Run to you

Embracing heart

Gale was anxiously staring at his phone. A night has passed and Fine did not come back. He made his decision. He called her. She picked up but Gale was not speaking. Besides Fine missing again, he was still bothered at what happened. "Gale? Why are you not talking? Is anything wrong? Is Fine alright?" The woman on the phone asked. "Uh, Elizabeth. I'm sorry. She went out yesterday morning. She said she'd look for a job but she's not back yet. I'm so sorry." He said. "What? What were you doing Gale?! W-What if something happens to her? Gale!" Panic was evident on the other line. "I-I know Elizabeth. I'm so sorry. I don't know what to do. I'm also worried." He said. "Alright. Let's calm down. I have a client right now so I can't search for her at the moment but could you call her best friend? I'll send you his number then as soon as the meeting's finished, I'll also look for her." The woman said but before she hung up, Gale had something bothering his mind that he wanted to clear up. "Wait, Elizabeth. D-Does she already know?" He asked. "Know what?" "About my father, and about our connection." He asked anxiously then he heard a sigh on the other line. "Don't worry. She doesn't know. If she knew she'd tell me and she won't stay with you. About us, I've been very careful. Only my husband knows, unless she sees through you which I hope not. Right? You were careful right?" She said. "O-Of course I was." Gale responded. "And Gale, she'll only be staying there for a short time until I gain my footing again." "Of course." He said then she hanged up the phone.

Before he could step out of his room, he heard the door opening. He hurried out of his room and found Fine taking off her shoes. He took a breath of relief behind Fine's sight. "D-Did you find a job?" He asked then Fine looked at him and shook her head. "I got kidnapped so I wasn't able to look." She said. Gale looked at her. He is very worried and he is already getting confused at what is real and what is not. He chuckled awkwardly. His confusion is very evident. Fine could see the distress in his eyes. It was a mixture of confusion and concern. The eyes that she has been yearning for. The concern felt warm and comfortable, and genuine. Very different from her unfaithful mother's, weak father's, busy sister's, and casual best friend's. She wrapped her arms around Gale's waist and laid her head on his chest. This surprised the man. Disregarding the reality and the walls it imposes, he decided to embrace what his heart holds for the woman.

Coming back to her senses, she pulled away and hurried to her room. Her heart was beating fast. She lied down on the bed and tries to calm down. She should not be feeling this way towards that man. There is no way she would fall for that man is what she was thinking of. Jumping out of the bed, she headed in front of her door, anxious as to how she would face Gale. She took a deep breath and composed herself, thinking of why she started and how she will end this. She thought of her mother and her mother's man and again, anger surged through her chest. As she turns the door knob, she was again determined. Opening the door, she was surprised to find Gale standing before it who was equally surprised. "What are you-" I-I just want to ask you if you want to come with me. I'll be picking up blue at the vet but before that, did you have lunch already? I'll have one on the road." He said. Fine lowered her eyebrows. "Who's blue?" She asked then Gale smiled, "He's my dog. His vet called me that he was ready for discharge so-" "I'll go."She said. "Alright, I'll be at the living room." Gale said then he left smiling and happy, quite opposite to the scheming woman.

Along the way to the veterinary clinic was a small restaurant whose owner Gale seemed to know. "What do you want? I'll pay." Gale asked Fine who was flipping through the menu. She looked at him and shook her head. "I'll pay my own food." She said although the foods on the menu are priced highly and way out of her budget from her savings. Gale smiled at her, "I'll pay. You weren't able to find a job right? This is the least that I could do for you." He said. "I'll pay you when I get a job." Fine said, hiding her face behind the menu. "You don't need to." He said. They may not see each other behind those rectangular papers but Gale's friend who was attending them noticed it. Gale went to the comfort room where his friend intercepted him. He bumped him and locked the men's comfort room. "Who is she man? Speak!" His friend teased him, trying to extract the juice in the news. "T-There's nothing between us. She's a student Will." He said then his friend took a step back. "That's alright man as long as she's not from your University." He said jokingly but Gale only stared at him then he took another step back, brushing his head with his hand. "Are you serious?! Gale! She's a student at your university? This is big man!" He said frantically. Gale hushed his friend. "I told you. There's nothing between us. It's just the circumstances alright? She's my father's woman's daughter." He said with a soft and low voice which even further surprised his friend. His friend leaned on the counter and crossed his arms over his chest, taking time to absorb what his friend just said. "Bro, this is serious. Super serious. I saw how you look at her man. We've been friends since childhood. I know you too well. You love her. What are you going to do now?" His friend asked, curious at his friend's answer.

"I don't know man. I do I-" He was cut by a knock on the door. "Maintenance!" His friend shouted then the knocking stopped. Gale laughed at the act but his friend is seriously curious at his friend's resolution. "Let's go back to business bro." He said. Gale knew he cannot escape his friend's interrogation without spilling the beans so he took a deep breath. "I love her and I don't care if she's that woman's daughter. What happens to my family is also the least of my concern. You know that I left that family already right? She's my concern now. I have to protect her from them." He said. "Then let her go bro. It's that easy." Will said. His friend stared at him and felt his helplessness. He then felt the guilt of what he said. "I can't man. I don't want to. It's easy to say that but ever since I fell for her, it has been a torture. It's both hell on either side and I'd rather have her and stand on the flames than loose her and die every day, every time the reason why I can't have her comes to my mind." He said then his friend smiled and walked next to him. He then patted his friend's back. "I knew it. Just remember this Gale, I'll always have your back, bro." He said then Gale took a deep breath. "Let's go back. I'm taking too long. She might have the wrong idea." Gale said then they both laughed.