Novels by Joana Marie

I took a sit after ordering an Oreo Bingsu here in my favorite café near the university. I just finished a two 3-hour classes and I'm extremely exhausted. Keyla and I will meet here also. She just have to finish something so I told her that I'll go here first.Days passed and I never had the answer I wanted. Who is Charles? Why is he following me on Instagram? I mean, it sound overacting but based on his aura, he's does not look like someone who'll be active on social media. Am I just be dramatic? I stalked his account and he have thousands of followers but he only have five posts. His posts are mostly sceneries and one picture of him in suit holding a wine glass. He look dashing in that photo while staring in the camera using his captivating eyes, by the way.My gut feeling is telling me that there is something in Charles that I should know about.I already have many things going in my mind right now and Charles isn't h

I stared at the message for a couple of minutes. I am lost in deep thought just by the sight of this card.His handwriting is neat and clean. He even draw a little heart at the end of the sentence. It's cute but I am wondering, how come he already knew me? He saw me? When? Where? I just knew I'm getting married yesterday, is it possible thay he knew it before I did? How did this happen? I'm getting nervous and somewhat excited. I want to know who he is. What does he look like? Is he tall? How old is he?"What does it say?" Keyla's voice brought me back from the series of questions that are formulating inside my head.I gave her the card for her to read it. Then I looked up to my bodyguard, "Thank you. You may go now" he bowed at me again before leaving.Keyla squealed and I know if I'm beside her, she will hit me repeatedly, "OMG! OMG! He already saw you!" she excitedly looked around hoping that she coul

I was looking at Keyla in shock. Why the hell would she asked that? Isn't she embarrassed? I mean, I'm really curious but I will never have the guts to ask that. Keyla, on the other hand, just straightforwardly asked.Charles frowned at her, "No"Allena is blushing while standing next to him. Keyla is sitting beside me, not feeling even a bit of embarrassment maybe because I have shouldered and felt it all. I wanted to flick her forehead just bring some of her senses back."Oh! Good to hear that" then Keyla shrugged her shoulders.My eyes widen in shock when she just casually crossed her legs and unlocked her phone. Am I the only one who thinks that what she did is embarrassing?I glanced at Charles, and I got more stressed when I saw him looking at us more serious and a little bit annoyed. But he didn't asked more but instead he glanced at me with pure judgment

"Good morning, everyone" I am watching Charles in front of the room with my forehead creased. I only noticed now that he is wearing a navy blue dress shirt with few buttons opened paired and the sleeves folded up to his elbow paired with black slacks and black shoes. He look clean and formal. His clothes fit his lean body perfectly."I am a friend of Professor Gustav, Charles, and he has a business meeting to attend today so he asked me a favor to administer the exam in this class" he scanned the whole room using his cold and full of intensity eyes while explaining.Keyla and I are sitting on the third row and near the aisle so he easily saw us. He stared at me as he continued to speak, "I hope it is okay with you" my classmate enthusiastically nodded especially the girls, so Charles added, "If so, let's proceed to your quiz"He added some rules while Keyla leaned towards me to whisper, "I wanted to compl

"What is wrong with you?" Jemimah looked mad while looking at the tall guy."What happened?" I whispered Keyla while she's still hugging me. My head is still aching because my hair was pulled earlier but it was now bearable."He pushed Jemimah a while ago when she doesn't want to let go of your hair. Good thing she let go before she was pushed 'cause she might pulled your hair with her when she fell on her butt" Keyla let out a short laugh but stopped immediately and turned serious again when she realized how heavy the atmosphere is.I glanced at the back of the guy again who is looking down at Jemimah. He offered his hand but she just slapped his hand away and stood up with the help of her friends.The guy then faced us, not caring on the rejection of Jemimah on his help like he doesn't really wanted to help her but he needs to, and when I finally saw his face, I can't help but stare. I can even feel Ke

I stared at the city lights from my glass window. My condo unit is on the top floor so I can see the whole city from here. I let out a sigh as I watched the vehicles, the buildings and the street lights. Why does it seems that there's no peace in the city?It's past midnight but I can't sleep. Maybe because, there's a lot of things going in my head right now. I tried to calm myself by watching the city but I just can't. This place is chaotic, how can I find tranquility here? I planned on going in our house in the province where the mountains and trees can bring serenity but its pretty late so I decided not to go and I still have classes tomorrow.Today, I heard the news that I expected since I was young. But hearing it from my parents during our dinner made me sad and rushed. I didn't thought that they will be looking for a man that I will marry this early. Actually, they already found a guy that is, according to them is 'suitable' for me, but

After that little conversation at the park, Lucius drove me home. He didn't answered and just gave me a small smile after I sincerely thanked him. We just stayed silent and watched the peaceful scenery in front of us. No one talked but it was good, it wasn't awkward at all. He just continued sitting beside me enjoying the burger and fries but I felt that I am not alone and he will always be with me. Lucius is really a nice guy.

I wore my sunglasses as I went out of Lucius' car. The cold wind blows through my braided long hair and my white sundress danced with it. My feet met the soft green grass that gives color to this quiet, peaceful place where the people who passed away rests. My eyes scan through the cemetery, the greenery add to the beauty over everything dead. The grave stones stands for some promise that the living won't forget the dead, however the decrepit stones only shows that they are.The days went so fast yet so slow at the same time, today is my family's burial. The others mourners stand under the tent, their own umbrellas and some stands under the shade of the nearby trees. Lucius walked beside me and offered his arms so I can hold it. I put my arm around his and we walked side by side.All eyes were focused to me again, I walked to the front row and sat on the chair ignoring their stares. Week passed and I barely talked to anyone aside from

Lucius opened the gates to my house for me. The people who are in the front yard are still staring at me. When I am near them, I finally recognized who they are. They are the cousins of my mom and their children. I'm not really close to them and I just see them on family reunions and gatherings. We don't talk to each other that much since I don't like their attitudes.Tita Isabelle went near me, she has a cigarette in between her fingers and she doesn't look sad at all but who I am to judge right? Maybe she's mourning inside her head because my mom is her cousin. "Where have you been? Everyone's been looking for you" she told me as soon as she's standing in front of me. Well Auntie Isabelle, I'm looking for myself too.I blankly stared at her and didn't answered. No 'condolences'? No 'greetings'? This is one of the reasons why I doesn't like them. Can't they understand that I'm still taking everything in? Just one at a time? I might co

"Your relatives are looking for you, Rylie" I continued staring at the window despite of what tito Lenard just told me. Three days has passed since my family left me. The funeral was being held in our house since two days ago. I haven't gone there 'cause I'm still in the middle of taking everything in. Things just happened so fast. My relatives are getting mad at me since I haven't showed up there yet. I got tired of their calls so I just turned off my phone.I don't even left this room since I woke up from here. Lucius is the one who brings my food and make sure that I will eat. He also picked up my clothes from ate Loren so I can take a bath. Since the day that I cried in his shoulder, he's been with me most of the time to take care of me. There is also one time that I woke up in the middle of the night and I saw him sleeping uncomfortably in the couch near the balcony door. I felt really thankful and sorry for him."I don't want to go" I

I woke up feeling so thirsty and with an aching throat. I quickly get up and looked around, these place is unfamiliar. My eyes are hurting too but I removed the sheets covering me and left the bed I slept in."Mommy?!" I called out. It's just a dream right? What happened is just a nightmare, isn't it? "Daddy?!" I shouted and I walked to the door, barefoot."Rylie." I looked behind me when someone called my name. There, I saw Lucius getting up from a single seater couch on the corner near the bed where I slept. I didn't noticed him there. "Where are you going?" he's frowning and looked like he just woke up from a nap.I pointed at the door, "My m-mom and dad, are they outside?" he looked like he doesn't know what to say when I asked that. He can't look at my eyes, and kept on running his fingers on his hair. I just continued looking at him waiting for the answers."I think you should drink water

Uncle Lenard sat beside me. I don't know how long I cried but I can feel my eyes swollen, my throat hurting and my chest being in pain. I am now sitting on a hospital bench, staring out of nowhere. "Rylie, drink this" Uncle Lenard handed me a bottle of water. He cried silently with me a while ago. I know he's hurting too. He's been with my dad since grade school. They are even working in the same company until three years ago when uncle stopped because of health complications.Uncle Lenard helped me to drink because my hands are still shaking that I might just spill the water all over my body. He even gave me a sandwich but I don't feel any hunger so I just shook my head. "Thank you for bringing Rylie here" Unlce Lenard then faced and told my friends that. I just stared blankly at all of them."No problem. If there's anything we could still do, we would gladly help" Paul told my uncle. The latter just smiled and sto