her Lair

There was only one moment in my life where I genuinely and heartbreakingly cried because of agony, uncertainty and fear, it was back in my freshmen year in college, it was my father's last year abroad as a cruise ship captain and we're expecting him to come home for a short vacation before he finishes his last year. Mom's really happy knowing she'll be able to spend more time with her husband after 30 years of marriage with dad away most of the time.

But two months before my father's supposed home coming mom received a call from dad's agency telling her that he's gone, just like that. They said he suffered heart attack while they're docked in Germany and he didn't make it to the hospital alive. Mom was devastated, all the months of preparations and planning crumbled into dust and it wasn't long till we welcomed dad in the airport, but instead of happiness the whole welcome was full of tears and pain. Kuya Gab was equally lost yet he needed to be the sturdy substitute as the head of the family so he faced all the necessary appointments and signed all the papers on mom's behalf while Paul was tightly gripping on my shoulders as if keeping me together when in reality he's grasping on me for support.

Dad has been a great father to us and a sweet husband to mom, he didn't flinch a bit that time when Paul came out to be gay, he accepted us all good and shits just the same, he wasn't bothered or even infuriated despite the fact that kuya Gab might be the only one who can give him a grandchild in a natural way. He said he'll always support us in everything we wanted and we decide to do.

They were all worried about me; I felt it, especially after dad was buried. I was a daddy's girl and he's the first person who ever made me a warm glass of milk when I was having panic attacks back in 5th grade. He's my hero. He taught me life lessons that have stuck with me until now. He was my wonder wall. And his sudden loss made my brothers protective of me in a good way; we became closer and more open about everything even with my own preference, which I was suppose to tell dad when he comes home; but I didn't get the chance to.

And now I experience the second moment where I genuinely tear up because of the same mix of emotions before. I didn't know how I got home safely after that encounter with Ms. Cojuangco who happens to be that Althea Guevarra I was budding antlers with the past days, but as soon as I got out of the car she generously gave me as part of the perks of being her secretary I distractedly walked straight to my room where I wreck havoc. I mindlessly ignored my family having dinner down stairs.

"How can you be so stupid Jade!" I was pulling on my hair while I roll on top of my bed.

"How can her name alone pass your scrutiny? Ugh!" I rant while kicking and throwing everything off my bed. I screamed almost at the top of my lungs as I punched a pillow making my voice coarse and my throat hurt. After my out bursts I was tired, what's left of my bed was the mattress alone, all my pillows found their new places on the floor, the quilt and covers where pushed down the bed frame and I'm a mess.

"What happened to you?" I heard a voice from the door, Paul carrying a glass of milk in his hand and I found myself crying again.

"Tell me." He ordered as he settled the glass on my bedside table before he proceeds to picking up the pillows from the floor.

"I fucked up." I started

"Tell me how you fucked up Jade, wait you're not fired right? I saw the new car on the driveway." Paul cautioned halfway from picking the last pillow

"No. But - "

"But?"

"Paul do you know the real full name of the CEO?"

"No. Why?"

"Because she told me today."

"Then that's good I right?"