Three months later…
Gabriel and I are now back to what we were before. I haven’t told him those three words yet, but I know my actions were loud and clear to him and I also feel the same. He always calls me, sends sweet messages, and never fails to send me flowers every day.
Sometimes he put some quotes, and love messages with the words I love you in the cards. He proved to me that he’s a sweet and caring man and some of our customers asked if he really was one of the restaurant waiters to which he always just responded with a smile.
And about Martin, I had already explained to him that he’s just my friend and the truth is that he has a feeling for his sister. At first, he can’t believe it and didn’t accept it immediately, but eventually, Nancy and I explained to him at the same time how good a man Martin is.
But if you think that three months will go smoothly and Gabriel will continue to show me how much he loves me, well, yes, but something has changed in his behavior. He became overprotective and possessive over me and suddenly became jealous of even a small thing. And do you know who suffered the most from his possessiveness and jealousy towards me? Greg and my brother, Bryan.
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It was Friday afternoon when I too was wearing a waiter’s uniform to help our crew serve our customers. Actually, since Gabriel started his flower gimmick in the restaurant, it doubled the number of customers who have come to us. Some were curious because of the arrangements, taking selfies and groupies inside and outside of the store. And take note, many of them were bloggers, and Noelle was the one I always pushed to answer their freaking questions.
I was serving at the last table near the entrance when someone stood a few steps away from me. I ignored it at first as I was still talking to the customers. When I was done, I glanced at the figure who never moved in its post and a wide smile instantly crept onto my lips when I recognized the man standing proudly in front of me… Greg.
“Greg!” I couldn’t help raising my voice due to excitement when I saw him.
“Madi.” he gave me his cutest smile and we hugged each other tightly.
“I missed you, Gregy!” I said, giving him all my weights.
“You missed me?” he asked when I was already on my feet. I pulled him towards the office.
“Of course!” I said turning to him.
“Liar! Then where have you been those past years and why haven’t you even called me?”
I stopped and pouted at him.
“Greg, you know what I went through, three years ago. And I’m sorry for not informing you, but I’m back now, right?”
“Yeah, I get it! Tss! As if I have a choice,” he rolled his eyes.
“Hmp… do you want to eat?”
“Your treat?”
I chuckled. “Sure.”
He was the one who opened the door and the moment we entered, we saw Noelle come out of the mini-kitchen.
“Ohh…” her mouth formed an ‘O’.
“Hi, Elle.” Greg walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek, which made me raise an eyebrow. That’s his nickname for her.
-‘Since when did he forget to kiss me on my forehead? Hmm…’-
“H-Hi Greg.” Noelle smiled shyly.
And they exchanged strange glances, but I just stood there watching their staring competition.
“Hi.. to the both of you. I’m still here, kicking and alive.” I smirked when Noelle suddenly blushed and glared at me.
“Excuse me guys, I still have to check the meat supplies,” she said blushing and walking towards the door.
“Okayyy.. can you also check the stocks of the ‘red tomatoes’ in the kitchen?” she squinted at me but I just chuckled.
-‘I’m sorry, but it’s payback time!’-
When Noelle left the room, I started to study Greg’s reaction. I can smell something between them. Is there something they wouldn’t tell me? Or have things happened between them in the last three years?
“So, how are you?” he asked as he sat down on the couch. I was also seated next to him.
“Well, I’m good. What about you?”
“Still the same… waiting for you.”
And that left me speechless.
“Greg, you know—”
“Yeah, I know, it’s still him, right?”
I didn’t answer him, I just lowered my head.
“Don’t worry, I get it. I told you, that even if I can’t be your man, I can still be your friend.”
I looked at him and smiled. He held my hand as he sighed. He rubbed my knuckles and gave me a half-hearted smile.
“But you know what, I’m still wondering what you see in him that you can’t see in me? He’s handsome, I’m handsome too, I am—”
“Greg…” I don’t know where the topic is going.
“No Madi, just let me speak, please?” I nodded, my hand was still in his. “We have been friends since we were teenagers and until now, we are still friends. I don’t know why you still can’t see me, despite those years stayed by your side. And why him, who you had only known for months but already fell in love with him?” he looked at me and I saw the sadness in both his eyes.
“Greg… I’m sorry. You know if I can only dictate my heart—”
“I know. I know what you’re going to say. That if you can dictate your heart, you will choose me. But you can’t. You can’t dictate to someone’s heart to choose you and to love you, and I understand. But I hope this time, he can make you smile and always be happy. I wish you both happiness, Madi. You’re both an important part of my life.”
I curled my eyebrows. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Nothing, I just want you both to have a happy ending and—-”
“Are you leaving, Greg?”
“H-How did you know?” he was a bit surprised by my direct question.
“Based on your words. Where are you going? Are you staying in Florida, for good?”
“No. I’m going to the Philippines.”
“P-Philippines? As in… in Asia?”
“Yeah, I want to start a new life. I also want to heal my broken heart.” and he chuckled. But I noticed it was not his boyish laugh and it didn’t reach his ears.
“But how about Noelle? I can see something between you two. How you two exchanged glances earlier, there’s something you can call ‘understanding.”
“Madi, you’ve already answered that question.”
“Huh?” I asked him, puzzled.
“That you can’t force your heart to choose someone you don’t love.”
“So, you don’t feel anything for her? Not even a little spark?”
He chuckled at me. “Madi, I love her—”
“Then why don’t you tell her—?”
“Madi listen!” he cut me off. “I love her, but not as the love I feel for you. And how can I give her my heart, if it belongs to you?”
I was left speechless for the second time.
“But I’m not closing the doors,” he shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe one day, I will even be able to love her more than a friend. But I can’t promise, because I don’t know when will I stay in love with you.”
“Well, I don’t know what to say, Greg, but if it’s your decision, then always take care of yourself.” I can’t help but feel sad about his decision. Maybe I can also talk to Noelle regarding this matter.
“Can I hug you for the last time?”
“Of course.”
I said and he pulled me into a tight hug. He even gave me a lingering kiss on the forehead.
We were in that position when the door suddenly opened and that’s the scene that came first in Gabriel’s eyes. I noticed how his face darkened as he squinted at Greg. But Greg doesn’t seem affected by his cousin’s venomous glare.
“What are you doing here?” Gabriel asked him with clenched jaws.
And Greg slowly released me before turning to him.
“I heard Madi is back, so I came here to visit my friend,” he answered with a shrug.
“Really, just to visit her or to insist yourself to her?”
My eyes widened at the words he used. ‘insist’? What does that mean?
Greg gave him a sarcastic laugh before he turned serious.
“You really used the word ‘insist’ huh? I admit, I love Madi, but I never insisted myself on her! I never forced her to love me! How about you? Have you ever asked yourself that question?
And with that, Gabriel only took a few long strides and was already in front of Greg. He grabbed his collar with rage written in both his eyes.
“Let me tell you this my dearest cousin, whatever I do for our relationship is none of your fucking business!”
“Stop it, Gabriel!” I tried to stop him but he didn’t listen, he continued to choke Greg by holding him tight to his collar.
“Relationship? Well, let me remind you, you have never been in a real relationship before unless you have already forgotten it! And you’re still not in a relationship now, so don’t act as if you are her husband, because you’re not!”
“Oh my God! Gabriel, stop it!” I screamed when he suddenly punched Greg, and they started to throw punches against each other. “Greg, Gabriel, please! Stop that fucking childish fight of yours!”
They both stopped and turned to me. I narrowed my eyes to them.
“Is that what you call best friends and cousins? You’re willing to kill each other? And forgodsake! You’re in my fucking office! If you two want to end your life, you can get out of here and continue your fight outside this restaurant, and I don’t fucking care!”
They both remained silent but continued to throw daggers at each other. But after a few seconds, Greg was the first to walk toward me.
“I’ll be right outside.” and he gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before he left the room.
Gabriel’s knuckles turned white as he formed his fists into a hardball.
“What was that?” he asked me with a frown when Greg was completely out of our sight.
“What do you mean by your question? If I am not mistaken, I should be asking you that, right?” I asked him back with the same expression. “What is your problem with Greg? Why did you punch him?”
“Because he kissed you and you just let him do it!”
“Gabriel, Greg is my friend!”
“A friend Madi? Do you let your friends kiss and touch you every time they see you? Is that what you call a friend?” his voice rose a little as he brushed his hair.
“It was just his gesture even from college, and it was just a kiss on my forehead, not on my lips! Forgodsake!”
“Yeah, he’s your friend from college, but you never once mentioned he’s your suitor too!”
“What is your problem with that? I even let you kiss me before even though we’re not friends! And I let you kiss me now and then although I haven’t accepted your offer! So, what’s the difference between that and Greg’s gesture?”
“Because you are my wife! I can kiss you whenever I want because it is my right!”
“Right! Right, Gabriel? Well let me remind you my ‘dear husband’… yes, our marriage was legal but that’s because of our previous agreement and nothing more! We had no relationship, except for being friends and until now, we don’t have anything that we can call a relationship! So, don’t you ever — ever — push your rights towards me!” my voice rose an octave higher which made him stop in his tracks.
“Madi…” he looked at me with a shocked expression on his face.
“Let’s talk some other time, Gabriel,” I said lowering my voice as I started rubbing my temple.
“Love, I’m sorry. I-I didn’t mean to—-”
“No, Gabriel! Stop calling me that! You meant every word you said! I’ve known you for so long, and I know you would never say things like that without any meaning, or if it’s just nothing to you.”
“Madi….” he tried to touch me but I took a step back.
“Let’s talk some other time and let me just process all of this.” I raised my palm in the air to stop him from trying to touch me. “Please?”
He stopped and looked at me with sadness and hurt written in both his eyes. But I looked away and walked over to my desk.
“Can I call you later?” he asked and I nodded without looking at him.
I heard him sigh before walking towards the door. I glanced at him through my eyelashes but immediately looked away when he stopped at the door and turned to me.
“I love you.” were the last words he said before finally exiting the door.