Chapter 119 - Tears Of Happiness & Hugging A Stranger

"There you go, Mister! Go on… Give it to your girlfriend!" The little girl handed the beautiful bouquet to Gael.

"Thank you, Little Princess. I sure will." He received it with a smile.

"That would be 70 dollars!" She extended her hand out.

He bent down to the little girl's level and gave her a hundred dollar bill, then he whispered, "Here. And buy yourself and your mum some breakfast. Okay?"

Once she received the money, he smiled at her and got to his feet. Then he turned to Angela and handed her the bouquet. "For you." 

Angela suppressed a smile to show on her face. She thought this was silly. Why was she taking his games so lightly?

"I believe she said to give it to your 'girlfriend'," Angela responded, glancing at the little girl who was still standing by Gael.

A small smile danced on his lips as he inched the bouquet closer to Angela. "I believe she said to give it to you."

She looked at the little girl again, who was now waving her hands towards her, gesturing to receive the flowers. The little girl looked at her like she was a dummy—Angela thought that although the little one didn't say it, she might have thought something like: "Don't be stupid and just take it. It's just flowers!"

Indeed. It was just flowers. 'This isn't a date, Angela,' she told herself.

And so she did. Angela received the flowers with both hands, the paper bag's handle dangling around her wrist. She appreciated the bouquet. Two shades of pink roses: soft blush and dusty rose, which looked to be about twenty of them, some baby's breath, and sprigs of gold leaves. They were all cradled and wrapped in a white and soft pink paper. It was beautiful. And looking at it painted a smile on her face.

She couldn't tell if she told Gael back then that pink roses were her favorites. She didn't care much about flowers, really. But she preferred these colors. Maybe she told him, she forgot—and he remembered. Or perhaps it was purely coincidental. However, she didn't ask him. Instead, she uttered, "Thank you."

Sometimes, things didn't need to be so complicated. Sometimes one just needs to accept when they're appreciated. And this time, Angela chose to receive his kindness.

'What's one bouquet of flowers?' she thought.

"Shall we?" Gael probed.

They walked towards his parked car across the road. She couldn't help but remind him, "Just so you know, we're not on a date."

"I know," he responded. "We're just two people going to share breakfast."

"So you didn't have to buy me flowers."

"I can buy you flowers even if we're not on a date." He opened the backseat of the car and helped her set her stuff in it. "But we're at least friends, aren't we?"

Angela watched him close the door to the backseat and faced her again, a charming smile plastered on his face. She scoffed at his confidence. As soon as she allowed him to talk to her again, his old self came back. 

Once they got settled inside the car and Gael had pulled it from the curb and joined the traffic, she casually asked, "So… friend… Where are you taking me?"

He stopped himself from rolling his eyes at the word 'friend' that she used. He liked the sound of 'girlfriend' better like the little girl from the flower shop said earlier. It seemed as though he had shot himself in the foot. 

Stopping at a traffic light, he glanced at her. "I'm not sure if you've been there, but it's a pretty popular place right outside of Fort Avenue."

Angela gasped, "Aloha?!"

He smiled. "So you actually know the place…" 

"Are you kidding? They have the best loco moco and smoothie!" She got excited all of a sudden. "It's been so long since the last time I've been there."

Feeling more confident now, Gael's smile widened as he stepped on the gas and headed towards the restaurant twenty minutes away. "I guess I picked the best place today."

…

Aloha Restaurant

The place's interior design screamed Hawaii, and the temperature inside was nice and comfy, a contrast to the cold weather outside. 

The two were seated at a booth, and their food had just arrived. Angela ordered loco moco and strawberry smoothie—in which Gael also wanted to try, so he ordered the same.

Saliva pooled in his mouth as he studied the dish in front of him. The food was steaming hot. On top of a bed of rice was a beef patty bathing in mushroom and onion gravy, then topped with two over-easy eggs. It looked like a hearty meal. He was actually eager to try it.

Lifting his fork and knife, he was just about to dig in when a hand suddenly slammed on the table, causing the utensils, glasses, and plates to clatter. Gael snapped his head forward and saw Angela's right hand planted on the wooden table while her left covered her mouth, and her eyes were slightly misty. Was she about to cry?

"What's wrong?" he worried.

"I forgot how good this is." She pointed at her dish as she swallowed what she just ate. "I mean, I know this is so good… but I forgot how really good it is." 

Sniffing, she chuckled at herself. She must have looked like a weirdo in front of him just now. But Angela didn't care. Tasting the dish pulled her back to the first time she ever tried it, and it made her want to cry of happiness. It was that good.

Gael stared at her for a bit before chuckling. He got worried there for a second. Seeing her reaction made him want to taste it too.

He poked the yolk with his knife, and the runny yellow goodness trickled down the mountain of meat, gravy, and rice. He gulped as he scooped it with his fork and delivered it to his mouth.

Gael unexpectedly closed his eyes as the flavor hit his tongue. It was meaty, saucy, simple—yet so fûckin' delicious!

He now understood why Angela slammed her hand like that—except he didn't want to do that. Eating the food made him feel like he wanted to hug a stranger for no damn reason. 

"How is it? Do you like it?" she asked.

He realized that she was actually watching him just now. Good thing he didn't tear up.

"It's not bad…" he replied after swallowing the comfort food.

Angela smiled at his brief answer. It was apparent that he liked it, yet he was playing it cool.

The two enjoyed their food and smoothie, keeping their conversation light until they finished.

Gael felt proud seeing that she finished the whole thing. The portion size of their meal was big, but she ate them all like a champ. 'Good job, Angel.'

He was stuffed too. He patted his abdomen as he leaned against the backrest and asked her, "So why did the breakfast suck?"

Angela didn't have it in her to brush off his question. She didn't know if it was because she was too full, or just satiated, or maybe just felt comfortable talking to him again that she proceeded to tell him about Jason's presence during the breakfast earlier with her family and how he invited her to go with him to The Hamptons.

Gael didn't like that at all. She didn't tell him much about that Jason guy, but it was enough for him to know that she didn't like the man.

"Do you want to go to The Hamptons?" he wondered.

"I've been there once. I'm actually planning to visit in a month or two. I thought a different scenery would give me inspiration for a new book."

"Well, I could take you there."

"To The Hamptons?" Angela arched a brow.

"If you'd like to…" Gael shrugged. "We have an estate in Long Island. Actually… I can take you anywhere in New York."