TGLES #2 : Belong To Me

Chapter 22 - I Know

Serena Cesantio

We both entered a small house that Caleb used to live when he's in Canada. It's a small house in Toronto and he has a small garden behind the house. It was a cozy little place and I really understand why he likes to be here. It's quite far from the city so people won't recognize him because if he attracted the people, they eventually tell the paparazzi.

"What do you think?" He asked as he stood beside me.

"It's really.. homey." I said and he took my hand pulling me towards the garden. He sat down on the bench and he gestured me to sit beside him.

"There's not a day that I never think about it. It was hard for me to get through everything alone to be honest." He suddenly said as he looked at the flowers blankly.

"Then why you decided to stay? You can go back and get the old life th-"

"It's not that easy, Serena. I heard about your condition from my dad and that's why I decided not to go back just yet." He cut me and I held his hand. He turned to me and smiled.

"Did you try to move on?" I asked.

"I did. I tried. I dated someone for 3 months and I just can't see her in that way. How about you?" He said truthfully.

"Well.. tried to date too but never worked out." I chuckled a little.

"I kinda believe.. if a person left and come around again, it means they're meant to be together." He said as he smiled to me.

"Me too." I nodded.

"7 years passed or mayble almost 8 years.. we're still ended up together." He said.

"Crazy huh?"

"Yeah, crazy to think about." He held my hand tightly.

"Have you ever think about living here forever?" I asked because that question suddenly came into my mind.

"Yes because Toronto is a really beautiful place. I love the city, the people and just everything but I just can't live here forever. I have my family and then.. you. I can't be selfish and just leave everything." He answered. The wind started to blow and I closed my eyes enjoying the breeze.

"Wanna take a walk?" He asked and I nodded. He got up and I followed him out from his house. We started to walk around his complex.

"Hi Mrs. Powell!" Caleb greeted an old woman in his 60s who was planning her plants in front of her house.

"Hey Caleb! It's been a long time since I've seen you." She said as she got up hugging him. I smiled to her and Caleb introduced me to her.

"This is my girlfriend, Serena. Serena, this is Mrs. Powell or Regina."

"Hello Serena, it's so nice meeting you. I kept asking him to call me Regina but he loves me to call me Mrs. Powell instead." She said as she hugged me. She chuckled as she patted my hand.

"I used to beg Mrs. Powell to bake me her meat pie. Her husband is Australian so she often made it." Caleb said and Regina chuckled.

"You're lucky because I baked it yesterday." She said as she patted Caleb's arm. She gestured us to get inside.

"Victor!! Caleb's here!!" I turned to Caleb and he smirked before following Regina inside. We walked into her house and an old man came out from his room. Caleb hugged him immediately.

"Caleb!! My meat pie stealer!!" I'm assuming he's Victor, Regina's husband.

"Hey.. Regina makes a good meat pie so.. don't blame me!" Caleb chuckled as he hugged him tightly.

"Who's this?" Victor turned to me.

"This is my girlfriend, Serena. Serena, this is Regina's husband, Victor." I hugged him briefly.

"Nice to meet you, Serena. I was waiting for someone to take him because he was lonely af." Victor joked and I laughed.

"When he's lonely, he's begging my wife to bake him lot of meat pie." He added and Regina laughed.

"I don't mind besides Caleb helped us a lot." Regina said and I chuckled. Regina brought us 2 meat pies and asked us to eat it right away. I took a bite and my eyes widen.

"This is so good.. Mrs. Powell, you're a good chef!" I said admiring her cook.

"Oh.. it's just a hobby, honey!"

"She was a champion back in her hometown, Vancouver!" Victor said and Regina shyly patted Victor's arm. I saw a family picture on the wall and discovered that Regina and Victor have 3 sons.

"That's Seth, Rick and Jonas." Regina said and I smiled to her.

"Rick passed away from a car accident." Victor added.

"I'm sorry." I said immediately.

"No, it's okay." I turned Regina and she smiled. She talked about her sons and how she's so proud of them. Rick actually passed away 6 years ago and it was so hard for them to accept Rick's death. That's why when Caleb came, they treated him like their own son. Caleb often helped then with things like fixing the pipes, fixing the tires or painting the walls. They believed that Rick's already in heaven and how they have to move on with their lives.

After eating a talking, Caleb and I excused ourselved to go. We bid our goodbyes and continued to walk.

"They're so nice." I said.

"Yeah, they are. My dad actually hug out with Victor a few times and they love to fish together." Caleb said and I chuckled.

"They actually know about you." Caleb said and I raised my eyebrows.

"Huh?"

"Victor once asked me to have a drink together and it came out from my mouth. I ended up telling him everything and he's the one who forced me to go back to New York."

"Wow.. I should have thanked him." I said and Caleb ruffled my hair.

"He said that I reminded of him when he's chasing Regina. Regina was arranged married with someone else when he met her. The rest were history."

"Wow."

"Regina was the one who introduced me to the her friend who owned a jewerly shop." He said as he pointed at my necklace. I held it and smiled.

"Serena." He called me and I turned to him waiting for him to continue.

"Hmm?"

"I know I used to be a jerk and an asshole but I promise you.. you won't regret giving me another chance." He said and I gave him a peck on his lips.

"I know, baby. I know."