Chapter 347 - Tuesday (2)
Gael had video conferences in the morning until one in the afternoon. He stayed in his office the entire time while Angela did whatever she could to occupy herself. She thought about mapping out the characters for her next book, but she wasn't feeling it today. After staring blankly at the T.V., she decided to do some cleaning.
While she wasn't the neatest or the best organizer, whenever Angela started to clean… She cleaned. And boy, she cleaned like a maniac. By the time Gael was done with his meetings, the living room, the kitchen, and the bedroom sparkled. He thought something was strange when he stepped out of the office, and his apartment not only looked neater, but it also smelled like a spa. She used her essential oils here and there.
After the busy morning he had, a headache started to form from the back of his head but a smile ghosted his lips, seeing what she was up to while he was stuck in his office—though he narrowed his eyes first when he saw the food on the table before noticing the delivery bag on the counter. Angela was determined to learn how to cook, but he made her promise she wouldn't attempt anything if he wasn't around.
They ate their lunch and snuggled up on the couch for a cup of coffee, then afterwards, told her to change her clothes so he could take her out.
It was nearly three o'clock in the afternoon when the two of them rode the elevator down to the lobby, holding hands and smiling as Angela tried to guess where he planned to take her. He didn't really prepare anything special, but last week before the New Year's Eve party, he promised to take her to the New York Public Library. So that's where they were headed to.
"Two times in a week… I'm afraid I'll have to start thinking either you live here or it's fate." A female's voice chimed as they stepped out of the car and walked into the lobby. Miss USA strolled towards Gael, smiling haughtily. She was alone this time, but her stare at Gael was still sticky. "How about that coffee?"
Angela arched a brow at the other before she lifted her chin up, looking confident and tall while her hand wrapped around Gael's bicep. He was just about to answer, but she cut in. "He's busy."
Miss USA, who didn't hide her contempt towards Angela, shifted her gaze between the two, her bitchy brow rising in question. "Doing what?"
"Doing me." The corners of Angela's lips curved up into a disdainful smile that she only showed to people she thoroughly disliked.
Miss USA's jaw couldn't drop any faster. She even flinched as the words cut her like a knife.
Angela's response was simple and direct but unexpected. Miss USA probably didn't think Angela would tell her off because she kept quiet the first time they came face to face last week.
Gael smirked, looking very pleased. "You heard her. Oh, also… Don't ever disrespect my girlfriend again. And let's not meet or even bump into each other in the future. If you see me, run the other direction."
Angela waved like a Miss Universe at the gaping woman who was still rendered speechless. "Let's go, babe." Gael pressed a kiss on the side of her head before walking her out of the building.
***
Angela was in awe when they arrived in front of the New York Public Library. Her smile reached her ears as she took the iconic steps towards the entrance, holding Gael's hand while her eyes shined brightly like a kid in a carnival.
She took pictures of the exterior of the building and a couple of selfies. Then she dragged Gael beside her, who was initially reluctant to be photographed—not with her, but being photographed in general. He was always not a fan of photos—which had something to do with the nature of his family's business. Though he was okay whenever it was only the two of them in their apartments, but not so much in public. Knowing how much she enjoyed this surprise and wanted to commemorate it, he stood behind her to get in the frame and smiled at the camera.
The library had free tours twice a day from Mondays to Saturdays, but they had to book it ahead of time, and the tour was already done before they arrived. It didn't matter though, Angela just wanted to roam about freely. So that's what they did for a while, checking out the different sections in the massive library. The building's Beaux-Arts standards were so incredible that the library felt luxurious.
Several photos and artifacts lined up the hallway towards the Rose Reading Room—the main reading room that's nearly the length of a football field. Angela and Gael spent some time quietly reading a random book about art; she wanted to bask in the experience of being there, watching, and silently observing.
At half past four in the afternoon, they dropped by the library shop on their way out. Gael said he wanted to buy something, so he did his thing, and Angela checked out some souvenir items while waiting. The shop was full of people, and a few minutes later, she decided to find Gael at the planner section, where she thought he was like he said he would be, but he wasn't there. Strange. Where could he be?
Not far behind her, she heard two women talking.
"Mom. I'm getting a new planner. This 18-month one is very pretty. What do you think?"
"I think that looks nice. Do they have a bigger one?"
"Yeah. Here. Why don't you get one too so we can match! I'll buy it for you."
"Awww… I would love that. You are so sweet, honey."
Angela froze, hearing the older woman's voice. It was as though she was brought back in time, more than twenty years ago when she was still a little girl. She must be hearing things. 'This must be a mistake. It couldn't be…' she thought. But while denial played in her head, her body unknowingly turned around as if she was compelled to look for the person who was talking, her subconscious mind trying to fit the voice with a particular person's face.
Her heart raced at the same time that tingles spread through her skin. A mixture of heavy feeling and coldness settled in her stomach when her eyes finally landed on a sophisticated woman, wearing a black knee-length dress with pearls adorning her slender neck. She had dark brown hair, just like Angela's original hair color, and eyes that were also the same as Angela's brown ones that had become misty as she stared at the woman standing a few feet away from her.
The older woman and her daughter were still talking and hadn't noticed Angela's staring yet. The latter couldn't understand her feelings as she gaped at the two.
The older woman probably noticed someone looking at her, so she shifted her gaze to Angela. Then her eyes grew wide, and her lips parted as they exchanged a moment together. "K-Kylie?"
Angela gasped, hearing the name pulled her out of her trance, and she took a tentative step back before rigidly turning around and then bumping into Gael's hard chest.
"Woah." He grabbed her arms and steadied her. "Hey, Babe. Look, I got you something…" His voice trailed off, and his brows drew together when he saw her pale face and watery eyes. "What's wrong?"
Angela couldn't speak. It was as if her voice was taken out of her.
"Kylie…" the woman called again; her voice sounded closer this time.
Gael looked over Angela's head, his stare zeroing in at the woman who just called her by her second name. She looked very much like Angela—only older. While he was distracted, Angela slipped from his hold and dashed out of the library shop.
"Kylie, wait!" The woman ran after Angela.
He snapped out of his stupor and went after them. His long strides allowed him to catch up to Angela on the last steps outside of the library.
"Angel…" He wrapped a hand around her elbow, and she flinched, but he didn't let go of her. "What's going on?"
"Kylie… Sweetheart…" said the older woman who stopped a few meters away from them.
Angela's skin was cold and damp. Her mouth trembled, and she was on the verge of crying as she stopped herself from looking back. Seeing her like that felt like someone reached into his chest and ripped his heart out. Fuck. He would do anything to end her misery.
She looked up at Gael, her voice pleading as she asked, "Get me out of here. Please take me home."