Chapter Six: Uneasy Feeling

After Dylan left, Clark and Gaby left at their table. Gaby never even looked at him. She turned to Sasha. They dance happily at the center. She laughed a little because they were still quarreling.

“Hey, Miss Beauty.” said the man.

It stood in front of her with two other men. “What is your name?” one man asked.

Gaby looked at them and didn’t say a word. One even sits beside her. She was looking at Clark, and he wasn’t even looking at her. It was hard for him not to notice that there were males at their table.

“Leave. I have friends with me,” said Gaby calmly.

“As I see it, you’re by yourself.” the man said.

They noticed Clark sitting on the other side, just looking at them.

“It seems that you are not close to him, that you sit separately, that you do not speak to one another. But we can talk to you. We can have a long chat if you like.“ The other guy said.

“I’m not interested in you,” she said, annoyed.

“You are snotty! Let’s get to know you.“ the man said.

The man was about to hug her. She raised her hand, but suddenly there was a commotion. One of the man’s companions fell when Clark punched him. They both got up immediately to get back at Clark. Fortunately, Clark escaped the blow. Because of what happened, there was a loud noise in the bar, and everyone was watching.

Sasha approached Gaby because of what had happened. And Riki, Matt, and Dylan also punched the boys, helping Clark out. They did not expect the three men to have a more significant number of companions. They encircled them, and the three also arose. All four Heartthrobs look at each other and have nine rivals.

But Clark doesn’t bother with them. He immediately rushed in and punched them. Clark rushed over and beat them up. Riki, Matt, and Dylan did the same. Soon the bouncers came and came close to wean them off. They recognized Clark, so the bouncers came straight to him.

“Let him out. He’s making trouble here. They’re harassing my friend.“ Clark said, annoyed.

“Yes, Sir!” said one of the bouncers

They noticed there was blood on Clark’s lip. Clark uses his thumb to smear blood on his lips. “Goddamn it!” Clark curses the weak voice.

“Are you okay, Gaby?” Dylan asked her

She looked at Dylan. “Yes, I am alright.”

The group took their seats. “What happened? Why are you getting into a fight, Clark?“ Matt asked.

They saw Clark was fighting alone, so they approached and helped him, and Dylan did the same.

“Ask her,” said Clark.

Clark took the beer from the table and gulped it down. He even laid it on the table.

“Sorry, guys. Suddenly, those men approached me and forced me to come to their table.“ said Gaby.

Everyone looked at Clark. He frowned at them. “Why are you looking at me like that?” Clark said, annoyed

“This is the first time, Clark, after five years!” said Dylan.

Clark ignored what Dylan said. He just continued drinking beer.

—

When they came home to the apartment, his companions were drunk. Gaby was the only one who did not drink. Sasha, Belle, and Ashlee quickly climbed into their room. Clark was on the sofa, and his head rested on the sofa’s backrest as he closed his eyes. Dylan, on the other hand, washed and then entered the restroom.

Gaby was holding an ice bag. She sat down next to Clark.

“Clark?” she says. The man did not open his eyes, so she called him again. “Clark..” Gaby said.

Clark opened his eyes and turned to her. He was still not removing his head from the backrest.

“I’ll put ice on your bruise!” says Gaby.

Clark hasn’t said a word. Gaby knelt on the couch and carefully applied ice to Clark’s lips, who stared at her.

‘This grumpy guy has a heart. If he weren’t looking out for me, I’d be fighting those gangsters. If Dad finds out, he will send me back to Canada.’ Gaby thought.

“Sorry, you got bruises because of me. Thank you for standing up for me,” Gaby said. “You still got a heart, even if you’re still grumpy.”

Clark didn’t even say a word. Instead, he was staring at her. She looked into his eyes and felt something strange. It was the first time she had felt like this. She didn’t know why her heart was beating so fast.

It surprised her when Clark suddenly held her hand, the one holding the ice pack, and he was staring at her.

“A-are you okay? A-aren’t you hurt?“ Clark said with a weak voice.

Clark adjusted his seat. Now they are sitting face to face. He held her hand and looked at her.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you! “Gaby said, and she smiled a bit.

Gaby noticed he looked at her as though examining her entire face. She blushed. He was the first person to stare at her for so long. Even Dylan, her best friend, doesn’t stare at her like that.

“H- have we met before?” Clark’s asking out of the blue.

Gaby frowned. She had never seen him before. They only met at the university for the first time, but why did Clark ask her to?

“Gab, that’s enough. You need to rest!”

Gaby and Clark turned to Dylan, who was close to them. There was something in his gaze on them. Clark let go of Gaby’s hand.

“Clark, let’s go so Gaby can rest,” said Dylan.

Dylan approached Gaby while Clark stood up from sitting on the sofa. “Gaby, take a rest! Good night.“ said Dylan, smiling at her.

Gaby smiled. “Rest well too. Good night!”

Clark left the apartment, so Dylan followed him.

-

The next day, the group rose early to visit the Sasha family vacation home before sunrise. It’s Friday, and Monday is a public holiday. They have a long weekend.

They used two vehicles. The women were with Dylan, the driver, and the boys were in the other car.

“I can take care of myself last night in case Clark hasn’t interfered,” Gaby said.

“It’s better for Clark to fight them than for you to fight, Gab.“ Dylan’s sermon.

“You know I can defend myself,” Gaby said.

“It surprised me last night, too, honestly!” said Belle.

“After five years, Clark still has a heart!” said Sasha.

“Sasha, you know, Clark is kind. If that hadn’t happened, he might have wings now.“ Dylan said, chuckling.

“Why is he so grumpy?” Gaby asked.

“Oh, you’ll know soon. Clark didn’t want to talk about it. Maybe he hasn’t been able to move on from what happened then.” said Sasha.

Gaby was in the passenger seat beside Dylan, and the three women were in the back seat. He noticed Gaby was taking pills from the bag and drinking them.

“Why are you taking meds? Are you not feeling well?” Dylan asked.

Gaby shook her head. “No.”

Dylan just smiled and stared at the highway. “You know, Gabby, Dylan doesn’t have a girlfriend. He’s single.“ Sasha said suddenly.

Gaby chuckled. “Why? It seems impossible.”

The three women giggled. “Among the heartthrobs, Clark and Dylan never had a girlfriend. But Riki and Matt are every girl’s boyfriend.“ said Ashlee.

“Seriously? Don’t they have a girlfriend? Why?“ Gaby asked while looking at Dylan.

Dylan smiled at her but didn’t say a word. “Clark, he had a girlfriend. But it’s been a long time.“ Sasha said.

“What do you mean?” Gaby asked. “They split up?”

“Clark had a lot of affairs, but none lasted a week.”

“That’s because he doesn’t flirt with these women. They stick to him purposely,” Belle said.

“But Dylan never got a girlfriend,” said Sasha, smiling.

Gaby looked at Dylan. “Is that true?” Gaby asked.

“Many women assume that because Dylan is kind to them, they feel like Dylan loves them too. But Dylan says at once that they are only friends for him.” Sasha explained.

Sasha noticed Dylan was staring at Gaby in secret while they were talking. “Looks like you might be his first girlfriend, just in case,” said Sasha.

Gaby blushes. Dylan smiled but did not speak.