CHAPTER 17: High School Reunion

DARREN’s P.O.V.

Weeks passed. Right now I’m preparing myself for Claire and Elijah’s high school reunion. Later today, I will finally meet that guy named Gabriel. I’ll admit it, I am badly curious about him. I badly wanted to saw his face and how he act towards my wife. Yes, my wife. I’m claiming Claire as my property.

I dialed her number out of excitement. Luckily, she answered my call after a several numbers of rings. I couldn’t say a word because nervousness suddenly invaded my system as soon as I heard her voice.

“Hello?”

“It felt nice to hear your voice,” I complimented.

I smile unconsciously as I heard her chuckled on the other line of the phone.

“Are you ready? I’m going to fetch you up later. Just wait for me, okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. Whatever, Mr. Herrera. Why did you call me, anyway?”

“Nothing. I just... I wanted to heard your voice. And of course, I miss you.”

She just laugh at my insane response. I heard her calling her little sister before telling something about their Dad. I bet she’s reminding her about their Dad’s medicine or something.

“Darren, I need to drop the call now. I’m getting ready. I will meet you later.”

“Aww, you’re not even listening to what did I just said.”

“I am listening.”

“Then why haven’t you say anything back?”

Again, I made her laugh.

“Fine, fine. I miss you too. See you later.”

I feel like I was lighter that air or I was struck by a lightning. Her voice saying those words made my knees trembled and my heart starts throbbing very badly. I just came back to my senses when I heard a beeping sound indicating that she already dropped the call.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I caught myself smiling like an idiot. I just shook those thoughts away from my mind before I continued fixing my look. I sighed, putting a certain amount of wax into my hair. I also sprayed my favorite perfume before putting on my black suit.

“Sir Darren, Mr. Herrera wanted to see you in the company,” one of our maids rushed into me, as if she’s about to say something very important.

“Tell him that I’m going to discuss about whatever it is to him tomorrow. I need to be in somewhere right now.”

“But... Sir–”

“I need to go and see my wife.”

I grabbed my keys on the counter not bothering to listen at our maid’s random rants. I hopped inside of my car before starting the engine. I drove through the high way until I reached Claire’s house. Luckily, I remember the way to their house because of Elijah.

I blow my horn twice, before getting outside of the car. I stood there, waiting for my wife to come out from their tiny but lovely house. I look at my watch, surprised that I am fifteen minutes earlier than our meeting time.

“You’re here.”

I look up when I heard those familiar and soft voice. My heart throbbed harder by just seeing her perfect face. God. I don’t know how I fall deeper than I expected to this woman.

“What?” she asked, blushing.

Maybe she’s being conscious about her look because for a minute, I stare at her like I’m some kind of a freak.

“Nothing... You look... Nice.”

From her elegant braided hair, down to her silver and shiny shoes. Everything about her is perfect. Her light make up brought out her almond shaped dark eyes. Her blush on was just enough for me to see through her natural look. And the lipstick... Nude yet pinkish.

“Thanks... I buy this dress in the nearby store. I’m glad you like it.”

I look at her formal yet sophisticated dress. It’s fitted on her waist and she’s looking gorgeous with it even if it was not too revealing.

“I’m not referring to your dress... I’m referring to you. You look absolutely gorgeous.”

Again, I made her blushed. I love it when she did that because of me. I love the way she smile because of some things that I did. Like complementing her out of nowhere a couple of times.

“Stop complementing me, please.”

“I’ll never. You deserve it.”

“You are indeed the stubborn CEO of Herrera Corp.,” she stated.

“Correction, I’m not the CEO of Herrera Corp. Not yet. But I promise that I’ll fulfill that with your help.”

“Good luck with that.”

I chuckled before lending my hand, waiting for her to take it.

“Come on, we still have a reunion to attend. Maybe Elijah was already there.”

She smiled and nodded. She took my hand and let me help her get inside of my car. I did the same as soon as I saw that she was all set.

“Your uh...” I stuttered, trying to show her the seatbelt.

I want to put it on her, but I couldn’t. I’m too afraid to lay a finger on that fragile body of hers.

“What?” she asked consciously.

“Your...” I tried to motioned her towards the belt but she couldn’t see it.

“Why are you acting weird?” She look at me like I was some kind of a creep.

Finally, I gave up and groaned. I put my left arm around her body as I tried grab the seatbelt. Luckily, I found it. I secure it around her before putting mine as well.

At the corner of my eyes, I saw a glimpse of her cheeks blushing intensely. Maybe it was because of the fact that I nearly touch her. I just shook my head while smiling before I started driving. We’re both quiet the whole trip. Until finally, we arrived at the address where Elijah had sent to my phone earlier.

“We’re here.” I finally had the courage to start another conversation.

“Let’s go inside. I can’t wait to meet my old classmates again,” she said.

I saw her giggled because of excitement. Well I hope it’s not because she’s going to see that Gabriel whoever he is again. I hopped down the car before turning around to help her.

“Thanks,” she smile at me.

“You look excited,” I noticed.

“Of course! Who wouldn’t be? The last time I saw some of my classmates was way back on our graduation day. I’m very thankful to the person who organized this reunion for us.”

I just nodded at her long response. I offer my arm and she gladly clung into it. With her by my side, I feel like I’m the most luckiest person alive on Earth tonight. I smiled at that thought. What more if she introduced me as her husband to her friends later?

As we walked through the entrance hall, I could feel the tension and stares around us.

“Is he the great Darren Herrera of Herrera Corp.? Why is our batch mate with him?”

“Are they married?”

“Claire got lucky.”

Those are the few whispers that I heard and surely, Claire did too. I wanted to tell them that they’re all wrong. I’m the one who got lucky because I met Claire.

“Well, well. My ex-fiancé and my ex-best friend are already here... Bravo.”

I felt Claire stiffened because of that annoying woman sudden appearance. I don’t know what’s with her and why is he keep on bugging us both. We barely even know each other and now she acts like we’ve been together for a while and I was cheating on her.

“Please don’t make a scene here, Kate.”

“Oh! Now you’re being affected by my words, Mr. Herrera. And please note the sarcasm. That wife of yours doesn’t deserve you. Let alone, she doesn’t deserve any man. She doesn’t deserve to be happy. Am I right, Mrs. Herrera?”

I heard some people gasped because of what she’d just said.

“Kate... Please, let’s talk about this on a more private place. Let us not ruin the night.”

“Wow, coming from a bitch like you.”

I nearly slapped her if only she wasn’t a woman. Before she could say anything, I saw Elijah coming towards our direction.

“Bro! You’re here... And Kate.”

He look at the woman harassing us, before giving her a tiny smile. But she didn’t smile back. She just rolled her eyes before finally leaving us there alone.

“What happened?” Elijah curiously asked.

“Nothing much. That lady just caused some dramas in here.”

I felt Claire tugged the hem of my suit. She looked depress, however, I could still see the beauty she possess.

“Forgive her, Darren. If only you’ll take a closer look to that woman. She and Claire wouldn’t be friends before for nothing.”

“Elijah’s right.” Claire look straight into my eyes. “Kate was just... Mad. It was all because of what happened back then. We need to accept the fact that she’s going to hate us because of this deal.”

I just sighed before nodding at them. We decided to get inside and occupy some table in order to take a sit before the program starts.

“It’s very interesting to participate in this kind of event,” I whispered to Claire.

“Yeah. We never done this before. I hope it will be a great night for all of us. Specially you, after coming here with Elijah and me.”

“Of course I’ll have a great time in any place as long as I’m with you.” Again, she blushed.

We are be having a good time. Or so I thought. Because right after I saw a bright red color on her cheeks, the speaker announced something that caught my full attention. A name that brought an unbearable tension upon me. A guy that can ruin everything tonight.

“Please welcome, our guest of honor and speaker tonight, our class valedictorian, Gabriel Elizar! A round of applause, please.”

The crowd gone wild at that name of his. I also saw shock in my wife’s face. And finally, I saw a man there, standing arrogantly in front of all of us staring directly at my property. He’s staring at Claire.