After The Fall GxG)

Chapter 12

Favi's POV

After we ordered our meal at my favorite Pizzoteca at nag serve na ng drinks that we ordered—San Pellegrino water for both of us, nag settle na kami sa aming table ni Elle.  I'm sitting across from her.  She was all being quiet.  I clear my throat, she looks at me and I give her a smirk.

"So, now that we're here and you said that you'll tell me all about the Indian dude from earlier.  Ano na?"  I ask her and take a sip of my water.  Hindi siya sumagot.  Naka tingin Lang sa kin ng seryoso.  As if weighing if she's going to tell me or not at all. 

What in the freaking hell is going on with Elle? She's never been this secretive with me. I have to talk to Kai about her and see what she's observed lately about Elle.

"'May I remind you Ms. Beauchard, that we had a deal.  I'll buy you all the macarons you want at Laduree at sasabihin mo sa kin all about Aashnu. That French macaron is so expensive. So, you better make it my money's worth missy!" I tease as I fold my arms across my chest. I even raise my right eyebrow for good measure.

She smiles a little at my teasing tone. "Fine." She says, then sneers at me before drinking her water. I chuckle at that. I can hear her gulp before placing back her glass on the table. Bakit parang natitigilan siya? Dati naman wagas nga makapag kwento ito kapag may naka date or something. Ngayon parang hirap na hirap mag simula. Hmmm. I smell something and I have to get to the bottom of this.

"Start na. Go!" I urge her.

"Eto na nga. Okay it started a month or so ago. He's also a doctor at the hospital. Newly hired. He asked me out. We dated once. I agreed to that date just so tumigil siya ng kaka kulit. After that I ghosted him. Then two weeks ago, he asked me out again. I turned him down gently and told him na we could be friends. He agreed. Hindi ko talaga siya type eh. So, after that, he's been everywhere I go at the hospital." She takes a deep breath before exhaling as if she's trying to calm her nerves.

She takes her glass. Puts it down. Takes it again. Then puts it down again. It's like she's not sure if she wants to drink it or just hold the damn glass like a security blanket.

I hold her hand to stop that nervous tick. I take the glass from her. I smile at her just to assure her that everything's fine. I call for the server and order a bottle moscato. She needs some wine to calm her nerves. And I know how she loves her moscato.

"Look babe,". I tell her calmly with the most soothing voice I could muster. Hey, wait a minute. That sounded good. 'Babe' — rolls off my tongue quite smoothly. My inner self face palms herself. Enough of that and look after your best friend you dumbass! So, yeah. Back to our not so normal programming. I laugh to myself.

"Look babe," I repeat again. She looks at me and then runs her right hand through her hair. It's her way of calming herself.

"You know you can tell me anything right? No judgement." I move my hand and hold her right hand. I caress her wrist with my thumb. Smoothing the pulse point in a circular motion to calm and soothe whatever's bothering her.

Her cheeks has that rosy tinge. Like she's blushing? Or maybe not? I don't know. Doesn't matter. I need her to tell me the truth. So, I went ahead and ask.

"Is he stalking you? Is Aashnu Patel stalking you? Please tell me babe." I ask as calmly as I can this time. Trying to hide the worry and anger that's bubbling near the surface. Because I have a hunch and it's not good.

She takes a long breath and looks intently at me as I am doing the same to her
"Well, he's bordering on stalking me at the hospital. Then earlier, he showed up all of a sudden outside my apartment that early, just to bug me about the conference." She stops because the waiter arrives with a bottle of the moscato and pours it into our wine glasses.