"Buds, don't forget to bring pasalubong for us from New Zealand when you come back here to the Philippines; even fresh cow's milk will do. Just make sure that the milk is one hundred percent sure safe when you get here to the Philippines." Gab said.

No matter when Gab is greedy, greediness is always on his mind. It's good that he doesn't get extra fat. It's better that he always lifts sacks of rice at the rice mill to make his body fit.

"Why did almost all of your companies get into trouble simultaneously?" Arcie asked.

"You will go to New Zealand; Baby Meisha will fly to Korea, while poor Migs will be left here in the Philippines."

"Crazy, you just thought that. I have my own time to shine." Migs defended himself.

"It's actually in your favor, because you can watch over your princess, who doesn't know about the state of your life," I asked Migs.

"Is she now your girlfriend,or not yet?"

"Mind your own business." He obviously avoids such conversations.

"Mysterious guy is now rude." We just shook our heads.

"You, Dwayne, do you really have no intention of courting Meisha?" They saw me again.

"Why are you asking me about her?" I asked.

I really don't know why they always want to insert Meisha in our conversation. I get confused when Meisha is our topic; my heartbeat changes as if I'm nervous, so I don't want to talk about it as much as possible.

"Because someone is asking me about her. I think they intend to court her." it's the peevish Gab rushing in again.

"Is that what your cool lawyer cousin is talking about?" Arcie continued.

"You got it right, Buds." I'm really shaking when they beat me to Meisha. Also, these Migs voted for me while I didn't vote for myself.

"Hey hey hey, you two, don't sell my sister to anyone," Migs said.

"Who the hell are you? Are you just a rice porter? Go, you have to grind rice, boy; after all, that's what you want, right?" Gab joked to Migs, who wanted to pretend poor, and we all laughed."

"Oh Buds, Baby Meisha might follow you to New Zealand, so prepare yourself." I was stunned by what Arcie said because it is possible to happen.

"Sssss, that's not new to me."

"I hope my princess will also follow me when I leave."

z z z z z z z z z z

I've been here at our rancho here in New Zealand for two months, but Meisha's shadow hasn't come yet. I wonder why he didn't go there. Before, she often used to cut her class just to follow me, no matter where I was in the world, but now she hasn't been there. Before, it took less than two weeks for her to follow me, as if I had a wife that tailed and who always watched my every move.
Even with phone calls, I don't receive anything from her. It make my heart rattled.

I suddenly miss her presence and her following of me. Just to notice her, I heard a part of my brain say it.

Why would I miss her? What will I miss about that brat? Being mean and pushy? No way.

I don't miss her. I tried to force it into my mind.

____________*********

Two months later, I returned from Korea, but I did not inform my parents that I had come to the Philippines.

I don't want to have an update on my family because I'm sure they will force Dwayne and me to get married.

If only they knew how much I wanted to be with him all the time.
I was happy with the last will and testament read by Van Damme's lawyer, but I was also saddened by his objection. I don't want to be selfish, and the love I have for him will end up in a forced arranged marriage, and if forced, Dwayne will blame me and end up in divorce. Even though I never dreamed of leading a failed and miserable marriage life, it was only right that we both opposed it.

If only everything were that easy, but it's not, maybe everything will be even more chaotic for us.

I don't want to go home because every time I pass Dwayne's room, I remember what happened to us and how fragile I am. And every time I see Dwayne and hear his rejection of me, I feel hurt and my self-esteem and confidence also decrease because of him. I feel ugly; I feel unlovable.
What exactly is the potion he gave me? I guess I've overdosed; I'm too optimistic in the hope that he'll love me, even if it's just a small percentage. I really love him and I really miss seeing him, but he doesn't want to. I don't even know that he always makes me look like I have no hope of being loved by him.

l

l

I was suddenly thrown back on the bed I was lying on when I smelled something strange and felt my stomach turn.

"Ugh!" I went to the restroom as soon as I covered my mouth. I puked everything in my stomach into the sink, but I was only spitting it out because I had just woken up and hadn't had breakfast yet.

I'm crying because I'm sick. I think I've been here for half an hour in the bathroom, but I don't want to go out because I feel like my stomach is still being dug up. My vomit tastes bitter and sour, and there is something coming out of my nose! And even though I couldn't get anything out, I still couldn't stop vomiting. I'm sweating cold, and my knees are weak.

"Shang, get up there so we can have breakfast together before I go in."

I heard Pat Pat call me while knocking on my bedroom door. Here I am staying temporarily in his condo; it has two rooms with a comfort room in each room, so it is accommodating for us, especially since she is the only one living here. She was very happy when I asked if I wanted to live with her. I didn't even finish what I had to say.

"I'm going in?"

"Where are you girl. Hey." She asked me out loud. "What happened to you and you fell down there? Do you drink using the lavatory or do you bathe with it?" She asked jokingly when he saw me in the bathroom, face down in the sink while the water was dripping from the open faucet so that my hair was wet. She quickly stroked me on the back when I felt nauseous again.

When my feelings of nausea and stomach pain subsided, I immediately lathered up and washed myself. Then I came out of the bathroom and immediately went to bed.

"It hurts," I moaned to my friend.

"Which one? Where does it hurt? How do you feel?" She supported me to lean against the headboard of the bed.

"My throat looks like it's been scratched since I threw up because the vomit I was spitting out earlier has blood stains on it." I lost my senses. "I feel dizzy, Pat. I'm fainting."

"What did you eat? Why are you vomiting this morning?"

"Nothing. I haven't even eaten yet, have I?"

"Maybe you're full?"

"Am I going to be hungry? Well, I'm going to be hungry after a while; when I feel hungry, I eat."

"Wait. Vomiting in the morning and dizzy. Morning sickness check. Always hungry check and eats regularly check."

"Check that check. Will that help with my feelings?"

"Oh, positive, you have a serious illness."

""What? "My tears immediately flowed." Am I going to die? I haven't even seen the dream house yet; nature inspired by me."

"This is a very emotional check."

"You have been checking there for a while now. You just make me worry about my health even more."

"You really need to worry, Shang. When was your last menstruation?"

"What? How does that have to do with what's happening to me?"

"Big, really big, if my suspicion is right. Let's eat first."

"What did you just cook that hurts my nose? The smell made me sick."

"I'm telling you. You have to answer my question first. When was the last time you used a sanitary napkin?" He gave me a meaningful look.

"What? H-No, I don't know and I can't remember." I avoided looking at her; to be honest, I don't even remember that I didn't even buy it anymore.

I covered my mouth when I realized what Pat's questions meant to me.

"Is it possible???" big question in my mind that needs an immediate answer.