Chapter 221 - I Mean It

Nearly an hour had gone by since Gael left Angela's apartment. She had put away the clean dishes back to the cupboards and decided to rest for the evening. After doing her evening skincare routine, she curled up in her bed and just stared at the ceiling, recalling what happened that day.

She began thinking about what she and Gael had talked about earlier. Even though that was an unexpected conversation, what she got out of it was more than enough for the night. Angela didn't intend to push Gael to do or say something. But at least she got to hear where his mind was at. It wouldn't be fair to ask more from him when she was also still hesitant. 

He sounded so genuine that his words gave her comfort. She just hoped she didn't scare him over what she tried to talk about. Honestly, it was nerve-wracking. After all, they started with a one-night stand—she woke up, and he was gone—not even a phone number was left. She didn't expect him to leave one, of course. But she at least thought he'd try something. And when they met again, he'd told her they wouldn't work—but she still ended up catching feelings.

Him leaving made her feel a little insecure—though she shouldn't be. So right now, not knowing what's in the store for them was making her fear for the unknown. And what Oliver said just got her thinking.

Whatever. There was nothing wrong if they took it slowly. 'You're having fun, and you're happy right now, Angela. You haven't been in a really long time. That's all that matters,' she reminded herself.

Turning to her right, she saw the note that she wrote to him that night—she had stuck it to her lampshade. Though she was a bit tipsy that night, she definitely remembered writing this. Now she wondered if he had seen the note that she wrote after this one. 

A blush crept up her neck and stained her cheeks at the thought of it. Angela really shot herself on the foot on that one. Gael had been slowly finding all these notes, and every time he did, she felt like dragons were flying in her stomach.

To take her mind off it, she searched for something on the internet and found several disturbing articles that she should have known about earlier. The posts were about orphans. Apparently, an organization had been working for years against orphanages. And that according to them, it's reported that four out of five children living in orphanages were not really orphans. How could she not have known earlier?

The report said that the less fortunate families or parents were coerced into giving up their children and that these children were known as "paper orphans" whose orphan status or documents had been faked. The institutions targeted the families in poor areas who couldn't afford to send their children to school. It was just like Herman had told her. Everything he said was coming back to her and she was getting pissed again.

Reading all these articles, Angela sent them to Oliver, hoping that their lawyer could use the information she found on it. 

Her phone rang. Her best friend Nina checked up on her, and Angela ended up telling the other what happened in the orphanage earlier that day. Just like her, Nina was also pissed about what she discovered—she spouted several curses. Their conversation didn't last long as her friend had something to do and she just called to remind her of their meeting with Love Tales tomorrow.

Not long after their conversation on the phone, Nina texted her. 

[ Antonina: I forgot to ask. Wanna hang with me tomorrow night? I suddenly need a girl's night out before the crazy family party on the weekend. ]

[ Angela: Raincheck? I have a date tomorrow. ]

[ Antonina: A date? I thought your dad already stopped setting you up? ]

Angela bit her bottom lip, finding herself feeling giddy as she typed her reply.

[ Angela: Gael asked me out to dinner. Like...a date. ]

Nina's text message couldn't arrive fast enough. Angela could even hear the way her best friend would have sounded if she were with her right now. She bombed her with texts.

[ Antonina: Shut up. ???????????? ]

[ Antonina: OH MY GOD. ]

[ Antonina: Why am I so excited? ]

[ Antonina: What are you wearing? ]

[ Antonina: My face literally looked like those emojis! ]

Angela chuckled seeing Nina's reaction. 

[ Angela: I don't know yet. He just told me before he left about an hour ago. ]

[ Antonina: Are you nervous?]

[ Angela: Sort of. He said he wanted to take me out on a proper date. Nin, what am I going to wear? ]

[ Antonina: Do you know where he's taking you? Find out if he hasn't told you yet. ]

Just then, as if the guy had a sixth sense or something, Gael texted that he was home. Her mind immediately brought her back to the last kiss he stole just before he finally left the door, and she bit her bottom lip. It took him longer to reach home this time, making her wonder if he dropped by somewhere first. 

Angela tapped out her response.

[ Angela: Hey... Glad to know you're back safe. Where are you taking me tomorrow night? I was just wondering so I know what to wear. ]

[ Gael: You're gonna look beautiful regardless. The Medallion. I'll pick you up at 7. ]

Her jaw dropped upon reading the text. The restaurant he said he was taking her to was one of the classiest restaurants in Mayne City. Any of her dates in the past hadn't even attempted to take her there.

When Gael said he was taking her out on a proper date, she did expect him to take her somewhere fancy, but this still surprised her. The Medallion was an exclusive restaurant. She had been there a few times with family, but never with a date. He wasn't even from Esmea and he knew about this place. To her excitement, she quickly exited their chatbox and opened Nina's to share the feeling.

[ Angela: ANTONINA! He's taking me to The Medallion. What the hell am I going to wear? ]

[ Antonina: Oooh... Plus brownie points for him. Can't expect anything less for a De Luca. Don't worry, babe. I'm sure you'll look great in whatever you wear. Send me your options right now. ]

Angela rolled out of her bed and dashed to her closet to choose a few dresses. She was feeling tired earlier but now, she felt wide awake as she took photos of her choices and sent them to Nina.

[ Antonina: Everything's pretty! But I love that black dress. It's classy and sexy. And I bet you he'll go hard when he sees you in it. ???? Your boobs will look great in that. ]

Angela beamed as she picked up the black dress and held it up. It was also her first choice, and now she couldn't wait to wear it tomorrow. 

[ Antonina: What are you doing? ]

[ Angela: I was just looking at the dress. ]

[ Antonina: Go to bed now. You wanna look like a panda tomorrow? Take your beauty rest! ]

[ Angela: K. Nyt ]

When Angela finally got back to her bed, she was about to turn off the lamp when she remembered that she hadn't responded to Gael yet. So she quickly typed out a thank you and goodnight to him.

And then he replied.

[ Gael: I found another note by the way. Can't believe I didn't find this sooner when it's just near the bed. But it looks incomplete? ]

Her heart rammed against her ribcage as she waited for the photo he sent to load. When it finally did, she felt cold all over as she read:

[ ...but I've always missed you. Ever since... I've been missing you. ]

Then another text came.

[ Gael: I've wanted to ask you about the one you had engraved on the watch you gave me. But I wanted to believe that you meant the same thing even after knowing the truth about me. Can I take what you wrote in this note as the truth? Because I do too, Angel. Every fûcking moment, I miss you. ]

Gosh. Gael really had a way to make her feel like a teen. It's like he had this ability to make her heart skip a beat and make it run wild galloping like a horse in a field. 

'Oh, what the hell. Just say what you want to say, Angela.'

[ Angela: Yes. I meant it. And now I wish I you were here. ]

[ Gael: Want me to go back? I'm already in my boxers, though. But you wouldn't mind that, would you? ???? ]

His use of emoji got to her. So mischievous!

[ Angela: ???? BRO. Why you do that to me! Now I can't get it off my head. ]

She barked out a laugh. They were having a moment and he just really had to insert being so cheeky.

[ Gael: Not your BRO, BABE. Don't tell me you don't think about me in my underwear ???? It's okay. You can think what you want… I definitely think about you in yours. Or the lack of one. ]

[ Angela: Oh my god. Good night De Luca. ]

[ Gael: ???? ] 

[ Gael: Good night, Angel. Sweet dreams. ]