Chapter Four: The Familiar Feeling

“Gab, what’s happened?” asked Dylan.

While walking, the students were staring at them. They run after the eyes like they saw something. Gaby just looked at him and looked back at the road again.

“Ever since I’ve been here, I haven’t heard from you. I tried to contact you and Auntie. I can no longer view your social media account.“ said Dylan.

Gaby didn’t answer Dylan’s question. Someone called them from behind.

“Dylan!”

They stopped walking and turned around. Clark approached them, running. Dylan stopped walking so did Gaby.

“Are you going home?” Clark asked as he approached.

“Yes,” Dylan said.

Clark looked at Gaby, but she wasn’t looking at him. She just turned around after he got closer to them. They both walked together. Clark lifted his hand to the back of his head.

“What was it earlier?” asked Dylan.

“It’s nothing.“ said Clark.

Dylan smirked. “Have you given her any hope?”

“No, women are just making assumptions,” said Clark.

“They will never assume if you don’t give them hope,” said Dylan.

“Jeez! Dude, she only kissed me once, and that’s because she’s blocking my way, stole a kiss from me, and now she’s talking like we’re in a relationship? I felt violated, you know. A girl who does this kind of action is such a hopeless woman, which turned me off!”

Dylan chuckled. “How come you kissed her?”

“I didn’t kiss her. For heaven’s sake, she kissed me,” Clark said with disgust on his face.

“Well, she’s hot and beautiful,” Dylan asked.

“If you find her that way, go ahead, you can have her all you want,” said Clark

Dylan smirked. “I’m not into her because I’m already in love with someone else.”

Clark glanced at Gaby, who was just quiet. After he argued with the woman, he saw Dylan and Gaby on the bench earlier.

“Oh, dude! I’m sure a lot of girls will cry.“ Clark chuckled.

Dylan chuckled. As they walked, Clark glanced at the woman. She wasn’t chatting with them. She’s unlike the other ladies at the university who scream whenever they see them. He saw her lack of interest in him as though she didn’t see the qualities other ladies recognized in him. She’s unique.

By the time they reached the girls’ apartment, Ashlee, Belle, and Sasha had already arrived. Clark also sends Gaby home with Dylan went into their apartment.

“We thought you made it home first, Gaby,” said Belle.

“I just stayed at the university to drain time,” said Gaby.

“You two hang out with her?” Sasha asked, looking at Dylan and Clark sitting on the sofa.

Gaby nodded. “Dylan, join me to waste time on the bench. Grouchy just went home with us.”

Belle, Ashlee, and Sasha giggled at what Gaby said. “Grouchy?”

Both men looked at them. “You look crazy, Sasha. You laugh like an evil sorceress!” said Clark with irritability.

“Gaby says you’re a grump!” says Sasha. “Though she’s telling the truth, that sounds funny.”

Gaby smiled slightly as Clark reacted. His forehead wrinkled as he looked at them and looked at her.

“I, being grumpy, didn’t disturb you?” Clark asked Gaby.

“You didn’t, of course. But seeing you like that makes me realize I’m still blessed.“ Gaby said.

Everyone continued to laugh, and Dylan was one of them. “Clark’s not grumpy. He’s just going through menopause, so that’s it,” said Ashlee.

Gaby smiled. Clark looked at her, staring at her. She suddenly removed the smile from her lips.

“It’s time to go!” Clark said as he stood. “I hate hanging out with lunatics!”

“Dude! Are you going home?“ asked Dylan.

Clark didn’t answer. He just walked out and left. “That’s cute!” said Belle, giggling.

-

Clark shook his head while lying down in his bed in their apartment. He couldn’t forget Gaby’s simple smile back there. It was as if he felt something, especially when their eyes met. His phone rang. Andrea was calling.

“What?” Clark asks the other line. He frowned as the woman begged to see him.

“Fine,” he said.

He took a deep breath and got out of bed.

-

“I told you, I don’t want commitment. And I’m not in love with you, Andrea.“ said Clark.

“Well, you’re here,” said Andrea.

“Because you’re blackmailing me for committing suicide. This will be the final one, Andrea. After tonight, my hands are clean of anything you want to do alone.“ Clark said seriously.

So, they hopped in the car, and he gave Andrea a ride from the university and then dropped her off at her apartment. She hasn’t gotten out of the car yet.

“Why won’t you let us try?” said Andrea.

“Because I don’t like you. You are just getting yourself hurt,” said Clark.

“How sure are you? You haven’t given me a chance?“ said Andrea.

Clark never said a word. “I will do anything you want me to, and what I miss, I will make it up to you. I want to do whatever it takes. Just love me, Clark!“ Andrea said.

“Get out,” Clark says. He won’t even finish what Andrea has to say. “If you want to do everything, you will hear me. I don’t believe your feelings, Andrea. Stop begging, forget your feelings, and give me a break. If you do, your feelings may be true.”

“Clark…” said Andrea. “You’re ridiculous. What you want me to do is to distance myself from you?”

“Because that’s exactly what I want, for you to leave me,” said Clark. “Now, leave.”

“Clark, we have…” said Andrea.

“I said, leave!” he said calmly but firmly.

Andrea looked at him and was mad at him. She begged him to give her a chance for many years, but he would not because he was not ready yet. Andrea got out of the car and went directly home. He also swiftly drove the car and went back to their apartment.

-

Clark was to open the apartment’s main door when he heard someone singing. He frowned and searched for the voice. He knew it was very close to where he was. The song is familiar. Of course, it’s one of the famous songs from his favorite band, Parokya ni Edgar.

“I take one step away and find myself coming back to you, My One and Only One and Only You.”

He hears the voice singing on the fence between the girl’s apartment and theirs. The beautiful voice intrigued him. It was the first time he had heard someone sing at a friend’s house. Her voice is gorgeous. He wants to hear more than this and to know her. Clark went into the chair just next to the fence and looked over.

As there was a light on the lamppost, he could see the woman. She was wearing earphones as she sat on the bench. Her eyes were closed, she wore her pajamas, and her head was still moving as if she enjoyed singing.

For some unknown reason, he suddenly felt a nervousness. He grabs his chest.

‘What is this?’

She kept on singing. Clark’s heart rate was building up. He realized she’d stopped singing and immediately dock from the fence.

“Who is it?” she said, looking around.

Fortunately, he went into hiding. Clark stepped off the chair and sat down. He was nearly caught, so he rushed into the apartment and entered his bedroom.