Chapter Eight: The Reason

“She’s my best friend in Canada. We separated when I returned to the Philippines.“ said Dylan.

“You mean separated? You have a relationship with her?” Belle asked.

Dylan shook his head and glanced at Gaby. “When we returned to the Philippines, I could not say goodbye to her,” said Dylan.

Gaby was looking at the sea. She didn’t seem interested in what they were talking about.

“Why? What happened?” Belle asked curiously.

“Because Granddad had a heart attack and was hospitalized, Daddy was in a hurry to get home because of the news,” Dylan explained. “And because it happened suddenly, I never have time to say goodbye to Gaby.”

Gaby never said a word. She looked quietly at the ocean. “So you have never returned to Canada?” asked Riki.

Dylan nodded. “I never came back. After Grandpa died, Dad took care of everything he left behind. Even Aunt Yvonne didn’t make it back to Canada.“

“So that’s Gaby?” Sasha said in disbelief. “The woman you’re crazy about in Canada?”

Of course, Sasha knows what happened when he got home from the Philippines, and even then, she helps him search on social media.

“We couldn’t find her on social media, could we, Dylan?” says Sasha. “Do you have any social media accounts, Gaby?“

Gaby turned to them and nodded. “I had it before, but it’s not active anymore. My account is closed, and I didn’t create a new one.” Gaby said.

“Why couldn’t Dylan get in touch with you? Did you change the number?“ Belle asked.

“We moved into a new home,” Gaby said plainly.

“That’s too much! But anyway, there’s always a second chance, isn’t there? Perhaps here, in the Philippines, you’ll stay together.“ said Ashlee.

Dylan glanced at Gaby. He noticed she was wiping a tear off her cheek. It was like something was pinching his heart.

‘Gaby!’ Dylan thought.

Gaby and Dylan talked about getting together at the playground near their village in Toronto. He sends her there because he has something important to say. A call confused them. Their grandfather rushed to the hospital while meeting with the board of directors. It was the day he was supposed to meet with Gaby on the playground. He couldn’t call Gaby and say goodbye because his dad took a private plane so that they could go back to the country and catch his grandfather alive.

When they reached the Philippines, his grandfather died a few hours later. Everyone was busy and sad, and he only remembered the girl when he saw the news on CNN Canadian television. It was a major accident, which included Clark’s girlfriend.

He tried to call her at home and over the phone, but we couldn’t reach her. The same goes for her parents and brother. He also looked on social media for a few days, but there weren’t any.

That was five years ago. Dylan never expected to meet Gaby until she heard from Sasha that she had a new roommate, Gabrielle Shin Johnson. At first, he did not believe it, even though he felt anxious. He was wondering how to face Gaby. They hadn’t met for a long time.

He only confirmed it when he saw the girl in the apartment while she was walking down the stairs, followed by Ashlee. She didn’t notice him at first because he was sitting on the sofa on the side. When he saw her familiar face, it was as if his heart had stopped beating. He was nervous when the girl turned to him, and it shocked her to see him. He just smiled to hide the excitement and joy he felt.

“Will you stop that drama? Listening to that is so annoying. It’s time for a swim.“ said Clark.

Clark and Riki immediately got up, and without a word, they lifted Matt, then ran fast and dumped him in the water.

Everybody laughed. Matt stood up straight away. “Man, that hurts! It’s so shallow!“ Matt complains.

“Is that so? Riki, let’s go!“ said Clark.

So Dylan, Riki, and Clark quickly ran into Matt and took him back. Matt got lost. Soon they threw it in depth once, laughing, and rushed back.

-

While everyone was playing, Gaby was looking at them. She smiled and laughed at their jesters as well. The boys tossed even Sasha, Ashlee, and Belle.

She can’t look away from Clark. He’s handsome, especially when he smiles. It thrilled Gaby to bits while watching him.

She never noticed that Dylan was already by her side. “Do you think you are exempt?” Dylan said.

Gaby turned towards Dylan. She noticed his smile was different, so she was about to run, but he immediately picked her up. Dylan ran closer to the water and threw her away.

When she came up, everyone was laughing. They are all already in the water and are having fun.

-

“You alright?” Dylan said, smiling.

“That’s unfair, Dylan. Thank you for not breaking my bones.” Gaby said.

They were both in the water. Dylan meant to isolate Gaby from their friends so that he and Gaby could be alone and talk to each other. He missed his first love so much.

Belle’s cry distracted them. Everyone laughed. Gaby looked back at Dylan and smiled as he looked over at her.

“Why are you smiling?” Gaby said.

“Nothing. You’re still exquisite.“ says Dylan.

“Liar,” Gaby said.

“It’s true. Your beauty is effortless.“ said Dylan.

“Tell me more. I’ll go catch the compliments now.” Gaby said.

Dylan chuckled. “You do not believe my words!”

“Of course, why would I believe in a heartthrob like you?” said Gaby.

“Why? Because I’m not lying,” said Dylan.

Gaby smiled but didn’t say a thing. “I’ve missed you,” said Dylan. “You better believe I missed you because I’m not lying.”

Gaby said nothing, just looking at Dylan. After a while, the waves got more potent because they were far away from the shore where the group was. Dylan noticed that Gaby felt terrified. Her feet could no longer reach the sand under the water.

“Why?” Dylan asked.

“I- I’m scared, Dylan,” said Gaby.

“You know how to swim, right, Gab? You’re a swimmer.“ said Dylan.

“D-Dylan, take me to shore if you please!” said Gaby.

He stared at her. Her face was serious and scared. “Relax, Gab! I will bring you back to shore.“ said Dylan.

Gaby nodded, and it surprised Dylan when Gaby hugged him tightly. He couldn’t believe it. In his memory, Gaby loves water. She is a professional swimmer, and she even takes part in competitions in Canada.

‘What happened to you, Gaby?’ Dylan thought.

-

“All right, there seems to be a love team in the group,” Riki chuckled.

They were all watching Dylan and Gaby in the deep water. Gaby hugs Dylan, and Dylan swims back.

“They look great together,” said Ashlee.

“They are the living proof of the saying Love is sweeter the second time around,” said Matt.

Clark wasn’t talking. He was looking at both, and he had something to feel in his chest. He couldn’t figure it out.

“Hey, are you coming?” Matt asked.

Clark ignored Matt. He got out of the water and went back to the hut. “What happened?” Matt asked.

He sat in the hut facing friends still in the water. Others approached Dylan and Gaby as they reached the shore.

Clark picked up a bottle of beer and opened it. He cannot understand himself. That evening, the woman did not put Clark to sleep. When he heard her voice singing once, he felt something and thought about it for a long time. And now he got a punch in his heart when he saw the two hugs. He has not entirely understood. He could not say he was jealous or attracted to Gaby because he had known her for almost a month. They’re not close either, and they seldom talk.

Clark thinks it all started the night she put an ice pack on his lip and stared at him. His heart seemed to jump. He looked like a high schooler, thrilled that his crush stared at him. Gaby doesn’t know him well, and he knows that their first encounter was at the university, but his heart seems to say that he has known her for some time. He closed his eyes and gasped for air.

‘Clark, what’s going on with you?‘ Clark thought.

“Is there something wrong with you?”

His eyes widened. Gaby stood in front of him, all wet, and she stared at him. Gaby took junk food and tried to open it, but she couldn’t because she had a slippery hand.

“Damn it!” Gaby said softly.

It surprised him to see how cute she was, and he laughed. He picked up the junk food that the woman was holding.

“Leave it to me!” said Clark.

Gaby looked at Clark as he grabbed her junk food and opened it. She couldn’t believe it. He was smiling. Later, she looked at him, and he handed her the junk food.

“T-thank you,” said Gaby. “Think about it. You also have a soft side.”

Gaby sat down on the other side of the table and ate some junk food. “Look at you. After I help you, you are still complaining. Aren’t you grateful even a bit?“ said Clark.

“You are naughty. Did the volcano erupt when you were born?“ Gaby joked again and laughed.

Clark turned to her, staring at her, so she felt embarrassed and stopped laughing.

“You like?” Gaby asked

Clark took some junk food that was just on the table. They didn’t talk to Clark for a few minutes.

“You don’t want to swim anymore?” Clark suddenly asked Gaby.

“I’m getting tired,” Gaby said.

“You didn’t swim,” said Clark.

“My body is changing. I couldn’t breathe while in the water.“ said Gaby.

Clark didn’t speak. He just laughed while looking at Gaby. It hit the woman.

“What’s funny?” Gaby asked.

“You’re still embarrassed to say you don’t know how to swim?” said Clark.

She blushed. Clark laughed even harder, so Gaby pouted her lips. “Seriously, is that funny?” she whispered.

It surprised her when Clark squeezed her nose. “You’re cute!” Clark says, smiling.

Gaby was stunned, and so did Clark realize what he had done. Suddenly, he stood up and left the beer on the table. It ran back into the water and messed with friends.

“What’s with him? He pinched my nose.“ Gaby said while rubbing her nose.

She stared at Clark in the distance.

—

“What did you and Gaby talk about?” Dylan asked as Clark approached them in the water

Dylan saw the two had been talking earlier, and Gaby laughed while Clark was silent. Clark later pinched the girl’s nose and bolted away.

Clark smiled. “Why are you jealous?”

Dylan laughed. “Quite.”

It surprised Dylan when Clark bowed to him while laughing. “Geez, what’s with Clark?” Sasha asked

“He’s laughing. And a genuine laugh.“ said Belle.

Sasha, Belle, Ashlee, Matt, and Riki stare at Dylan and Clark, wading in the water. “Has he moved on after five years of being grouch?” Ashlee asked the companions.

The group just laughed at what Ashlee said.