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

Three months later...

Gabriel and I came to our normal conversation again. I still haven't tell him those three words.. but I know my actions were loud and clear to him that I also feel the same. He always calls me, sending sweet text messages and he never fails to send me flowers every day.

Sometimes he put some quotes, love messages with always I love you in the cards. He proved to me that he's a sweet and caring man. And some of our customers were asking if he's really one of the waiter in the restaurant, which he always answered with a smile.

And about Martin, I already explain to him that he's just my friend and the truth is... he has a thing for his sister. Which he can't believe at first and didn't accept immediately. But eventually, Nancy and I explained to him how a good man is Martin.

But if you think that three months were going to go smoothly and Gabriel will continue to show me how much he loves me... yes he does, but there's something changed in his behavior. He became overprotective and possessive towards me and suddenly became jealous even in just a small thing. And do you know who suffered the most of his possessiveness and jealousy towards me? Greg and my brother, Bryan.

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It's Friday afternoon when I also wear a waiter's uniform to help our crew in serving our customers. Actually, since Gabriel started his flower gimmick in the restaurant, it doubled the number of customers who came to us. Some were intrigued because of the arrangements, taking selfies and groupies inside and outside of the store. And take note, many of them were bloggers, and Noelle was the one I always pushed to answer their freaking questions.

I am serving the last table near the entrance when someone stand a few steps away from me. I ignored it first because I'm still facing my customers. When I'm done talking to them, I glanced to the figure who never moved in its post. And a wide smile instantly crept on my lips when I recognized the man standing proudly in front of me... Greg.

"Greg!" I can't help not to raised my voice when I saw him.

"Madi." he gave me his cutest smile and we hugged each other tightly.

"I missed you, Gregy!" I said giving him all my weights.

"You missed me?" he asked when I'm already on my feet. I pulled him towards the office.

"Of course!" I said turning to him.

"Liar! Then where did you go those past years and why didn't you even call me?"

I stopped and pouted at him.

"Greg, you know what I've been through, three years ago. And I'm sorry for not informing you. But I am here now, right?"

"Yeah, I understand... as if I have another choice

"Hmp.. you want to eat?"

"Your treat?"

I chuckled. "Sure."

He was the one who opened the door and the moment we entered, we saw Noelle coming from the mini-kitchen.

"Ohh..." her mouth formed an 'O'.

"Hi Elle." Greg walked towards her and kissed her cheek, which caused me to raise an eyebrow. That's his nickname for her.

-'Since when did he forget to kiss me on my forehead? Hmm...'-

"H-Hi Greg." Noelle smiled shyly. 

And they exchanged strange stares towards each other. But I just stand there and watch their staring competition.

"Hi.. to the both of you. I'm still here, kicking and alive." I smirked when Noelle suddenly blushed and glared at me.

"Excuse me guys, I have to check the meat stocks." she said blushing and walked towards the door.

"Okayyy.. can you also check the stocks of the 'red tomatoes' in the kitchen?" she narrowed her eyes on me and I just chuckled.

-'Sorry.. payback time!'-

When Noelle exited the room, I studied Greg's reaction. I can smell something between the two of them. Is there something that they wouldn't tell me? Or was there were things happened between them in the past three years?

"So, how are you?" he asked as he seated on the couch. I also take a seat beside him.

"Well, I'm good. What about you?"

"Still the same... waiting for you." 

That caused me to become speechless. 

"Greg, you know----"

"Yeah, I know. He still the one, right?"

I didn't answer him, I just lowered my head.

"Don't worry, I understand. I told you, even I can't be your man inside your heart, I can still be your friend."

I looked at him and smiled. He takes my hand as he sighed. He massaged my knuckles and gave me a half-smile.

"But you know what, I'm still asking myself. What did you see in him that you can't see find in me?  He's handsome... I am handsome too, I am------"

"Greg.." I don't know where this topic is going.

"No Madi, just let me talk, please?" I nodded. He still holding my hand. "We've been friends since we were teenagers and until now, we still friends. I just don't know why can't you still see me, despite of those years that I've stayed in your side. And why him, that you only knew for months but you fell in love with him already?" he looked at me and I can see the sadness in his both eyes.

"Greg.. I'm sorry. You know if I can just dictate my heart---"

"I know. I know what you're going to say.. that if you can dictate my heart, you're going to choose me? But you can't. You can't dictate someone's heart to choose you and to love you, and I understand. But I hope this time, he can make you always smile and happy. I wish you both happiness, Madi. You're both an important part of my life."

I scrunched my eyebrows. "Why are you telling me this?"

"Nothing, I just want the both of you to have a happy ending and----"

"Are you leaving, Greg?" 

"H-How did you know?" he was a bit surprised by my direct question.

"Based on your choices of word. Where are you going? Are you staying in Florida, for good?"

"No. I'm going to the Philippines."

"P-Philippines? As in... in Asia?"

"Yeah, I want to start a new life. I also want to heal my broken heart." and he chuckled. But I noticed it's not his boyish laugh and it didn't reach his ears.

"But how about Noelle? I can see something between the two of you. How you two exchanged your stares earlier, there's something you can call 'understanding."

"Madi, you already answered that question."

"Huh?" I asked him puzzled.

"That you can't dictate your heart to choose someone you don't love."

"So, you don't feel anything for her? Even a small amount of spark?"

He chuckled at me. "Madi, I love her------"

"Oh..then why don't you tell her----

"Madi listen!" he cut me off. "I love her, but not like the love I feel for you. And how can I give my heart to her, if it belongs to you?"

I was left speechless again.

"But I'm not closing my doors..." he shrugged. "..I don't know maybe someday, I can also love her more than a friend. But I can't promise, 'cause I don't know when will I stay in love with you." 

"Well, I don't know what to say, Greg. But if that's your decision, then take care of yourself always." I can't help not to feel sad about his decision. Maybe I can also talk to Noelle regarding this matter.

"Can I hug you for the last time?"

"Of course."

I said and he pulled me into a tight hug. He even give me a lingering kiss on my forehead. 

We are in that position when the door suddenly opens. And that's the scene that came first in Gabriel's view. I noticed how his face darkened as he narrowed his eyes on Greg. But Greg doesn't seem affected by his cousin's venomous glare.

"What are you doing here?" Gabriel asked him with clenched jaws.

And Greg released me slowly before turning to him.

"I heard that Madi is back, so I came here to visit my friend." he answered with a shrug.

"Really, just to visit her or to insist yourself to her?"

My eyes widened with the words he used. 'insist'? What does that mean?

Greg gives him a sarcastic laugh before he became serious.

"You really used the word 'insist'? I admit I love Madi, but I've never insisted myself to her! I've never forced Madi to love me back! How about you.. have you ever asked yourself that question, about insisting?"

And with that, Gabriel just took a few long strides and he's already in front of Greg. He grabbed his collar with rage written in his both eyes.

"Let me tell you this my dearest cousin, whatever I do towards our relationship, it's none of your f.u.c.k.i.n.g business!"

"Stop it, Gabriel!" I tried to stop him but he didn't listen, he continued to choke Greg by holding tightly his collar.

"Relationship? Well let me remind you, you're not in a real relationship before, unless you already forgot! And you're still not in a relationship now, so don't act as if you are her husband, because you're not!"

"Oh my God! Gabriel, stop it!" I screamed when he suddenly punched Greg, and they started to throw punches against each other. "Greg, Gabriel, please! Stop that childish f.u.c.k.i.n.g fight of yours!"

They both stopped and turned to me. I narrowed my eyes on them.

"Is that what you call bestfriends and cousins? You're willing to kill each other? And forgodsake! You're inside of my f.u.c.k.i.n.g office! If you two wants to end up your life, you may get out of here and continue your fight outside of this restaurant, and I don't f.u.c.k.i.n.g care!"

They both remained quiet, but continued to throw daggers to each other. But after a few seconds, Greg was the first to walk towards me. 

"I'll be right outside." and he gives me a quick kiss on my forehead before he exited the door.

Gabriel's knuckles turned into white by forming his fists into a hardball.

"What was that?" he asked me with a scowl when Greg completely out of our sight.

"What do you mean by your question? If I am not mistaken, I should be the one who supposed to ask you that, right?" I asked him back with the same expression. "What's your problem with Greg? Why did you punch him?"

"Because he was kissing you, and you just let him do that!"

"Gabriel, Greg is my friend!"

"A friend Madi? You let your friend kiss you and touch you every time they see you? Is that what you call a friend?" his voice raised a bit as he brushed his hair.

"It's just his gesture from college, and it's just a kiss on my forehead, not in my lips! Forgodsake!"

"Yeah, he's your friend from college, but you never once mentioned that he's also your suitor!"

"What is your problem with that? I also let you kiss me before even we're not friends! And I let you kiss me now and then although I haven't accepted your offer! So, what's the difference of that with Greg's gesture?"

"Because you're my wife! I can kiss you whenever I want to, because that's my rights!"

"Rights! Rights Gabriel? Well let me remind you my 'dear husband'.. yes, our marriage was legal but that's because of your deal before and nothing more! We didn't have any relationship, except for being friends! And until now, we don't have anything that we can call relationship! So, don't you ever...ever...push your rights towards me!" my voice raised in a higher octave which caused him to stop in his trance.

"Madi..." he looked at me with a shock expression on his face.

"Let's talk some other time, Gabriel." I said lowering my voice and massaged my temple.

"Love, I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to----"

"No, Gabriel! Stop calling me that! You meant every word you said! I've known you for so long, and I know you would never say such things without any meaning, or if it's just nothing to you."

"Madi...." he tried to touch me but I stepped back.

"Let's talk some other time and let me just process all of this." I put my palm in the air to stop him from trying to touch me. "Please?"

He stopped and looked at me with sadness and hurt written in both of his eyes. But I looked away from him and walked towards my desk.

"Can I call you later?" he asked and I nodded without looking a him. 

I heard him sighed before he walked towards the door. I glanced at him through my eyelashes and I immediately looked away when he stopped at the door and turned to me.

"I love you." the last word he said before he finally exited the door.