FATED BOND

Daisy’s POV

I was in my room trying to write the first chapter of a book. I got a new inspiration the day before when Nina and Amar were arguing and I thought of writing something close to that.

I felt like writing about adult romantic fiction, but I had the intention of chipping in a few things that were real… such as what was between Nina and Amar, and also my father and mother.

I really wish and hope Nina and Amar would get back together. They loved each other so much and none of them could deny it. I knew Nina was trying to deny the fact that she still loved him.

Even though my first book was rejected and we haven’t gotten a response yet on the second book I submitted to the publishing company in the Philippines, as Nina asked me to, I wasn’t discouraged. I felt that writing another book before the response came, whether negative or positive, will not discourage me at all from writing, just like it happened when my first book was rejected.

I intend to always write during my leisure time and then if I can possibly finish up before I get a response for my book so that If it turns out to be negative, I wouldn’t feel sad about it and I’ll have something else to present to them.

I did not know where the courage came from. But I knew I was ready to give it all it takes. I’ll submit my books to those companies till they finally accept them. And I’ll keep writing.

Stanley called me earlier in the morning and we planned to go out that night. I didn’t know why I was anticipating the outing. But I guessed it was because I needed something to take my mind off Sidney.

The son-of-a-bitch didn’t even bother to call or come pleading. I told myself that even if he calls or comes pleading, I would never give him a second chance. I wondered how I got to fall for his charms.

Thinking about him only and what I saw at his apartment annoyed me to the core, that I sometimes feel like venting my anger on someone. I noticed the thought wasn’t letting me go back to the line I was typing on my laptop. I kept erasing and rewriting the sentence.

I huffed. The inspiration was gone.

Then I closed my laptop and lay on the bed. I was happy I was able to put down some words. I just needed to add a few more words to finish up chapter one and I felt I needed to think of a cliffhanger at the end of the chapter, that would make the readers anxious to read the next chapter.

That was one lesson I learned from Danny. He was a great editor, if not better than Larry.

I closed my eyes and tried to meditate. There was no inspiration. My head was filled with different pictures of the people I have crossed paths with; Maria, Stanley, Nina, Amar.

I cursed and got up to take a shower. I picked up one of the books Maria gave me and dropped it on my bed to read.

I went into the bathroom and took a shower. When I was done, I wore shorts with armless and laid on my back with the novel in my hand.

I hadn’t gone past the middle of all the novels. Anytime I tried to read to the end, something always came up, stopping me from reading till the end. But I was hoping to finish up before that night when Stanley would come to pick me up.

I got to know why Maria loved books like that when I got to the sex scene and felt myself getting aroused. Before I knew it, I found myself reminiscing about what happened four years back, between Damien and me.

The night we made Ellah. I felt I wasn’t supposed to but I couldn’t. I know there was no way Damien and I would ever cross-part again. I assumed he was even married and that got me furious. I felt I didn’t mean anything to him.

“Stupid men”, I got off my bed and dropped the novel. It wasn’t helping matters.

My mind kept on drifting to other things. I was about to go to the kitchen to eat lunch when Nadia burst into my room. I made sure to cook enough meals in the morning so Nadia wouldn’t have to bother to cook lunch.

I intended to help her throughout that day. She didn’t seem to bother about doing the house chores and taking care of Ellah, but I was bothered. She was adding my duty to hers. I even had the intention of cooking dinner all by myself before leaving with Stanley.

I felt Stanley had grown more mature over the years and that made me like him. He was no longer the arrogant boy I knew him to be. Maybe that was why I was anticipating our outing.

“Daisy”, Nadia called, jerking me back to life.

“Mommy”, Ellah called too. I never knew she was with Nadia. I bent down and scooped her in my hands while she laughed as I tickled her waist.

“Mommy, I want chocolates”, Ellah requested and I rolled my eyes at her. She loved it when I did that. She always found it funny and she burst into a fit of laughter again.

“You went to school this morning with a pack of chocolates, Ellah. You need to reduce your chocolate intake”, I warned as Nadia made to sit down. I stared at her with curiosity and she smiled.

I guessed she wanted us to talk. We talked the previous day about Kareem, the man she was in love with. But it was clear that it was a one-sided love. That made her sad and I found the answers to her recent quietness in the house.

“Mummy, chocolate is sweet.” She whined.

“More reasons why you should reduce it.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t want your teeth to fall off”, I smirked when she gasped.

“I don’t want that too”, I smiled.

“Good girl”, Nadia moved forward to take her.

“Let’s get you freshened up, so you can take a nap”, Nadia uttered with a smile.

“No, I want to go and stay with grandma Nina downstairs.”

“Ok, but you need to take a shower first.”

“No.”

“Why? I took my bath this morning”, she insisted. I wonder why Ellah hates bathing. She was always arguing with me or Nadia when it came to taking her bath.

“Nadia, just get her changed, or else she’s going to exhaust you with this argument. I’m sure she didn’t take that trait from me.” I said and Nadia chuckled, before walking away with Ellah in her arms. I smiled and sat down on the bed. I know Nadia will come back. I knew something was on her mind.

While waiting for her, I remembered my dad. I remembered that he was always arguing with Aunt Susana. Most of the time, I really do not know what caused their argument. They argue baselessly all day and end up giving each other silent treatment. I used to wonder why they married each other in the first place.

“Kareem asked of you today”, Nadia came back into my room.

“Kareem?”

“I told you he likes you.”

“Of course not.”

“I saw it in his eyes. Why will he ask of you if he isn’t in love with you?” She asked but I couldn’t answer her question.

Kareem was Ellah’s school director and I think we only met once or twice since Ellah started schooling there. He was someone I barely noticed, so I wondered why he would be in love with me.

“He should be in love with you. You go there almost every day, whereas we saw each other twice or three times if I am not mistaken.”

“But he doesn’t”, she shrugged.

I could see how sad she looked. I felt for her. It hurts loving someone who doesn’t feel the same way about you. I knew what she was going through because I felt the same way too.

I love Damien and I know it isn’t mutual.

I hugged her. “It’s ok.”

She chucked. “I used to have a crush on Damien, Nina’s son, despite the age difference but what I feel for Kareem is totally different. He doesn’t even spare me a glance, Daisy and that hurts like hell.”

“Uhmm”, I murmured and sighed, thinking of what to do to help. “Do you think I should go talk to him?”

“No”, she answered sharply with wide eyes. “Why would you do that?”

“Make things clear to him if what you said is actually true. I’ll tell him I don’t love him and we can never work. He should stop asking of me and focus his attention on you because you love him.”

“What?” She exclaimed and I shrieked in laughter.

“Tell me you’re joking, Daisy. You can’t do that.”

“Well, I can”, I said, still laughing.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Even though I meant what I said and I had the intention of doing that just to make her happy. She looked at me squarely and hit my arm playfully, I did the same and she retaliated, until we both fell on the bed, shrieking in laughter and letting go of our worries for once.

Worries of unrequited love. For both of us.