CHAPTER 27: The Resolution

GABRIEL’s P.O.V.

“What really happened between the two of them?” I asked Elijah, full of curiosity.

“Darren and Claire fought because of you... My bestfriend saw your photo, kissing his wife–”

“They aren’t married.”

She looked at me, surprised, before taking another deep breath.

“I guess that is the main reason why you did that.”

“You knew it as well?”

“Yeah. I’m the one who introduced them to each other,” he admitted.

“Is that why you feel responsible for their fake relationship?” He glared at my direction after hearing those words.

“What they have... It’s all real, the love and everything. Maybe not the marriage but I know for a fact that Darren and Claire love each other. It’s just that, you need to end this misunderstanding as soon as possible. You’re the only person I knew that could clean this mess,” he explained.

“What kind of misunderstanding, Elijah? Please enlighten me.”

“Claire... She left the country. She thought that Darren is really mad at her after what happened at the night of their engagement party. And Darren... He thought that Claire just used him for his money... And who she really love is you.”

“That was insane. That day, Claire and I officially ended everything between us.”

“I know. That’s why I need you to do this. You’ve got to help me convince Darren that what he saw wasn’t true and it’s just a complete misunderstanding.”

“What happened if we didn’t succeed?”

“Darren is going to marry Kate instead.”

I look at him, scrutinizing his face. Is that the reason why he’s asking me to do this favor? Not just for Claire and Darren? But also for him as well?

“You love her,” I stated unconsciously.

“What?” he looked at me, brows furrowed.

“Kate. You have been loving her ever since high school. I saw the way how you stare at her. I instantly knew it, for your eyes says it all.”

He looked down, before returning his gaze up on me. Then with a pleading voice, he almost whispered something.

“Will you please help me then?”

Without any hesitation, I nodded. We set up our plan before he called his bestfriend, Darren. He put his phone on speaker for me to be able to heard their conversation.

“Hello? Who’s this?” Darren answered the call after a few rings.

“Darren,” Elijah stated.

“Elij...” he trailed off, sounding surprised.

“Let’s meet up, Darren.”

“Where?”

“I’ll send you the address.”

“What is it about?” he curiously asked.

“Just come and find out. If you didn’t, then you’ll probably just lost your last one and only chance of finding the truth. It’s about Claire.”

I almost chuckled, remembering how he almost said the same exact thing to me earlier this evening just to come out here.

“Sure, sure. I’ll come,” Darren finally approved.

As he hung up the phone, Elijah motioned me towards the entrance of the coffee shop, ordering something for the both of us to drink while we wait for Darren to come. Thankfully, after more or less forty-five minutes of waiting, he finally arrived.

I saw him clenched his fist right after he entered into the coffee shop, looking furious by seeing me sitting on the opposite side of the table where his bestfriend is currently in as well right now.

“What the fuck are you doing here?!” he madly asked.

He quickly walked towards my direction before grabbing the collar of my shirt. He gripped onto it tightly, unable to control himself from anger.

“Darren, stop!” Elijah scolded him.

“Why? Why the fuck would you tell me to stop, Elijah? This man ruined everything! Before it was Kate and Claire’s friendship, and now our relationship! Can’t you see? This man deserves to live in hell!” he shouted.

“I know...” I unconsciously whispered.

He was stunned, unable to process what I just said. He loosen up his tight grip on my shirt before he finally let me go.

“Darren, will you please, just listen to him first?” Elijah asked. “Stop letting yourself be dragged on by your emotions. For once, try to listen to us...”

“Fine.” He glared at me, maybe waiting for my explanation to be told.

People are now staring at our direction. But as Darren sent them some death raging glares, they finally stopped, looking away and minding their own business.

“What do you want to say? Please say it now.”

Elijah looked at him, before shaking his head in disapproval. Darren arched one of his brows to him before he finally stood up.

“I guess I’ll leave you two alone so that you can have some privacy. Don’t hurt him, Darren. Please don’t fight. People are looking,” Elijah warned him.

He nodded, and I just did the same. When Elijah finally left us in there, I took a deep breath before saying anything. I know that I’m probably looking nervous right now, though I’m pretty much sincere in doing this thing for him to have a reconciliation with Claire.

“Claire probably told you about me.”

“Yes. She told me that you’re the one who ruined her friendship with Kate. Am I right?” I nodded, and he looked so surprised.

“Yeah, I’m that guy.” I chuckled to myself even though there wasn’t a funny thing about what he just said. “I’m the one who ruined everything, including your relationship with her.”

“Why did you do it? You know that I already owned that woman but you still kissed her. What kind of man are you?!” Again, he couldn’t contain himself anymore.

“The kind of man who loves your wife so much. When I found out that what you and Claire have was a fake relationship, I instantly felt hopeful. I thought that if I pursue it, maybe I could finally make her love me back. But she didn’t. She only thought about you...” I trailed off, averting my eyes on his direction.

“If you’re wondering why I knew about it, the answer is, she told me so. She said that she loves you so much. She said that in front of my face. Could you imagine how badly hurt I was that time? I’m the one who’s been loving her since high school but she chose you over me. Isn’t it unfair?”

“Why are you telling me this?” he asked, looking guilty.

“Because I want you to fix everything. Elijah already told me what happened and I don’t know where is Claire either. Find her, Darren. This isn’t her fault. This is all because of me. I initiated the kiss, and she pushed me away after that. She confessed about you... And we ended things just fine. I couldn’t imagine that something like this could happen between the two of you.”

I saw him clenched his fist that was at the top of our table.

“Darren... I didn’t know you that much but I knew one thing that’s for sure. And that is you love Claire and she did the same. You still have a chance to fix what happened to the both of you. It’s not too late. Please don’t marry Mr. Frias’ daughter if you’re not sure of your feelings...”

After I said that, he frowned, before finally looking at me straight in the eye.

“I can’t trust a man who I barely even know and ruined everything I have.”

He stood up after saying those words. I looked at him in disbelief. How could he not give Claire another chance? What kind of a man is he? I saw him gulped several times before he started to walk away from our table.

He’s almost at the exit of the shop when I said something that made him stop for a moment. I feel bad for telling him this, but I feel the need to do so. He has to realize things. He needs to realize how lucky he is for having someone like Claire who would love him unconditionally.

“You don’t deserve Claire. I wish she could just love me back... But here I am, wasting my time explaining her side to a jerk like you.”

He ignored my last few words, before going out of the shop. As soon as he vanished out from my sight, I sat down, feeling exhausted. I run my palms along my face, thinking that I just wasted my time for nothing.

But at least I did my part. I tried to reconciled with him. I guess that was the best part of this day. Now that my conscience is finally clear, I wouldn’t be feeling guilty anymore for things that was completely out of hands. Now no one could top me from having a peaceful life right after I came back to the Singapore... Back to my only home.