Chapter 51 - Hormonal Teenager
A slow grin cast on Gael's handsome features upon hearing her invitation. He couldn't tell what her motives were, but because he was Gael, he didn't fail to annoy her. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
Angela frowned, arching an eyebrow and giving him a glassy stare. He was clearly amused by her sudden invitation, and now he's making it look like it meant something else when all she really wanted was to thank him for yesterday. "What date? Why would you think that?"
He shrugged. "All right. Then no." He turned and attempted to close the door on her face, however, she slammed her hand to stop it.
"Ah!" she winced when the heavy wood slapped her palm, immediately rubbing her hand to ease the pain. The sudden pain surprised her but she recovered quickly and brushed it off. Gael did not expect her to do that, so he halted and faced her again. "Fine!" she hissed. "It's just lunch. Label it whatever you want. I don't get why it matters."
"The label doesn't matter, but you asking me out does." He turned around and went deeper into his suite. "Yes, Angela, I would love to go on a date with you," he added with a sarcastic tone, not bothering to look back. If he had, he would have seen her frown had gotten deeper.
She couldn't understand what his deal was. Gael was such a difficult man to read. Sometimes she could see right through him when he doesn't bother masking his expression. But other times, he's just so good at hiding them that she wouldn't understand anything at all. Date? What date? She clicked her tongue.
Angela remained standing by the door. She watched as he picked out some clothes from his luggage and tossed it to his bed, not realizing that she was ogling at him again. He grasped the hem of his towel and was about to remove it and get naked when he remembered that she was still standing there. He looked up and met her eyes, cocking a brow up as he asked, "Are you gonna watch me change too? I don't mind the audience." He slightly tugged his towel.
She huffed and cleared her throat, her hand swiftly reaching for the doorknob and abruptly pulling the door close. She decided to wait for him outside. She didn't mind looking actually. Not at all. But she wasn't as shameless as him. Though… it's not like she hadn't seen him naked. She gulped, thinking that her thoughts were safe.
It took him a few minutes to come back out—way too fast for her. If it were Angela and she was getting ready for a date, she would need at least an hour to get ready—maybe even two. Wait… This wasn't a date! What was she thinking?
Gael came out looking so laid back and fresh, his slightly long hair still moist as he just got out of the shower not too long ago. Dressed in dark jeans and grey long-sleeved henley shirt that he rolled up to his elbows—hugging his lean physique, he casually glanced at her while he tried to lock the door to his suite. Even if he was at a distance, one would know he looked like he smelled so good.
Meanwhile, Angela wore the same dress that she wore last Saturday—the one that got wet and caused her nipples to be visible under the fabric—it had already dried up though and she was wearing pasties now to cover her buds. Even though the dress exposed her arms and midriff, she didn't have a choice because she had only washed her other clothes that morning and they were still wet. Just then, a strong wind blew past the hallway, making her shiver.
Letting out a long sigh, Gael unlocked the door to his suite again and muttered, "Wait here."
Then, he disappeared into his suite and came back a few seconds later with a hoodie in his hand. "Wear this," he said when he tossed it to her. She gingerly caught the hoodie and protested, but he already started walking away. "Come on, I'm hungry. You're paying, right? You invited me after all."
"What…" She was confused as to what she should address first—his kindness, the hoodie, or him being annoying? Closing her eyes, she breathed in and chanted in her head to compose herself. "Of course. It's my treat," was all she could say as she followed behind him and put on the hoodie. 'Just let him be, Anj,' she thought.
As they landed on the lobby on their way to the restaurant, they passed by a souvenir shop where several clothes were displayed. She thought of buying a couple of shirts that she could change into, so she urged him to stop by and look. Not interested in buying anything, Gael pulled out his phone and browsed through his emails, staying a few feet away from her while she went shopping. She got sidetracked by the little trinkets of souvenirs that were on display, but he didn't mind following her around.
A few minutes later, he pocketed his phone and looked up only to find a familiar-looking man from across the room who was looking at Angela. It was that same man whom she met in the restaurant the other day and the same man he yelled at who was knocking at her door that night. Seeing as the man was headed towards her, Gael furrowed his brows as he inched closer towards her, then he subconsciously took her hand, earning him a surprised look. "What?" she asked.
Yes, idiot. What? His face softened, unsure of what he was supposed to do now. Straightening his back, he tugged her towards him and told her, "You said you were already hungry—so am I. You can look at those again later." Then, he brought her out of the shop and made a beeline towards the restaurant.
She couldn't tell what came over him. Was he that hungry? Angela glared at his broad back, wondering why his mood swings were that of a hormonal teenage girl. Then, her eyes landed on their linked hands. 'This isn't a date,' she reminded herself.