CHAPTER 05

At the middle of the night, Ysabelle's beautiful sleep was disturbed by someone who screamed out loud and crashed some things on the floor. It seems familiar to her, the same voice of her friend, Dennise.

“But it's late already, why did she's here? F*ckin’ Dennise! You truly disturb my beauty rest. Shit! Just be ready, I’ll surely pull out all your eyelashes then.“

She immediately went out of her room but to her surprise, she saw in her own eyes that her Kuya Gabriel sneaked inside the guest room.

“Omg!! Does he bring an escort girl inside our home? But it feels like the voice of Dennise? Or is it really my best friend? Hmmm.. I smell something fishy out there.“

Well, everything was answered the moment she pushed him out from the guest room. “Confirmed! What’s the real score between the two of them? Hmmm.. you’re thrilling me off sissy, I will hardly pinch your groin, dear!“

She smiled widely seeing his kuya Gab, get inside his own room. That’s the time she also sneaked at the guest room but it was locked already.

“Hmmm.. What does it mean sissy? You really screamed like a cat huh, I will surely pinch your groin now!“ she gently knocked on the door.

“Sissy?! “ she was shocked seeing Ysabelle in front of her.

“What?! Do you really think it’s him again? What are you doing here sissy? Tell me now, is there something or shall I say a whirlwind romance here?“ she asked while Dennise widened the opening of the door to let her in.

“Oh, my gosh! He really invades my legit privacy, I’m about to sleep when he enters my room.“ she smiled sheepishly.

“But I wasn't born just yesterday so better stop fooling me around, sissy! What happened to your room? In fairness,  it’s too messy here and the last time I've checked, it was well organized by Nana. It seems there’s a strong typhoon landed or shall I say wild cats and dogs are fighting here?“ she said with a teasing smile on her lips.

“Sissy, that’s bad! You know my type for guys and sorry I don't even like your cousin, he's just like a brother to me. But that Gabby? he’s so damn!! Ewwww...“ she faked her laugh.

“Wahhhh!! Not me, sissy. Where the hell you got that bruises in your arms? Don't tell me, Kuya Gab is a real sadist? How did he kissed you? Torried or smack?" she whispered and then giggled.

“Yuck!! You’re crazy sissy. Just go back to your room, I’m going to sleep now. Remember dear it’s a long trip for us to travel back to the Philippines, our homeland!“ she faked her yawning and then lying on top of the bed.

“Hey! Answer me, please.. where did you get the bruises in your arms?“

“Fine. Let’s just talk again tomorrow, I’m tired and sleepy. Promise! I’ll tell you everything but not now sissy. Goodnight!“

“You’re so unfair sissy! Ahhh!! Please let’s talk for a while and tell me everything. I can’t sleep at all  sissy.“

But she didn’t bother at all because she’s sleeping already. “Oh, gosh! You escape from me for tonight but not tomorrow, dear. Goodnight, sleep well..“

She just slept for a while after Ysabelle left but it’s past midnight when she woke up in the middle of an airy feeling inside the room. She’s wearing her cotton pajama and top with a pink hoodie, she tiptoed in going outside her room. And then going to the garage where Ysabelle’s pink Porsche was parked.

Good thing that she had a spare of keys that l can use it anytime in case of an emergency like this. And it’s the right time for her to use it since her own car was left in the apartment.

(Dennise, didn’t know anything that someone's watching over her in all the actions she did, from above the dark terrace.)

When she went out of the village, that’s the time she realized it that she had no exact plan of going anywhere. All she wanted is to go out, breathe some fresh air from Paris for the last time. She just parked the car nearby the Eiffel Tower. And now she’s started to walk going to the place where everything started its journey.

“Full of admiration in the Eiffel Tower, she stares for the last time. This is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks, became the tallest man – made structure and the most-visited paid monument in the world.

Good memories in the past flashed in her mind when she glanced towards the couple who took some sweet photos together in front of the Eiffel Tower.

“We're kind of like that before being so sweet for each other. I used to be like that, the way she hugs her guy in front of many people.”

She looked up when she felt like almost crying but her mind betrayed when memories reminded her again with their happiness in this place.

“I remembered the night when he asked me to be his girl, I'm so happy back then and this Eiffel Tower became the witness of our love for each other.“ she gently wiped her tears falling down on her cheeks.

"I thought you're considered as a Symbol of Love?" out of the blue she asked it to herself.

"But why? We're tearing apart already?“ can’t stop her tears.

"It's considered as a Symbol of love due to its superb construction and outstanding views. Don't put the  blame in the tower itself. Just accept the fact that you're not really destined for each other."

She was shocked looking at Gabriel who’s seriously looking up toare  the Eiffel Tower while both hands, placed inside his pocket.

"Gabriel?!!" it seems to be in slow motion when he looked at her side.

"Yes, it's me and nothing else, Den." he answered her  without hesitation.

"W-why are you here? How did you know that—?" she asked with confusion.

“I’m here to fetch you, lady. As far as I remember, we had that early flight later. So, you need to rest now!“ he answered and immediately turned his back while she can’t move herself before she followed him.

"Hey, wait up Gabby!! “ she stopped him for a while and her eyes roamed around to look for her pink Porsche.

"You're looking for Ysabelle's pink Porsche?" He asked immediately.

"Actually, yes.?"

"Don't worry, I asked our driver to fetch her car."

They’re both quiet during their travel way back home. As soon as they arrived in their house, Dennise immediately went to her room and laid her back on top of the bed.

Minutes after she laid her back and she's about to sleep, when her cell phone keeps on ringing. It was Justin who called late already.

"H-hello?" she answered.

"Thea..." she even closed her eyes tightly upon hearing his voice. "I'm sorry. Did I wake you up?" he asked desperately but she didn’t answer him back. "I'm standing here outside your house. Can you go outside? And let’s talk for a while.“  her eyes widened on what he said and she hurriedly looked at him in the window. 

She gently moves the curtain to look at him where he’s standing besides his car. "Can you go outside? I want to see you. And I miss you, Thea." he said in his crack voice while looking up in her direction.

"Justin..." she whispered his name. 

But then, she’s surprised and suddenly froze when Gabriel’s hands encircled around her waist and hugged her so tight from behind. He whispered those words on her nape wherein her hair-raising as his lips almost touched her skin and the heat of his breath ignited the fire from within.

“Gabby!!“ she whispered back while closing her eyes to feel the strange feelings and leaned on his broad chest for a sudden support because her legs were trembling.

"DON’T YOU DARE TO GO OUT, DEN!“

He hardly speaks those words but a sudden sweetness when he mentioned her name.

"I'm sorry, Justin. Just go home. I don't want to see you anymore.“ she told him when she’s finally back to her own senses  and immediately opened her eyes just to look at Justin in his direction. While he's also looking towards them with sadness in his eyes. 

I’m sure Gabriel did it for a purpose just to hurt the ego of Justin. He succeeded on his game plan because Justin ended his call and decided to leave. When his car goes far away already, she about-face to Gabby and gives him a sharp look.

Then he just smiled and playfully touched her cheeks, then lifted up her chin to leveled on his own lips. Without further notice, he kissed her lips passionately. But out of her sanity, she kissed him back and even enclosed her hands around his neck for full entrance and support.

“Gabby..” she whispered in between their kisses.

“Den..“ he whispered back but continued to deepen their kisses.

They’re almost out of breath when they parted their lips. Dennise was so ashamed for what happened but part of it was happy and enjoyed being in his arms.

“But why'd you're doing this to me, Gabby? Justin wasn’t around already so please take-off your hands on my waist, it seems you’re enjoying it already.“ he smells irritation in her voice but he just needed to be at her side for a moment.

“Please let’s stay like this for a while, Den. Just relaxed, I won’t  do anything against your will. I just wanted to hug you tight and feel the calmness in your embrace.“

“Okay, 5 minutes would be enough, Gabby?“ she hugged him back and leaned her head to his chest.

He felt peace of mind having that awkward gesture besides her. “Thank you, Den.“ he whispered on her ears and gently kissed her forehead.

“It’s over Gabby! You may now leave in my room. Thanks to you and I felt better now. This is a good start to move on and have a life of my own without him. Goodnight!“ 

“Of course, Den.“ he took a deep breath and touched her face. “Okay, if you say so, whatever! Just go back to sleep now. “

“Haaisst.. Don’t mind it too much. I know it’s just part of the show in order to hurt the ego of Justin and I must be thankful to you, for doing it well."

“Okay, fine! Sleep well. “ 

Gabriel went back to his room and immediately took a hot & cold shower just to ease up her deep urges after they’re intimate encounter. It’s really hard to explain what he feels right now. But why'd she suddenly awaken his urge for something.. something that I neglected for seven years.

“I’m just a man that can feel something in between every time I see a beautiful woman on top of the bed. Of all the people, but why'd it's Dennise Althea Salcedo? She’s just a friend to me and I treated her like my own sister.“

“Shit! What the f*ck your doing to me Dennise? Oh c'mon, you’re out of your mind, Gabriel! There’s a lot of women out there but not to her for Pete’s sake!“ he gently punched the tiled wall inside the shower room.

He immediately stopped the shower and got a towel to half covered his body. Then he went out of the shower room. He’s only wearing his boxer shorts when he laid back to his bed and catched up some sleep but he failed to fall asleep.

Instead, his inner thoughts playing wild with Dennise. “Damn it!“ a silent curse for his damn thoughts. But he just closed his eyes and grabbed a pillow to hug it so tight. 

He curved a smile on his lips when they shared again the intimate moments not just kissing her so hard but making love to her all throughout until he fell asleep with deep thoughts of sinful desires for Dennise. 

A beautiful memory that he had for himself before they finally left the City of Love, Paris.