CHAPTER 01

When should love prevailed for both of them? At the moment of anger and revenge or when they're both pretending not to fall in love?

"Don't you dare of fallin' in love with me, Den! You're already in trouble, because I'm not capable of loving anyone else."

She's still smiling even if her heart was totally broken right after she heard Gabriel. "You're right, Gabby! I won't fall for you, over my beautiful and gorgeous body!"

Not that I can't love you, Dennise but I'm just afraid to lose you again like Athena.

"That's my girl!" I smiled teasingly.

"Shut up, Gabby! Do you really think that I might fall for you?" Dennise smirked. "No way!"

Away from the past, could they possibly fall in love without hesitation? Or another heartbreaking relationship? Is their real romance behind the unrequited love?

********

"What?! Are you out of your mind Kuya Gab? It’s a big no!" She said loudly, enough to hear her point. "I still love my freakin' life and valued my career, so I’m out of your plan dude!“ 

Ysabelle was hysterical when she knew about the entire plan of her cousin Gabriel Venturri.

“Just do it for me, Ysa and in favor of your Ate Athena as well." He paused for a while and looked at her with fierce eyes. "She needs justice and that's the only way to seek justice for her.“ Gritted his teeth after seeing the exaggerated reaction of Ysabelle. As if he's going to kill anyone on the spot.

“Oh my gosh, kuya Gab! It’s been 7 years, since Ate Athena died. So please move on and get a life." Gently touched his handsome face. "There’s a lot of fish in the ocean, just go and catch the one who deserves your love.“ And pinched his cheeks.

“One more thing, you’re handsome, intelligent, rich and powerful dude! That every woman will run after you, my dear cousin."

"Cut that crap, Ysa!" He smirked.

"Just open your eyes to see the beautiful women around you and open your heart to give your love again that truly deserved for your pure love." But he just smirked again, for all the thoughts she had for him.

“This is my life and my own happiness, Ysabelle. So, you better accept my offer now, because I really need your help my dear cousin.  And Athena Jade Calderon, was the only woman I loved." He gently poked her forehead.

"Blah– Blah— Whatever!"

"No one else could replace her in my heart and I will love her for the rest of my life. I could only gain peace of mind, if I could get the justice I wanted for her.“

Because of their closeness, she had pity for him. So she had no choice but to accept his offer immediately without any reasonable doubts. The most important here, is what he felt for almost seven years of sadness when Ate Athena died for a very unreasonable cause of death.

“Okay, I understand kuya Gab! Though it’s against my will, fine! Whatever! I will do what you want me to do. I really can’t say NO to you dude!"  

“Thank you, dear!"

"No worries but promise me that you'll fixed yourself now and moving on for a better You!" Sadness filled in her heart.  "Haaisst.. I’ll be missing my life here in Paris. That’s why you owe me a lot kuya Gab? Because I'm leaving my Hi-So life and my modelling career, just for you."

"Don't worry, Ysa. I'll provide everything you need in your life.“ He smiled happily on his lips that finally I agreed already about his plans of taking revenge to Emmerson Rafique. And most of all moving our lives in the Philippines.

"Yeah, right. Rest your mind now."

"I could only gain peace of mind, if ever our plans will be successful. I am only doing this for my beloved Athena Jade Calderon." 

Athena died seven years ago, but until now my dear cousin, Gabriel Venturri is still  madly in love with her.

-Flashback-

“What’s wrong with you Gabriel? How many times, I told you and even squeezed it in your mind that between us is OVER!! You thrilled me, don’t you know that?"

"No! You're just—"

But Athena stopped him from talking. "You’re intelligent Gabriel and handsome. So don’t waste your time loving someone like me. I’m very sorry Gabriel, but this is the last time that we should see each other.“ 

She felt very sorry and sad for him, after all, she loves him so much not until one day she falls out of love because of someone that catches her full attention. And that's Emmerson Rafique, the new transferee in their school.

“I can't do that to you my love. I could still forgive you for what you've said earlier, just don’t ever leave me.“ He’s begging so much for her but she’s hardly refused to change her mind.

“Ohh my God, Gabriel! I’m no longer happy in our relationship and I don’t want to go on with this any longer because both of us might get hurt in the end."

"No!"

"Oh, yes! Please set me free and let ourselves find our true happiness that could give us love and meaning to our lives.“

“You don’t need to find that man anymore because I’m here willing to give you that true love and happiness. I won’t give up on my love for you, Athena."

"Stop it, Gabriel!" She took a deep breath.

"I will do my best to study well, so that you can be proud of me and your family will accept us.“ He promised to her with all his heart and sincerity but she just ignored his feelings and left him in vain.

Athena left him for nothing and hurriedly runaway but still he tried to follow her girlfriend. He's surprise, he didn’t expect to see in his own eyes that her beloved Athena is hugging someone else after their break up. That was a real pain in his ass!

“So, he’s the one you really love and wanted to be with, Athena?" He said with pain in his heart. "That’s why you’re just leaving me like this? I’m still hoping that you’ll realize it one day, I’m still the one you truly love and not the stranger you're hugging right now.“ 

Out of so much pain in his heart and jealousy he just left them with tears in his eyes. He's totally devastated at that moment when he was betrayed by her beloved.

-End of Flashback-

“Hey, you're stunned again kuya Gab? Why don’t you just forget Ate Athena? Think about it again, she’s the one who left you before and even tried to break up with you, in exchange with that mere stranger." 

"She's just confused about her feelings for Emmerson."

"It doesn't matter! She's still betrayed your love and trust." I raised my eyebrows for disappointment. "And then she didn’t even know the background of that man, oh what was his name again?" She asked sarcastically.

"Supposed to be, you should hate her because she betrayed your love, my dear cousin!“ I hate myself because I can’t do anything to lighten his burden.

“That’s enough, Ysa! It’s not true that she really loves that man. She’s just infatuated with his good looking personality. I knew it, I’m the only person that could love her unconditionally. “

“But kuya Gab, what will you do now with your pure love, if the reason is already dead? You better stop that crazy feeling of yours because she’s gone forever." Ysabelle took a deep sigh.

 "Even if you took revenge against Emmerson, it’s no use at all since she will never come back even if you had given her fair justice. So, please wake up and make up yourself, dude!“ I hugged him so tight in order to give a little ease and comfort.

“But how? Until now, she’s still in my heart, the love that is meant for her and I’m regretting that I never fought before with her obsession towards Emmerson." 

"If I did it fighting, she might be alive until now. Being happy together and enjoying a beautiful life with me for the rest of our lives.” He tried to stop his tears when a sudden flash of painful memories in the past.

“Kuya Gab, please don’t blame yourself because it's clear enough to us that it’s not even your fault why she died. So, forget everything because the real culprit was already imprisoned.” She's trying to control her patience while saying it to him gently.

“Excuse me everyone! Is there any problem and it seems like someone died at the moment? I’m still alive, hello!!” 

Someone interrupted in their serious conversation and it’s Dennise Althea Salcedo, Ysabelle's childhood best friend.

“Friendship! It’s kuya Gab, he's so emotional and until now he’s bitter and can’t move on with his life. Even though ate Athena already died 7 seven years ago but still he’s living with her lost memories.“ She immediately glanced at Dennise. “You’re so mean with your life kuya Gab and even to those women out there who's loving you secretly."

“Ouchy, friendship! Oh my gosh, Gabby. It’s been a while since she died and I guess 7 years would be enough for you to move on. And it’s about time to look for someone else that deserves your love. I’m not saying it’s me but I’m available now.“ Dennise blurted out with a laugh when both of them turned their heads at her. 

“Of course, I’m just kidding to change the atmosphere and I guess there’s a lot of women out there. But you can’t even notice them because of your love and memories of Athena." Dennise said.

"Stop it, Den." 

"No! You’re always thinking about her, why don’t you try to open your heart and love again? So that you're not wasting your handsome face and gorgeous body with the damn memories of your beloved Athena. Get up, Gabby! And mingle with women, we’re here to help you out from your doom world.“

“You’re a perfect match, friendship! That’s why I agreed to go back home, who knows, I would finally meet the one there that could make him fall in love all over again. Someone that could heal his wounded heart.“ 

We're both laughing at the thoughts about him of falling in love again but kuya Gab just looked at us seriously.

“Count me in, friendship for a change of environment and I need to move on as well from my toxic relationship. Who knows that I could meet mine too.“ 

She said with a bitter pain in her heart that catches the attention of Gabriel.

“Don’t tell me Den, that you’re breaking up with your bastard boyfriend, Justin? “ He asked out of curiosity but Dennise didn’t deny the fact that they broke up already.

“Yeah, right. We broke up and ended our 2 years relationship, since last week.“ And sadness suddenly filled in her beautiful face.

“But why?” 

“I saw him sleeping with another woman inside our room and in our own bed! Well, it’s disgusting and he even betrayed my love and trust for him." She just shrugged.

"So, I don’t have any reason to stick with our relationship if he's unfaithful. Of course, I don’t want to waste my time mourning, he’s a jerk! I’m beautiful and gorgeous, so there’s a lot of sea lions out there!“ She laughed hard but we're just looking at her seriously.

“Tsk. Not all men are like him, Den. I guess there’s still someone who’s still faithful and loyal to his love. Just give them a chance to prove your worth.“ Gabriel said with all his heart.

“Someone like you? Sorry, but I’m not in the mood of competing with your beloved Athena, like duh?! I still love my own life and don’t worry I can handle this.“ 

We're all blurted with a laugh and even kuya Gab joined with us laughing out loud before he left. He's now going to his own room to pack all his things.

We are still talking at the verandah and taking the view of the night. Suddenly they're talking about what happened to Dennise and her ex boyfriend, Justin.

“Now, friendship please tell me what happened to you and Justin? “ I suddenly asked out of nowhere when kuya Gab left.

“Oh, c’mon Ysa! Let’s not talk about that Justin because for now I really hate him. If I could only kill him and that ugly woman he slept with, I'd rather do it to them on the spot. But sad to say that I really can’t do it because I love him so much.“ 

Her tears flooded as she reminisced the hurtful feelings with her ex boyfriend.

“Fine! I understand friendship and I guess this is the right chance for you and kuya Gab to move on with your past. Forget that bastard and idiot man, I’m sure you deserve someone that will love you truly and respect you for who you are.“ Hugging my best friend so tight inorder to give her love and comfort.

Despites of what happened, good or bad, they are now finally submitting themselves to go further and create a new life away from the limelight. Away from sad and bad feelings from the past.