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

"Wow! Do you have a wedding event or debut party for today?"

I smiled as I heard my Mom's question when we parked at the parking lot of my restaurant.

"Nope. It's just an ordinary day, Mom."

"Ordinary day? But there are lots of flowers outside and even inside the restaurant?"

"Let's go, I'll explain to you while walking." 

I said getting my bag and exited from my car. She followed me and I saw her looking in awe to the flowers that arranged beautifully outside the restaurant.

"Who's idea is this? Is it from Noelle? I like this."

"No Mom. That's all Gabriel's ideas." 

She suddenly stopped walking and looked at me with an arched eyebrow.

"Hmm... that's your favorite colors, right? White and peach?"

I simply nodded with a shy smile.

"I see... the efforts his giving to you. How are you?"

I rolled my eyes. "Mom, are we seriously gonna talk this topic outside?"

"Yes. What's the matter with that?"

"But Mom----"

"Come on, you're gonna get busy inside so, better talk to me now."

I sighed before I started to tell her me and Gabriel's situation. Including all her efforts to be my friend and of course to fix our marriage.

"Hmm.. well, he knows the meaning of the real efforts. But for me, as long as you're happy and ready to take a new step in your life again, remember I'm just here. Your old mother will always be at your back." 

"Ahh..thanks Mom." I hugged her tightly. 

"Don't mention it, you're my daughter." she said while kissing me on my forehead. "But how about you? How do you feel that he's now doing all the efforts just to have you back?"

I suddenly felt shy so I just bite my lips and smiled.

"Let's go inside, Mom. I'll show you the new look of the restaurant inside." 

"Uhuh... way to avoid my questions my dear, Madi. Tsk.Tsk. What a smart way, hah."

I chuckled as we walked inside the restaurant.

"Wow! Impressive!" she said the moment she stepped inside. "Well, I'll give him an extra bonus points for this."

"Mom, your voice." I said giving her a nudge on her arm.

"Why? I'm not mentioning his name. I just said I'm gonna give him extra bonus points for this." 

When we are a few steps away from the counter, I heard the sound of the guitar. And when I turned to my left side, there I see Gabriel wearing a tight-fitting white shirt and denim pants with a guitar in his hands.

"It all came so easy.. all the loving you gave me, the feelings we shared..."

I gulped when I realized what he's doing. He slowly walk closer to me while playing his guitar and singing this familiar song.

"...And I still can remember how your touch was so tender, it told me you cared. We had a once in a lifetime, but I just couldn't see until it was gone. A second once in a lifetime, maybe too much to ask, but I swear from now on..."

I can hear some screams from some of the employees and customers of the restaurant, but when I looked at him, all around us fade in my eyes. And all I can see is him, singing and walking towards me.

"Madi.... if ever you're in my arms again, this time I'll love you much better.. If ever you're in my arms again, this time I'll hold you forever, this time will never end.."

"Now I'm seeing clearly how I still need you near me, I still love you so.. There's something between us, that won't ever leave us there's no letting go. We had a once in a lifetime, but I just didn't know it 'till my life fell apart. A second once in a lifetime, isn't too much to ask 'cause I swear from the heart.."

"If ever you're in my arms again, this time I'll love you much better.. If ever you're in my arms again, this time I'll hold you forever, this time will never end.."

I bite my lips when he stopped in front of me. But the moment I am expecting he would give me the flower in his hand.. he give it to my Mom who's grinning widely beside me. And I arched my eyebrow.

"Ma'am, I know the first time we met, I acted or we acted in a relationship. And I'm sorry for the stress that I gave you, and of course I wanna say sorry for making your daughter cry. But this time, I want to ask your permission to court and pursue your daughter. If you're just going to give me a chance, I'll promise not to do the same mistakes as before and I'll take care of her and love her the way I should do and give her, the first time I had her."

I'm blushing in a deep shade of pink while watching him and listening to his speech. But what added more to my blush is watching my Mom's reaction when Gabriel take her hand, and brought it to his lips. She's more excited than me, and her grins almost reached her ears when she gave her hand to him.

"Well, if you're just asking me my permission.. just to tell you honestly son, I already gave it to you even if you haven't asked for it yet."

We heard the cheers of all the people who are watching us at the moment.

"Thank you, Ma'am." Gabriel said as he kissed my mother's cheeks.

Then he walked towards the counter and asked something to Noelle. After a few seconds, Noelle gave him a bouquet of peach and white roses. And I hardly bite my inside cheeks just to suppress the smile that's forming on my lips.

"Hi.." he said with a smile.

"Hi." I smiled but I'm slapping myself mentally.

"For you, my beautiful Madi."

"Thank you. You really did a performance, ahh. I said smiling while accepting the flowers. He scratched the back of his neck.

"Can I ask you, two favors?"

I looked at him confused but I slowly nodded.

"Can I hug you?"

"Ahhh...." I heard my Mom's voice from behind, and before I could answer, I felt her hand on my shoulder.

"Come on! Hug him already!" And I squealed when she suddenly pushed me towards Gabriel.

He caught me and just chuckled to my Mom's harsh action.

"Mom!" I complained but I just received another laugh from her. 

Then he hugged me tightly as I hugged him back. I felt his lips brushed with my hair repeatedly as he whispered lowly.

"I missed you. I love you."

I didn't say anything, I just hugged him back.

"So what's your second favor to ask?" I asked when I pulled back.

"Can I invite you for a dinner date tonight? I'll promise, I won't bring you into another restaurant. I remember you told me once, if someone would ask you for a date.. you said you don't want him to bring you into another restaurant."

I looked at him and smiled. "Okay." I said with shrugged. I also remembered that thing.

"Okay? That means it's okay to you to have a dinner date------"

"Yeah."

"Oh, thank you." he pulled me again into a tight hug. "I'll promise you will enjoy this."

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

Later in the evening...

Well, he fulfils his promise earlier. He didn't bring me to an exclusive restaurant, but to a seaside restaurant which serves exotic foods. Which I remember, I told him before when we're in the same roof, that I'd love to take challenges even in foods, that's why I really wanted to eat into that kind of restaurant. And another thing that listed on my bucket list, was now fulfilled.

After we finished eating, I pulled him to the night market which is just a few minutes walk, away from the restaurant, and also to buy some kinds of stuff for my friends. He holds my hand when we are all the way to the night market. 

And here we are.. walking our b.a.r.e feet in the sand with the seawater touching our skin. He never let go mo my hand, he still holding it while our shoes is in his left hand.

"Gosh, Gabriel! You're such an asshole!" I screamed when he splashed my face with water. I narrowed my eyes on him but he just chuckled at me.

"Ops! Sorry." 

"Sorry your ass!" And I was about to splash him when he lunged at me and hugged me from behind.

"Haha.. what are you planning to do?"

"Gabriel! Let go of me!" I tried to straddle from his hold but he's so strong.

"Nah-ah! No way! I promise not to let you go again, right?" and he chuckled again.

"Argh! That's not what I mean!"

"Sorry love, I just love you so much and I can't let you go again."

"Gosh! Gabriel Wilsons!"

He put me down and tried to run away, but I was fast and able to pull his shirt. And because he didn't expect the sudden force, he lost his balance and we both fell into the sand with me on top of him.

We didn't speak for a moment, we're just looking to each other. I parted my lips and moistened it as I felt it suddenly went dry. His eyes followed my lips movement and it turned darker than usual.

I gasped when he rolled over and he's now on top of me with her both elbows on my side. When our eyes met, I saw the emotions that visibly written on his eyes before it drifted to my lips. I gulped as my heart started to hammer inside my c.h.e.s.t. 

He slowly lowered his head and his soft and warm lips captured mine. He kissed me slowly and lightly. His lips continued to taste me and searching for a response. For a moment, it awakened all my senses and I surrendered to his warm lips and kissed him back passionately. 

He kissed me with all his passion and I kissed him back with all the love I have for him. 

But my eyes widened and pushed him slightly when I felt the warm water on my back.

"Oh, God!" I said still in wide eyes.

"Oh love, I'm sorry!" 

He noticed my drenched shirt and he immediately gets up and helps me to stand. We both looked to each other before we found ourselves laughing for what happened.

"Look at what you did to me?" I complained as I glared at him playfully.

"Oh.. it's you who pulled me that's why we ended up lying on the sand. And you took it as an opportunity to kiss me." 

My mouth fell as my eyes widened. "W-Wow! What did you say?"

"You kissed me! You did it intentionally just to kissed me."

"Haha..excuse me! You're the one who kissed me!" I said glaring at him and put my hands on my h.i.p.s.

He laughed with his carefree and boyish laugh. And when he turned serious, he walked closer to me and take my hands.

"I love you." he said looking to me directly. He cupped my left cheek. "I hope someday you can say I love you too, again. But of course for real, not like before when you respond I love you too, I know it's just an act and------"

"Who said it was an act?" I cut him but I keep my face in a blank expression.

"I-I know it was just an act. But don't worry... I'm willing to wait." he smiled and brushed his palm against my cheek. "Let's go, it's getting late. And you should change your clothes immediately. I don't want you to catch colds."

"Ahm..okay." I nodded, but I sighed when he's not looking at me.

I smiled inwardly when I glanced at our intertwined fingers. I remember three years ago, all I thought he was chasing Stacey, but look at us now... I am the one who took her place. I am still the queen.

-'Don't worry, Mr. persistent. Just add some more efforts, and I'll promise this stupid heart of mine will surely give in to your charm and handsomeness.'-

"Why are you smiling?" 

"Huh?" I gasped when I found him looking at me. We're now walking back to his car. "Am I?"

"Yeah. Let me guess?"

"Uhuh.." I raised my eyebrow.

"You're thinking of me and how to kiss me again." he winked at me and I chuckled.

"Hahaha.. you wish." I rolled my eyes.

"Oh.. no need to tell me, that's my always wish."

I just shake my head and laugh together with him.