He Only Married Me To Show Her That He Already Moved On

Madi's POV:

I am currently in the kitchen of the restaurant, when my phone vibrates inside my pants pocket. It's Martin. My eyebrow was raised at the sight of his name, because it's been four days and I still haven't received any calls or message from this man. 

I answered his call without even removing my apron. 

"Madi babe!" he was the one who speaks first. 

"And hello to you too, Martin babe." I greet him back smiling but my voice has a little bit of sarcasm. 

"How are you, babe?" he's chuckling on the other line. 

"Well, I'm here... still breathing. How about you and where are you by the way? I thought you already left me and you go back to Colorado."

"Of course not! I won't do that to you. I am your boy-friend, right?" he chuckled and I rolled my eyes. 

"So, where have you been this past four days?" I am now walking back inside the office. 

"I'm just wondering around the City. And guess what!"

"What?"

"I met someone, Madi!" I can imagine his grin. 

"Someone... a man or a woman?"

"Of course a woman, silly!"

"Why... you didn't tell me at first, hello! So, tell me about this someone and don't miss any bit of information about her!"

"Well, her name is Nancy and she's like an angel Madi. I swear, I felt like I was walking on cloud nine by that time, especially when she smiled at me."

When I heard the name Nancy, my eyebrows knitted but I ignored it. Could it be possible that the Nancy he'd met and the Nancy I knew were just the same? Well, we are in Chicago, the most crowded city in the state of Illinois which population is more than 2.7 million.. so maybe it's not. 

I continued to listen to him and how he excitedly shared his experience with his Nancy girl. I suddenly missed Nancy, Gabriel's sister just by mentioning the same name as her. Before he ended the call, he said he's going to see me one of these days. 

I check my face on my mini compact mirror. I just added some face powder and my love that red shade of lipstick. And after that, I decided to go outside to check the flow of our customers, and of course to also check what is Gabriel's current situation outside. 

It's been three days since he insisted himself to become one of our waiter, and I can see he's enjoying what his job and also enjoying to maintain the inside and outside of the restaurant with fresh flowers every day. Tsk.Tsk. Efforts of the businessman. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Gabriel's POV:

"You are really a handsome waiter, son. Are you just a newbie here? I haven't seen you the last time when me and my husband ate here."

I smiled at the complement of one of the lady I am currently assisting. "Thank you, Maam. And yes, I am their new waiter here. I've just started three days ago."

"Hmm.. well, they're all nice here. It's written on the faces of every employee here. They all praised the management on the way they treat them, especially the owner. Actually we haven't met the owner yet, and I want to meet him or her. How about you, son, have you personally met your boss?"

My smile widened with her question. I really wanted to say..'Yes ma'am, I already met the owner of this restaurant and she's actually my wife. And that I am doing this thing just to see her and talk to her every day.' but I just keep it to myself, because I know Madi doesn't want to show herself in public.

"Yes Ma'am, I met her already and like what the waiters' said... I mean my workmates, she's one of the best employer."

"Wow! So the owner is a woman."

I just smiled and nodded and continued to take their orders. When I finished with them, I noticed Tony, the head waiter.. looking around and seems searching for something. 

"Tony, is there anything I can do to help?" I approached him and he smiled at me. 

"Actually Sir, I'm looking for a vacant area for eleven persons."

"How many again?"

"Eleven persons, Sir."

"Hmm..okay, let me help you."

I said understanding his problem. It's sunday today and the customers were double of numbers compared to the other days of the week. The two rooms for private events were already occupied so we need to find a vacant area for his new customers. 

I am currently fixing my apron when I felt a tap on my shoulder. And when I turned around, the face of my grinning sister first came to my view. Then behind her are my mom, dad and the rest of the family. 

"Hi brother. I missed you!" Nancy lunged at me and hugged me tight. 

"Ohh..oh!" I hugged her back and kissed her forehead. How did they know that I'm here? 

"Hi son."

"What are you doing here, Dad?" I asked smiling and hugged my father and then my mom. 

"We actually didn't know you're here, Gab. What are you doing here and why are you in a waiter's uniform?" my mom's loud question. That's exactly what I wanted to ask them. 

And I have no choice but to explain to them what I am really doing in the restaurant and why I am wearing a waiter's uniform. 

"You already found her?"

"You already found, Madi? 

They all asked in unison and I proudly nodded. 

"Wow! So, don't tell me you're doing this hard job for her?" that was Nancy's amused question. 

But I just smiled and nodded. 

"Please Gabriel, make it right this time. You already had a chance before, but you let it go. You let go of the most precious woman." Aunt Cindy smiled at me. I know how much of Madi fan she is. 

"Yeah, you're Aunt is right. Madi is a fine woman. But I hope you're really ready to enter in this new chapter of your life, Gabriel." it's my Mom who holds my hand. 

"I know guys. I let her go once, but I promise not to do it again whatever my happens. I know all of you knows how much Madi means to me and you all witnessed that. And this time, I'm willing to do everything just to have her back."

The words I've said were all true. I finally realized what real love is and it's meaning. I didn't love Stacey, I love Madi. There's a great difference with the feelings I had before with Stacey and the love I have fo Madi. I've never been a territorial person, or a possessive and protective over Stacey before, or maybe I was just in love with the idea of being in love and having someone beside me. While with my wife, I almost went insane when she suddenly left me. 

The thing I can't only accept when Stacey left me was when she aborted our baby. And I don't feel anything other than that. But when Madi left, I felt like I've been in hell for those past three years of my life. And now that I found her again, I'll give and do everything for her to see me again, and to love me like what she feels for me before. 

"I'm proud of you, son." I felt my Dad's hand in my arm. "Make it faster so you can start to give us grandchildren."

They all laughed with his words. 

"Is that Madi?" We all followed Aunt Morgan's gaze and my eyes sparks with love and amus.e.m.e.nt when I saw her. 

I smiled and watched her interacts with her employee. She looked so beautiful even in her simple outfit. She's just wearing denim jeans and a floral blouse with just a flat pair of shoes on her both feet. 

"Wow! She turned more beautiful after three years." I don't need to look behind to know that it's my Mom's voice. 

"Oh my God, Gabriel! I can't believe what I am seeing right now! Is that really the Madi we've all known? Gosh! She looked like a Goddess!"

I turned to my sister and she has a huge grin on her face. She was about to walk closer to her when we all heard the voice of a man who claimed her as his girlfriend... Martin guy. 

"Babe!"

He shouted from few meters away from her which caused for the several eyes turned to him, including all the eyes of my family. How I wish I killed this man the first time I met him in Colorado. 

"Ohh... she has now a new 'babe'. So, you're late Gab. Tsk.tsk.tsk." I heard Phillips voice from behind, but I choose to ignore him and just continued throwing daggers to this Martin guy. 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Madi's POV:

I'm just only twenty minutes standing outside and talking to some of my employees when I heard Martin's loud voice approaching my direction. 

"Babe!"

I rapidly blinked my eyes in confusion when I saw him walking fast with his arms in a sideward position. Almost all eyes were on him, watching where is he going and who's the one he called 'babe'. 

A bone-crushing hug was the first thing I received from him and second was his loud kiss on my forehead. His face shows excitement and joy which I don't understand why. 

"Oh babe, I missed you so much!" and he hugged me again. 

"Hey, wait.. wait!" I pushed him slightly. "What are you doing here? You just called earlier, and you said----"

"Yes, but that's just to surprise you.. and surprise!" I covered my face with my right hand as I chuckled with his act. "Hey! I'm gonna introduce you the woman-------"

"Martin?"

He was cut off by a very familiar voice from my right side. 

"Nancy?"

Martin and I shared a look when we mentioned Nancy's name in unison. 

"You know each other?" guess what.. we all asked in a group. 

But before anyone from the three of us can speak... we heard another voice. A hard and an authoritative voice coming from Gabriel. 

"Wait! Can somebody explain to me what's going on here? he asked in no particular, but his eyes were focused only to Martin who also currently receiving daggers from him. "And what are you doing here?" he added but of course for Martin being Martin.. he just raised his eyebrow and smiled sarcastically. 

Gabriel's question brought me sudden irritation. I just don't like the way he narrowed his eyes on Martin, as if he has the rights to ask him that kind of question. I sighed deeply and tried to calm myself.. I really wanted this to say to him.... -'And can somebody also tell you that this is not included in your Goddamned business?'-

But thanks God, none of us answered his question. I was the one who speaks first and asked again the same question as earlier. 

"You know each other?" I asked, my eyes were moving from Martin and Nancy. 

"Yeah." Martin answered while still mesmerized with Nancy's beauty. Then he suddenly whispered to me... "She's the one I've been telling you."

My eyes widened and a chuckle escaped from my lips. 

"So, you also know each other." Nancy said while nodding. 

"Yes she's my girl-friend."

Martin answered and he pulled me to his side by putting his hand over my shoulders. And I saw the transition of emotions from the sibling's face. Nancy turned shocked while Gabriel followed Martin's hand on me, that if it just happened that looks could kill... poor Martin, because I'm sure he can no longer see the sunrise tomorrow. 

But I suddenly became confused... who among the two was he really wanted to be jealous? Is it Gabriel or Nancy? 

"Ohh.. M-Madi.. you already have a boyfriend?" Nancy asked while her eyes were moving from me and to Martin. 

"Ahm----"

"Yes, she became my girl-friend two and a half years ago." but Martin cut me off so I looked at him with a silent question written on my both eyes. He also looked at me with a playful-Martin-smile. 

"Madi!" we all heard the voices from Nancy and Gabriel's behind.

And a wide smile spreads across my face when I recognized them. It's the twin, Sav and Chris. 

"Ohh..." I chuckled when they both hugged my waist. 

"How are you, little guys? Wow, you grew up so fast." I bend my body to their level and hugged them both. 

"Madi, is it true that you left Gabi before, because he's been a total jerk to you?"

"Huh?" I gaped at Sav's question. 

My gosh, they haven't changed. 

But Nancy immediately pulled the little girl. "Hey, that's a kind of question which is for a.d.u.l.ts only!" she said glaring at her cousin. 

"So if we are grown a.d.u.l.ts right now, we can ask her about what happened before? Or if it is true that Gabi didn't appreciate her efforts before, so Madi decided to left him?"

Then all our eyes turned to Martin who suddenly burst into laughing at Chris' question. I bite my lower lip for the sudden awkwardness that wrapped on us, well except for Martin who's still clutching his stomach because of his hard laugh. Does he know how much awkward I am feeling right now, and he choose to laugh uncontrollably. 

"That's enough. Madi, can we invite you for a while to our table?" Nancy asked me and I nodded, but I remember Martin and I raised my eyebrow at him. 

"Don't worry about me babe, I'll just go to Noelle."

He winked at me then headed straight to the back office. 

"Hi Madi." Aunt Cindy and Aunt Morgan greeted me first. 

-'Oh dear God!'-

"My God, you looked more beautiful Madi. How are you?" It's Cindy who hugged me after Aunt Morgan. 

"I'm good, Aunt Cindy." I said with my most practised smile. 

"Madi." I gulped when I saw the two Wilsons from behind them and I awkwardly smiled. 

-'Is there something more awkward than this? Did they know the truth about the deal?'-

"Mrs. Wilsons."

But she hugged me tightly with a sad smile on her face. "I won't ask how you are today, because I can see, you are okay and fine."

I didn't say anything and just smiled at her. I tried my best not to glance at Gabriel's direction to ease the huge tension inside my c.h.e.s.t. 

"But not me." I turned around to see Mr. Wilsons with a different shine of amus.e.m.e.nt in his both eyes. "I want to ask her, how is she and if she's still can be a part of our family?"

"Honey?"

"Dad?"

Nancy and Mrs. Wilsons snapped in unison. 

"Madi has already a boyfriend right now. Let's not put her in an awkward position or situation." Nancy glared at her father. 

What did she say.. don't put me in an awkward position? What does she think of the position I am with right now? Isn't it more awkward than she could ever think? 

"Oh, I'm sorry. What I just mean to say is, if she still can be friends with our family."

"Ahh.. it's okay Mr. Wilsons." I said smiling at them. 

"Anyway, let's order our food. Our kids here were already hungry."

Thanks to Aunt Cindy who noticed my situation. She winked at me. 

"Okay, but son, can you be our personal waiter?" Mr.Wilsons called Gabriel's attention. 

"Sure Dad."

He patted his son's shoulders. "I'm proud of you, son. Keep it up. Never give up and be patient on waiting, things will fall into its right place when the time is right." he muttered lowly, but my ears expanded like the ears of a wolf so I still heard all of it. 

Later on, I already excused myself to them, but I didn't notice Nancy followed me behind. 

"Madi."

I turned around and smiled at her. But to my surprise, she just hugged me. 

"How are you?"

How many times do I have to hear this question since I came back?

"Well, I'm good." I answered with a shrug. Well, that's all I can answer, because I don't want to elaborate on some things that doesn't need elaborations at all. 

"Hmm.. uhm.. y-you and Martin... you know----"

"No." I cut her 'cause I already know what she wanted to ask. "We're just friends."

"But why did he introduce you as his girlfriend?"

"Because I am."

"Huh?"

I chuckled at her confusion. 

"I am his girl-friend, meaning I am a girl and I am his friend. Gets?"

"Ahhh....No." my mouth dropped with her answer. 

"Okay, let's just say it in this way. Martin and I were just friends, I am a girl and he is a boy. A girl plus friend-----"

"Oh, okay.. okay! I got it!" she chuckled. "So slow, right?"

I just smiled at her. 

"I didn't know you knew each other."

"We met in Colorado and we have a shared business there." I simply answered. 

"Business? You mean, something like this?"

"Ahm, a smaller version of this. It's a coffee shop, actually."

"Ahh.. okay."

"You wanna go with me inside?" I asked her because I know she's just really waiting for me to ask that question. 

"Sure." she excitedly nodded. 

And we headed our ways towards the back office. There... we found Noelle and Martin laughing together, and I didn't miss the spark of jealousy in Nancy's eyes. Tsk.Tsk.Tsk. What a small world, right? 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Love, I'm gonna go to Paris the next day. It's a business trip."

I lowered the magazine on the table and glanced up at Gabriel. I decided not to go to the restaurant today and check the emails of our coffee shop head from Colorado. But when he noticed my plan, he also didn't go. He stayed in his room and knocked on my door and here he is, in front of me and letting me know about his trip. 

"Why do you have to tell me where you're going?" I asked with a sarcastic chuckled. 

"I want you to know my whereabouts."

"Why.. to also know mine after this?"

"No! That's not what I mean. I just want to tell you, so if you missed me.. you know where to go." he said with a wink. 

And I laughed at him. 

"I've really missed that laugh." he seriously said that caused my laugh to die. 

I sighed and avoided his gaze by lowering my head on the magazine. 

"Can we just at least befriend again?"

He asked but I remained quiet, I just focused my eyes on the colored book in front of me. 

"At least friend? If you can't give me your trust or the love you had for me before, I'm willing to wait Madi. I'm going to work for it, and I'll wait 'till you become ready again."

This time I looked at him, but still in silent. 

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being a jerk and ins.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e----"

"I already heard that. You already said that." I said with a blank expression on my face. 

"I know. But I want to say it again. I want you to know how sorry I am, Madi. And I'm going to say sorry again, if I can't promise not to see you every day or to go away from you, because I can't. I can't Madi. It's okay if you want to ignore me every day, I will take it. Just don't go away again please, like before."

I bite my lower lip and gulped the lump that formed inside my throat. This is the first time I saw the real hurt from his eyes, and this is also the first time he showed me this vulnerable side of him. So when he took my left hand which rested on top of the table, I just let him. He wrapped it with his both hands and brought it to his lips and to his face. I can feel the hot liquid around my eyes but I blinked it away immediately. 

"I love you. I love you so much, Madi. I hope you could give me a chance, I------"

"I suddenly feel like sleepy." I said getting my hand from his hold. But I didn't look at him. "Can you please lock the door when you go out? Thank you." I stand up and pushed the chair under the table. 

I turned around and walked towards my room without glancing back on him. I need to do that because I felt like a bomb that ready to explode in any minute. And that's what really happened, the moment I closed the door. Loud sobs escaped from my lips as tears also flowed down on my cheeks like they were in a race. 

I leaned on the door and brought my hand over my c.h.e.s.t. I am laughing while crying. I remember those woman in the movies, who burst out crying right after they closed the door, and I found them so weird before. Why they just can't get immediately into their bed and cried and not stayed standing on the door while crying? 

But f.u.c.k.i.n.g shit! Because now I understand them. The pain, the tears and sobs will get you numb that you can't be able to move so you'll have to remained standing for you not to breakdown. 

It's been a long time since I cried hard like this way. Why do I still feel the pain from the past? Why can't I just move on? Why do still love him? Yeah.. maybe because I still love him, that even after this past years, I am still in love with him. That I didn't moved on at all, that I just keep this feeling inside me for me to go on with my life. But why do I can't give in with this feeling? Why am I still holding back?