Dawn | KathQuen

Dedicated to SeventeenthGirl: Thank you for making my brilliantly amazing book cover.

—
"I will give you all my heart, so we can start it all over again"
—

ELAINE CANTRELL-THORNE

"Elaine, what the heck?!" Louis snarled at me.

"S-sorry, I-i just need to g-get my phone..." I stammered.

"Hurry up, then!" I did what I was told as quickly as I can and hurriedly went out of the masters bedroom.

[Am I really like that? Geez.]

Disadvantages of being arranged marriage, all right. I might love him, but him? Forget it. Kita n'yo naman kung paano niya ako i-treat, right? He treats me like I'm not even his wife. He's grumpy and moody all the time, at least kapag nandito siya sa house.

His actions don't bother me, really. I understand that it's all because of his stressful days sa work.

I also understand that he doesn't want to be married to me, his parents just forced him to because of business. Aish, our parents and their troublesome businesses. Why do Louis's sister need to be older than Kuya Ivan for a few years? Ayan tuloy, kaming dalawa 'tong stuck sa letcheng arranged marriage na 'to.

For almost two years, I'm already used to this kind of setup.

Two years — two freaking years. Woah, time sure does fly so fast.

.

LOUIS THORNE

"Ahm, I would like to go somewhere later. So, uhm, can I go?" Elaine asked over breakfast.

"Why are you asking for permission? You don't need to, you know." I replied. "Besides, I don't really care."

[Woah, that was a bit mean.]

"Right, sorry." She mumbled before continuing eating her food.

After I ate my breakfast, I immediately went outside without saying anything to her.

As a matter of fact, I always leave our house early even if I don't really go to my work straightaway. I just can't — or don't like to — stay in the house that long. I don't know why, though.

It's probably because it feels lonely there.

.

To my surprise, I — my mind and heart — decided to follow Elaine to wherever she's going.

Though, I put an enough amount of distance between us, our cars, so she wouldn't see me following her.

Thoughout the whole short time we travelled, I just took a few peeks of her so our fellow drivers wouldn't find it quite strange.

After a few minutes of driving, I saw her finally parking in front of a restaurant. I, meanwhile, parked in front of the nearby store.

[What is she doing here?]

What is she doing here?

Like my question was being answered, I saw her small figure sitting at a table already occupied by a boy.

When the lad she is with moved his head a bit towards my way, I got a clear view of some of his features. Black hair with a small quiff, light brown skin, and a pointed nose. Somehow, that boy looks familiar to me with those features of his.

[Why is she with Ajay? Are they cheating on me?]

Ajay, yes, one of my office mates. Elaine is with Ajay Rockett at the moment.