It has been two weeks since they've last seen each other.Ced got caught up with work again because of the project with their investor.She spent most of her time with her laptop and barely leaves her office.Gab on the other hand is busy with her business,they already hired a delivery guy but it seemed to add to her stress because she received a lot of complaints in regards to the delays of delivery so she had to find a new one,they're also having some troubles with their suppliers.

Fortunately,these past few days were a little lighter for the both of them.Ced just came back from an out of town business trip with Mr.Juancio and the team,while Gab has resolved her problems.

Just as she thought her day is perfectly fine,the last person she wanted to see came to the shop,all smiles,wearing a white polo shirt and black jeans on its best foot forward.

"Hi"

Yes.It's the ex boyfriend named Richard.

"Yes?May I know what kind of bouquet you want sir?"

She tried to stay professional as much as possible.

"Do you want me to assess him?" Khate asks whispering to her.

"I can manage." She whispered back.

Khate went back to her seat.

"Gab,can we talk?"

Gab is skeptical about what just she heard.

"We don't have anything to talk about."
She said straight to his eyes.

"Please?Just give me a minute,let me explain.I know it has been a year already but I still love you." Richard said getting closer to her but she took a step back.

"What kind of joke is this this time?" She snicker.

"I've changed.I realized I couldn't afford to lose you.My life is different when I'm with you,please forgive me,Gab.We can try again and we'll get through it this time.I promise."

"Have you gone insane,Richard?"

She couldn't believe what this guy is up to.
They've broken up more than a year ago,she never heard of him since,it felt like she didn't mattered at all,and now he'll show up,talking shits,acting like nothing happened?

She had moved on and that says everything.

"Let me court you,I'll do whatever it takes." Richard pleads.

"Richard,let's not waste our time,I don't love you anymore,I don't know if you ever loved me at all but I accepted the fact that we're over.I gave you so many chances already and you wasted all of them."

Memories of the past flooded her mind again reminding her that it's okay to choose to save yourself and put yourself first.

"No,Gab,I'm sorry for hurting you,please give me another chance."

She's trying to free her hand from Richard's grip who's now kneeling down - begging.

The door opened revealing Ced whose eyes landed from her to Richard to their hands,in shock and wondering what's going on.

Gab forcefully and successfully removed her hand from Richard.

"Gab,please!"

"Stand up and leave." She said with a cold voice.

"Richard,you have to leave,you're causing inconvenience to our customer." Khate intervenes.

Richard realizes that there's a person behind them who he thinks is a customer so he decided to stand up wiping his tears.

"I'm sorry." He said to Gab and Khate.

"I hope I made myself clear,Richard.So please leave,I don't want this to happen again." Gab said with finality.

Khate accompanied Richard outside.Ced who witnessed what happened,even though she got no clue of the story behind,went to comfort Gab who's in the verge of crying.

She put her left hand on Gab's shoulder letting her know she's there for her.The latter looks at her with sad eyes which breaks her heart.
She gently took Gab's hand and caresses it.

She got caught off guard when Gab suddenly embraces her tightly.

Gab is trying not to let her tears fall because she promised to herself not to shed a tear to that person ever again,but she hates him,she hates him so much,she wants to scream,she wants him to know how much she hates him but he doesn't deserve her energy,yet she doesn't know how to control the anger she's feeling right now.She knows she's over him,the only thing she hasn't done yet is to forgive him for what he did because it keeps her stay grounded,it helped her build walls so she won't get her heart in trouble again.

"Gab?" Ced softly spoke caressing her back.

"Uhm?" She responds still snuggling on Ced's neck.

"You're pretty."

"I am?"

"Uhm."

She's contemplating whether she'll continue her sentence or not.

"But you're the prettiest when you smile."

Gab slowly faces her.

Their gazes locked.

Wrapped in each other's arms.

"Like this?" Gab teased showing her brightest smile.

She's indeed beautiful when she smiles.She has this precious smile that reaches her eyes that would make your day complete.

"Uhuh.That suits you better."

Ced's heart warms by the sight of this woman who's only inches away from her.She's happy that somehow she can make Gab smile.

Khate decided to get inside,she's been waiting outside for quite awhile to give the two time together but it looks like they have no plan on letting go with each other.

"You feel better now,cous,I suppose." She said making the two break free.

"Yeah,a little."

Lie.

If Khate didn't came in and ruined their moment,she has totally forgotten what happened because whenever she's with Ced,
she feels like they are in their own world,
she likes the comfort she brings,like there's no other room for negativity and no one in the world has ever made her feel like that.

She turns her attention back to Ced.

"By the way,what made you come here?" She asks,putting her hands in the pocket of her trouser pants.

"I came here to see you."

She could feel her cheeks burning upon hearing what Ced said.

"I...uhm.."

She struggles to form a word and she solely blame Ced for that.

"I know,uhm,I should've left,right?Sorry,I didn't mean to hear your conversation awhile ago."

She knew at the back of her mind that she must've left earlier but she couldn't move her feet.There's a part of her that tells her to stay,but still.She doesn't want Gab to think that she pities her because that's not the case.
She's been through worst too,so she knows that being able to survive a storm means more than just being strong.

But just because you managed to get yourself out of it, doesn't mean you deserved it or that you should go through it again.

It left you with bruises and trauma,and those can trigger anytime.

So you must learn your lesson,and never,
never lose yourself in loving somebody too much.It's okay to breakdown,but make sure to pick yourself up.

That is why for as long as she can,if Gab will let her,she'll do everything to keep her away from pain.

"Nah it's okay.I'm happy to see you again. "
She said making the latter feel relieved.

"Glad to hear that,uhm..I should probably go,I still have a meeting to attend."

"Let me walk you out."

As much as she likes it,she stops Gab from doing so.

"No,it's okay.Just take a rest.Sit there and relax." She said.

"Ced,you don't have to worry about me,I feel a lot better now,I swear."

"Then don't make me worry about you."

As though she said it sternly,you can still feel the concern behind it.

And Gab has a soft side for that.

"You can count on me."

"Good."

"Or do I have to call you when I cross the street or when I can't open a bottled water?" She jokingly said making the both of them laugh.

Ced just shook her head because of Gab's playfulness.

"Well,I won't mind."

"Says the busy person."

"Who knows what I'm willing to do for you."

That's the thing with joke.Sometimes,
it's could actually be not a joke.

"I'll test that some other time."

"I'll go now." Ced smiled and left.

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It's 12 in the high afternoon when Gab received a food delivery from an anonymous person.She was hesitant at first because she thinks it's from her ex but when she got a text message from Ced telling her to eat lunch,she confirmed one thing.

“If I get fat,I'll curse you to death.” Sent.

Gab texted her back.

Ced who's also eating lunch with her friends,opened her phone and reads Gab's reply and started grinning which make her friends look at her — the kind of look that an investigator or a judge gives you.

“You're welcome.” Sent.

“Care to share who's the unfortunate person who makes you smile like crazy,sis?” It's Matthew.

“Who's smiling?” She went back to her poker face.

“Stop pretending.” Matthew added.

“Hopefully not her prey.” Belle said.

Matthew's laughter echoes the restaurant but silence himself when he realizes that people are looking at him.

“Control your big mouth,Matt.” Belle sermons him.

“Sorry but that was so funny.”

Ced wants to tell them who but it's too early,she just wants to seize the moment because it awaken her soul,plus Matthew is here.For sure he won't stop asking about Gab if she opens up a topic about her.

“Stop being ridiculous guys,it's just one of my clients.” She lied.

“Really?Then I'd like to meet that client of yours .” Belle said.

“Me too.I also like to meet my future wife again.” Matthew said.

“Future wife?” Asks Belle.

“Remember Gab?The friend she brought with her on your birthday.”

“You like her?”

“Uhmm...I have a crush on her,and I want to know her more but this friend of ours won't give me information about her!”

“I told you she's not interested.” She plainly said.

“But she's single,right?” Matthew asks looking hopeful.

Belle and Ced started laughing.

“You look like a clown,Matt.” Belle jokes.

“True.Or like a pig who got too much exposure from the sun.” Ced added.

“Stop bullying me and just answer my question.”

“She's not interested.That's all you need to know.”

“Fine,but once I'll find her,you'll give me your permission,okay?”

“What permission?”

“You're her friend so I guess I have to ask for your permission too if I'm going to court or date her.”

Permission as her friend?Court her?Date her?
To be honest,Ced just wants her friend to shut his mouth right now because he's giving her a headache.

She just shrugged her shoulders and didn't answer him.

On their way back to the office with Matthew driving and Belle sitting on the passenger seat while she's at the back,she once again opened her phone.

“Food tastes better when it's free,yes?
Thank you for this.” Received.

That was Gab's reply 30 minutes ago when Ced puts her phone down so she could avoid the stares of her friends.

“What about a dinner later?” Sent.

She waits for a couple of minutes for a reply but got none.Gab must be busy which she understands.

But she's hoping that Gab will not decline because God knows how much she wants to spend time with her.

Even when she doesn't noticed it.

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