CHAPTER 15: His Approval

DARREN’s P.O.V.

“Hey, bro,” I could feel the sleepiness in Elijah’s voice.

“Hey...” I smile for apparently no reason.

“Why did you call me at the middle of the night?” he asked.

“Nothing... I just... I couldn’t sleep.”

“Why? Is this about Teacher Claire?”

“How did you know that?!” I sit up from laying on my bed.

“I can sense your happiness over here.” He chuckled. “Claire was just like that earlier this morning. I often caught her smiling to herself while we’re at work.”

It felt nice to heard those words coming from Elijah. Thanks to him, I could finally sleep now knowing that our feelings are mutual.

“Bro, you two are in love!” he shouted at his phone.

I pulled mine away from my ears because of his high pitched voice. Is he really a dude or what?

“I’m glad to see that your plan is working so well with your Dad. But I wanted to warn you, Darren. Please don’t break Claire’s heart. She’s very fragile, you know...”

“Of course I know that. I’m just finding a perfect time for me to confessed to her. I wanted her to be my wife, for real, this time.”

“Good luck, bro. I hope it will work, cause our high school reunion is already coming near. Did Claire already told you about the guy named Gabriel?”

My heart skipped a beat. Panicked rushed towards my system when I remembered Claire’s story about that guy. The guy who’s head over heels in love with her.

“Y-yeah. She already told me about it.”

“That guy would stop at nothing this time to get her. He’s back and I hope that Claire still wasn’t in love with him.”

“That wouldn’t happen.”

“What are you planning, Darren? Are you going to gate crash to our reunion or what?”

“If I have to, why not?”

I heard him chuckled.

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever, bro. Please let me sleep. I still have a lot of works tomorrow.”

I sighed before turning off the phone. My mood suddenly dropped as I heard about that upcoming reunion. What if... What if I did gate crashed to their party? Will I be able to protect Claire from that guy named Gabriel?

I just shook my head and prepared myself to sleep. I need to talk to Claire about that tomorrow. I will force her to let me join their high school reunion even if it means that I have to endure seeing Kate again.

The night passed by so fast. First thing I knew, I was waking up with the scent of a delicious breakfast. I prepared myself for a long day ahead as I will try to convince Claire later to let me join her at their high school reunion. Even if Elijah is there, I still wanted to make sure that no one will ever touch my wife.

“Good morning, son.”

I was shocked when I saw Dad standing in front of our kitchen’s counter, cooking something in the stove.

“Dad? Why are you here?”

“It seems like you don’t want me to be here, Darren. Look, I cooked your favorite food. It’s pancakes, right?”

And when did I tell him that pancakes are my favorite food?

“When did I tell you about that?”

“You didn’t tell me, hijo. I just knew about it. Your Mom often made this for you. I just wanted to try, you know...”

Why all of the sudden, he’s being concern about me? Is this about Claire? Is this his own way of knowing if our marriage is fake or not? Why is he using my Mom in this conversation of ours?

“Why are you being so pushy lately?”

He averted his eyes towards another direction.

“Nothing... It’s just that... I finally realized now that you’re not getting younger anymore. I need to make it up to you, after all these years. Ever since your Mom died... I haven’t had a chance to spend sometime with you, son.”

“Why does it need to be now, Dad? You should have thought about that a long time ago...”

He sighed before giving me a small smile.

“Where’s Claire, anyway?” he asked, confused this time.

“Claire?”

“Yes. Your wife, son. Where did she spend the night?” he asked with his brows arched.

“Oh. She have a lot of work to do. She had to spend the night at their office.”

“I see. By the way, I already called every famous designer I knew so that they can already start to create a masterpiece for your wife. I don’t want your wedding to look like an unfurnished home. Let’s make it grand and beautiful.”

I stopped and think for a moment. I still haven’t had any idea on how to stop that wedding on Paris. I promised to Claire that I wouldn’t force her to do that thing and that I’m only asking for her help. I want us to get married on a perfect time and place when we are both ready.

“Fine, Dad. Do whatever you want.”

“I knew that tune of yours. Looks like you’re not interested on your own wedding day.”

“Sorry, Dad. I just thought that maybe... All of this was inappropriate. We’re already married and we don’t need to waste our money spending for this grand wedding.”

“And since when did our financial state became an issue to you, Darren?”

“Since I met Claire. I just realized that there’s so much things that we should be thinking of rather than money. Like love and family. That’s why I love Claire. She’s making me see things more clearly this time.”

“Sounds like you are very in love with her.”

I rolled my eyes before grabbing an apple on the table. He just look at me, confused.

“Where are you going, son?”

“I’m going to fetch my wife.”

“Don’t you want to eat breakfast first?”

“Nope. I’m fine. I’ll wait for Claire before I eat.”

For some reasons, I saw a glimpse of sadness in his eyes. He look... I don’t know. I’m not sure either. Or maybe he’s just doing this to ruin my plan. But I’m already telling him, he’s not going to succeed.

I dialed Claire’s number before picking up my car keys. She didn’t answer at first so I tried again. And again... She’s not answering her phone. I look at my cellphone’s clock and I saw that it was already seven thirty in the morning. Maybe the classes have already started. I just need to go there to make sure that everything’s all right.

I drove all the way from home to the nearest school in town. As I parked my car to the open ground of their lot, my mind suddenly reminisce something. This is where I first saw Claire. I’ll never forget that night. In this place, under the shade while there’s a heavy pouring rain, we met. I can still remember her sweet smile even though it’s just the first time that we saw each other.

“Darren? Is that you?”

I heard a familiar voice approaching me. As I turn my gaze towards its direction, I saw my best friend, standing there while smiling at me like an idiot.

“What?”

“Whoa! It’s really you! And what brings you here, bro?”

Our conversation last night suddenly flash at the back of my mind. All of the sudden, embarrassment invaded my system.

“Nothing... I just I wanted to see my wife.”

“Is that really you? Excuse me, I wanted to speak to my best friend, the great Darren Herrera,” he fired at me sarcastically.

“Psssh. Stop teasing me, Elijah. I just wanted to see Claire and what‘s she is doing during this hour.”

“Oh. She still have a class right now. You can come back later.”

“But... My Dad is in the house and he wanted to see her.”

“Is that the only reason? Or you just badly wanted to see her?” he waved his eyebrows at me.

“Fine! I can’t keep a secret from you. Anyways, where is she?”

“I’d already told you, Darren. She’s still at work. If you want, you could wait at the teacher’s lounge.”

“Sure. Why not.”

Elijah motioned me towards their lounge. It is not that large, but I bet that the space is enough for all the teachers in this school.

“Have a sit.”

I unconsciously nodded, looking for Claire’s mini table.

“That’s her desk,” Elijah pointed towards the dark grey desk besides a computer.

As if he’s reading my mind. Does he have some telepathic powers to read someone’s thoughts?

“I know what you’re thinking. Telepathy.” He chuckled.

Again, he made me believe on those silly things.

“When and where did your high school reunion will be held?” I asked curiously.

“I’ll just text to you the address. How about Claire? Did you already told her about your plan?”

“What plan exactly?”

“The plan called ‘you gate crashing to our party’ whatever thingy.”

“I still haven’t told her yet. But I’ll make sure to tell her about that later today.”

He just smirked at me before raising one of her brows.

“You look... Bothered. Is something wrong?”

“Nothing, Elij.”

“Is this about your Dad? Did you finally get his approval?”

“Maybe. He also wanted us to get married in Paris. I don’t know why but I’ll just go with his flow of plans. Claire already knew about it. And if however, she didn’t want to cancel our grand wedding, then I am more than willing to tie myself to her, for real.”

“God. You are madly in love, Darren Herrera.” He shook his head and laugh.