Skylar sat speechless in the car seat while Gian drove her to God's knows where. She still couldn't wrap her head around when she became Gian's girlfriend. She never accepted to be his girlfriend; Vino was the only one she would ever love.
Skylar turned swiftly to steal glances at him while his hands grip the steering wheel in a tight grip with a broad and happy smile on his lips.
Noticing her gaze on him, Gian turned immediately to Skylar, it was already too late for Skylar to avert her gaze. Skylar smiled in embarrassment. She couldn't believe he caught her staring at him.
"Like what you see, Babe," Gian asked her, winking at her as he burst into laughter as soon as he saw the embarrassed expression on her face.
"Come on, you shouldn't be like that. I was only joking. Of course, you have all the right to gawk at me. I'm your boyfriend. I'm yours only" Gian replied as he bent to whisper in her ear before focusing on the road.
Skylar's tongue darts out to take a swipe of her dried lips, as she coughs while trying to clear her throat "Where are you taking me?" Skylar forced herself to voice out the question after some minutes, since they have been driving for some hours and there's no sign of stopping soon.
"It's a surprise. I want us to be alone and talk, maybe celebrate our first date" Gian replied as he smiled at her.
Skylar averted her gaze as she turned to stare out of the window where different less privileged children were gazing with surprise and wonderment as the Lamborghini flew past them.
"But ___ I__ never accepted to be your girlfriend" Skylar protested, she was tired of going back and forth with him. Even though her subconscious was telling her to use him and pretend to be his girlfriend to make Vino jealous, she had a conscience and couldn't ever do that to anyone.
"Why?" Gian's voice suddenly took on a hard course as he turned to frown at Skylar.
"Is this because of a guy named Vino___" He continued harshly while trying to reign in the anger in him that was surging through his veins about to burst any moment from now.
"I____"
"Because if that is, then I would say you are very stupid. Surely you could see that he's in love with Elise and plans to marry her" Gian told her angrily as he pulled the car over on the sidewalk, he shut the engine and turned to face her giving her his attention.
"That doesn't mean I____"
"I don't care" Gian called loudly at her, cutting her off as he slammed his fist on the steering in anger. He paused as soon as he saw the look on her face. He refreshed his words.
"Vino I have been friends for ages and I know him more than you would ever do. Vino is a man of principles. He just couldn't accept having a child out of wedlock and now that Elise's husband is late. I can proudly tell you that their wedding will be held soon and where will that leave you___ as an abandoned ex-girlfriend"
Skylar turned away from Gian's harsh words, as she wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. His words have brought tears to her eyes and she couldn't blame him because he was saying the trust. With the way Vino had been acting these few days, Skylar could see that their relationship was bound to break up sooner, she better does it now before it's too late.
"I'm also doing you a favour, you know" Skylar's eyes shot up to stare at Gian in shock. She was curious to know where this was going to go?
"What favour?" She forced her mind away from her inner turmoil and asked him.
"Dating me will allow you some time away from Vino, which will allow you to sort out your emotions. So, what did you say, I or Vino?"
Skylar gulped nervously as she turned back to the window, scared of the decision she was about to take. She can't possibly date Gian with Vino's child in her womb. And Vino seems like he's done with her. What could she do? She's so confused right now
Gian waited with a heavily beating heart for Skylar to provide an answer to his question but all he got was her cold shoulder and her long dark hair waving slightly from the gentle breeze that flew into the car from the open window.
He gawked at her beautiful back which was clad in a white camisole as she had discarded her blazer a while ago. He couldn't hold himself back from her brown porcelain skin as he bent to take a taste of her lush neckline.
Skylar froze as soon as she felt his lips on her neck. Her mind went bizarre as she remembers once when she had once asked Paula what the different types of kisses meant. She knew a kiss on the neck means that person desires her. Did Gian want her?
"What do you say, babe? I or Vino"
Skylar jumped in shock as she felt Gian's breath fan her neck in a sweet caress.
"I__ I___"
The sound of her ringing tone filled the entire interior of the car saving her from providing an answer to Gian's absurd question.
Skylar turned to pick her bag from the back seat and rummage through it for her phone. She smiled as soon as she saw the caller's ID and turned to apologize to Gian "I'm sorry, I'll need to answer this." She said to Gian who waved her on as he turned to pick up his phone and browse through it with a frown on his face.
"Hello, Pau___"
"Save your greeting to yourself. I don't want to hear anything from you" Paula's loud angry voice called into the phone from the other side causing Skylar to cringe in fear.
"Why? What did I do wrong?" Skylar asked, shocked that Paula could be annoyed with her. As far as she could remember, their last conversation had ended in smiles, what then could happen to make her so angry with her?
"You don't know," Paula asked her but Skylar could glimpse the sarcasm in them even so she brought herself to answer it.
"Yes. I wouldn't be asking you if I'd I've known what I did wrong" Skylar replied while rolling her eyes as she turned to apologize to Gian who nodded for her to continue.
"Of course, you'll pretend not to know. It's just like what Vino had said" Paula answered with an angry voice.
"Where's that your boyfriend? I can't believe you will accept to date him when you're in love with Vino. And what about the baby? Are you going to date him with another man's child in your womb?'' Paula reprimanded her as she couldn't believe her ears.
She and her husband had come over to the office today to propose her idea of a vacation to Vino but only to meet Vino in tears. After much persuasion from them, Vino ends up opening to them about Skylar having a relationship with Gian. She had refused to believe that and made to call her only for her to confirm it.
"I'm not dating him. It's kind of complicated" Skylar whispered into the phone afraid of Gian hearing it and going berserk with her.
"Complicated? How?" Paula asked, her interest piqued as she smiled. She always loves complicated relationships. They were exciting challenges for her to handle.
"You can't expect me to answer that, right? I'm in a car with him" Skylar replied as she turned to smile at Gian as soon as she felt his eyes on her back.
"Fine. Give me your location. I'm coming over to meet you," Paula called into the phone. Skylar could hear her shuffling into the background as Skylar imagined her taking her bag and rushing over to where she was.
She quickly rumbled off the address on the car GPS "Did you get it?" She asked after she had called out the address.
"Of course. Don't move from there until I arrive, is that clear?"
"Yes ma'am" Skylar replied with a mocking salute as she smiled and ended the call before turning to Gian who still wears a frown on his face.
Gian turned to stare at Skylar as soon as she dropped the call, he smiled as he felt her eyes on him pretending to not hear her whisper just now...
Truth is, he was getting impatient and frustrated with himself. He still didn't know what to do anymore to make her fall in love with her. Everything he has done still now seems to be pulling her away from him and closer to Vino.
"Are you still with me?" Skylar asked him after some time of speaking to the empty interior of the car without any response from Gian. She waves her hands in front of his face to get his attention when he still wouldn't answer her question. She was confused and curious to know what could have taken his attention from her.
Gian jolted out of his thoughts and turned to smile at her" I'm sorry, I was lost in thought. What did you say?" Gian asked her as he reached out to pull her closer to him and peck her lightly on the forehead.
His gesture caught Skylar unaware who quickly stepped away from him and rearranged her dress while clearing her throat as she repeated her question to him "I hope you don't mind. My friend will be meeting me here" Skylar asked as she avoided his gaze, screed of seeing hurt in them.
"No, I will do anything for you just to see you smile," Gian told her as he bent to pat her on her cheek lightly.
"Really? Thank you so much. I promise to make it up to you" Skylar turned to him with an excited smile on her face.
"It's okay. Just seeing this beautiful smile on your face is more than enough for me. I love your smile"
Skylar paused as she went back to his painting. She remembers wishing for that smile on the child's face to be permanent. She saw his painting so beautiful in her mind and couldn't help being curious, feeling that there was more to the painting than what made the eyes.
"Can I ask you a personal question?" Skylar asked him as she avoided looking at him, she hoped he wouldn't grow annoyed with her. She has always been inquisitive which wasn't too good considering what's happening between her and Vino
"Sure, you can. Anything for my angel" Gian replied, smiling excitedly glad that Skylar was interested in knowing about him. Does this mean she has accepted to date me, Gian mustered to himself as he smiled at Skylar showing his perfect set of teeth?
"What is the brain behind your painting at the charity ball," Skylar asked but she soon regretted ever doing so cause Gian's once handsome face was now pulled up in a frown as he tried to hide the anger in his face.
"I'm sorry if I've upset you. You don't have to answer that if you don't want to" Skylar called to him as she turned to touch his hands briefly, trying to prevent him from getting annoyed with her.
Skylar paused, the silence that had enveloped the interior of the car was so eerie that if a pin is dropped, its impact will be felt by them. Skylar turned to see that Gian's eyes were now close as she rests his head on the armrest, his fists clenched as he tried to reign in his anger
"I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have asked you such a question. I should have known that it will be too personal for you to answer and _____"
"Because I was once like that little boy in the painting. Hungry, longed for love but no one was there to give me. I tried to reciprocate by making everything around me happy. It filled the void in me" Gian replied as he still closed his eyes. He was trying to force himself from remembering the cold night when he sat under the dim light of the streetlamp begging for food as the rain-soaked his body.
Skylar sat confused as to his response before she could finally understand that he was providing answers to her question. Her heart reaches out to the little boy who was somehow still underneath him, seeking love. Was this why he came to me? Do I have the heart to say no to me after hearing this? Skylar asked herself as she stared into Gian's still closed eyes.
She was satisfied with his answer but was still curious about something which prompted her to ask" What about your parents?"
"They are ______"
"Here you are"
Skylar turns to see Paula gazing down at her from the outside as she signals for her to come down oblivion that she has interrupted her from hearing Gian's answer.
Skylar opened the door and stepped out, she turned to wave to Gian who smiled at her as he called something to Paula.
"Thank you, Loverboy. See you on vacation. Bye," Paula smiled at Gian as he pulled off the driveway and sped off before she turned to drag Skylar into her car.