After Dylan left, Clark and Gaby left at their table. Gaby never even looked at him. She turned to Sasha. They dance happily at the center. She laughed a little because they were still quarreling.
“Hey, Miss Beauty.” said the man.
It stood in front of her with two other men. “What is your name?” one man asked.
Gaby looked at them and didn’t say a word. One even sits beside her. She was looking at Clark, and he wasn’t even looking at her. It was hard for him not to notice that there were males at their table.
“Leave. I have friends with me,” said Gaby calmly.
“As I see it, you’re by yourself.” the man said.
They noticed Clark sitting on the other side, just looking at them.
“It seems that you are not close to him, that you sit separately, that you do not speak to one another. But we can talk to you. We can have a long chat if you like.“ The other guy said.
“I’m not interested in you,” she said, annoyed.
“You are snotty! Let’s get to know you.“ the man said.
The man was about to hug her. She raised her hand, but suddenly there was a commotion. One of the man’s companions fell when Clark punched him. They both got up immediately to get back at Clark. Fortunately, Clark escaped the blow. Because of what happened, there was a loud noise in the bar, and everyone was watching.
Sasha approached Gaby because of what had happened. And Riki, Matt, and Dylan also punched the boys, helping Clark out. They did not expect the three men to have a more significant number of companions. They encircled them, and the three also arose. All four Heartthrobs look at each other and have nine rivals.
But Clark doesn’t bother with them. He immediately rushed in and punched them. Clark rushed over and beat them up. Riki, Matt, and Dylan did the same. Soon the bouncers came and came close to wean them off. They recognized Clark, so the bouncers came straight to him.
“Let him out. He’s making trouble here. They’re harassing my friend.“ Clark said, annoyed.
“Yes, Sir!” said one of the bouncers
They noticed there was blood on Clark’s lip. Clark uses his thumb to smear blood on his lips. “Goddamn it!” Clark curses the weak voice.
“Are you okay, Gaby?” Dylan asked her
She looked at Dylan. “Yes, I am alright.”
The group took their seats. “What happened? Why are you getting into a fight, Clark?“ Matt asked.
They saw Clark was fighting alone, so they approached and helped him, and Dylan did the same.
“Ask her,” said Clark.
Clark took the beer from the table and gulped it down. He even laid it on the table.
“Sorry, guys. Suddenly, those men approached me and forced me to come to their table.“ said Gaby.
Everyone looked at Clark. He frowned at them. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Clark said, annoyed
“This is the first time, Clark, after five years!” said Dylan.
Clark ignored what Dylan said. He just continued drinking beer.
—
When they came home to the apartment, his companions were drunk. Gaby was the only one who did not drink. Sasha, Belle, and Ashlee quickly climbed into their room. Clark was on the sofa, and his head rested on the sofa’s backrest as he closed his eyes. Dylan, on the other hand, washed and then entered the restroom.
Gaby was holding an ice bag. She sat down next to Clark.
“Clark?” she says. The man did not open his eyes, so she called him again. “Clark..” Gaby said.
Clark opened his eyes and turned to her. He was still not removing his head from the backrest.
“I’ll put ice on your bruise!” says Gaby.
Clark hasn’t said a word. Gaby knelt on the couch and carefully applied ice to Clark’s lips, who stared at her.
‘This grumpy guy has a heart. If he weren’t looking out for me, I’d be fighting those gangsters. If Dad finds out, he will send me back to Canada.’ Gaby thought.
“Sorry, you got bruises because of me. Thank you for standing up for me,” Gaby said. “You still got a heart, even if you’re still grumpy.”
Clark didn’t even say a word. Instead, he was staring at her. She looked into his eyes and felt something strange. It was the first time she had felt like this. She didn’t know why her heart was beating so fast.
It surprised her when Clark suddenly held her hand, the one holding the ice pack, and he was staring at her.
“A-are you okay? A-aren’t you hurt?“ Clark said with a weak voice.
Clark adjusted his seat. Now they are sitting face to face. He held her hand and looked at her.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you! “Gaby said, and she smiled a bit.
Gaby noticed he looked at her as though examining her entire face. She blushed. He was the first person to stare at her for so long. Even Dylan, her best friend, doesn’t stare at her like that.
“H- have we met before?” Clark’s asking out of the blue.
Gaby frowned. She had never seen him before. They only met at the university for the first time, but why did Clark ask her to?
“Gab, that’s enough. You need to rest!”
Gaby and Clark turned to Dylan, who was close to them. There was something in his gaze on them. Clark let go of Gaby’s hand.
“Clark, let’s go so Gaby can rest,” said Dylan.
Dylan approached Gaby while Clark stood up from sitting on the sofa. “Gaby, take a rest! Good night.“ said Dylan, smiling at her.
Gaby smiled. “Rest well too. Good night!”
Clark left the apartment, so Dylan followed him.
-
The next day, the group rose early to visit the Sasha family vacation home before sunrise. It’s Friday, and Monday is a public holiday. They have a long weekend.
They used two vehicles. The women were with Dylan, the driver, and the boys were in the other car.
“I can take care of myself last night in case Clark hasn’t interfered,” Gaby said.
“It’s better for Clark to fight them than for you to fight, Gab.“ Dylan’s sermon.
“You know I can defend myself,” Gaby said.
“It surprised me last night, too, honestly!” said Belle.
“After five years, Clark still has a heart!” said Sasha.
“Sasha, you know, Clark is kind. If that hadn’t happened, he might have wings now.“ Dylan said, chuckling.
“Why is he so grumpy?” Gaby asked.
“Oh, you’ll know soon. Clark didn’t want to talk about it. Maybe he hasn’t been able to move on from what happened then.” said Sasha.
Gaby was in the passenger seat beside Dylan, and the three women were in the back seat. He noticed Gaby was taking pills from the bag and drinking them.
“Why are you taking meds? Are you not feeling well?” Dylan asked.
Gaby shook her head. “No.”
Dylan just smiled and stared at the highway. “You know, Gabby, Dylan doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s single.“ Sasha said suddenly.
Gaby chuckled. “Why? It seems impossible.”
The three women giggled. “Among the heartthrobs, Clark and Dylan never had a girlfriend. But Riki and Matt are every girl’s boyfriend.“ said Ashlee.
“Seriously? Don’t they have a girlfriend? Why?“ Gaby asked while looking at Dylan.
Dylan smiled at her but didn’t say a word. “Clark, he had a girlfriend. But it’s been a long time.“ Sasha said.
“What do you mean?” Gaby asked. “They split up?”
“Clark had a lot of affairs, but none lasted a week.”
“That’s because he doesn’t flirt with these women. They stick to him purposely,” Belle said.
“But Dylan never got a girlfriend,” said Sasha, smiling.
Gaby looked at Dylan. “Is that true?” Gaby asked.
“Many women assume that because Dylan is kind to them, they feel like Dylan loves them too. But Dylan says at once that they are only friends for him.” Sasha explained.
Sasha noticed Dylan was staring at Gaby in secret while they were talking. “Looks like you might be his first girlfriend, just in case,” said Sasha.
Gaby blushes. Dylan smiled but did not speak.
They pulled up in front of the big villa. It was the rest home of the Sasha family. From where they are, they can see the vast sea at a distance, the blue water of the sea, and its white sand. “I love the air,” Gaby said after getting out of the car. Gaby opened her arms and savored the robust, fragrant air surrounding her body. The air flew off her hair. “Fortunately, she’s not ice cream because if she is, she’s melting now. You and Clark are truly best of friends.” Matt whispered to Dylan. “The hot stare you and Clark gave Gaby makes her melt away.” Dylan turned towards Clark, standing across and staring at Gaby. It was the first time Clark had stared at the woman, just like last night when he caught Clark and Gaby staring at each other. Dylan smiled as he approached Gaby. He made her smile. “It’s lovely here!” Gaby said, looking at Dylan. “I’ll bring your stuff,” said Dylan. Gaby smiled, and they went in together. Clark got left out, his eyes chasing after them. — It is spa
“She’s my best friend in Canada. We separated when I returned to the Philippines.“ said Dylan. “You mean separated? You have a relationship with her?” Belle asked. Dylan shook his head and glanced at Gaby. “When we returned to the Philippines, I could not say goodbye to her,” said Dylan. Gaby was looking at the sea. She didn’t seem interested in what they were talking about. “Why? What happened?” Belle asked curiously. “Because Granddad had a heart attack and was hospitalized, Daddy was in a hurry to get home because of the news,” Dylan explained. “And because it happened suddenly, I never have time to say goodbye to Gaby.” Gaby never said a word. She looked quietly at the ocean. “So you have never returned to Canada?” asked Riki. Dylan nodded. “I never came back. After Grandpa died, Dad took care of everything he left behind. Even Aunt Yvonne didn’t make it back to Canada.“ “So that’s Gaby?” Sasha said in disbelief. “The woman you’re crazy about in Canada?” Of course, Sasha k
They stayed by the beach until nightfall. The gang enjoyed the night with their antics and quarrels. It’s been a while since they made such bonds. Sweethearts have another member, so their vacation is memorable. Now they surround the bonfire the heartthrobs had prepared earlier. They were sitting on the body of the gigantic tree on which they placed it. They were all drinking, except Gaby. Along with Gaby are Dylan and Sasha. On the other side are Ashlee, Belle, Riki, and Matt. Clark was sitting alone on the sand with only the lining of his shirt. Clark even played with fire with a stick he had picked up earlier. “What happened to you, Clark? You got a splendid aura.“ said Sasha. “Yes, your smile looks excellent. Not fake in fairness.“ Belle added. Clark smiled with two hands over his head. “What do you suppose I’m not human?” he smiled. “Let it go. It’s good, and you’re smiling. At least it won’t frighten us!“ Gaby said, laughing. “What’s your point?” asked Clark. “That you’re
Gaby flipped through the bottle and stopped at Clark. It surprised everyone and silenced them. Later on, Matt smiles at Clark. Before Matt could get the salt, Clark had preceded him. The group teased him. “Oh, come on!” said Riki. “Are you excited, Clark?” “Shut up, Riki!” said Clark, annoyed. Everyone is laughing. Gaby blushed. “Can Gaby just pass? She doesn’t drink alcohol?” Dylan replied with no smile. “Geez, Dylan. You’re just jealous, so you want Gaby to pass,” said Riki. Dylan took the slipper and tossed it to Riki, and everybody laughed. “Is that OK with you, Gab? You never drink beer, do you?” said Dylan. Gaby smiled. “It’s OK.” Gaby approached Clark, and he was looking at her with seriousness. Gaby was jumpy again. She couldn’t understand. Gaby immediately drank the contents of the shot glass. She could manage but frown to taste, so everyone laughed except Dylan, who was looking. Then she swallowed the lemon wedge and approached Clark’s neck with her lip. Clark couldn’
Gaby woke up early. No matter how wakeful she was, she used to wake up early. She left the house and went joyfully toward the beach. She took a deep breath and drew near the water, where her foot was wet. The saltwater was warm, so her body relaxed. “Thank you, Lord!” she cried out. “Whooohoooo!” Gaby opens wide her two arms and lets the air envelop her entire body. It was the most relaxing since she went back to the Philippines. In Canada, she was right at home; sometimes they would walk to get some air. But she prefers it here. It’s all-natural when she’s here. She feels better. “Thank you, Lord! Wake me up again tomorrow!” She shouted again, then laughed as if there was no tomorrow. Gaby was so happy. She could not do so in their apartment. She can only wake up her housemates. But on the beach, she can shout as loudly as possible. Gaby was so grateful and extremely happy. Clark just got into a bath. He woke up early because he couldn’t sleep after drinking last night. His roomm
“Can I just ask? If you don’t want to tell stories.” Gaby said.Gaby stopped again and faced him. She waited for him, and then they walked together again.“Tss, you are an annoyance!” he said as he looked out to sea, smiling.Clark purposely turned away to avoid seeing his uncontrollable smile. But unbeknownst to him, Gaby heard her weak laugh, so Gaby smiled again.“Do you have a girlfriend?” Gaby asked.“You were suddenly interested in my love life?” he asked. “You’re into me, aren’t you?”Gaby frowned at him. It’s the reason his heart jumped again. ‘It’s bad. She frowns, but she’s still beautiful. She’s an angel. There’s nothing ugly about her!’“Like? I’m just asking a question, but your thinking is so advanced. Haven’t you ever realized that you can’t just have something to talk about?” Gaby shook her head.Clark said nothing about it. Gaby doesn’t like other girls. She doesn’t care about him romantically. She might be in love with Dylan. They were close. It would be no surprise i
After breakfast, they went all the way to Sasha’s ranch. Gaby was so happy to see the big barn. They breed other animals, such as pigs, goats, chickens, ducks, cows, turkeys, and pigeons. They never lost their smile as they watched Gaby. “Gaby is adorable, Dylan. She’s like a kid. Is she the way she is?” Belle asked. “Yeah, Gaby is a cheerful person. She can easily appreciate things, no matter how small or big. It’s one thing I liked about her,” says Dylan. “So, you’ve been in love with Gaby ever since?” Sasha asked. Dylan said nothing, smiled at them, and looked at Gaby. “You’re such a cutie, Gaby. You are like a child!” said Ashlee, laughing at her gaze. Her smile was beautiful, and her body was vivacious compared to when they met her for the first time. “I’m sorry, guys. Do I seem like a fool? I’ve never done this before and can’t hide my excitement. This is a dream that has become a reality. Thanks, Sasha!” Gaby said, squeezing her friend into her arms. Sasha giggled and hug
Dylan and Clark just set eyes on Gaby, who was impressed by what she did. When she fell into the water, they waited for her to float, but a few seconds later, Gaby did not come up. “Oh my, where is she?” Ashlee asked. Everybody was trying to find Gaby. She’s not been back up since she fell in the water. It’s been nearly thirty seconds. Gaby leaned on the rock and breathed deeply. She grabbed her chest. When she realized her friends were worried, she climbed the rock and relaxed. She took a deep breath before she said a word. “Are you looking for me?” Gaby said, smiling. Everyone turned around and didn’t respond right away. Gaby swam a long way despite falling across from them. “Hell, you’re so different, Gaby. Are you some angel?” Matt shouted. Everyone swam quickly toward Gaby, and even though she was confused, she swam closer to them. “You’re back!” said Dylan when he got closer to her. “You’re great! You’re a swimmer, don’t you?” Matt asked. “She is a swimmer and participa