Love of a Lifetime

After spending time the whole day, going to the amusement park, playing at different arcades, and eating dinner together there, and now, they went near the riverbanks and sat at the bench. "I had fun today." Gem said smiling at Erick, her boyfriend for two years, smiled back at her only his smile didn't reach his eyes. "Me too." He said, making her cry on the spot how fake that sounds. Liar. You were never with me in the first place. Your mind is elsewhere. To her. She thought while looking at him, waiting for anything. Something that can make her change her mind about what she was about to do. But with the distant look he has, the forced smile he gives, and the act throughout the day, she already knows that her time is up. They've done a lot, may it be to make me happy, even if it's fake, I would still think it's real to make a good memory from it. She thought sadly and asked. "How's Rose?" Gem asked averting her eyes away from Erick before he could speak. Surprise is not enough to describe what he's feeling right now. He was about to confess about his and Rose's relationship but she has beaten him to it, as always. "She's fine. A little stress because she's on labor but she's fine." Erick said looking at her.

"You never had that light in your eyes even when we talk to one another, Erick." Gem said as she went to her vanity table and sat as Mia fixed her hair. She looked at her jewelry and she remembered the ring she gave them.

After buying Rose's favorite orchids and lilies, they headed to a jewelry store a few blocks away from the hospital. They were the last customer to arrive but that didn't bother the manager. "I'm sorry if you have to be open a little late than usual but are the rings ready for purchase?" Gem asked. Erick looked curious but looked around the store for anything that he can buy when he noticed a small box was handed to Gem as she signed some papers. When he was about to look at it, she took it away from him immediately. "You will get your chance but, until then, no peeking. You will have to see this with her, okay?" Gem said, reprimanding him like a child, an action she loves doing towards him. So, Erick agreed. Upon arrival, Gem asked the front desk for Rose's room. Erick was in a daze. He can't process what is happening at this very moment. He can't stand how calm and relax Gem is. "Why?" Erick said stopping a few meters away from the room they are about to enter. Gem looked back and wait for him to continue. "Why are you so calm?! You should be mad, angry at me for hurting you but here you are, visiting and giving gifts that we don't deserve." He heard her coming towards him and felt her hands over his shoulders. "I am angry, Erick. But, I've long since known your relationship. It was when I first came to the company. You two have this aura, a warm and sweet one just like parents have when they are together so I was already a loss. I hold on to you too much even when I know the truth. On the contrary, you should be the one angry at me. So for making you and Rose suffer, I'm sorry." Erick looked at her smile. It didn't reach her eyes and he knows that she's keeping it in. He's thankful at the same time devastated about everything. They were avoiding her to get hurt but here they are, conflicting pain on her. Gem entered the room after knocking. From the door, she saw her best friend, reading a book. She smiled. "You're unfair, Rose. Why didn't you tell me you'll be having a baby soon?" She noticed the way her best friend immediately looked at her as she made her way towards the table next to her, replacing the old flowers in her vase. "Why are you here? How- Please, Gem, I'm sorry." Gem smiled gently at her when she noticed how protective she is with her stomach. She sighed and said, "I'm not here to hurt you, Rose. I'm not like that." She calmly said as Rose slightly smiled at her. Watching her as she stroke her large stomach, Gem noticed again, that warm and sweet aura from her and the baby that was about to be born. It was unfair for her to feel envious but seeing her like this also gives her that warm sweet feeling.

"It's time." Gem whispered and sighed. "What?" Rose asked looking confused and a little guarded. Gem smiled and called Erick to come inside. When Erick came in, the room felt suffocating as Gem pulled Erick to Rose's side and then hand them the box. "Open it." She said. Reluctantly, Rose opened the box only to gasp. Gem smiled again as Erick looked too confused.

"Be happy." Gem said as Mia patted her head.

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Staring into space was never his thing. It was a waste of time and energy. And here I am, doing the very same thing. Darn it. He sighed when he was about to move from his bed when someone barged in causing him to snap instantly. "WAKEY WAKEY – oh, you're awake. Breakfast's ready! See you in the dining room!" Mike, one of his best friends greeted all too lively and immediately left just when he came to call him. He was about to chase him when their butler, Kevin immediately showed up and drag him back inside his bathroom. "You can kill Mike later. Right now, a bath will help you calm your mind, Red. And, you stink." He said and dumped him like a ragged doll inside the tub that already has warm water in it and closed the door. "He could have waited when I have no more clothes in me." Red said and removed his wet clothes and just tossed them inside the laundry bin. Sighing in content, he looked up remembering that event a few weeks ago.

"You love her, don't you? That's why you would do everything for her. You even stoop that low just for her. You people make me sick. Everything I have done for you was just for fun, wasn't it? Get away from me, bitch!" He twitched and mess his wet hair. "That bitch. I can't believe I was that naïve. She made me do those things. I put all my trust in her, and the company. Only for her to betray me like that. I won't let her ruin more than she already has. I'll fix this mess, if I had to start from scratch again, I will." He said and immediately finish his bath. After washing up, he immediately change to his suit and headed towards the dining room. But first, Red listened to his friend telling stories that never happened a while ago and sneaked up behind him. "I never knew you could tell stories like that." He smirked when Mike startled causing him to jump. "Hi bro." He shrieked and ran away only to be caught easily by Red and tossed him into his seat. "I just want to remind you, don't barge inside my room again. Okay?" Red smiled threateningly at him but he shrugged and smiled at him. "Okay." That's Mike. The only friend who's not afraid of Red's threats. He just knows when to stop if Red is mad. Mike is the game master. He creates under Infinity Line Corp. "Be sure to be awake for the meeting later. I know you didn't sleep at all last night and you just manage to get some slight rest before that monkey bastard woke the whole house." Ken sneered once Red took his seat beside him. Ken is the accountant and takes care of everything from stocks to shares to financial and account balancing. "It won't be good if the CEO doesn't pay attention. Your attention is also a selling point, bro." Dan said. Their advertising head and public relations head takes care of their firms. "I know. What else would I be doing these past few days? I've already sent you guys all important data as well as the plan for the music and game launch next month." Red sighed as he eats his meal. "Already have it. My artists are well aware of this so they are practicing hard." Jacob said. He takes care of their music industry branch under Infinity Line. "I also passed some of my designs ready for checking. Our client would be in the meeting so it will do us good if I show fresher and modern designs to their taste." Neil said their interior designer for all the infrastructures their clients that want his services. All of them work under Red, the CEO of Infinity Line which was passed on to him by his parents. Now that they are busy with their other branches abroad, he stepped in when he was still studying in college. Regardless of age, he manages the business well and is respected by everyone, even the old board of directors, who respects him. With him are his best friends, he has chosen to be by his side to continue the business. He knows the company is well taken care of with them.