Gabriella's mind was filled with curiosity as she stares at Charles' back while he was walking away. She wanted to know whose name his lips would utter as he answer Vanessa's question. Deep down inside her, she wanted to hear him say her name.
Charles' response to Carlos earlier creates a bit of awkwardness on their atmosphere so they continue their game even without him, expecting their atmosphere to turn back to what it originally is. It has been a long time since Charles excuse himself to get some drink but he hasn't come back yet. So Gabriella decided to look for him. She lightly tapped Vanessa's shoulder to get her attention and bought her head near Vanessa's ears.
"I'll just go to the bathroom." Gabriella whispered on Vanessa's ears.
Gabriella stands up when Vanessa nodded and continues having fun. She first decided to look for Charles inside the house, she look around but she didn't see him there. She then looks for him outside the house, she looked around until she got at the backyard and there she saw him standing with a small bottle of rum on his right hand.
"Cj." Gabriella called his name while she was walking towards him. Charles turned his head to see her and wait until she came before him. "Why didn't you come back?" Gabriella asked when they were finally facing each other.
"I suddenly feel like I had to breathe some fresh air." Charles answered. They walk towards the nearest bench there. The silvery white moon sprinkled on them while they were sitting on the bench. They were both silent as they watch the beautiful scenery at that night. The scent of the night penetrates the air, forming a silky net that covers the entire scenery inside. This silky net covers anything that comes in touch with the eyes. It's not as accurate as it is during the day. They all have foggy, deceptive tints that conceal their meticulousness that makes folks feel like dreams. They could still hear the loud music from the background but it is not loud enough to overpower their voices.
"You excused yourself before answering Vanessa's question earlier, such a nice move you got there." Gabriella mockingly said while Charles just laughs at her softly. She low-key wants to know who really is in Charles' heart.
"You want to know?" Charles shifted his gaze as he asks Gabriella the question. Gabriella's heart started beating so fast. She felt nervous, but exhilarating at the same time. Like she was standing at the edge of the cliff, feeling the cold breeze of the wind through her hair as she look over the clouds above her. She wanted to know what would he answer but she feels scared at the same time.
"What if I said yes" Would you answer me for real?" Gabriella asks as she stared back to Charles. Charles looked away and started humming as if he was thinking what he would respond. It took him a few minutes before speaking.
"Who got my heart?" Charles asked himself out loud. "I guess she's the special someone I met from the past." He added with a faint smile on his lips.
Gabriella felt something shoot a chill down her spine when she heard Charles' answer. And the phrases 'someone from the past' echoed on her ear as though this phrases keeps on haunting her on her dreams until she lost footing on the ground and fell. She heard a cracking sound from her chest and a bitter laugh comes out of her mouth.
'How I wish I was her.' Gabriella utters in her mind. She felt as if a thousand tiny pieces of blades struck her chest when she realizes she would never fit on Charles' heart anymore. She silently wishes it was her he met in the past.
"It's getting late, should we go home now?" Charles suddenly asked after a few minutes of silence have past. Gabriella nodded her head. They walk out the house beside each other.
The night is deep and the moon is completely out. They could hear every footstep they make. Though Gabriella's chest have engulfs by sourness, she still enjoy the moment she was with him. And if she could ask for more, she would wish to make the night longer so she could stay with in a longer time. If that is the only chance she can be with him, she would definitely snatch that chance.
Not long after, they finally arrived in front of Gabriella's house. She turned his body along with his head to look towards where Charles is. They were both looking into each other's eyes as if they were in a romantic movie where both of them are the leading cast and are shooting the scene where they have to kiss each other with ballad music on the background.
"We're here." Gabriella suddenly said in the midst of silence.
"Yeah… Bye. I'll see you on Monday." Charles waited until Gabriella entered their house before walking on his way.
When Gabriella entered her room she immediately washes her body and change into night gown before going to bed. Because of exhaustion she immediately falls asleep after lying down. When morning came, she immediately checks her phone while she was still lying on her bed. She received a lot of messages and missed calls from her friends. Her friends even flooded their group chat with lots of messages looking for her. She immediately type for a response explaining why she suddenly vanished. She then checks whether she received any message from Charles and was a bit disappointed to see she received none from Charles.
'Good Morning.' She sends the text to Charles' number after contemplating about it for a very long time. She waited a few more minutes for a response and when she didn't receive any, she decided to get up. She ate her breakfast, did some light exercise, and walk outside their house to clean the garden her late father loved the most.
When she enters their house to check for her phone she saw a missed call from Charles and a text message that says 'Good morning, I hope you day goes well.' She felt thrilled as she read his text message. She immediately types a response with a wide smile on her lips. She spent her remaining hours doing her usual activities during Sunday with a wide smile on her lips.
Time passed quickly and the most hated day of all came. Not like others that don't feel like going up from their bed every Monday, Gabriella woke up early with a smile on her lips. She feels excited to see Charles again. She left their house early in the morning which her mother was surprised of.
When she got out of their subdivision she saw Charles standing their wearing his usual sportswear with a duffel bag on his shoulder. Gabriella was facing Charles' back. While Charles' was focused on his mobile phone, Gabriella fiddled with her uniform, adjust her bag pack, and fix her hair before approaching him.
"Cj." Charles was a bit shocked when Gabriella called his name. He turns around to see Gabriella standing behind him.
"You're here." Charles said after seeing her.
"What are you doing here?" Gabriella asked in confusion. She doesn't understand how he can get in front of their village when his house is far from them but close to their campus.
"I just happened to be here. Would you like to come with me to the campus?" Charles asked. Gabriella nodded and walks toward the waiting area. "I bought my motorcycle. Do you want to ride with me?" Gabriella stops walking and turn her head to look at where Charles is. She was shocked to see him holding a key while standing beside a black Ducati motorcycle.
"Sure, who am I to refuse?" Gabriella said. Her cheeks blushed as the image of her hugging Charles from the back flashed her head.
Charles handed her a white helmet. She took it from him and wears it to her own head. Charles helps her lock the slider. When she's ready, they both hop in. Gabriella placed her hands on Charles' shoulder because she was too shy to hug him and was too scared that he might hear the beating of her heart.
"Hug me, you might fall." Charles said before steering his motorcycle. So Gabriella placed both her hands on Charles' side.
'Gosh, I'm already falling for you. Can't you see?' Gabriella utters in her mind. She was feeling so nervous which makes her heart beat so loud. She tried to put a space between the two of them so Charles wouldn't hear her loud heartbeats. But Charles sped off the motorbike unexpectedly, which surprised Gabriella, so she held Charles closely while straining her eyes fiercely.
They arrived at their campus after a few minutes. The motorbike came to a halt, but Gabriella was still closely holding Charles, her eyes tightly shut. A little grin formed on the side of Charles' lips.
"We're here." Charles said while gentle tapping Gabriella's hands. Gabriella's eyes slowly opened. She took a deep breath when she realized the motorcycle they were riding on had already stopped. She got off the motorcycle while her legs were still shaking, and Charles assisted her so she wouldn't fall.
Gabriella waited until Charles' finished parking his motorcycle. They walk together inside the campus. Since it was still early and Gabriella's classes was yet to start, she decided to stay on the library first to read some topic in advance and review some past lessons while Charles walk straight to the gym to have their practice in the morning.
While Gabriella was sitting on the library her phone suddenly vibrates. She checked it and saw Charles' text message, she read it with a big smile on her lips.
'Would you like to eat lunch together?' Charles asked from a text message. Gabriella immediately typed a reply and when she sent it she never received a reply again so she just continues reading her notes. And after a few minutes she finally decided to turn back to her room since their first subject will start in a few minute.
"What did you do with Charles on that evening?" Vanessa asked intriguingly. A wide smile flashed on Gabriella's lips when she heard that question. It wasn't what happened last night that was on her mind but what just happened now. Gabriella's friends were even more filled with curiosity when they saw her huge smile.
"Girl, tell us everything or else…" Olivia threatened her but they still didn't receive an answer from her.
"Or else what?" Gabriella said mockingly with a wide smile on her lips. Gabriella's friends were ready to ask further question when their lecturer suddenly came. Their classes started as soon as their lecturer came. Their first subject started with a quiz. Since Gabriella read their topics in advance it was easy-peasy for her.
With all the discussion, quizzes, and reporting, their morning classes have ended. Gabriella immediately fixed her things while her friends were still chatting about their quizzes earlier. After fixing her things, she checks her phone to see if Charles has gave her an update regarding their lunch date.
"Gabby, what's up?" Vanessa asked when she notices something unusual on Gabriella. She has been looking at her phone for a while now, not minding her friends. Gabriella looks at them and smiled.
"What?" Gabriella asked in confusion. They all looked at her with their face full of confusion. They wanted to ask further question but they just let her go this time since they knew it might be because of Charles and they weren't wrong.
"Gabriella someone is looking for you outside." Her classmate said. Gabriella's friend and she tried to peek outside and they were shocked to see a guy looking so neatly in his uniform while holding a small bag on his right hand.
"I will not be eating with you guys." Gabriella said with a wide smile on her lips before walking away while her friends started teasing her.
They both started walking towards the school cafeteria when Gabriella finally got out of the room. No one was talking while they were walking until they arrived at the cafeteria. There is still a lot of vacant chair which give them more freedom to choose. They choose the vacant sit positioned at the very end of the Cafeteria.
"I cooked chicken adobo. Do you want to eat it with me?" Charles asked while he was holding the small bag he was carrying earlier with both hands. Gabriella looked at the bag Charles was holding and a wide smile suddenly flashed in her lips.
"Of course, I would love to." She answers. Who would not want to eat what your crush cooked, right? Charles arranged the food on the table one by one before excusing himself to buy something.
"You could eat firsts, I'll just buy something." Charles said before walking away. While she was sitting there alone she tried to taste the dishes Charles cooked, and it taste as though it was cooked by a professional.
"Here's your drink." A man suddenly speaks in front of her and a strawberry juice was placed on their table. She looked up to see whom it came from and her wide smile suddenly faded when she saw Jonas standing in front of her. "Were you eating alone?" he asked.
"No." Gabriella answered.
"Bro." they both turn their head from where the voice came from. When Gabriella saw Charles standing there holding a cold bottle of apple juice, her wide smile faded.
"Isn't that Cathy's favourite drink?" Jonas asked as he looked down on Charles hands. Gabriella look on Charles hands too and she felt as though she was dropped in the pits of despair.
'All this time…'