CHAPTER TWO

THE MAN arrogantly tidied his still-tidy coat.

Ally smirked to herself. Who this guy thought he was? She knew Ghia to be a down-to-earth person who does not look down on anyone.

“You can’t just leave without telling me where your so-called best friend and my sister are,” he said without blinking.

Ally raised an eyebrow again.

“Says who? You? Why? Are you my boss? And even if, by chance, you are my boss, we have the same human rights. Don’t use that attitude on me. It does not work every time and on every people,” she said bluntly, looking him straight in the eye.

Gael was taken aback, but it only lasted for a short while. He stared at her sharply. Ally, on the other hand, could not stop herself from studying his face. He had no visible pores, and he had tiny moles on the side of his eyes. They were of different shapes and sizes, and it suited his arrogant facial features.

There she was suddenly, finding herself tracing the lower part of his pinkish, kissable lips using her thumb. It’s appropriate to say that Ally got hypnotized. Gael flinched, but he did not say a word. His aura has just gotten darker.

“You’re handsome. I just don’t think you’re more than that. Too bad.”

Ally took advantage of his shocked reaction and hurriedly left the bar. She should not let him get in the way this time. That guy. She was already pissed with Gino, and this guy just added to it.

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

ALLY still had not heard from Gino the next day when she went to work. She was expecting him to call her after sending him a message that she left the bar and that Gael was looking for them.

She was busy doing a manuscript layout on her computer when her phone rang. It was Gino calling.

“I’m surprised my so-called friend thought of calling me finally.” She answered the call. “Gino, you remembered to call me after all!”

“Ally, can you come for me here at the hospital?”

Ally gasped in shock.

“What the hell are you doing in the hospital?” One moment Ally was upset, and the next moment, she was worried sick for Gino.

Ally did not waste any time. She let Ninny took care of her job and drive her way to the hospital. The reason why he was not able to call her was that they had to turn their phones off to prevent Ghia’s bodyguards from tracking them. Their car collided into the center island after a car chase to escape.

Her friend managed to drive safely to the hospital. They only had minor injuries. But Ally felt like having a heart attack because of worry. Gino should be thankful that it was not that serious. What if it gets worse the next time? She swore she’ll make sure he’ll be double dead!

Ally was shaking as she hurried to find Gino’s hospital room. He’ll be doomed when she sees him!

“Ally.”

Ally did not know what to feel when she finally found Gino on a hospital bed, his head and one arm wrapped in bandages.

“Are you okay?” she asked almost in tears. “Does it still hurt? What happened to your arm?”

“I just had a dislocated shoulder, but I’m fine. Thank you for coming. I am really sorry for bothering you. I know you are busy. I just can’t tell my parents what happened to me. I know you’re the only one who can understand me. I would also like to apologize. I stood you up yesterday. I know how much you hated waiting. Please forgive me, Ally.”

Ally sighed harshly and put her hands on her hips.

“You’re an abusive person, Gino. `You know that? What have you gotten yourself into? Is this still right? Are you really risking your life?” she scolded.

Ally wanted to explode from the inside. She wanted to tell him just to let Ghia go so that his life won’t be put in danger again. But how? She clearly saw from Gino’s face how he did not mind the consequences of the incident.

“Ally, if you really love a person, you won’t care about your own life and safety just to be with them. When you finally fall in love, you’ll understand what I mean.”

This jerk! And now he’s shamelessly declaring his love for Ghia to the world, yet he was oblivious of her feelings for him. She wanted to hit him with the truth that she had been in love with him for a long time already, but that won’t change a thing anyway. Gino had already chosen who he wanted to risk his life for.

“I won’t be surprised if it kills you in the end,” she said with a smirk.

Gino grinned like a kid.

“Where is Ghia?” she asked, changing the topic.

“She’s in the other room. Her brother does not want me to go near her,” Gino said in a low voice.

“What? Gael is here, too?” she asked in surprise.

“Aside from you, Gael is the only person who knew about this accident.”

“So, Gael is here…” Ally did not understand where the tension that suddenly stirred inside her was for. She just heard Gael’s name. “I don’t trust him, Gino. I’m begging you. Stop seeing Ghia in the meantime. Let the situation cool down. Her family has their eyes on you. Aren’t you scared of what they can do to you?”

“Why would it scare me? Ghia and I love each other very much, Ally,” Gino said with conviction.

“You’re hopeless, Gino,” Ally said with a shake of her head. “I’ll just settle your bill before we leave.”

Ally was about to turn her back when Gino caught her wrist and squeezed it.

“Thank you, Ally. You’re really the best,” he said with a smile.

She smiled curtly and nodded at her friend. A friend. The truth that she will always be a best friend to him was stubbornly ringing into her mind.

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

ALLY was walking along the hallway with her head down. She did not know how to ease herself from worrying about what will happen to Gino in the coming days if he kept on seeing Ghia.

She was oblivious to her surroundings. She failed to prepare herself when someone grabbed her by the arm.

Her eyes widened in shock. Horses were racing inside her chest when she met another pair of eyes.

“W-what the—let go of me!” she growled when she finally got a hold of herself except for heart still pounding.

When she tried to break free, Gael put his arm on the side of her hips and the other just above her shoulder. He even had to bow his head so that their faces would aline.

Her body suddenly felt like betraying her the moment she smelled his familiar perfume. It was only then that she realized she was longing for his scent even though she only met him yesterday. Just not in a proper way.

“Did you see what happened?” he said in a clenched jaw. “If you had just told me where your asshole of a friend was, this could have been avoided. They almost died!”

If only looks could kill, Ally could have been colder than ice. But there’s no way she’s letting Gael intimidate her, especially now that he’s talking and making it look like everything was her fault.

She crossed her arms across her chest and raised her chin.

“Did you see what happened?” she said, imitating his tone. “If only your parents allowed your sister and Gino to be free to love each other, they did not need to hide, escape, and get involved in an accident. You saw it yourself. They almost die. I’ll never forgive your whole clan if something happened to my best friend.”

And Gael had no plans on backing out.

“He is not the guy Ghia should marry. He does not belong to us.”

“Exactly! And Ghia is sick and tired of it. You are monsters who only value money. What do you really care about her feelings? Are you scared Gino is only after her inheritance? Who is really after the money here, huh?”

Ally moved aside when Gael brought his face closer.

“You don’t know what we are capable of,” he said in a low, stern voice.

Ally understood what he was trying to do.But he was wrong to think that could make her back off. Well, she felt sorry for him because she was Ally Punzalan, daughter of media men, never backs out on a challenge.

“You don’t know what we're capable of, too. That makes us quits. And don’t act like you own the whole world. Like, duh?”

“You have a serious problem with your mouth, lady.”

“Likewise.”

“Tell your best friend to stay away from my sister. Their love will never be enough. Money and power make the world go round.”

“Don’t impose your belief on me. I could only wish you luck in keeping them apart. Now, if you don’t want to see your face on the front page and your name being called out on the radio, get away from me before I throw a fit and call it sexual harassment.”

Gael’s luscious lips curved into a sexy kind of smirk.

“You’re not serious, are you?”

His eyes traced the shape of her face, and his gaze stayed on her lips. To be honest, Ally was more conscious than irritated with Gael’s presence. They were unusually close. To think they were bantering!

Ally swallowed. How dare him looking at her that way! They are not close. There’s no way she’ll do what he wanted. She had a strong resistance to handsome men. There’s no way!

Ally left him the moment he stepped away from her. She sighed loudly. That jerk of a guy! He’s not good for her lungs. And for her heart, too.

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

ALLY brought Gino home straight from the hospital before finally returning to her office. Despite acquiring only minor injuries, he still needed some rest, or else his performance during gigs will be affected.

They were not able to talk while on the road. Gino needed not to say anything. She could already see from his face and his actions that he was worried about what might happen to his relationship with Ghia. And it was hard for her, too. Gino was one stubborn man. He would probably make a way just to be with Ghia.

And then there’s her brother, Gael. He was giving her a headache, too. He was causing more problems for her than Gino.

And why does she had to get involved with them anyway? She was just a best friend, a supporting role!

“He’s not dating anyone? Like, seriously?”

Ally could not believe what she was doing. She was actually stalking Gael Guidicelli. Well, not really. It’s not like she hacked Sought-After magazine’s website to gather such information from Gael. The site was free to visit by anyone who had a stable internet connection.

She read some basic information about him, where he studied and his interests as well. Gael was yummy in his photos. They were taken from the events he attended, but it was as if smiling was too much for him.

No wonder he’s not dating anyone despite his handsome face. He’s boring, and he has an attitude problem. No woman could tolerate him. It was as if he’d rather date his job than meet real people.

Poor guy. Oh, wait. He actually deserved it. It would be best for that man not to marry at all. The unlucky woman’s life would only be miserable and so their future child’s.

It’s not like I’m judging him. It’s just not that hard to know what kind of a person he is!

“I can only be sorry for him,” she said and tsked.