THE REJECTION

Chapter 10

Gabriel drives through the town and when he takes a road leading to the edge of the ocean, I look at him with surprise.

"Where are we going?"

"To the port. Have you ever been on a ferry?"

"No, but I heard that it's scary as fuck."

"It's not. You'll see."

"Where exactly are we going?"

"There's a small, nice town a ferry ride away. They have nice sea food and a lot of sites you'll want to see. Don't give me that look, I'll get you back to the hotel on time."

"I'm just wondering why you're so nice to me."

"Why do people get suspicious when I'm nice to them?"

"You have this look, you know, like you are a snob and an egoistic person."

"Sounds like you're describing your husband, not me."

I sigh, leaning back against the seat.

"I wonder what Brent is thinking. Isn't honeymoon supposed to be fun?"

"Only when you're married to the right person."

I turn slightly to look at him.

"I guess I'm never finding the right person."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm stuck with Brent, so I just have to root for him to change. If he doesn't, I'll have a very miserable married life."

"The money he gave your parents doesn't bind you together. You can still divorce him if he's an asshole to you."

"I can't. He said that my parents signed a legal contract binding me to him."

"Are your parents that desperate, really?"

"They are."

"And they had to use you to pay off their debts? Do you have any idea how wrong that sounds?"

"But I said yes. I didn't know about the contract, that's why I agreed. Plus, I felt kinda guilty. Them being bankrupt is partly my fault."

"How is that your fault?"

"I accidentally wired some company money to the wrong recipient. It was a lot, and they were unable to recover it. When the chance to marry Brent came up, I felt like it was an opportunity to pay them back."

"You don't owe them anything. Mistakes like that happen all the time."

"They said the same thing, but I couldn't help but feel guilty. I have siblings who have to go to school and feed and dress well."

"You work for your parents then?"

"No, it was a one time thing."

"I still think that getting married to Brent was a bad idea. We just hope that he'll change for the better, right?"

"Right."

We get out of the car when he pulls up in the ferry's parking area, and I raise an eyebrow when he gets a camera from the backseat.

"You had a camera?" I ask him as we walk up the creaky and overcrowded staircase.

"I'm surprised you don't have one. It's your honeymoon. You're supposed to capture all those memories."

"My wedding was kinda impromptu. I didn't think about that."

"It's understandable."

"It's so crowded up here." I comment as I look around. "We'll be smashed to death."

Gabriel laughs

"Oh, come on. Don't chicken out. It's too late for that."

"So we'll just stand here until we get to the other side?"

He doesn't answer. Instead, he takes my hand, then he leads me through the crowded floor. We walk to the very edge of the massive boat. I stare at the water below with a sinking feeling at the pit of my stomach.

"I'm so scared of heights." I explain when I catch him looking at my horrified expression.

"You'll be fine here. Just focus on the setting sun. Beautiful, isn't it?"

I smile up at him.

"I still can't believe you're fascinated by sunsets."

"I still can't believe Brent left you behind."

"That was his bad, I guess."

"I'm have no doubt." He turns the camera to me, and I gasp when I hear the snap of a photo.

"Gabriel!"

"Smile."

"No. Don't take photos of me."

He frowns at me.

"Why not?"

"Because I look awful in photos."

"Do you?" He takes another photo, and I hold my face between my hands.

"Stop!"

"I'll stop when I get a perfect shot, and that will only happen if you smile."

"I can't."

"Just say cheese."

I burst out laughing, and he smiles as he takes the photo. I place my hand on his shoulder as I stand next to him to look at screen, and I raise both eyebrows when I see the picture.

"Wow! I actually look pretty."

"You don't look just pretty. You're beautiful."

I bite my bottom lip to avoid the smile stretching my cheeks.

"My turn."

"What?"

"To take a photo. It's your turn to smile."

He laughs.

"No way."

"You don't have a choice. Either smile or say cheese."

He forces a smile, and I grin at the camera when a dimple sinks on his cheek. I hadn't noticed that before.

He shakes his head when he sees the photo.

"I look okay."

"You look great. Come on."

"If you say so." He places the small camera in his leather jacket pocket before he leans over the railing.

I imitate him, and I'm surprised at how clear the water is. I hadn't even realized that we were moving until I see the mainland way behind us.

"This is beautiful and peaceful." I tell Gabriel.

"Told you you'd like it."

**

We get to the said island in twenty minutes. I look around when Gabriel finally finds a parking spot, and I smile to myself as I step out of the car.

I'm still getting to have some fun on my honeymoon despite Brent basically abandoning me.

Gabriel absently reaches for my hand and we walk down the street together. Native people turn to look at us but that doesn't deter me. I feel more alive than I've been since I stepped foot into this island.

We walk into an ancient building, and Gabriel leads me to an upstairs restaurant. It's pretty basic but the balcony opens to the blue sea, and the breeze is amazing.

We are shown into a table for two and I turn to Gabriel once we are settled into our seats.

"How did you find this place?"

"It's my Dad's favorite. I've been here two times in the past."

"I like it. The view is just.."

He cuts me off with a small nod.

"I know. Can I take more photos of you?"

"Sure. Just don't ask me to say cheese."

"Say cheese."

I laugh, and the flash goes off, capturing my face with my hair being ruffled by the cold breeze.

"What are you planning on doing with the photos?"

He c***s an eyebrow.

"What do you think I'm planning on doing with them?"

"Sell them to magicians online?"

He laughs.

"Good idea."

A nice waitress with an exotic accent shows up to take our orders, and I let Gabriel decide since I have no idea what the names on the menu represent. They're all written in the local dialect but he seems to understand them just fine.

Darkness is setting in, and the breeze from the sea keeps growing cooler and cooler. By the time our meal is served, I'm freezing.

"Um, Gabriel? Can we go inside?"

The waitress shakes her head.

"It's dinner time. Inside is full, ma'am."

Gabriel doesn't have to think twice. He tugs off his jacket and hands it to me.

"You're going to freeze to death!"

He rolls his eyes at me.

"I'm a strong man. It'll take more than a little cold to kill me."

The jacket smells nice. I push the sleeves up since it's rather big on me, and I ignore the weight of the camera in one of the pockets.

We stay relatively quiet as we eat. The food is mouthwatering, and I dig into into it without a care in the world. Gabriel is done before I'm full, and he keeps glancing at me as I eat the excellently done fish, spicy sauce, green local vegetables and sauteed potatoes.

I have no idea what's on his mind. He has been a perfect gentleman so far, but I still feel like there's something he's not telling me.

I can't believe that he just happened to bump in to Brent in a hotel on their honeymoons.

I'm not sure if his intentions with me are pure, but so far, I think he's more reliable than my husband who abandoned me in a hotel room to hang out with someone else.

For all I know, he could be with the very girl he promised to cut off.

Speaking of husbands...

The door to the balcony is pushed open and my eyes widen when Brent storms in. He has murder written all over his eyes and his expression screams rage.

He marches to our table, and I gasp when he roughly pulls my seat back.

"We're leaving." He hisses angrily.

"Woah, woah dude. Chill!" Gabriel castigates him as he stands up. "What do you think you're doing?"

"The question should be, what the hell do you think you're doing! I told you to the stay the hell away from my wife!"

"And I'm supposed to obey you because? You ditched her for some other girl, and you're pissed that she's having dinner in a public place with someone you've already met? You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Dude-"

"Don't dude me. I told you last night. If you don't treat her right, someone else will." He pokes his finger into Brent's chest. "You don't deserve her."

I watch him as he exits without another word at me. Brent stares after him in disbelief before he turns back to me.

"Does that guy have your phone number?"

"No."

"Good. We're leaving the island."

"What?"

"Party's over. I don't trust him, and you two just can't seem to stay away from each other."

"Just like you can't seem to stay with me?"

"What is wrong with you? I left for a couple of hours, then I stopped here to buy you something, but you didn't answer your phone when I called. I called the hotel only to be told that you left with him hours ago. Then what do I chance to see in the parking lot? One of the hotel's cars. I come up here only to find you two having a cosy dinner, and I'm the bad one? Get up. We're leaving."

"We've been here for a day!"

"A day didn't stop you from fooling around with him. Come on. I asked the hotel to send our luggage to the airport. We have to board in two hours."

Gabriel's car is long gone by the time we get outside, and I numbly step into a cab when Brent opens the door for me.

It's only after the plane takes off that I remember I'm still wearing Gabriel's jacket with his camera in it.

And my phone is still on the console of the car he was driving.