The woman stared at him, and it surprised him. She has a beautiful face. She has long lashes which, he knows, are not fake, her perfectly curved nose, her red lips and he knows it is not a lipstick that makes it red, her cheeks are turning red and her white skin feels very smooth. And as she was talking with Ashlee, she was smiling, so he could see her deep dimples on both cheeks.
“Clark, you look at her like you don’t want her here,” said Belle.
“Her name’s Gaby. She’s our new roommate.” Ashlee said.
“Just a roommate. Why is he here with us?” Clark asked.
“She’s our roommate, and she’s with Sweethearts, so she can sit there!” Belle said, rolling her eyes at Clark.
“Gaby, he is Clark. He’s a heartthrob member.“ said Ashlee.
Gaby just stared at him, then smiled a little, then ignored him. Clark lifted an eyebrow. Gaby didn’t even think he was cute, didn’t even speak to him or anything. Dylan sat beside Clark. He immediately placed Gaby’s food at the table and Clark’s order followed.
“Your favorite,” said Dylan.
Gaby smiled. “Yeah! Thank you. You still know my favorite “
Dylan smiled. Clark took a glance at Dylan and Gaby before him. He sat back and ate. They just stopped when they noticed Gaby prayed before she ate, so they waited for her to finish. Clark smirked at the sight. Gaby heard it and was upset.
“What’s funny?” said Gaby.
Their friends turned and looked at Gaby. She was looking straight at Clark, who was about to eat, but before the food came into his mouth, Riki gave him a little kick.
“What?” Clark asked innocently.
Riki snouted, and he followed his lips. Gaby was staring at him, seriously.
“What’s funny about it?” said Gaby again.
“You look funny,” said Clark.
“Is prayer funny for you?” said Gaby.
The group silenced as if there was a beautiful scene to see. Clark said nothing in the blast.
“Don’t you pray?” Gaby asked.
Clark stared at her again. “You should be grateful for the blessing you receive. You should not laugh when you see someone praying. Would you like me to teach you how to pray?“ Gaby said.
“You’re so noisy,” Clark said, getting annoyed.
All he did was ignore what Gaby said. “Ignore him, Gaby,” said Matt.
Clark was grinning again. The group looked back at Gaby. She was serious but did not argue with Clark. They smiled because it seemed Clark had found his girl version.
“Hello, my friends!”
A group of men came close to where they were. They are the university basketball varsity team.
“Hi, Sweethearts!”
The girls just smiled. The boys rolled their eyes at the table and immediately noticed Gaby next to Ashlee.
“Whoa! Sweethearts have a newbie!“ the other one said.
“Hi, Miss! I’m Steve.“ Steve greeted Gaby.
“I’m Markus!” He bowed to Gaby.
“My name is Glenn!” he smiles at her
“I’m Timothy!” he waved at Gaby.
“Good morning, my name is Gaby!” She welcomed them with a smile.
“You look lovely, Gaby,” said Markus. “Are you an artist?”
“Supermodel?” says Glenn.
“A beauty queen, perhaps?” said Timothy.
As all the varsity team said, she just answered no and shook her head. “But you can be one of them!” said Timothy.
Gaby just smiled. Dylan frowned. “You must go. You have seen us. We are busy eating! You guys are a nuisance!“ Dylan said.
All four of them laughed. “Seriously, Dylan, we’re just introducing ourselves.”
“Go!” said Riki.
The four men got up and bid them farewell. They sat at the other table, but they always fixed their eyes on the place where they were.
**********
After class, Gaby thought of sitting on the bench beside the field where the university plays. She sat down and looked around.
“Gaby!”
Gaby turned around and could not help smiling when she saw him.
“Dylan!” she replied.
“Why are you here?” asked Dylan.
“Nothing, it’s nice to sit here,” said Gaby
Dylan just smiled, and Gaby also smiled. “You’ve changed a lot, Gab,” Dylan said seriously.
“You too. I’m surprised you’re a heartthrob.“ said Gaby. “Aren’t you clunky now?”
Dylan laughed. “Do you think I’m clumsy?”
“Isn’t that right?” Gabi laughs.
Dylan kept quiet, looking at Gaby. “I miss you, Gab!” said Dylan suddenly. “I am so sorry.”
Gaby smiles a bit. “Sorry?”
“I’m sorry I left you,” said Dylan.
“It’s okay, Dylan. Let’s forget about that. How long has it been? About five years ago.“ said Gaby.
Dylan wasn’t saying anything. He was really glad to see Gaby, his closest friend, and his first love, but he knew that although she smiled at him and was happy when she saw him, there was something they need to talk about. He knows she’s hurt.
“Why are you here? Did you get no class?” Gaby asked.
“Yeah, I’m done with my class,” said Dylan. “Civil Engineering is still the course you took.”
“It’s my dream, isn’t it?” told Gaby.
“Why are you only 3rd year?” Dylan asks.
“I’m supposed to be in first year, but because there are subjects that are credited with my homeschooling, I’m now in the third year,” Gaby said.
“Homeschooling? I thought you were studying at the University of Toronto?“ Dylan asked.
Gaby looked at him. “A lot happened while you were gone, Dylan.”
Dylan stared away from her. He feels guilty. Since he returns home, he has received no news from Gaby. He couldn’t contact her anymore, he also lost her social media accounts along with Gaby’s parents.
“I think you should go. Your girl could see us, Dylan! I don’t want trouble.“ Gaby said.
“I haven’t got a girlfriend,” said Dylan.
“Seriously?!“ said Gaby, in shock.
“Why? You don’t think it’s true? Perhaps you, someone, will suddenly become jealous and hit me here.“ Dylan joked.
“Who will punch you?” Gaby asked.
“Your boyfriend,” said Dylan.
“I have no boyfriend. The boys don’t like me because they think I’m not an ideal girlfriend,” said Gaby.
“Tell me who said that?” asked Dylan. “They should never tell you that. You’re an ideal girlfriend to me. You are lovely and...”
Gaby looked at him. “This is my judgment. You’re the girl I want.“ Dylan said.
“You’re a good friend, Dy,” Gaby spoke with a smile.
“I may change physically, but I’m still your Dylan, Gab,” said Dylan. “I’m always the same.”
Gaby just smiled. “Your friends are cool, especially the girls!”
“Those are the coolest,” said Dylan.
“But this is one, it looks like he conceived out of resentment!” said Gaby.
“Who?” Dylan wondered.
“The rude guy at the cafeteria,” said Gaby.
“Clark is a great guy.“ said Dylan.
“He doesn’t seem to,” Gaby said with a smile.
“You’re pre-judging him.” Dylan laughed.
Gaby smiled. It distracted them by a noise nearby. “There’s no us, Liz!” said the guy with irritation.
Dylan laughed. “He gets in trouble again.”
“Isn’t he the grouchy, Clark?” Gaby asked while looking at Clark.
“Yes, and he’s furious now!” Dylan laughed. “Looks like someone assumed Clark’s girlfriend again.”
“Assumed?” Gaby asked.
Dylan has said nothing. They listened to what was going on. “But you kissed me.” said the woman.
“You’re the one who kissed me, you might forget,” Clark said.
“Go to hell, Clark!” said the lady.
Clark never said a word. He was just looking at that woman. The woman slapped him.
“Do you know what? A woman like you is just a pain in the neck.“ said Clark. The woman got angry and left him.
“He doesn’t like her? She’s beautiful.“ said Gaby.
Dylan wasn’t saying anything, he was watching too. Later on, he looked at Gaby, still watching the scene from a distance.
“Is he a heartbreaker?” asked Gaby suddenly.
That’s what he hears in conversations at the university. Dylan didn’t answer that one. Gaby didn’t know whether he wouldn’t comment because Clark was his friend.
“I’ll go home, Dylan!” said Gaby.
Suddenly, she got up and Dylan got up as well. “Let’s go along!” said Dylan.
“Very well!” said Gaby with a smile.