Chapter:4

While playing poker, Gabriel couldn't help but steal glances at Samantha. Suddenly, Edward, his friend who also enjoyed going to casinos, arrived.

“Edward, so you're here! You've been gone a while.”

“Yeah, I just came home yesterday to visit,” he replied.

“Ah, I see. Let’s play then.”

“Hold on, I’ll grab us something to drink,” he said and went over to Samantha.

“Excuse me, two beers—one each. Please have them delivered.”

“I’m just the cashier, sir. I’ll have someone deliver your order,” she explained.

“Gabriel, look, the new cashier is pretty,” Edward said.

“Don’t even try. She’s mine.”

“So you beat me to it again. You're really fast, Gabriel.”

“Gabriel, I’m going home. They might be looking for me already, and I’m sleepy,” said Alexa.

“Wait, let me take my cousin home first, Edward. I’ll be right back. Wait for me, okay? Don’t leave.”

“Alright,” Edward replied. They left without saying goodbye to Samantha.

When Samantha looked over, Gabriel was gone again.

“Where’s that Gabriel again? Every night it’s a different girl,” she told her coworker.

“You said it. Good-looking guys really attract women.”

While waiting for Gabriel, Edward approached Samantha.

“Hi, I’m Edward,” he introduced himself to her.

“Samantha. Let’s talk later, sir—I’m still busy,” she replied.

“Don’t worry, I understand.”

“Okay, I’m free now.”

“When did you start working here? I haven’t seen you before,” he asked.

“I’m fairly new—less than a year.”

“Do many people tell you you're pretty?” he asked.

“Uh, yeah. Some do.”

Soon, Gabriel returned and saw Edward chatting with Samantha.

“Am I interrupting something?” he asked.

“Gabriel, I was just asking Samantha when she started here. I didn’t see her before—I haven’t been around for two years.”

“Alright, let’s go play before we distract Samantha from her work,” he said, and they left to play again.

“My friend’s lucky—two hot guys are coming up to her,” teased Samantha’s coworker.

“Oh, come on, Erika. He’s just talking to me, and I have to respond because he’s a customer. That’s all,” Samantha explained.

“Okay... my friend is something else.”

“Didn’t I already tell you that Samantha is mine?” Gabriel reminded Edward.

“I was just talking to her. Is there anything wrong with that? Fine, I won’t go near Samantha anymore.”

“Good. We understand each other now.” After the game, Edward and the others left, but Gabriel waited for Samantha.

“Are you going to take long?” he asked.

“Who said you should wait for me?” I sarcastically replied.

“You should be thankful I’m waiting.”

“Then why don’t you go with your friend, or your girlfriend, or your cousin?”

“Oh really, I offer to take you home and you’re the one mad. Fine, I’m leaving. Bye!” Gabriel walked away, and I felt a bit of regret since it would be hard to get a ride.

“See? He got mad. If I were you, I wouldn’t be rude. Be friends with him—you might get free rides,” Erika told me.

“Maybe I went overboard. I admit my behavior wasn’t nice. Maybe I’m scared I might fall for him and then he’ll just leave me hanging…”

“You’re thinking too far ahead. You don’t even know Gabriel that well.”

“You’re right. I’m so judgmental. I’m just scared—you saw how girls are all over him.”

“Still, who knows—maybe he doesn’t like those girls because you’re playing hard to get. Maybe that’s what he likes about you.”

“Maybe. Let’s go home.”

“My boyfriend’s picking me up. What about you?”

“I can walk or wait for a ride.”

“Alright, we’re going. Take care.” Erika left with her boyfriend. I was left alone on the road. But not far away, I saw Gabriel’s car. He started the engine.

“Come on, don’t be stubborn. Just get in—it’s dangerous.”

“Alright.” I agreed since the road was risky and there might be shady people.

“What did you and Edward talk about?”

“Nothing. He just asked when I started working at the casino because he hadn’t seen me before.”

“Looks like Edward’s interested in you.”

“What about you and your girlfriend? Why were you arguing earlier?” I asked.

“Are you jealous? She’s not my girlfriend.”

“What about last night? She was all over you like you were a couple.”

“You’re jealous.”

“Why would I be? I’m not your girlfriend.”

“No, but maybe soon. Do I have a chance if I court you?”

“Keep dreaming.” Suddenly, the car stopped, and he kissed me.

“So I don’t have a chance?”

“Gabriel…!” I responded to his kiss. We kissed for a long time before pulling away.

“Why’d you do that?”

“You said I didn’t have a chance, so I figured I’d take the shortcut. But it’s obvious you wanted it too.”

He’s a good kisser—and he smelled amazing. As I looked into his eyes, I could see he was serious.

“Samantha, we’re here,” Gabriel called, but I was still dazed from what happened.

“Oh, I’m here already. Thanks.”

“Hope my kiss doesn’t keep you up tonight.”

“Whatever.” When I got to my room, I couldn’t stop thinking about Gabriel’s kiss. I tried to forget it, thinking maybe he only did it to make me believe he liked me. The next morning, he called early.

“Hello, what now?”

“How are you, Samantha?”

“I’m okay.”

“Did you sleep well last night? How was my kiss—did you like it?”

“If you think I liked your kiss, you’re mistaken!” I hung up.

“What happened? She just hung up on me. I’ll keep bugging you until you’re mine, Samantha.” Suddenly, his phone rang again. “Hello, Papa!”

“How are you, son? Don’t you plan on coming to America?”

“Dad, I’m okay. I like it here. Life there is too boring.”

“But son, I need you. I’m getting weak. You need to take over the business.”

“I’ll think about it, Dad. How’s Mom?”

“You know your mom. Since we got here, she visits her friends every day. That’s why I need you here.”

“Poor Dad. Alright, I just need to settle some things here and then I’ll come to the US.”

“I’ll count on you, son.” He ended the call, when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

“How are you?”

“Gwen, what are you doing here?”

“It’s you again. How many times do I have to tell you I don’t like you anymore? I like someone else.”

“Who let her in?”

“Sir, she insisted. She said she’s your girlfriend.”

“You still haven’t changed. Still a playboy,” said Gwen, his ex-girlfriend.

“Ex-girlfriend! We’ve been over for a long time. Why are you back?”

“You think I’ll let you toss me aside just like that?”

“Sir, someone else is looking for you—another one claiming to be your girlfriend,” the housemaid said.

“What? I don’t have a girlfriend anymore. What is it with these women?”

“So what are we, just one-night stands? Please get out! Manang, don’t let anyone in, even if they say they’re my girlfriend.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Gwen, I’m sorry. Accept it—we’re done.”

“I won’t accept it that easily, Gabriel. We’ll meet again.”

“Alexa, why are you here?”

“Gabriel, you really need to change,” said his cousin Alexa.

“I’m already changing. I don’t know—they just keep showing up out of nowhere.”

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