Episode 1

Hi!! I'm Isabella Garcia. I'm currently studying engineering at Ateneo De Manila University.

Nicolás Fredrick was my best friend... No—scratch that. He used to be my best friend. I liked him... I wanted him to be my life partner. But... everything changed.

"Isabella, we are inseparable!"

"Isabella, you're my best friend!"

"Isabella, I can't forget you."

"Isabella, don't leave me—please!"

"Can't you love me the way I love you?"

"Don't you feel my love?"

"Why do you want to leave me?"

"Why don't you love me back?!"

"Why did you talk to him?"

"You know I hate that guy—so why did you speak to him?!"

"Leave me, Nicolás...!"

"I don't want to stay with you!"

"You ruined everything... My family, my peace—everything!"

"Isabella, will you marry me...?"

"What did you do with her?!"

"One day, you'll be mine."

"You're only mine, Isabella."

Suddenly, my phone started ringing. I woke up, breathing heavily.

"Again... that same dream. When will he finally leave me alone...? I hate him—from the very core of my heart!"

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I started crying.

"I hate him... I really do."

I searched for water, grabbed the bottle from the table, and drank it. Then I glanced at the clock.

It was already 8:00 AM.

Today, I had to attend an important lecture by Professor Alejandro Hernández at 10:00 AM. And I was already running late.

I rushed to the kitchen—but there was nothing to eat.

"I forgot to bring the pasta... Now what am I going to eat? Okay, I’ll think about that later. I should get freshened up first."

I went to the washroom, took a quick shower, and came back to the kitchen. There was only one egg and two slices of bread.

Sigh "I guess this will have to do for now."

After eating, I grabbed my keys, locked the door, and left for college.

Let me introduce myself properly.

I'm Isabella Garcia, 23 years old. I currently live in Spain—my father sent me here for my studies. Originally, I’m from Canada.

My life... I used to be a cheerful girl. But everything changed because of him. I hate him more than anything. Sometimes I curse my luck for ever meeting him. He won’t leave me alone—he’s like a curse that keeps haunting my life. He destroyed my family... my peace... my everything.

Let’s not talk about that now.

I opened the car door, got in, and started driving. That dream kept replaying in my head. I still remembered every word he said... every moment.

After 30 minutes, I finally reached my university. There, I saw Matías waiting for me. He’s a really nice guy—I’ve known him for two years. I smiled and walked over to him.

"Sorry I’m late... I think the professor has already started his lecture."

Matías: "Not yet! Today, he’s the one who’s late—not you." He laughs. "Go grab your seat. I’ll join you after talking to Diego. I was waiting for you, but Diego already came by three times asking me to come with them. You know how they are."

"It’s fine." I smile. "Go and have fun—I’ll join you later. And hey, don’t drink too much, okay?"

Matías: "Okay, okay. I won’t drink much. You enjoy your class, and let me enjoy with them. I’ll wait for you there later."

He suddenly placed a soft kiss on my cheek and went off with his friends.

HELLO EVERYONE... IT'S ACTUALLY MY SPANISH NOVEL... I'M WRITING IT IN ENGLISH

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Episode 2

He suddenly placed a soft kiss on my cheek and walked away with his friends, leaving a warmth lingering on my skin. My heart fluttered for a second—but I shook it off.

He’s Matías Ruiz.

We’re classmates. And like I told you before, I’ve known him for two years now. He’s 23, from Spain. Charming. Warm. Gentle. The kind of guy who knows how to make people feel seen.

And yes... he loves me.

I’ve seen it in his eyes, in the way he talks to me, and in the little things he does. But I’ve never confronted him about it. Maybe because I’m not ready. Maybe because my heart is still too tangled in memories I don’t want to remember.

Our fathers started a business together three years ago. We met at a business party. Everyone was dressed up, holding wine glasses and fake smiles. But somehow, amidst all the dull small talk and awkward handshakes, Matías found me. And he made me laugh.

That memory... it means something. After my mother passed away, I had forgotten how it felt to smile. Matías brought that back to me.

Sigh But anyway…

“Oh no! I’m running late!” I muttered under my breath. “If I don’t hurry, that Hitler-clone of a professor will scold me in front of the whole class again.”

I rushed down the hallway, almost tripping over my own feet. My heart was racing by the time I reached the classroom door. I peeked in.

Yep. He was already there.

"May I come in, sir?" I said, trying to sound calm while catching my breath.

Professor Alejandro Hernández looked up from the board—and smiled.

Wait, what?

I froze for a second. That was the first time I’d ever seen him smile. Ever. I was bracing myself for a storm, but instead, I got a ray of sunshine.

Professor: “Isabella, come in. Why are you standing outside? I've already started the class.”

Still in shock, I walked in quietly and took my seat. He resumed his lecture. I tried to focus, scribbling notes, but my mind was spinning.

At 11 AM, the class ended.

I packed my books with a sigh and headed straight to the canteen. My stomach growled as I walked in. And there he was again—Matías, sitting at a table with his friends.

I walked up to him, a bit confused.

"What are you doing here? Weren’t you with your group? I thought they’d be waiting for you."

Matías: “Yeah, I was... but I remembered something important. So I came back."

I raised an eyebrow. “What was so important?”

Matías: “Close your eyes.”

"Huh? Why?" I asked with a smile playing on my lips.

Matías: “Just trust me, Bella. Close them.”

I hesitated for a second... then I did it.

And when I opened my eyes again, my breath caught in my throat.

The entire canteen was filled with flowers—every table had them. Balloons floated above us. There was a banner in front of me in bold letters:

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY ISABELLA”

Tears filled my eyes.

Today was my birthday.

And for two years... no one had remembered. Not a call. Not a message. Nothing.

But Matías... he remembered.

He didn’t just remember—he celebrated it.

My throat tightened. I looked at him, speechless. Then I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly.

"Thank you, Matías... Thank you so much. I didn’t expect this... I didn’t expect anything."

He smiled gently, and the others around us clapped. My classmates, even a few teachers, came over and wished me. I felt... special. For the first time in so long.

I cut the cake, and they all cheered. It felt like a dream.

A dream I didn’t want to wake up from.

After the cake, we danced. Laughed. Took pictures. Professors wished me, some gave me blessings, and even joked around. I didn’t want it to end.

Then suddenly, my phone rang.

It was my uncle.

I answered with a small smile. He wished me. He actually remembered…

Tears pricked the corner of my eyes again. For the last two years, he hadn’t even called. Maybe Matías reminded him, I thought.

After the call, I needed some time alone.

So I walked outside to the garden, away from the noise. My heels clicked softly on the stone path. The breeze was gentle. The air smelled like roses and sunshine. I stood by a bench and let my thoughts wander.

They took me back to another birthday.

My last one... with him.

Nicolás.

He was cold. Controlling. Possessive.

But once in a while... he’d show another side. A side I tried to forget, but couldn't.

Every birthday, he brought me a bouquet of orange blossoms—flowers that symbolize eternal love.

I used to tease him. "Why orange blossoms?"

And he’d say, “I forgot to buy flowers, so I picked some from the neighbor’s yard.”

I would laugh every time. Pressing those soft petals to my face, breathing in their sweet, citrusy scent. It became a tradition. Same excuse. Same flowers. Every year.

He hated being called romantic. But he was. In his own weird, chaotic way.

I don’t know why... but I missed it.

Wait—no. What am I saying?

I don’t miss him.

I don’t miss anything about him. *Tucks hair behind her ear, heart pounding*

He was a nightmare.

He still is.

What’s happening to me? Why am I even thinking about him?

God, I’ve really lost it now... haven’t I?

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H...He... still... is... actually…

Ugh—what's happening to me? Why am I even thinking like this? I’ve seriously lost it now, haven’t I?

Just when I thought I was pulling myself back together, I felt it—a light, feathery touch on my head. I froze. My hand slowly rose to brush it away, and then—

It began.

A gentle rain of flowers.

Not just a few petals… but hundreds, maybe thousands. The sky above me seemed to burst open with color. Flowers cascaded down in waves—soft, delicate, and surreal. The garden around me transformed into something out of a dream. I spun slowly, my arms half-raised as blossoms kissed my skin.

An ocean of petals surrounded me.

And I loved it.

I closed my eyes, smiling involuntarily, inhaling the sweet, overwhelming scent. But then—

That smell.

Familiar.

Nostalgic.

Orange Blossom.

My heart stopped.

The scent wasn’t just perfume in the air. It was a memory. A memory more vivid than anything I had felt in years. My chest tightened as my eyes fluttered open. The flowers around me, white with hints of gold, danced in the wind.

No… No, it couldn’t be.

“Jesus Christ, no…” I whispered.

Tears welled up.

Not him. Please, not him.

My breath hitched as panic rose in my throat.

“I... I don’t want to see him. I don’t want him in my life again. He’ll ruin everything. He’ll destroy the peace I’ve been desperately trying to rebuild.”

But my voice faltered.

He was in prison... right?

“No. No... It’s Matías. It has to be him. Only Matías would do something this dramatic for me.”

I was trying to calm myself, to make sense of the chaos spinning in my chest—when a new sound sliced through the air.

A deep, thundering whoosh from above.

I looked up.

A helicopter.

It moved directly toward me. Sleek. Black. Flashy.

A banner fluttered beneath it, shimmering in the morning sun:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE

No.

No no no no no.

My knees nearly gave out.

It’s him.

I don’t want this. I don’t want him. I hate him. I hate everything he did to me. The way he took over my life, my thoughts, my freedom…

The helicopter began to land.

People gathered around in awe, murmuring, gasping, filming.

Then the door opened.

And there he was.

Nicolàs Fredrick.

The man who broke me.

He stepped down slowly, his polished shoes hitting the ground with purpose. Every movement was calculated, powerful. He was dressed in a jet-black suit, tailored to perfection, with a crisp white shirt and no tie—just enough rebellion to remind me of who he truly was.

He looked… ethereal.

More dangerous than ever.

His ebony-black hair was styled into a classic pompadour, smooth and gleaming. His brows, dark and sharp, curved like crescent moons. Those mariner-blue eyes locked onto mine immediately. They were orbs of fire and ice—burning with passion, freezing with calculation.

His angular cheekbones, the sharp cut of his jaw, the faintest smirk curling his lips…

He moved like a predator.

And I was his prey.

My heart pounded so hard I thought it might break through my ribs.

The rich scent of his cologne—earthy, sensual, intoxicating—wrapped around me like a ghost. I hated how much I still remembered it.

But I was furious. So furious I could hardly breathe.

He came closer. The crowd made way for him instinctively. His energy was overwhelming, like the air around him bent to his will.

And then he spoke.

His voice—deep, husky, the kind of sound that could melt steel.

Nicolàs Fredrick: “Surprise, love... I’m sure this is the best surprise of your life. Missed me, right, señorita?”

A devilish smirk tugged at his lips.

The world around me went quiet. All I could hear was my pulse roaring in my ears.

People were whispering, staring. Phones were out, recording. I felt their eyes. I felt my own panic rising.

I took a step back.

My gaze searched his face. That smirk… he was planning something.

Nicolàs: “Come on, señorita. Don’t keep me waiting. Did you miss me?”

I swallowed hard.

“N-no,” I whispered, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear, my voice barely audible.

His eyes gleamed.

Nicolàs: “Ouch. Still lying, huh? You haven’t changed a bit, baby girl. You still tuck your hair behind your ear whenever you lie.”

He stepped closer, his hand brushing mine ever so slightly.

Nicolàs: “Happy Birthday, love.”

To be continued...

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