THE REJECTION

Chapter 9

The intended town is not big as I imagined.

It's only a few miles away from our hotel, and the ocean stretches to the horizon.

It's beautiful, what with the sunset and everything, and I use my phone to snap a few pics of the hue of the sinking sun.

"So you're one of those girls?" Gabriel asks me as he parks outside a departmental store.

"What do you mean?"

"Those girls who take photos of the sunset."

"You're saying that like it's a bad thing."

"It's not. It's cute, and I think sunsets are beautiful."

I smile as we walk through the entrance.

"You're such a girl."

I tense when I feel his hand on the small of my back but I do nothing to discourage him. We walk past the several doors to the bakery, and we approach the counter together.

I place my hands on the counter while Gabriel releases me, to get his credit card I guess.

"What's your favourite cake?" He asks me as he hands over the card to the cashier.

"I'm not keen on cake. Anything will do just fine."

"Really? That's surprising."

"How?"

"You are a girl. Cassie loves cake. We always had one at home."

"I'm not Cassie."

The aging cashier narrows her eyes at Gabriel.

"You're screwing up, son."

"What?"

"You're comparing your wife with your ex? If you keep that up, the odds won't be in your favour."

He smiles.

"She's not my wife."

"Really? You're both wearing brand new wedding rings, and you're both tourists here at Fiji. That's a coincidence?"

"Yeah, long story."

"Mh, I see. So, what flavour should I get you?"

"What do you think she'll like?"

The lady tilts her head as she studies me with a small smile.

"You are a vanilla girl, aren't you?"

"No, I prefer blueberry or chocolate. Vanilla is too basic."

She winks at Gabriel.

"She has a kink. Her husband is a lucky guy."

Gabriel scoffs.

"Indeed."

"I'll get you two a nice blueberry cake. Come back in an hour."

I panic.

"An hour?"

"Yes, love. The fresh cakes are still cooling, and we'll have to decorate them. I'll have a masterpiece for you in an hour. Do you want any message on the cake?"

Gabriel shakes his head.

"No. Plain."

"You got it."

She deducts the required amount before she hands the card back to Gabriel. He politely thanks her before we leave the small bakery.

"Is an hour too long? I can drive you back to the hotel to avoids conflict with Brent."

I glance at my phone when Gabriel says that. Brent hasn't replied my message yet. Seems like he's still busy with his lady friend.

I sigh as I cross my arms over my chest.

"An hour is just fine. No message on the cake?"

"I usually don't have one."

"Why?"

"My Mom once found a cake in my house. That was Andy's twenty second birthday, and it had the words 'happy birthday Andy' written on it. She cried for days after that, and it was like all the wounds from losing Andy were fresh again." He glances at me as we walk past a grocery store. "I felt so guilty. I thought she was never going to forgive me for not moving on. Eventually, she did."

"But you stopped having the message on the cake."

He nods.

"It's less traumatising that way."

"I'm so sorry. You must have really loved your brother."

"He was my best friend and my only sibling. I grew up teasing him for wearing those thick glasses, and we always laughed it out. When he killed himself because of bullying, I felt like I was partly responsible for it. I imagined that my jokes got to him, and he died without knowing that he was the one person I loved unconditionally. I didn't protect him when he was bullied, and I kept telling him that bullying in highschool was normal and it'd be over. I should have found those boys and ruined them before they pushed him into rock bottom."

"It's not your fault."

"Come on, Cami. Your mom didn't raise a liar."

"I'm not lying." I grab his hand, coming to a standstill in the middle of the hallway, and he stops to look at me. "It is not your fault. You didn't push him to his death. Those bullies did. You have nothing to feel guilty about."

He smiles at me.

"You are a nice girl, Cami. But you're wrong. I know the exact people who bullied him, but I've done nothing about it ten years down the line. I should feel guilty about that."

"Why haven't you done anything?"

"Because if I decide to avenge my brother, those people will end up dead. I know it's probably good riddance, but that will make me exactly like them. They killed my brother and God knows how many more students succumbed as a result of their bullying. If I get them killed, I'll be a murderer like them, and I don't want to be that person. I'd rather buy a cake, blow out the candles, eat a slice then dump everything else in the trash."

"I admire your character."

He shakes his head as he turns to keep walking.

"That makes one of us."

I'm still holding his hand in both of mine, and I look up at him with pure surprise.

"Don't say that. You should be proud of yourself."

"Why would I be? I hid that suicide note from my parents. To date, they have no idea what made their son kill himself. They think that it was their fault. My father had to stop operations in his company for an entire year to seek therapy, and my Mom thought she was a bad parent."

"Why didn't you tell them?"

"They would have killed those bullies. I didn't want them dead. Death was a fate too lenient for them. I'm coming up with a plan which doesn't involve them dying."

"Mind to share it?"

"I won't tell you, but I will make their lives a living hell."

I blow out my breath since I have no idea what to say, and I drop his hand as we walk into a jewelry shop.

"What are we doing here?"

"I'm here to pawn my wedding ring."

"Gabriel!"

He turns to look at me.

"What."

"You're making a mistake."

"Am I?"

"You said that you are sentimental. You're going to regret it. Don't sell your wedding ring impulsively."

"Cami, Cassie didn't even put this ring on my finger. I did it in the plane on my way here. It means nothing to me."

"You'll only get half of the amount you bought it."

"I don't care. It's not about the money. I just want to get rid of it. It's either I pawn it here, or I throw it in the ocean."

I shrug.

"It's your ring. Decide."

"Good."

He walks to the counter to talk to the attendants while I look around. There's so much jewelry over here, but it's all expensive as hell.

I didn't expect anything less. Most people who come here on honeymoons and vacations are super rich so they're the target market.

I pick a shiny necklace with a big diamond in the middle from the shelf, and I hold it over my neck. I smile at myself in one of the many mirrors, and I decide that I'll buy it before I leave the island with Brent. All I have right now is my phone. I didn't expect to find something I liked so I didn't bother carrying my bag which has my cards and some cash.

"Good taste." Gabriel says admiringly as he appears in the mirror. "You like it?"

I nod.

"A lot."

"Then take it."

"I will, but not today. I don't have my credit card with me."

"No, I got this."

My eyes widen at him.

"Hell no! You're not buying me a necklace worth this much."

"Why not? Because you're married? Consider it my wedding present."

"We just met."

"Yet here we are, buying a f*****g birthday cake. Seriously, Cami, let me buy you that necklace if you like it. It won't leave any dent in my bank account if that's what you're worried about."

"Isn't this cheating?"

He shakes his head.

"If it is, then it serves Brent right. Do you even know where he is?"

"No. I texted him when we were leaving the hotel and he hasn't texted me back."

"Let's hope that he'll be back soon."

He takes the necklace from me and I tilt my head when he pushes my hair to the side. He locks it on my nape, and I glance at the diamond hanging halfway down my chest.

I force a smile when our eyes meet in the mirror.

"Thanks."

"Come. We should pay and go. An hour is almost over."

The young man manning the counter is more pretty than handsome. He has piercings all over and he's wearing a touch of make-up. He tosses his pink hair playfully before he winks at Gabriel.

"Hey man? Beautiful wife."

Gabriel just laughs as he hands him his credit card.

"Thanks."

"If you were single, I would totally ask you out."

Gabriel smiles at me as he places his hand loosely on my waist.

"Too bad."

I burst out laughing the minute we are out of the store.

"That guy was totally checking you out."

He laughs right back.

"I don't know how I end up attracting gay people. First Cassie and now him? Do I look gay?"

"A little bit." I joke.

"Not funny. Anyway, I attract both genders so I must be smoking hot."

"You're not planning on sneaking back here to find him tonight, are you?"

"No. I'm straight, and even if I wasn't," He holds his hand which doesn't have the ring anymore. "I'm single now."

"Congratulations."

"Thanks."

The aging cashier at the bakery beams at us when we walk in. She gets the package from a shelve, and she smiles at me as she hands over the cake.

"If you don't like it, come for a refund."

I smile back.

"Is that legal?"

"It isn't illegal. I hope you two like the cake."

"I bet we will."

I allow Gabriel to take the cake from my hands once we get outside. He places it in the car's back seat, and we both get in the car.

My phone vibrates just as he pulls out of the parking spot.

It's a text from Brent.

And he's simply saying that he ran into complications, so he won't be back until late at night.

And he specifically asks me to stay away from Gabriel.

I feel my jaw twitching with anger as I place my phone on the console. So he gets to set rules for me when he's out there with a female 'friend' until late?

"Hey Gabriel?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't want to go back to the hotel yet."

He turns slightly to look at me.

"What do you want to do?"

"You've ever been here before?"

"Several times with family."

I smile at him.

"Good. I heard it's a beautiful town. Do you mind showing me around? Have dinner maybe?"

"Cami, you're married."

"So is Brent, but he's out there doing God knows what."

He thinks for a second before he turns the car back, then he steps on the gas and drives towards the heart of the town.