Not Alone In This Battle

Jasmine is currently spending her weeks in Kaitlyn's house; it is not big like the Viel mansion, but it definitely gives a warm atmosphere and Jasmine likes it. Last week, she left Viel alone in his big mansion. She started to feel guilty knowing that Viel is exhausted from work however, she still did it because if she stayed the situation might become worse.

Her heart almost gave in that night when he begged her to stay. Jasmine loves him and she does not want to leave him, but she knows they both needed time. Everything for her was so sudden, it is like last month they were so sweet and free but then in just a blink of an eye, their relationship has met an obstacle.

She tried hard to avoid calling him and replying to his text. She even pleaded with her boss, Mrs. Reyes, to lie about her every time Viel ask about her. Jasmine wipes her tears as she remembers every time Viel waited at the parking lot to talk with her, but she avoided him. Also, the jasmine flowers he kept sending to her office with his touching letters -saying how sorry he is and how he regrets keeping everything a secret.

Jasmine was mad for she felt betrayed by him however, at the same time she felt relieved knowing that El is Viel which means she does not need to choose between El and Viel as she thought at the first time.

As for now, Jasmine is having her breakfast with her friend Kaitlyn, together with Marilyn and Hannah. Since the two, Marilyn and Hannah, were not with them when she confronted Monica, Kaitlyn decided to tell them what happened with Jasmine's permission.

"Seriously? She needs to move on!" Marilyn commented after Kaitlyn finished the story.

"Yes. By the way, how is your relationship with Viel now?" Hannah askes Jasmine.

"I asked for space that is why I will stay at Kaitlyn's home for a while." Jasmine spoke as she stirs her tea, "I think staying in my condo unit will be bad because I might feel lonely." She continued and her friends instinctively hugged her.

"We are always here to listen, sissy. " Hannah whispered and smiled at her.

Jasmine smiled at her friends. She is very thankful to have a circle of friends like these girls. She would not know what she might have done without them by her side.

On the other hand, Viel Salvador is with his friends, Santhe Ferrer and Herles Martinez, together with his secretary Fiero Reyes at Herles' bar.

Since Jasmine left him, he did not go back home instead he spent his days and nights drinking at his friend's bar. Sometimes he drinks alone and sometimes he is with his friends.

He always tried to talk with Jasmine at her work, but it looks like she is avoiding him, and this breaks his heart.

"Sir. " Fiero called his boss who is currently drunk. He swallowed nervously for he wanted to leave now but cannot. As his secretary, this is not included in his job description but Fiero cannot say no to Viel.

"She is not replying to my text and calls." Viel weakly said. He is a mess as his friends describe him.

Santhe shakes his head while looking at him in disappointment and drinking his beer. He tried to empathize with his friend's feelings but he cannot understand everything for he had never been deeply in love.

While his friend, Herles just keep giving Viel a bottle of beer. Hoping his actions could comfort his friend. Fiero secretly scratches his head in disbelief at how his boss friends acted.

"That is the reason, I never took seriously my relationships." Mumbled Santhe and opened a bottle of beer.

"You are about to marry someone." Herles commented and gave another bottle to Viel.

"Yeah, I do not really care about that, as long as I get my inheritance it's okay. Besides, I could easily divorce her. " Santhe answered and drank the whole beer.

Santhe, Herles, and Fiero stopped in their tracks when they heard a bottle crash. Viel just throws a bottle of beer at the wall.

"Arrange marriage made my life hell. That is my problem. If I am not involved in one. Maybe. I and Jasmine are now married." He said and continued to sob softly.

Fiero mentally gasped as he witnessed his boss's weakness. He never imagined his boss would cry. He felt pity for him as he understands how he loves Jasmine but is not free to love someone because of his engagement.

"I do not know exactly what to say to ease your pain however, this I could promise you Viel; I will help you no matter what happened." Santhe told Viel and pat his back.

"Same here, bro. We got your back." Herles joined.

"Count me in, Sir." Fiero joined and smiled at the three.

"Maybe, let us start forming our plan instead of wasting your time in alcohol," Herles told Viel and took back all the bottles he had given before.

"Y-yeah. " Viel stuttered and dozes off to sleep.

"He should sleep first." Santhe commented and grabbed a blanket from his car to cover his friend, while Herles started to clean their table with the help of Fiero.

Back to Jasmine, she and her friends decide to go shopping and watch movies to invite some good energy and help Jasmine have fun a little.

As they were window shopping, Jasmine received a call from an unknown number. At first, she is hesitant to answer the call but decided to answer it anyway.

"Hello?" Jasmine greeted the caller.

"Hey! I am Santhe. Viel's friend." The other line said. When Jasmine heard him, she decided to end the call however, Santhe is quick enough to beg her not to end it.

"I have an important thing to say! Do not end the call." He pleaded.

Her friends looked at her and nodded, signaling it is okay to talk with him.

"What is it?" Jasmine asked him.

"Do you love him?" He asked and Jasmine could not answer.

"As you know, my friend is willing to fight anyone for you and I hope you do the same. " Santhe told her and ended the call. Hearing this, her friends did not say a word, and silence eloped their circle.

Jasmine knew that that is why she cannot help but feel guilty. Since she remembers everything now, she could say, she is the one who always gives up while Viel stays.

She sighed as she thinks of it. She just realized how she easily left him. She felt like someone stabbed her as she thought how she hurt Viel because of her actions.

Jasmine bites her lower lip as she tried not to cry in front of her friends, but she failed miserably. She wipes her tears away and tried to sob softly so that she would not attract other people.

"Jasmine, it is fine that you asked for some time to process everything because he kept a secret from you. However, if you love him, fight for him. Do not let that Monica win." Hannah exclaimed as she handed her a tissue, while Kaitlyn and Marilyn nodded in agreement.

Jasmine thinks everything again, she misses him. Even she is mad at him, she still loves him. And for Jasmine that is the only reason she needed to come back.

Jasmine stood up and smiled at her friends.

"I need to see him and talk with him." Jasmine told them and her friends nodded.

She called Santhe to ask if he is with Viel. She was informed that Viel is drunk because he keeps drinking day and night since she left him. As soon as Jasmine get inside a cab, she hurriedly gave the location to the driver and clutched her bag.

She regretted avoiding him. She should have given him a chance to talk to her so that he could explain everything. It was immature for her to act like that.

When she arrived at her destination, she saw Santhe, Viel's secretary, and an unknown guy with Viel who is sleeping on a sofa.

"He has been asleep for eight hours." The unknown guy commented.

"Do not wake him up." She said and walked closer to Viel.

"Can someone help me to go home with him?" She asked and all of them nodded.

They arrived at Viel's mansion together Santhe and Herles carried Viel on the way to his room while Fiero helped Jasmine organize Viel's stuff.

As soon as the three left, Jasmine hugged the sleeping Viel and kissed his forehead. While waiting for him to wake up, she prepared a hangover soup for him.

When she was finished cooking, she went upstairs while holding a food tray. She found Viel who was sitting already in their bed and looking at her.

"Is this a dream again?" Viel softly said. Jasmine placed the tray beside the bed and cupped his face.

"No, I am really here. " Jasmine whispered and kisses him.

Viel kisses her back and holds her head closer to his. His right-hand travels from her waist to her back, and he sneakily unzipped her blouse, noticing this Jasmine broke the kiss and smiled at him.

"Eat first. Do not do that again, please. Your friends told me that you drink beer for breakfast to dinner." Jasmine scolded him.

"Yes, love." Viel said and nodded to her.

In just a week without seeing each other there is no doubt that they longed for each other touch, that is why as soon as Viel finished his soup. He started kissing Jasmine and she gladly respond to it.

That cold night, they shared each other heat. They claimed one another and shared a passionate night. And one thing is sure in Jasmine's mind, this time she would fight beside him, and she would not let him fight this battle alone.