Five Words

Chapter 33

~Cher

Our date comes to an end, and I am disappointed in myself. I couldn't stop myself from thinking about Ace the whole time. Whenever we passed by a place, I would wish Ace is the one walking beside me not Gabriel. I let Gabriel hold my hand, and pull me to him, but I wasn't affected in the least possible way. My night wasn't bad at all. It was okay, but it would've been better if someone else was with me.

Gabriel opens the passenger's door for me and I smile at him as I climb out of his car. His hand lightly touches mine, and he interlocks our fingers.

"I had a great time, Cher." He says, "I loved spending time with you. Let me tell you this, you've changed so much."

I laugh, "You did too. You're not as stupid as you used to be."

He scoffs, feigning offense.

"I will not comment so that our date ends on good terms." He jokes.

"I had a great time too, Gabe. Thank you."

The part I'm scared of is finally approaching. He leans in and I don't move a muscle. I wait for him and pray that he wouldn't and he doesn't.

He kisses the top of my head and his lips linger there for a second.

"I thought tonight isn't the right time. You know...after everything that happened with Adrian."

I sigh, glad he thinks this is because of Adrian.

"Yeah.." I agree. "Thank you."

"Goodnight, Cher."

"Goodnight, Gabe."

He waits for me till I get inside, and his consideration warms my heart. He's so considerate, and this makes me feel like a complete jerk for thinking of someone else the whole time I spent with him.

I toss my keys into the bowl on the counter. My mother and Paulina smiling at me while sipping their tea, waiting for me to spill the tea. There are no signs of neither Ace or Jolie which makes that soft pain in my stomach to return.

"Bonsoir. Good evening." I take a seat opposite to both of them.

"Uha." Paulina brushes me off, "How was your date?"

"Good."

It was.

"No, tell us." My mom eggs me on.

"It was good. He took me to get dinner, then we walked around the place for a while and talked." I shrug my shoulders.

"What about the bag?"

Oh, I have forgotten about that.

"It's just something I got from an antique store." I tell them and push myself up to avoid any questions more about it. "I'll change, okay?"

"Okay, darling."

Why is she smirking at me now? I ask myself.

"What, mother?" I wait for a question or a statement related to Ace.

"Ace didn't go on his date with Jolie. He's up in his room packing for your trip."

My eyebrows shoot up to the ceiling and my heart can breathe again.

"Why didn't he go?" I ask.

"I don't know. He wouldn't say anything." Paulina replies, and she thinks that she's so subtle.

Just by looking at her, I know that she knows exactly why he didn't go. But I won't initiate anything.

"I'll go change then."