I pushed him but not in a way that could catch the attention of the crowd.
"Gabriel, what is happening to you?" I whispered In his ears.
"What is happening to me? You said you were just going to the bathroom and when I saw you, you're dancing with Greg!" he said gripping my waist.
"I was about to go back to the table when I saw him. He asked me to dance---"
"And you agreed and danced with him!"
"So what? What was wrong with that?" I also glared at him.
"I brought you here to make Stacey jealous and not me!"
I was left speechless with what he said. -'He's jealous?'- I noticed how he was also surprised by his own word, but he masked it immediately.
"What I mean is that we're playing a sweet couple here, Madi! What do you think would other people say when they see you dancing with another man?"
"But Greg is not another man to me, Gabriel! He's my friend too!"
He looked at me suspiciously and I started to feel nervous. What if he asks me why I'm so closed with Greg?
"Are you falling in love with Greg, Madi?"
But the question he asked me wasn't something I expected. There's a different emotion in his eyes when he asked me that question. And because I was still in shock, I didn't answer him right away.
"You don't need to answer, I understand. I'm not in a position to ask you that." and then he left me with an open mouth.
-'What is happening to him? He always seemed jealous of his cousin!'-
He didn't talk to me again until the party is over and even when we were inside the car. He was quiet but remained frowning all the way home, so I just busied myself looking out of the window.
I don't understand him. Sometimes he's sweet, thoughtful but most of the times, grumpy. Well, what should I expect, he's bipolar, right? But I couldn't help glancing at him as he drives. His ring shines on my face when we passed the street lights and I looked into my lap where my hands were resting. I sighed and played my ring. I swirled it around my ring finger and looked out of the window again. This ring symbolizes my name being tied with his.
We were just a few blocks from his house when the heavy rain started pouring on the roof of the car. I smiled when I remember my childhood days.
"Stop the car!"
He looked at me with a deep frown on his forehead, but he also pulled over and stopped the car. I immediately opened the door and jumped outside. I heard him call my name but I just ignored him.
I ran in the middle of the street and danced around with both arms in a sideward position. I smiled and looked up at the sky. I missed this. I missed everything in my homeland. I missed my childhood. Those days when my sister, my brother and I played outside in the rain.
And the tears started running down my cheeks, but since it's raining heavily, nobody notices it. I remember what my brother said when I was only seven years old.
-"If you want to cry but don't want anyone to notice, go out when it's raining and cry your heart out. Let the rain wash your tears."-
Yeah... I'll let the rain wash away all my tears, but I wish it can also wash away my pain. I wish it can also heal my aching heart.
"Madi, what are you doing?"
He was now out of the car and heading towards me. He removed his jacket and now in his shirt. I smiled bitterly as I watched him walk closer to me. Why do I love him? Why do I also have to feel this pain of loving him? Are these the consequences of loving someone whose heart was still tied to his past?
"Madi, let's go back!" he tried to grab my hand by I stepped back.
"Get back in your car. I'm going to run in front of the gate." And I didn't wait for his answer as I ran to the gate which is just 500 meters away from his car.
"But Madi---"
I heard him scream behind me, but I ran as fast as I can just like my tears flowing fast as if there's no tomorrow. The guards immediately opened the gate when they saw Gabriel's car. I also walked in towards the front door, but there was a strong hand that pulled me back and two muscular arms that engulfed me with a tight hug.
Now we're both drenched under the rain. He's hugging me but I'm not hugging him back. I couldn't stop the tears to flow, it just feels heavier now that he's holding me.
"You're crying."
It's not a question but a statement that comes from him, when he pulled back and cupped both of my cheeks. I tried to avoid his gaze but he held my face and tried to meet my eyes.
"Why?"
I closed my eyes when I heard him ask me... why? I was also asking so many 'why' to myself. I looked at him and my eyes asked silently.
-'Why? Why Gabriel? Why do I love you? Why it has to be you of all people? Why not be Greg or someone around? Why couldn't I teach my heart not to fall in love with you? Why?'-
"Shhh..."
He said wiping my tears. I bit my lip to control my sobs and his eyes followed the movement of my lips. I just closed my eyes when he lowered his head and then I felt his lips on top of mine.
He kissed me... the most passionate kiss he could give me. And I instantly melt with his touch, with his kiss and I kissed him back.
-'How can I stop myself from loving you?'-
We've been in the rain for I don't know how long. When we pulled back, he hugged me again and kissed my forehead before taking my hand. We walked to the front door, without even saying a word. We went up the stairs but no one dared to speak until we were both at our bedroom door.
I thought he's already going to open his door, but he opened mine and pulled me inside. I didn't say anything. I didn't complain. I just watched him pull a clean white towel out of the drawer and then took me into the shower room. When we were inside, he sighed and stopped in front of the shower enclosure.
"Please, take a bath and clean up so you don't catch a cold. I'll be back." I just nodded and he handed me the towel before walking out of the door.
I started cleaning myself and put on my sleeping clothes. When I got out of the bathroom, I found him sitting on the edge of the bed with a phone in his hand. But I also noticed that he's already cleaned up and in his sleeping clothes.
I walked over to him and when he noticed me, he immediately got up and walked over to the bedside table. He gave me a glass of water and a green tablet. I looked at him and was about to ask if what the green tablet is for, but he has already answered the question in mind.
"You spent almost an hour in the rain, that's just to prevent you from having a cold."
If I was in the mood right at that moment, I would laugh at him with his 'cold prevention tablet'. I didn't know we can also drink medicine for invisible colds or impending colds. Because I remember my Mom was just giving me that medicine when I already have a cold. How silly of me, right?
But I just remained silent. I just followed what he told me to do. He took the glass from my hand and put it back where it was placed earlier. Then I climbed up onto the bed and lay down comfortably. But I didn't expect his next move. He also pulled half of the comforter and laid down next to me.
I was about to look at him but he was fast and he immediately pulled me closer to him. I gasped as he lifted my head and put his right hand under it and his other hand encircled around my waist. I wanted to ask him what he was doing but he beat me again.
"Don't open your mouth, I know what you're thinking. Just close your eyes and sleep. I'm just here. I won't do anything, I won't talk. I'll just hold you until you sleep."
He looked at me and kissed my forehead and then
smiled.
"Good night, Madi."
I smiled back and shifted myself closer to him as he also pulled me closer to his chest while repeatedly kissed the top of my head.
"Good night, Gab," I whispered softly and then closed my eyes with a smile on my lips.