Chapter:6

Gabriel had been drinking that time and leaned against me. I couldn’t help but look at his gentle face. I just waited until he woke up.

“Samantha, sorry, I fell asleep. Let me take you home,” he said.

“It’s okay, Gabriel. I understand you’re a little drunk. Sure, take me home.”

He brought me home and didn’t do anything inappropriate. I still couldn’t wrap my head around why me—why Gabriel liked me when there were so many women chasing after him.

The next morning, as soon as I woke up, I had to call my parents because my father needed medicine for his condition.

“Hello, Nanay. How is Tatay?”

“He’s okay, anak. But I need to buy some medicine that the doctor prescribed.”

“I told you Tatay doesn’t need to work anymore. I’ll send money—he doesn’t need to do anything.”

“You know your father, anak. He hates relying on others, especially you.”

“He’s so stubborn. Alright Nay, I’ll send money later before I go to work.”

“Take care, anak.”

“You too, Nay. Please take care of yourselves. Tatay needs someone to care for him.”

---

Meanwhile, Gabriel was dropping off his cousin at a fancy restaurant where she was meeting her boyfriend.

“Thank you so much, Gabriel,” said his cousin Alexa.

“Alright, I won’t stay long—I’ve got somewhere else to go. Just call me when you’re ready to be picked up.”

“That’s what I like about you, Gabriel. If only we weren’t cousins, maybe I’d be one of your girls.”

“Really now? You know this cousin of yours is quite the catch.”

---

I was about to enter a money remittance center when I saw Gabriel’s car from a distance.

“Oh no… that’s Gabriel’s car,” I said to myself. I saw him talking to a woman.

“Alright, Alexa, I’m leaving. Be careful with your boyfriend,” Gabriel said.

“He doesn’t need to be careful—he’s not you.” Then Gabriel walked off to his car.

“Ugh, what a womanizer. He really thinks he can fool me,” I muttered. After sending the money to my parents, I headed to work.

“Why the sour face?” Erika, my coworker, asked.

“Nothing. I just saw something earlier.”

“I’ve been noticing things about you lately. Isn’t your day off tomorrow?”

“Yeah, but I’m not excited anymore. I have to see that guy again—Gabriel. I couldn’t say no to him. If he wants to play games, then I’ll play along.” I said angrily.

“I smell something… Is my friend falling in love?” Erika teased.

“You’re too much.”

Evening came and still no sign of Gabriel.

“Hmm… Someone’s looking for someone. Could it be Gabriel? Just kidding! He’ll show up.”

“I don’t care if he doesn’t show up. I’m not affected!”

“Sure you’re not… Bet you’ll cry later.”

“Cut it out, Erika. Can’t you see I’m in a bad mood?”

“Sorry!”

“Fine.”

I went home feeling off. Gabriel didn’t even call or text me. I was already used to him picking me up.

“That guy is so annoying! Just wait—tomorrow, I’ll show him who Samantha really is.”

“Excuse me… Is Samantha still inside?”

“She already left, sir.”

“Okay, thanks.” Gabriel went home and tried calling me, but I didn’t answer. He figured I had already fallen asleep.

He still tried. The next morning, he called me early.

“Hello, Gabriel. Why are you calling so early?”

“Don’t you like it? You’re my top priority,” he said sweetly.

“Oh, really now?”

“Later at six, I’ll pick you up, okay?”

“Alright. I’ll wait for you.”

“See you! Mwaah!”

By 4 PM, I had already picked out my clothes, showered, and prettied myself up. As I looked in the mirror, I couldn’t wait to see that Gabriel. Right on time, he arrived.

“I’m here, Samantha.”

“Hold on—I’m coming out now.”

When I stepped out, Gabriel looked me up and down.

“Is that really you? You’re even more beautiful, Samantha,” he said as he opened the car door for me.

“Oh really? Like it’s your first time seeing someone like this?” I replied sarcastically.

“No, but you’re more beautiful than the rest. Let’s go.”

“Sure, let’s go.”

When we arrived at the venue, I was amazed—it was a fancy place, clearly well-prepared. But I thought to myself, men are always like this when they want something.

“Is it nice?” he asked while holding my hand.

“It is. Don’t they have beer? I want to drink.”

“They have wine, vodka, and champagne. Pick what you want.”

“I want beer.”

“Alright. Do you have beer here?” he asked a waiter.

“Yes, sir.”

“How many beers do you want, Samantha?”

“Ten.”

“Can you handle that?”

“What, you think I can’t? I work at a casino.”

“Fine, but let’s eat first before we drink. I ordered a lot.”

We ate and talked, then started drinking.

“Cheers!” I said while chugging a bottle of beer.

“Samantha, we’ve had a lot to drink already. I said this was a date, not a trip to a bar.”

“Come on, Gabriel! Let’s drink more!”

I kept drinking until I started feeling dizzy. Gabriel just kept staring at me and let me drink.

“Let’s go. We need to leave. You can’t handle it anymore—and neither can I drive.”

“I’m fineee!”

Suddenly, he carried me to his car.

“Where are we going?”

“You’re drunk. You’ll sleep at my condo.”

He brought me to his condo. Even while we were in the elevator, he kissed me. I kissed him back. I couldn’t resist what Gabriel was doing. When we got to his unit, he pinned me against the door as we kept kissing, unable to let each other go.

We entered, and he carried me to his bed. I unbuttoned his polo, and he took it off. He raised my skirt, eventually removing my red dress until I was left in only my underwear, while he still had his jeans on. I unbuttoned his jeans, and soon, he was down to just his boxers. He started kissing me again—from my lips to my neck, then my chest. He unhooked my bra, revealing my breasts, and kissed me harder, playing with them until I moaned from his touch.

He moved down to the most sensitive part of my body, removed all of my clothing, and finally took off his boxers. He made love to me. Again and again, we shared each other completely.

“Samantha, I love you!” he said before we fell asleep from exhaustion.

“I love you too, Gabriel.”

Even after sleeping, he wasn’t done. When he woke up, he kissed me again and made love to me once more. This time, I was on top of him.

“F* me hard, Samantha!”**

“Gabriel…!” Finally, we were done. We just smiled at each other as he held my hands and kissed them.

“Samantha, I’ll find a way to give you a better life. You won’t have to work at the casino anymore.”

“Really, Gabriel?” I asked as we looked into each other’s eyes.

“That’s a promise.”

“Gabriel, I need to go home and change. I still have work.”

“Here, Samantha—take this money.”

“I’m not for sale, Gabriel.”

“This isn’t payment. I’m giving this to you because I know you need it.”

I accepted the money because I knew what we felt for each other was real.

“You impressed me, Samantha. I’m the first man you’ve ever given yourself to.”

“So don’t you dare cheat on me, Gabriel. I thought hard before doing this. I wouldn’t give myself to someone I didn’t love.”

“That’s a promise.”

He took me home and even waited to drop me off at work.

“Samantha, something’s different. You’re glowing,” Erika said.

“You really want to know everything, huh?”

“So… where were you last night?”

“Erika, please… that’s our secret.”

“Ooh, now she’s keeping secrets.”

Meanwhile, Gabriel rushed home.

“Sir, your mom called,” the maid said.

“What did she say?”

“She wants you to call her when you arrive.”

“Okay.” He called his mom right away.

“Hello, Mama? Why did you call?”

“Son, your father had a heart attack. I need you here. Come back to America.”

“What?! How is Papa now?”