CHAPTER 11

*GISELLE*

I didn't have to do anything for the evening, so when a suitor that has been constantly in contact with me, texted and asked for a date, I accepted.

"I really appreciate that you agreed to go out with me tonight, Giselle." Paul honestly spoke. He was such a sweet and thoughtful guy, if only I was attracted to guys like him.

But no, I had to fall in love to an insensitive asshole.

"Oh come on, Paul, we actually went out before, right?" she teasingly answered.

"That was almost five months ago, Gis,"

"Oh really? Sorry, it's just that I have been quite busy these past few months as well. You know how my boss is. He's a workaholic, and that he also expects us to work as much as he does." I retorted. "Anyway, where are you taking me tonight?"

"I had booked a reservation at Italia's"

She just nodded. But she secretly squirmed inside. That's one of the restaurants that Gian brought her often. She wasn't ready to step on that place that witnessed her embarrassment. Her illusions of a relationship with Gian. Thinking of that hotel left a bitter taste in her mouth. But she couldn't just tell Paul to go to another place since he has a table already.

I was silently praying that we wouldn't meet He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I think the gods were listening, I didn't even see a shadow of him there. And in fairness to Paul, he was hyperfocused on me and I slowly started to relax and enjoy my time with him.

He could make me laugh even on his corniest jokes. And most importantly, he makes me feel important and appreciated, something I didn't feel with Gian.

They were almost out of the place when they met the asshole he acted at the moment. Their eyes met for a moment before I looked away from him. I didn't get Paul's joke, but I made the pretense of laughing at his jokes, especially since I felt his gaze on me. Or maybe I was just assuming and making illusions again.

*GIAN*

I was running late for a dinner meeting with another client when I caught sight of Giselle laughing at a douchebag. We momentarily looked at each other before she looked away. I clenched my fist looking at her having fun with a guy other than me. I could no longer understand my own emotions. Why am I feeling pangs of regrets when I used her and pushed her away.

I forced myself to walk away and enter the restaurant. I was a bit preoccupied while we had our meeting, but I guess the client didn't even notice it. I compelled myself to listen to him talk. I should really focus on my business and not on the mess I created with Giselle. She could plague my mind later when I'm alone.

After the meeting, I immediately got out and drove straight to Giselle's house. I was getting paranoid. Did she go home with that guy? Or did she invite him in to her home? Just thinking of her being intimate with someone other than me makes me feel nauseous. I parked a few blocks away from her home and walked the rest of the way there. The lights are still off, so I went to sit on the stairs going to her house.

I must have waited there for almost an hour before I saw a familiar silhouette coming. I immediately stood up and met her half way. She was busy texting someone, and she wasn't spying much attention on her surroundings.

"That's dangerous, you know? You should always stay alert especially walking during these hours."

She was startled when she heard me. "Gian? What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you," I said simply.

She raised her brows, silently asking why. And honestly I don't even have an answer to why I was there. I cleared my throat before answering.

"Well, I haven't seen you for over a month. I wanted to check on you."

"Right." she replied, "Well I'm good. Anyway, I'm going in, thanks for checking on me."

She walked past me, and I was left in awkward silence. But then, what do I expect. We didn't necessarily part in good ways. Maybe what I said to Icen was true, there wasn't even a friendship left to salvage.

*GISELLE*

I slid down on the floor when I went inside my home. The night just keeps getting better and better. What the heck was he doing here anyway? Checking up on me, my ass!

I started getting annoyed. "What's his game this time?" I asked myself.

I pulled, myself from the floor and huffed out air. Whatever his game is I'm not going to get pulled into that again. I've learned my lesson. I'm still learning to get over my mistake, and I'm not going to allow him back into my life again just for him to play me once again.

With hat decision in mind, I went to the bathroom and cleaned myself up.

"You're not going to ruin my otherwise perfect evening, Gian Ford!" I told myself in the mirror.

I laughed at myself, I think I' going crazy, I'm already talking to myself! Maybe I should buy a pet so that I can have someone to talk to other than my friends. She thought about it, possibly she should buy a dog or a cat. But then she thought dogs or cats are a lot to take care of, she should choose something a little more low maintenance.

Deciding that she went on with her nightly routines and walked back to her bed.