Hook: The Novel (English)

Chapter 21: Just being friendly

Ford's P.O.V.

The tables have turned. If last week Gadiel was avoiding me, this time I am the one avoiding him. Imagine my shock when I suddenly woke up at Gadiel's condominium and found out that Prince was the one who reached out to Gadiel just to fetch me. In short, I inconvenienced him, and I was even more surprised because he had prepared breakfast for me, but I didn't eat it because I was afraid we'd run into each other. When I woke up, Gadiel was already gone because he had a morning class.

Aside from what happened last week, I'm still overthinking about what happened the night I got drunk. I'm embarrassed because I don't know what I said that day. I can't remember anything.

What if I crossed the line? What if I said something that I shouldn't have said? What if — aish!!! I'm currently sitting on the staircase of Manila Quezon (behind the oblation) deep in thought. It's break time, so I'm in a sentimental mode.

I miss Gadiel, but I really can't face him because I don't remember anything! I'm replaying the events in my head, trying to piece together the fragments of that night. My anxiety is eating me up, making me imagine all the worst-case scenarios.

What if I told him something that could ruin our friendship? What if I confessed something I wasn't ready to admit? The uncertainty is driving me crazy.

I was suddenly startled when someone put their arm around me, so I looked to my side, and it was Dean. He was seated beside me without moving his arm from around my shoulder.

"Hey, what's with the long face?" Dean asked, his usual cheerful tone breaking through my cloud of worries.

"It's nothing," I answered without much enthusiasm.

"You're sure? You know you can talk to me about your problems. I'm all ears," he said, and I smiled at him, appreciating his concern.

"I'm fine, don't worry," I reassured him, but the weight of my thoughts lingered, refusing to dissipate.

"Alright, if you say so. By the way, I just finished talking to Finn. He said we should go to Pentagon."

"Why? What's the occasion?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion because I couldn't remember any special occasion. It's not even my birthday, my birthday is in October.

I was surprised when Dean suddenly flicked my head. "How dare you forget Finn's birthday! What's on your mind that made you so occupied that you forgot our friend's birthday?"

"W-what! It's Finn's birthday?" I replied, incredulous, my mind scrambling to catch up with the revelation.

I guess I've been too busy. Between being swamped with schoolwork and my part-time job, and then there's Gadiel... I completely forgot Finn's birthday.

"Shit! Come with me to the mall!" I exclaimed, seizing Dean's arm and dragging him along, my sense of urgency overtaking any hesitation.

"W-wait, I still have a class!" Dean protested, but I was already pulling him away, my determination unyielding.

"SKIP IT, JUST THIS ONCE, COME ON!!" I urged, my urgency contagious.

"NO!" Dean resisted, but ultimately, he couldn't resist my insistence, and he relented, giving in to the spontaneity of the moment.

But he couldn't do anything, and he ended up skipping class. Just this once, hehe. Tomorrow, we'll be good students again.

—————

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" I greeted Finn as soon as we arrived at the pentagon (The restaurant Finn reserved), I said and handed my gift to him.

"You went through all this trouble, you know your presence is enough."