You'll Fall For Me, Today or tomorrow

Hilary remained distracted and had little to contribute to their banter.

Though that was how she had always been in front of outsiders, Yvonne did not particularly appreciate her speaking in front of them.

She secretly despised Hilary, and would rather that the latter kept her mouth shut, especially in front of her own fiancé.

Hence no one found Hilary’s silence unusual.

When she got home, Hilary stayed in the room by herself and sifted through her smartphone for information on Shermaine. The more she saw, the more her mood devolved. She went on to look up on James Smallwood and immediately knew that it was him.

Hilary understood now why she had found Shermaine awfully familiar and even took an instant liking to her.

She began to sob uncontrollably away in the washroom with the showers left running so that no one could hear her and continued this way for some time.

By the time Zach entered the room, Hilary was already fast asleep.

Or rather, she pretended to be asleep, as she was worried that Zach might notice something amiss.

The next morning while Zach was away at the office, she immediately called up Clarissa.

Clarissa was a little miffed that her mother has asked to meet. There was a chill in the air which encroached upon her skin, so she would rather sleep in.

“What’s so important that we’ve to do this so early, Mom?”

Hilary’s words were almost upon her own lips before she swallowed them back down. She opted to adopt a more measured and casual approach.

“Early, you say? Is this your daily routine? What kind of work are you doing that doesn’t pay and leaves you so undisciplined? Look at how hard everyone else is hustling. You aren’t bad looking so even if you don’t want to work, you should put in a little effort to doll yourself up when you go out.”

Clarissa laughed a little, only to patronize her mother.

“Why aren’t you talking?”

“Your observations are spot-on, Mom. I’m not able to defend myself!”

“You know, I’m this close to giving up on you, girl.”

You had never cared about me that much anyway.

That was what Clarissa thought. Hilary paused before she asked, “Remember that we’ve met Shermaine last time? Do you know her? I really like her, so do you think you could introduce us?”

“Huh?”

Clarissa’s brows perked up. “I don’t really know her as we operate in different social circles. I’ve only interacted with her back then because she’s a friend of my classmate.”

“I see. That makes sense.”

silent, mildly disappointed, yet

did you become a

“Do I have to explain this? I

to reach out to her? Haven’t you have anything better to do recently

was wondering how you’re ever going to meet anyone when you’re holed up in the house with

An awkward silence ensued.

would have slapped herself if

saying all the wrong things

resolve to speak less

spend winter in W City. Probably be back next year. Got a deadline to meet so I really should get back to

and only because she did not understand that the purpose of Hilary’s call was not

Clarissa did not return to Zen Highlands, but made a trip down to

her in the office once or twice a week. She was practically like a junior employee who needed supervision. Mandy in particular had constantly pressed her for updates to her

of her writings

in, so much so that she had to have snacks at the ready with which to

to bring in more sources of income in the form of a video

think about these things anymore, why aren’t you posting new chapters? Even if you write only a thousand words a day, you should have consolidated quite a lot by now. Why haven’t you provided updates? I’m going to have

spoke as she stuffed her own mouth with the pastries that Clarissa

quite used to this by now. “Alright, you do whatever you have to do. I’ll send them to you as a tribute after I’m

“You’re an evil mistress.”

“I’m not

with that and have

you have a boyfriend and are cohabiting with

and tone left Clarissa red

now? Aren’t you afraid that of getting

“Oh, I’m so scared!”

have on hand soon, cause that’s what the production company is keen on. There are also a few more requests for you to do some screenwriting. It would be better

“What?”

would not only need

With winter around the corner, the only thing she had on her mind

say you want to earn more to

“I’ll get down to writing

thought of the rental brought her focus back. She wished she had more arms with

all this time. You should get in

like right

“Yes, now. Questions?”

“Nope. None at all.”

slipped into her own office. It was really quiet once

marry into wealth. I mean like, why’s she even working so hard? I’d do absolutely nothing were I in her shoes. I’d fly to Europe to feed pigeons

it would be impossible

admiration to fearfulness, to normalization. Clarissa was away when they were going through all these emotional stages. By the time she appeared, they were already