SHORT STORIES COMPILATION

Bound by Destiny

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Ceana sat alone at the bar, her heart heavy and her head spinning from too many drinks. Naiisip niya ang dati niyang kasintahan na si Cleven the love of her life, ngunit ng makita ito kasama ang ex nito ay tuluyang bumasag sa kanya. 'Paano niya nagawang lokohin ako?' she thought bitterly, downing another drink.

Her phone vibrated on the counter. A message from Cleven "Where are you? Let’s talk."

She scoffed. Without a second thought, she typed back: "Go to hell, bastard. We’re done." Downing the rest of her drink, Ceana left the bar, unaware that her life was about to change forever.

The morning light was blinding. Ceana groaned, the ache in her head rivaled only by the weight in her heart. She sat up and froze. Her clothes were scattered across the floor of an unfamiliar room. Panic set in as the door opened, revealing Kyle Grey—her best friend since high school.

"Kyle?" Her voice was hoarse, her thoughts spinning.

"You’re awake," he said softly, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and guilt.

"What… happened?"

Kyle hesitated, sitting beside her. "You were drunk. You called me, and I brought you here to make sure you were safe."

She glanced down, tugging the blanket tighter around her. "Safe? Then why am I…?"

His expression hardened, guilt evident in his features. "Ceana, nothing happened that you didn’t want. But if you regret it…"

Her heart dropped. Pieces of the night returned in flashes—his arms around her, his lips on hers, the way his touch set her skin ablaze.

"I was drunk," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You’re my best friend, Kyle. This shouldn’t have happened."

His jaw tightened, his frustration evident. "I’ve loved you for years, Ceana. Last night… wasn’t just a mistake to me. It was a chance to show you how much I care."

She stared at him, her emotions a whirlwind. "Kyle…"

"I’ll give you time," he interrupted. "But I won’t pretend I don’t love you anymore."

Ceana stared at him, her mind reeling. She wanted to say no, to push him away and salvage their friendship, but the sincerity in his eyes made her hesitate. Finally, she sighed.

Ceana stared at him, her mind reeling. She wanted to say no, to push him away and save their friendship, but the sincerity in his eyes made her hesitate. Finally, she sighed.

"Fine. One month. I’ll give you a chance. But if I don’t feel anything by then, we go back to being just friends."

Kyle smiled, relief washing over his face. "Thank you, Ceana. I promise you won’t regret this."

Over the next month, Kyle was relentless in his pursuit. Kahit abala siya bilang abogado at CEO, sinigurado niyang may oras siya para sa kanya. Her walls slowly crumbled. The way he laughed, the tenderness in his touch, the safety she felt in his presence—it all began to stir feelings she couldn’t ignore.

One evening, under a canopy of stars, she admitted it. "I think I’m falling for you, Kyle."

He smiled, his eyes alight with hope. "Then let me catch you, Ceana."

.........

Weeks later, Ceana discovered she was pregnant. Ceana wrestled with the news for days, debating whether to tell Kyle. Before she could share the news, Kyle called in a panic.

"Baby, I just got out of court. The politician I went up against in my last case is retaliating. He’s got people following me and sending threats. I don’t want you involved in this."

Ceana’s heart sank at the urgency in his voice. She could hear the strain and exhaustion. Despite her desire to share her pregnancy news, she pushed it aside. "Kyle, don’t worry about me. Just focus on keeping yourself safe, okay? We’ll figure this out together."

A week later, while on her way to visit Kyle’s office, Ceana’s car was intercepted by armed men. She didn’t know what to do. She kept asking herself what they wanted—whether it was her wealth or something connected to Kyle. One of the men opened the door and pulled her out.

She kept resisting and kicking the man holding her. When his grip loosened, she managed to escape, but in her haste, she stumbled into the street and was struck by a car. Pain wracked her body, and her vision blurred. She felt herself slipping into unconsciousness.

"No! My baby, please… Someone help me. My baby, please…" Before she lost consciousness, she saw two shadows rushing toward her.

When Ceana woke up in the hospital, two strangers—a kind, middle-aged couple—were at her bedside. They explained what had happened, from the moment they saw her hit by the car to the moment she woke up.

They introduced themselves as Aleiah and Arvin, Kyle’s parents. "We’ve known you since you were a child," Aleiah said, smiling warmly. "We were friends with your parents before they passed away. We were so happy to hear you and Kyle were dating."

'Who’s Kyle?' Ceana thought, her confusion evident.

"You were unconscious for a day," the doctor explained. "You’ve also sustained temporary amnesia due to the trauma."

Ceana blinked, her head swimming with information. Then the doctor added, "And you’re pregnant."

'Wait, what? I’m pregnant? Who’s the father?'

"Sweetheart, did you hear that? I’m going to be a grandma!" Aleiah exclaimed, her joy evident.

Arvin nodded solemnly. "Ceana, we didn’t inform Kyle about the accident. He’s dealing with something dangerous right now, and we believe this incident is connected. For now, focus on recovering your memories and your pregnancy. We’ll keep you safe."

Though shocked, Ceana accepted the situation and gratefully agreed.

............

5 Years Later

Years later, Ceana cradled her twin children, marveling at how much they resembled their father. Memories of Kyle were faint, but every time she looked at her children, her heart ached with a familiar longing.

The twins, Cassian and Celeste, were the light of Ceana’s life. With their chubby cheeks, mischievous smiles, and uncanny resemblance to Kyle, they filled her days with joy—and an aching sense of something missing.

Kyle’s parents had been nothing short of supportive. They helped her raise the twins, offering her a new start in their hometown. Ceana’s memory hadn’t fully returned, but pieces of her old life sometimes surfaced in her dreams; a warm smile, a baritone voice calling her name, the feeling of safety in someone's arms.

One day, while dropping the kids off at preschool, Ceana noticed a sleek black car idling near the entrance. A man stepped out, his tall frame and sharp suit catching her attention. For a moment, she felt an unexplainable pull. Then he turned around—and her heart stopped.

It was Kyle.

"Ceana?" His voice was hoarse, his eyes wide with disbelief.

She froze, clutching her bag as memories surged like a tidal wave—his confession, their month of dating, the night they spent together. Tears pricked her eyes as the gaps in her mind filled themselves in.

"Kyle…" she whispered.

Before she could say more, Cassian and Celeste ran out, their laughter ringing through the air.

"Mommy!" they yelled in unison. But their eyes quickly shifted to Kyle, who was staring at them as though he’d seen ghosts.

Ceana’s heart raced as realization dawned on his face.

"They’re mine," he said, his voice trembling. "Aren’t they?"

She nodded slowly, unsure of how he would react.

Kyle dropped to his knees, his hands reaching out but stopping short of touching them. "I— Ceana, I didn’t know. I looked for you everywhere, but after the accident…" His voice broke. "Why didn’t you tell me?"

"I… I lost my memory," she admitted. "Your parents found me after the accident, but I didn’t even remember who I was, let alone you." She looked away, guilt pooling in her chest. "I didn’t want to burden you when I found out about the twins."

Kyle stood, his expression shifting from shock to determination. "You could never be a burden. I’m their father, and I want to be part of their lives. I want to be part of your life, Ceana."

Before she could respond, a loud screech of tires drew their attention. A car sped toward them, its windows tinted. Kyle reacted instinctively, grabbing Ceana and pulling her and the twins to safety just as gunshots rang out.

In the chaos that followed, Kyle explained everything. Years ago, he had won a high-profile case against a corrupt politician, exposing illegal activities that landed the man in prison. Since then, the politician’s allies had sought revenge, targeting Kyle’s loved ones.

"I’ve been trying to keep everyone safe, but I never thought they’d come after you," Kyle said, his eyes dark with guilt.

Ceana’s chest tightened. "Kyle, I’m not going to let them hurt our children. What do we do?"

Kyle’s parents, who had rushed to the scene after hearing the commotion, insisted on helping. "We’ll move you and the kids somewhere safe," his father said.

But Ceana shook her head. "No more running. We’ll stand by you, Kyle."

As they worked together to ensure the safety of their family, Ceana and Kyle grew closer. The love they had once shared rekindled, stronger than ever. Kyle adored the twins, and his devotion to them—and Ceana—melted the walls she had built around her heart.

One night, after putting the kids to bed, Kyle found Ceana on the balcony, staring at the stars.

"Do you regret giving me that one-month chance?" he asked softly.

She turned to him, a small smile playing on her lips. "No. I regret not remembering it sooner."

Kyle stepped closer, taking her hands in his. "I’ve loved you since the day we met, Ceana. And now, seeing you with our children, I realize just how much I want us to be a family."

Tears welled in her eyes as he knelt down, pulling a small box from his pocket.

"Ceana, will you marry me?"

Overwhelmed with emotion, she nodded. "Yes, Kyle. I will."

The road wasn’t easy, but together, they overcame every obstacle. With the threat finally neutralized, Kyle and Ceana built a life full of love and laughter. Their twins, Cassian and Celeste, grew up surrounded by a family who adored them.

And in Kyle’s arms, Ceana finally found her forever.

The End