1 Chapter 1

Shadowed ceiling on a magical night

Chapter one

Looking up at the ceiling in the darkness of the room, Geraline could still feel the soreness in between her legs as the soft snoring of her boyfriend sounded beside her. It was one magical night they shared. The cold breeze from the air conditioner made her shiver causing goosebumps to break from her skin. She snuggled closer to the warmth Hubert was giving. It was her first time sleeping with a man. But she was glad to be giving her first to him. And at the back of her mind, she was hoping he'd be her last.

She was just seventeen, a sophomore in college, an orphan with a fiery spirit to face the world on her own. But that night she knew she wouldn't be facing the world alone anymore. Hubert promised to be with her every step of the way. And looking at his handsome face sleeping peacefully beside her made her feel that warmth inside. He was smart and caring. They've been a duo since they started studying together. He was a bit nerdy, but behind those thick glasses, Geraldine knew he was a hottie.

Feeling cold, Geraldine slowly moved closer to the man beside her. With her movement, Hubert instinctively held her closer, embracing her with whispers of love and soft gentle kisses on her cheeks and neck. She couldn't help but smile. She felt so secure and happy with him, that she ended up wishing for that moment to be frozen in time.

"I love you." she planted a kiss on his forehead lovingly.

His eyes fluttered open sleepily, inhaling the sweet scent of the beautiful girl he was spending the night with. "I love you too, Ger." He rested his face on the crook of her neck, enjoying the softness of her body. He softly caressed her arm, painting invisible circles on them. "Where have you been all this time?" His voice was husky and tired from the lovemaking they just did.

Geraldine blushed, a soft giggle escaped her lips. "I've always been here." she looked into his eyes, searching, imagining their future together. Future that every hopeless romantic would hope for. "And I'll always be here as long as you want me."

He held up his pinky with a sleepy smile, "Pinky promise?" He looked so cute with dreamy eyes and messy dark brown hair. Geraldine linked her pinky with his and they shook it. "You're stuck with me forever, Ger." His boyish smile made Geraldine's heart melt. It was that moment that she knew she'd never love another man ever again.

Their relationship was a bliss. Geraldine saw it as a shelter from the beating pressure of college. It was their moments in the library that would brighten up her day. They were in the same year and course but with different majors. He was taking the course Bachelor of Science in Business Administration as a stepping stone to be admitted into the University's Law Department, while Geraldine was taking up the same course as a leverage into the world of business she intended to be in one day. Although she was majoring in accounting, Hubert was taking the course as a whole. He wanted to be an attorney handling business affairs. It was what his father demanded of him.

Hubert had secrets. He never really intended to keep them from Geraldine. But the society that he belonged to demanded his identity be covert from common people's knowledge. And by common people, it meant people where Geraldine's standing in society belonged to.

Hubert was a son of a rich Billionaire and a socialite heiress of their country. Him studying in a State University had caused a great deal of stress to his mother. And he was betting that if he would come clean to his mother about his girlfriend, she'd faint. But he loved Geraldine. So he was keeping her as long as he could.

"A penny for your thoughts?" A smiling Geraldine appeared next to their usual spot in the library. "You looked so serious. Come on, what are you thinking of?" She sat next to him, putting all her books on the table.

Hubert extended his arms up in the air for a stretch. "Aside from the usual mind numbing work strategies," He paused for a yawn then proceeded to open another book to start reading. "I was thinking of ways to make you even happier." he smiled cheekily towards her, making her mirror his expression. He had his thick rimmed glasses on, hiding the most prominent feature of his family–light brown eyes.

With a cute pout on Geraldine's face, Hubert couldn't help but feel proud of her. She was hard working in all her studies. She was also a working student, supporting herself through college. And he knew she'd be his perfect match. She'd be a great life partner, smart, ambitious and not to mention her fiery attitude. She would never be stepped on by snob spoiled brats that hung around him.

Geraldine poked his side and made a cute 'Aw' sound. "Nothing makes me happier than staying with you." She pecked his cheek and opened her book. "Have you finished reading the chapter in our Taxation class?" she blew a frustrated sigh, "My proof is a bit tricky."

He faced her with one of his eyebrows raised, "By tricky, did you mean a bitch?" He asked with a smug look on his face feeling proud of how well he knew his girl.

She swatted his shoulder playfully, "I did not say that, you did." She was blushing. She then proceeded to close the gap between them and whispered. "She's a major pain in the butt." she giggled after doing so, making Hubert breathless in the sight of her.

She was the one and he knew it in his heart of hearts. Fuck the sytem, he wanted her to be a big part of his world. He couldn't care less of how his mother would react if he married the love of his life. But the question still remained at the back of his mind, would she be able to stand beside him in the society he moved in?