Chapter 3: Red Roses And A Letter

Even after dinner, Gwen still couldn't fall asleep. Her mind was overwhelmed with countless thoughts—pressure from school, constant teasing about her love life, and the mysterious elderly woman she had spoken to earlier, who had suddenly disappeared without a trace.

Eventually, exhaustion took over, and she drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.

The next morning, her mother knocked on her bedroom door. Gwen woke up immediately and got out of bed.

"Gwen, come downstairs. Breakfast is ready. Your father and I are waiting for you."

"Yes, Mom. I'll be there in a minute."

When everyone was gathered around the dining table, her parents remained unusually quiet. The silence was finally broken by her younger brother, Angelo.

"Ate, do you have a secret admirer?" he asked bluntly.

"What? No. Why would you ask that?" Gwen replied, puzzled.

"Then why were there red roses and a love letter outside our front door this morning when Mom opened it?"

"What? Red roses... and a love letter?"

Angelo held up a bouquet of freshly picked red roses, their petals still vibrant and fresh, along with a short handwritten letter. Their mother was about to stop him, but it was already too late.

The letter read:

"I sincerely hope you will accept my affection, my lady."

There was no signature.

Gwen's eyes widened in surprise. She knew it couldn't have come from Aaron. He didn't even know the address of their new house.

"Let her be, Alma," Gwen's father, Edmon, said with a smile. "Gwen is already a young woman. She's old enough."

"I don't mind if she has a boyfriend," her mother replied. "As long as she finishes her studies first, I have no objections."

"But Mom, Dad, I really don't have a secret admirer. Maybe someone was just playing a prank and left those outside our door."

"Oh, come on, Ate," Angelo protested. "Do you seriously think someone would prank you with flowers that expensive? And there's even a letter! Those look like premium flowers from a fancy flower shop."

"I told you, I don't have a secret admirer! How many times do I have to say it?" Gwen snapped in frustration.

"That's enough, both of you," Alma interrupted. "Finish your breakfast before you end up being late."

"I bet Ate's admirer is rich, Mom," Angelo added with a grin.

"Are you ever going to stop?" Alma replied, shaking her head.

Gwen quietly finished her breakfast and hurried toward the door.

"Wait, Ate! Wait for me!" Angelo shouted as he ran after her.

Still annoyed, Gwen ignored him and continued walking.

"You can go to school by yourself. I have somewhere else to stop first."

"Come on, Ate. I'm sorry. Please forgive me," Angelo pleaded, practically blocking her path.

"It's fine already. You're so stubborn. Now stop bothering me, Angelo. Go on to school and listen to me for once."

"Okay... but let's eat at Jollibee later, alright?"

"Oh, you've got some nerve," Gwen replied with a sigh.

After Angelo finally left, Gwen found herself face-to-face with Aaron.

He smiled warmly at her before offering a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers.

She had every intention of refusing it, but she quickly noticed that many people had already begun watching them.

Not wanting to embarrass Aaron in front of everyone, she reluctantly accepted the bouquet.

To be continued...

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