Episode 16
2140 Words
It was Monday—the day I was supposed to return to school. But I woke up to the smell of something burning. I rushed downstairs and found the entire kitchen filled with smoke.
I heard Veronica laughing. What is this—was she playing with smoke now?
“Sorry, Manang,” she said between laughs. “I didn’t mean to burn the house down.”
“What’s going on?” I asked, coughing. I could barely see them through the smoke.
“You’re awake already,” she said as she came toward me and gently pulled me away from the kitchen. “Go get dressed. We’ll eat outside.”
“What happened to the kitchen?” I pointed behind her.
“Nothing,” she said, rubbing the back of her neck again.
“What do you mean nothing?”
“Okay, fine. I tried to cook,” she admitted shyly. “That’s it. Now hurry up and get dressed.”
“What about Tito?” I asked.
“He left early. Business trip to Hong Kong.”
“But I have school today,” I said. Wasn’t she supposed to go to work too?
“You don’t really have to study anymore if you want. I can bring you straight into the company.”
“We have already talked about this,” I said firmly. “You know I don’t want anything to do with your businesses or Dad’s.”
“Okay, fine,” she sighed. “Just start tomorrow. Besides, do you know what time it is? I’ll call your school. Is that okay?” I had no choice but to agree.
We both changed and left the house. She wore a plain gray V‑neck shirt, ripped jeans, and black Converse. I initially wore a white off‑shoulder top and shorts, but she didn’t approve—so I changed into jeans and white rubber shoes instead.
She took me to an exclusive restaurant. I wasn’t new to eating in expensive places, but this one was ridiculous. The prices were doubled, and the servings were tiny. She ordered so much food I doubted we could finish it all.
“Why aren’t you eating?” she asked.
“I know you’re rich,” I said quietly, “but this is too much. I can’t even swallow knowing there are people out there starving.”
I wasn’t someone who dreamed of wealth. I wanted a simple life—a small house in the forest, or on a hill. Peace. That was why I never involved myself in our businesses.
She placed her hand over mine and looked straight into my eyes. Her deep brown gaze stirred something warm and confusing in my chest.
“Just eat. You’ll need energy later.”
“But—”
“It would be a waste to throw this away. I know you hate wasting food,” she said gently. “Eat. We still have somewhere to go.”
So I did. But with every bite, my chest felt heavy. Dad and I rarely ate at places like this, only when he insisted. I wasn’t into luxury. Simple things meant more to me.
“I just want to share my life with you,” she said softly. “I want you to experience the life I have. What’s mine is yours, Angel.”
“I’m just a simple person, Veronica. I don’t need expensive clothes, food, or things.”
“You’re married to a billionaire’s daughter,” she said calmly. “Whether you like it or not, you’re rich too. It’s not wrong to be wealthy—but it’s wrong if you only think of yourself. A quarter of our company is a foundation for the poor. Most of our projects are meant to help them. The Yuw family isn’t known just for being rich—we’re known for serving others.”
I felt ashamed. I never even bothered to learn about their background.
“Why didn’t you run for office?” I asked.
“You don’t need politics to help people,” she said lightly. “That world only stains your name. One mistake becomes your crime. After running for office, the next thing you do is run away from the country.”
I admired her mindset. At first glance, Veronica looked like a carefree party girl—but at her age, she was already managing an empire. Something I could never imagine myself doing.
She took me to one of their foundations. Most of their money went here. I realized just how deep her generosity ran.
Behind the main building was a gate. When we entered, a sign read: Angels People. Inside were children—orphans. Some had already grown up and now worked in Veronica’s company.
Seeing her play with them made me smile. She claimed she didn’t like kids, but the bond was undeniable. She laughed so hard she almost cried, telling corny jokes the children barely understood. She never let go of my hand. Sometimes she’d wrap an arm around my waist or kiss my forehead without warning—each time sending my heart racing.
We all ate together at noon. Veronica had no airs, no pretensions. The place didn’t feel like an orphanage—it felt like a home. These children weren’t treated as abandoned, but as loved.
Later, Veronica and I rested on a garden bench when a woman approached us. She was beautiful, simple, wearing a long skirt and an off‑shoulder top like mine.
Wait. Did I just think she was beautiful?
She smiled—but only at Veronica—and was escorted to sit beside her. I watched them laughing together while I just forced a fake laugh. I couldn’t even tell what was funny. Was it the story about Kesley, thinking it was break time and rushing home when the bell rang? Or the story about the dog falling into the canal when they were kids? They seemed so close.
Hello? I was right there. But it felt like they were in their own little world, talking and laughing like I wasn’t even there. My chest tightened with irritation. Who was this, anyway? They didn’t even bother introducing her before letting her sit there. Did Veronica miss her already?
The woman laughed in that cutesy, playful way, even lightly swatting Veronica’s arm. And here I was—her wife—completely ignored. I was startled when Veronica suddenly grabbed my hand while still talking to her. At least she realized I was still here. The two of them had already shared so much conversation that it didn’t seem like they were going to stop anytime soon.
So I excused myself, pretending I needed to use the restroom, but I didn’t go there. Instead, I ended up at the playground. I joined the kids, because why not? I was a kid too, after all. They decided to play tag, and somehow I became one. The little brats were clever, they even thought of blindfolding me. I could hear their laughter as they poked and teased me from all directions. I swore that if I managed to catch any of them, I’d tickle them until they begged for mercy.
I couldn’t stop laughing at how ridiculous we all looked—me running around like a lunatic, chasing children I couldn’t even see. It felt like I had traveled back in time. Back to the days when my biggest problem was figuring out how to sneak out of the house just to play outside. When my worries were limited to a broken toy, or a friend telling another friend not to talk to me because we were “fighting.” Of course, I wouldn’t lose, I’d tell someone else not to talk to them either. Back to the days when my sibling was still alive, always taking the side of the kid I fought with the most. For a moment, everything was simple again.
I removed the blindfold because suddenly the kids went quiet. At first, I thought they were playing a trick on me. But then I saw a little girl standing in front of me, probably seven or eight years old. I was about to ask her something when she suddenly grabbed my hand and pulled me along.
We entered a room, and I saw all the people inside, including the kids I had been playing with earlier. The girl who had held my hand helped me sit down. Then a little boy approached me, carrying a handkerchief, and shyly wiped the sweat off my face.
Just then, someone else entered. It was Veronica, along with the woman she had been talking to in the garden earlier. But they weren’t alone. They were holding the hands of another child, one in each of their hands. The child walked straight to a piano and sat down.
I learned that this child, Kesley, had been blind since birth. But despite that, there was a radiant calm on their faces. Kesley began to play the piano, while the woman earlier and Veronica each held a microphone. A duet, perhaps?
She sang first—a sad song by We The Kings.
You and I, we're like fireworks
And symphonies exploding in the sky
With you, I'm alive Like all the missing pieces of my heart
They finally collide
So stop time right here in the moonlight
Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes
Without you, I feel broken
Like I'm half of a whole
Without you, I've got no hand to hold
Without you, I feel torn
Like a sail in a storm
Without you, I'm just a sad song
I'm just a sad song
I have to admit, her voice was really beautiful. I don’t understand why, but I felt like I wanted her. Like I wanted to take her home and sing to her. Of course, my voice is better—but for the next part, it was Veronica’s turn to sing.
With you, I fall
It's like I'm leaving all my past
And silhouettes up on the wall
With you, I'm a beautiful mess
It's like we're standing had and hand
With all our fears up on the edge
So stop time right here in the moonlight
Cause I don't ever wanna close my eyes
The kids were trying hard not to laugh. I mean, you could really feel how much Veronica was into singing, even if she wasn’t exactly skilled. She even closed her eyes while singing.
Everyone clapped after they finished singing. Veronica took a deep, dramatic bow. She even waved to the crowd like her voice was perfect—though it was actually that woman who had sung.
The woman sat down, leaving Veronica alone in front. Wait… is she going to sing again? Wow.
“Ehem, mic test, mic test,” she said, making me laugh—it sounded so playful, almost like a street performer. “I just want to tell you guys this song is for the girl I love, the girl I’m courting right now, even though we’re already married,” she joked. “I hope you like it,” she added.
Let me sleep even just for tonight
'Cause I can't keep you from wandering 'round
my mind
And even if I can't have you
Even if I can't make you mine
I'll be standing waiting till it's time
Veronica was swaying as she sang. The song’s notes went on for so long—it seemed never-ending.
But I can't let you ask me why
'Cause words won't ever be able to define
The happiness I feel when you're around
Can't let you look into my eyes
'Cause I'm afraid I might just give in
When it seems we're not ready to try
How could I possibly go on
When all I have in my mind's "together we
belong"
I could feel the sadness in the song. This is exactly how I feel right now. I’m afraid that with every look I give her, I might fall completely for her, because I have to admit—I’m not ready. I don’t even know where we truly belong in this world.
Even though she’s off-pitch and not exactly in tone, her voice still sounds beautiful to me. Especially in the part where she sings, “But I love you.” Perfect. These moments with her—I’ll cherish them all. There hasn’t been a day when she didn’t make me happy, a day when she didn’t make me feel that she truly cares for me. She always makes my days extraordinary. With all her sweet little things, I’ll treasure them all, even if there’s no certainty about what tomorrow holds. Even there is a possibility that we’ll have to say goodbye to each other.
- Writer
