I slowly raised my head to see everyone engrossed in their conversation, not paying attention to what was happening under the table. I looked at Gabriel, and our eyes met in a moment of deep contemplation, his eyes were calm in a way I hadn't expected from him.
I stopped pinching myself, and I felt a warmth creeping from his hands inside me, as if they were embracing my hand and giving me some kind of reassurance. My heart was beating abnormally fast, and I didn't know why.
Suddenly, Gabriel pulled out his phone, his hands still on top of mine. He looked at the screen and then pointed it at me. It said: " are you scared?"
I nodded slowly, avoiding looking at him so that others wouldn't notice what was happening. Gabriel deleted the message and wrote something else, then turned the phone to my face again. This time it said: "From who?"
I looked up at him for a moment, and our eyes met. I felt my face flush a little, then I raised my eyebrows at my father without saying a word, hoping he would understand me.
He looked at my father for a moment, then put the phone back in his pocket and removed his hands from mine. I felt a slight disappointment touch me, as I was relieved for that moment when I felt his hands, as if I wanted him to grab me again.
I stared at the plate in front of me, following the light reflection on it, ignoring their boring conversations. Suddenly, Gabriel broke my calm: "It seems that the adult talk has bored you."
Ramsay replied heavily, supporting her face with her hands: "Maybe."
Gabriel smiled lightly and said: "Why don't you and Raquel go? Swing on the swing... and show her to your room."
I felt a bit of excitement rise inside me, as if my buried childhood had come back to life. I looked at Ramsay with involuntary joy.
But my father's sharp voice interrupted the moment: "Raquel won't..."
Gabriel interrupted him firmly: "She's going."
A heavy silence fell. My father's face was frozen, as if his words were choking in his throat. For the first time, I felt protected, someone who defied my father without hesitation. It was a surprising moment, neither my mother nor I were prepared for.
Moments later, my father said in a muffled voice, "I mean... it's late... when are you coming back?"
Gabriel replied briefly, "You'll stay with us. Don't worry... and there's no school tomorrow..."
I was overwhelmed with mixed feelings of relief and gratitude. Finally, someone was standing by me without fear. My father then tried to respond sarcastically:
"The swing? She's not a child anymore."
Gabriel turned to him with a steady gaze: "A girl is a girl no matter how old she gets."
My father surrendered, his eyes filled with defeat, while Gabriel remained steadfast, his features confident.
"Ramsay," Gabriel said, his voice filling the silence that prevailed.
"Yes, father..." Ramsay replied.
"Take her and go."
Ramsay stood up and extended her hand towards me. I quickly grabbed my phone and took her hand, then we started to leave. She was walking lightly, while I turned my head towards Gabriel, and looked at him hesitantly, as if trying to process what had just happened. We closed the door behind us, and headed towards their house. The house was large and imposing on the place. When Ramsay opened the door, the smell of the place rushed to my nose, the smell of old wood mixed with a faint perfume, taking you to another world.
I entered the house, my mind reminiscing. I had been here when I was young, but it wasn't like this. They had definitely made a lot of changes. Now the place looked very luxurious, the furniture was expensive, completely different from our humble home. There was a mix of luxury and classicism, as if I had entered a medieval Victorian house, with modern touches. The tall wooden doors, the carefully embroidered carpets, the chandeliers that softly lit the place, everything looked like part of a painting.
I looked around in amazement: "Wow… your house… is amazing!"
Ramsay looked at me with a disgusted look and said: "Are you kidding? My mother and I didn't like it, we tried to convince my father not to buy it, but he was adamant."
I couldn't hide my amazement: "But it's amazing… I've never seen a house this beautiful before."
She shook her head in disbelief: "Your taste is like my father's… you both have no sense of aesthetics."
I looked around again: "Look, it looks like a Victorian house… I love this old atmosphere… and it smells like…"
"That's why my father chose it… He said he wanted a Victorian touch," she interrupted me with a more disgusted look as she continued walking.
I felt a bit relieved. For the first time, I found an older person who shared my interest in old things. I was surprised that Gabriel had the same love for Victorian atmosphere, as if he understood its hidden appeal as I did.
Ramsay continued on her way in front of me, while I followed her slowly, my eyes hesitantly taking in the details of the place. I felt strange and embarrassed at the same time, as if I were in a strange dream. I couldn't believe that I was here, next to Ramsay, and I suddenly had a friend. While her family was having dinner at our house, it seemed like an unexpected nightmare.
As we climbed the stairs, thoughts raced through my head. I suddenly turned to her and said in a low voice, "Sorry...!"
Ramsay looked at me in surprise, and continued to hold my hand, "For what?"
I bowed my head slightly and said, "For what my father did this morning... I know he treated you rudely, so I wanted to apologize on his behalf."
"You said it yourself... He was the one who treated us rudely, not you... You don't need to apologize, dear."
I didn't like the way she described it, I expected her to forgive him when she apologized, but she didn't. It's okay, maybe this is better than I expected. I nodded gently at her and said in a calm voice, "Where are we going?"
Ramsay smiled and said indifferently, "I don't know, maybe to my room."
I frowned gently and said jokingly, "What about the swing?"
She laughed a little, then hugged my arm tenderly and said, "Let's start with that first, then."
I stood up quickly and smiled wickedly: "Where exactly is the swing?"
She replied after thinking for a while: "Hmm... straight path to the garden, then on the left by the pool."
I raised my eyebrows challengingly and said: "Let's race then... what do you think?"
Ramsay laughed confidently: "You'll lose, stubborn girl."
I smiled confidently and replied: "Try it then!"
The atmosphere began to heat up with excitement between the two of you, as if each one was challenging the other with a look.
Ramsay and I stood ready to start the race from the first step of the stairs to the main door. I started counting, one... two... three! We ran like children, our laughter rising with the sound of our steps. Her heels were slower than mine, while I ran lightly and quickly, our laughter filling the air.
We reached the garden, but the darkness was heavier than I expected, and I was about to go out the door when I bumped into someone. My body hit him and I fell hard on my back. I groaned in pain, as Ramsay stood shocked, and rushed to help me. I slowly raised my head to find Gabriel standing in front of me in his elegant suit, looking at me sharply.
"Are you crazy?" Gabriel said in an upset tone, staring at me as I lay on the ground.
He then added hesitantly, "Were you chasing her, Ramsay? Or is my daughter a serial killer?"
"Dad..." Ramsay tried to speak, but he cut her off sternly, "Shut up."
I finally stood up, and began to clean my dress and adjust my hair shyly, trying to pretend that nothing had happened. I looked at the ground, trying to evade his gaze.
"Ramsay go to your mother... Be by her side so that you and she can come."
Ramsay grabbed my hand and pulled me with her, and I was feeling extremely shy. My face flushed hot, but thankfully the night was hiding it. As we were moving, Gabriel suddenly grabbed my hand.
My heart stopped for a moment, and I froze, feeling a shiver run through my body. I turned to him in surprise, and he looked at me and said calmly and confidently, "I said Ramsay... not Raquel."
Ramsay nodded quickly then let go of my hand and ran towards the neighboring house without thinking. I noticed that she was afraid of her father, her obedience to him was unnatural, as if she was avoiding his anger at all costs. I felt fear creeping into my heart, as I stood alone in front of him, facing his challenging looks.
I thought about running away, but I quickly realized that the consequences would be worse. I knew that running away would not solve the problem, but might exacerbate it. So I remained standing, confused between fear and anxiety, trying to find the right words, but all I could do was hold on to my place, as if I was trapped between childhood feelings and harsh reality.
"Are you okay?" Gabriel asked as he looked at my legs intently.
I raised my head as I tried to control the pain I felt from the fall and said, "Yes... okay."
He took a deep breath and exhaled as if he was relieved after hearing my answer, then said in a firm tone, "Your father is right... you are no longer a child for these childish actions."
I was annoyed by the way he was speaking, so I raised my eyebrows to show some strength in my features. "It's none of your business."
He smiled sideways, as if what I said didn't affect him at all. "Maybe it's none of my business... but I'm still responsible for you tonight."
I felt a bit of confusion creeping in, but I hid my feelings behind my stern features. I didn't like the way he spoke, the overconfidence he always showed. I took a few steps away from him and said in a low voice, "I don't need you to take care of me... I'm here for Ramsay basically."
But he didn't respond immediately. He just looked at me silently, as if he was studying me. It was very awkward, but I didn't want to show him any weakness.
Then he slowly approached, and my heart pounded hard. "Maybe..." he said in a low but deep voice. "But I want to make sure for myself."
I froze in place, not knowing how to respond. His words were vague, and my thoughts began to intertwine. The atmosphere around us was strangely quiet, as if the world had stopped for a moment.
"Let's go inside." Gabriel said as he walked away from me toward the front door. "You might need something warm after that run." I watched him move with confident steps, a wave of conflicting emotions sweeping through me. I couldn't decide whether to follow him or walk away.
I ran slowly behind him, watching his confident steps and his broad shoulders move steadily in front of me. I felt small compared to him, but he didn't turn around. He seemed to know exactly where to go.
When we reached the living room, he suddenly turned to me and said quietly, "Tea?"
I was surprised by his simple offer. For a moment, I felt that things had returned to normal, so I nodded gently. But he continued on his way to the kitchen. The moment he entered, I remembered that I don't drink tea. I felt embarrassed, and raised my voice slightly:
"Sir…!"
He turned to me with a surprised look, his eyes studying me as if he was waiting for an explanation.
"Uh… uh… coffee."
He spoke quietly, looking at me thoughtfully, as if my nervousness had caught his attention: "Gabriel…" Then he turned and continued on his way quietly to the kitchen.
I stood still, feeling my face grow redder.
I stood still, trying to comprehend what he meant when he said "Gabriel." Did he mean for me to just call him by his name instead of "sir"? Never mind. I let the thought pass and began to look around the room's furniture. I hadn't been in this room when I was with Ramsay, so every detail was new to me.
In one corner of the room, there was a painting on the wall of an ancient king I didn't recognize. His strong face caught my attention. He was holding an orange in his hand, as if he was squeezing it hard, but it didn't burst. The orange was dripping with blood instead of juice, which gave the picture a mysterious and confusing touch. I stared at the painting for a while, trying to decipher its meaning, but something else caught my attention.
Beneath the painting, there was a piano. It looked old and unique, as if it hadn't been touched by time. It was surrounded by vases that gave it a touch of beauty and femininity. The piano looked like a piece of art in itself, its silent voice inviting me to sit in front of it.
I remembered that playing the piano is one of my favorite hobbies. I have always loved the quiet melodies that take me to another world, making me feel as if I were in a quiet village, watering flowers and watching nature in silence. Without controlling myself, I sat on the piano chair. My fingers gently swayed over the keys, then I started playing in complete silence, a light music coming out of me as if responding to the call of the soul.
I closed my eyes while my fingers danced quietly on the piano keys, then suddenly I heard Gabriel's voice sighing behind me, as if indicating his presence. I quickly stood up, began adjusting my dress with obvious confusion, then went forward to take a cup of coffee from him, saying in a low voice: "Thank you."
He smiled a slight smile, as if the words were unnecessary, then said: "I haven't touched this piano for four years... and I was preventing others from approaching it."
My eyes widened in surprise, and I immediately realized that I had been hasty and overstepped my bounds. I felt nervous, so I stammered, "I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..."
But he cut me off before I could finish, and said calmly, "I loved your playing."
This was the first time anyone had complimented my playing, and I wasn't used to such a feeling. I blushed, and stammered, "Thank you...! You're the first one to hear me play."
Gabriel paused for a moment, before saying in a calm tone, "I'm glad... I hope to be the first in everything in your life..."
I didn't quite understand what he meant, perhaps because of my nervousness or my lack of deep awareness. I just looked at him in surprise, until he pulled out a violin from behind him and placed his cup on the table next to the piano. Then he looked at me and said calmly, "Listen..."
He lifted the violin and placed it on his shoulder skillfully, then began to play a familiar tune, I felt something stir up old memories inside me. I closed my eyes and surrendered to the feelings that the tune attracted me to. With slow steps, I began to approach him until I finally realized the tune he was playing.
With enthusiasm and joy, I interrupted him, saying: "This tune... Game of Thrones! How well you played it!"
Gabriel smiled and replied with a slight smile: "Really?"
"So... who is your favorite character from it?" I asked hesitantly and nervously, and inside I was wondering if I was annoying him with my excessive talk.
He paused for a moment as if thinking, then said coldly: "I don't know."
I was surprised by his answer, so I quickly tried to lighten the mood and said with a smile: "I like Jorah Mormont."
He raised his eyebrow in surprise and said: "Jorah??? Why him... of all of them?"
"The only loyal one among them…" I said in a calm tone, and when our eyes met, he seemed to understand exactly why I admired this character, Jorah Mormont, the only loyal one to Daenerys, who loved her with pure sincerity.
The silence was suddenly broken when he said, "You're jealous of her?"
I said with a gentle smile, "Who wouldn't be jealous of her? She got his love even though she didn't appreciate it as much as she should have… He was loyal to her, and if she had asked for his soul as a gift, he would have given it to her without hesitation."
He looked at me thoughtfully, and said in a deep tone, "I see that's what you focus on in relationships…"
I tried to ignore that look that distracted me for a moment, so I stepped towards the nearby bookshelf and said, as if I was distracted by talking about something else: "It seems that Ramsay likes to read books…"
He smiled, saying, "I wish so… but she hasn't actually read any of them."
I laughed a little and said, "Then she's yours."
He smiled and said in a low voice, as if he was whispering: "And to you..."
I could hear his whisper, so I quickly turned to him in astonishment and said: "What...?"
He smiled slightly confusedly and scratched his forehead, saying: "Nothing..."
For a moment, I felt like I was acting like a child, but I couldn't control myself. I took two steps towards him, my hands behind my back and a sly smile on my face, as if I was praising him in a sarcastic way, and said, "What did you say?"
He smiled sarcastically and said: "What's wrong with you? Sometimes clumsy, sometimes wise, and sometimes romantic."
His tone was so provocative that I couldn't help myself, so I proudly turned my lips to the side and said, "I'm a girl, of course!"
He raised his eyebrow and asked, "And so?"
I smiled slyly and said: "Hormones, of course."
He burst out laughing, a loud laugh as if he was mocking, while I tried to maintain my serious features.
His laughter neither provoked nor angered me; on the contrary, it astonished me. I never expected that a man like him, with his sternness, could smile like that. In the morning he was so stern that I ran away to the flower shop as if I were being chased by a demon.
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