Gaby was sleeping when Clark went outside. His smile never went away from his lips, and the group noticed that. He caught them on the porch as Manang was making dinner.
“What are you like, floating through the clouds?” Ashlee asked.
“I’m happy, isn’t it obvious?” said Clark.
“Happy for what?” Sasha asked
Clark didn’t answer, but Dylan smiled. “I’m happy for you, dude! Don’t hurt her or make her weep. I’ll take her away from you.” said Dylan.
“Oh, my gosh,” said Sasha. “Do you mean it? Is Gaby your girl? ”
Clark smiled. “Yeah!”
“Geez! How did it happen?” said Belle.
“Wow! I’m so excited about you and Gaby!” says Ashlee. “Clark never hurt Gaby.”
“Whoa, Gaby has plenty of allies, and what if she hurts me?” Clark asked.
“Just let Gaby don’t hurt her,” Sasha said.
“I’ll do everything, but I can’t make sure this doesn’t happen guys,” said Clark.
“Guys, let’s have dinner,” Manang said, peeking slightly at the veranda.
******
Clark took off for dinner. Instead, he brought something to eat in Gaby’s room. When she woke up, he smiled when he saw her. He positioned the tray above the closet so Gaby could eat properly. He was across the table.
“It’s awkward. I have dinner in the room.” Gaby said.
“Everyone understands. How is your foot?” Clark asked.
“It hurts when I move. But can still tolerate it,” said Gaby.
She noticed Clark had even put some rice on the plate for her.
“Sweet one,” said Gaby.
Clark looked at her. “Really? Am I sweet? ”
Gaby smiled. “You don’t have to do this. My foot was hurt, not my hand.”
Clark just smiled. “Eat.”
“Have you had your meal yet?” asked Gaby.
“I went with them earlier. I’m also embarrassed by Manang, so I’ve already dined though. I want to have dinner with you.” said Clark.
Gaby just laughed and prayed. Clark stared at her. Later he heard the word amen, and the girl looked up again.
“You stare at me, I might not be pleased with eating because you stare at me,” said Gaby.
Clark smirked.  “I’m just happy.”
Gaby looked at him. “Are you happy?” Clark asked
Gaby blushed. “Y- yeah!”
Clark smiled. “I told the gang about us.”
Gaby’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
“Yeah! You know there’s no such thing as secrecy with them. Also, I can’t contain my happiness alone. I have to let everyone know what I feel.” said Clark.
Gaby smiled a bit. She still doesn’t believe she’s already got a boyfriend. “What did they say?”
“What else? They are happy for us, but they all threatened me, though,” said Clark.
Gaby laughed. “So don’t hurt me and make me cry. All of them will beat you.”
“I will not allow that to happen because I love you so much and I am not a fool to let you go. Dylan’s waiting for you and I will not give him a chance to have you,” said Clark.
“Are you jealous of Dylan?” Gaby asked
“Yes! Therefore, whenever you two are together, I avoid you because I feel like I’m torturing myself,” said Clark.
“How’s that? I love Dylan. He’s my best friend.” said Gaby.
“And I love you more, so I choose to trust you but don’t give me a reason to be jealous,” said Clark.
“Which things are going to make you jealous?” Gaby asked.
“As long as there are no hugs, no kisses, that’s all right with me. Besides, he’s our best friend, don’t forget I’m your good-looking boyfriend who loves you very much!” said Clark.
“I - I love you too!” said Gaby while blushing.
Clark’s smile widened. “I did not hear. What did you say?”
“I know you heard me..” Gaby said.
“I don’t,” said Clark.
“I- I love you too!” said Gaby.
Clark’s smile could never have been erased.  She, on the other hand, blushed and then drank water to avoid looking at Clark in front of her.
****
After dinner, Clark picked up the tray from the kitchen. When he walked back into Gaby’s room, he frowned when he saw the group inside.
“Why are you here?” Clark asked.
“Visiting Gaby, of course,” said Sasha.
“Visit or interview?” Clark says.
“You look terrible, Clark! It’s both. We just want to know if you didn’t threaten her or forced her. The boys are on the porch, so take off with them!” said Sasha.
“Let Gaby and I bond first. It’s our first day as a couple, you might want to give us a little privacy. You have been hanging out all day!” said Clark.
“But we want things clarified. We want the truth, so get out of here!” Belle said.
“What?” Clark said.
“Clark leaves us all alone first,” said Sasha.
Clark scratched his head while looking at Gaby. Gaby smiled at him. Ashlee noticed this and then stood up and approached Clark.
“Get out! Get out!” said Ashlee while pushing Clark.
“Hey!” said Clark as Ashlee closed the door.
“You’re great, Ashlee!” said Sasha, who got a high-five with Ashlee.
Gaby laughed at them.
*****
“What happened to you?” Matt asked
Clark came to the veranda, frowning. He immediately sat beside Dylan and took a beer out of the ice bucket and opened it.
“The girls threw me out of Gaby’s room,” Clark said in a beer.
“They look like they’re interrogating Gaby,” says Riki.
“Sure, you know them,” said Matt.
“Dude, you should be nice to Gaby. She has three reprehensible minions!” said Riki while laughing. “Otherwise Gaby will break your bones.”
All three laughed at what Riki said as well. They saw how cool Gaby was. What if she didn’t go through an operation? She might be the one thing they watch on MMA.
“She may be cool, but she’s innocent in terms of her feelings,” Clark said. He was still smiling at something they had been talking about earlier.
“And what do you mean?” Matt asked.
Dylan had a sudden laugh. He figured out what Clark was talking about. Matt and Riki frowned.
“You’re her first boyfriend and probably her first love, so you should have a broader understanding of her about emotional conversations. She’s naïve, so don’t wait for her to find out how you feel. Tell her right now because you’re going to rot waiting and she still doesn’t know how you feel.” Dylan said while drinking beer.
“Yeah! I surely remember that one, dude!” said Clark.
“So, do I still need to ask your permission when I want to hold her?” Dylan laugh.
“Of course! I know she’s kind of sweet and clingy when you’re together,” said Clark. “And I know you enjoy it too!”
Dylan laughed. Dylan knows Clark’s been jealous of him ever since he first knew Gaby. He’s a man too, so he knows how Clark feels about Gaby and when it irritates him that the woman is talking to someone else. And Clark and Dylan are feeling the same thing. He’s also jealous of Clark so far, but what he can do, Gaby prefers to keep them just friends.
*******
Everyone at home slept early, probably because this was a province. It was only nine o’clock at night, and the entire street was calm. Clark had a look at Gaby in her room before he went into the boys’ room. When he opened the door, he did not see Gaby.  He went inside and look for her.
“Gab?” he calls.
“Clark ...”
He heard Gaby’s voice he was looking for. When he went back to the bed, he saw the girl lying on the floor.
“What happened?” Clark asked.
Clark took Gaby at once and put her back on the bed. He laid her down properly. She got all sweaty.
“Are you all right?” asked Clark with hesitation.
“I dreamt about the snake earlier and it curled all over my body until I couldn’t breathe,” Gaby said softly.
Clark lay down on Gaby’s bed and stroked her back.
“It’s just a dream,” Clark said, still stroking Gaby’s hair.
Gaby fell silent. They hugged for a few minutes without talking.
“Are you still awake?” Clark asked.
“Why?” Gaby asked.
“I just thought we should have terms of endearment. What do you think?” Clark asked.
“Is it needed?” Gaby asked.
Clark laughed slightly. “Yes, for me, that’s important. I want to make you feel that you’re special to me. Only you and I will use this name. ”
“Okay, I like to call you something special as well!” said Gaby.
“So have you thought of anything?” Clark asked.
“What were the terms of endearment of your true love?” Gaby asked.
“First love, Gaby, not true love,” told Clark. “We called each other sungit.”
“So you resent me when I call you Sungit because you remember her with me? Maybe that’s why you suddenly like me because…” said Gaby.
Clark suddenly moved, and Gaby bowed to him. Clark brought his forehead close to Gaby’s forehead as he closed his eyes. Gaby closed her eyes as well.
“That’s not true! You’re not supposed to think about that. I love you because you’re Gaby. I love you because it’s the way I feel.” said Clark. “Always keep that in your mind, okay?”
“I- I’m sorry,” Gaby said.
Clark lay down again and returned to their former position.
“Are you angry at me? I’m sorry,” said Gaby.
“I’m not mad,” Clark said as he hugged Gaby. “I can’t believe it would be so good to hold you in my arms. You’re like a fluffy pillow I can never get enough of. ”
Gaby laughed. “I’ve thought of something.”
“Really? What?” Clark asked as he relaxed his embrace.
“Bear!” said Gaby. “I want to call you My Bear.”
“That’s nice. I like it. From now on, you are my bear!” Clark said, hugging Gaby tightly again.
Gaby laughed. “Is it okay for you if I call you My Bear in front of many people? They might tease you or .. ”
“I don’t care about other people. All I care about is you, My Bear!” said Clark with a laugh.
“Okay, My Bear, I’m sleepy now, you can go to your…” Gaby said.
“No. I will sleep here. Don’t worry, your Bear is behaving and also sleepy. Let’s sleep like this, okay?” said Clark.
“O-okay,” said Gaby.
It even surprised Gaby when Clark touched her chin with his finger and then kissed her.
“Good night my Bear, I love you!” said Clark, then closed his eyes.
Gaby can’t explain the tickly pink she feels. It was as though her heart was bursting with joy. She can’t believe Clark is such a sweet guy.
‘So this is the thing called love.’ - in Gaby’s mind