Chapter 2
1803 Words
A few days later, Charlbi was jogging, and she and Gareth bumped into each other. He knows he should keep his distance from her. That night at dinner, after Charlbi had gone inside, Phan made it a point to remind him that she was only sixteen. He doesn't mind them being friends, just don't cross the line.
"Damn," he mumbles when she asks him if he wants to jog with her. Gareth thought, "No, it's not a good idea." But "sure" came out of his mouth.
After jogging four miles, they sit on a bench at a park close to their houses. He takes her hand. "Why couldn't you be a little older?"
She giggles. "I was thinking, why couldn't you be a few years younger?" Charlbi looks at him.
"Either way, it would be perfect. Charlbi Phan, you're one in a million. Whoever the man is that wins your heart is one lucky man." Gareth kisses the back of her hand.
Charlbi looks at her hand and takes a deep breath. "It would be wrong of me to ask you to wait for me. So I won't ask that of you. Make sure, whoever she is, deserves you."
Gareth can't believe how mature this beautiful young lady is. He wants to take her into his arms and kiss her. His cell phone beeps and brings him out of his thoughts.
Gareth read the text, "It's my agent sending me my flight info." He looks at the date and frowns, " I can't wait to see you dance. Let's take a picture together."
"Only if you send it to my phone." Charlbi leans closer to him.
"It's a deal," Gareth stops a man and asks if he'll take their picture.
The man is more than happy to take their pictures. "It's nothing like young love."
Charlbi smiles and thinks, "First and only love."
Gareth is thinking, "Her father is going to kill me. But she's worth it."
******
Charlbi and her cousin Lah Ann are very close, and they go to the library a few times a week. Lah Ann wants to be a dental hygienist. Charlbi isn't a fan of her cousin's boyfriend, Hoang, or his family. Hoang always finds a way to interrupt Lah Ann when she's studying. His family hasn't come out of the old ways and believes the daughter-in-law should have the responsibility of household chores and preparing all the meals. Charlbi hopes Lah Ann comes to her senses and breaks up with that fool.
As soon as the two girls sit down to study for an anthropology test, Hoang and his no-good friends Kroy and Alfonso walk over to them. He's telling her to go to her house and make them some burgers. Lah Ann refuses to stop studying, and he grabs her arm and yanks her out of the chair. Charlbi stands up and slaps him. Hoang fell back on a table, looking at her and holding his face.
"If you ever pull on my cousin again as if you have lost your mind, you and I will have a serious problem." She looks at Lah Ann kissing Hoang's face. "I thought you were smarter than to get involved with a male chauvinist asshole. Not to mention an abuser. You deal with that trash. I'm going home."
"b***h" Hoang mumbles, looking at Chalbi, walking away.
Alfonso and Kroy help him up. Kroy chuckles. "Your dumb ass should have known better than to piss off Kung Fu girl."
Hoang grits his teeth, thinking, "Kung Fu girl, my ass. One of these days, I'll put that b***h in her place."
*****
From the night Gareth fell on top of Charlbi, she couldn't stop thinking about him more than usual. She knows he would never look at her any other way than as a girl. The night of the musical, she isn't looking forward to it. Charlbi thought for sure Gareth would have a date with him. She was so nervous when the curtains opened until she saw him sitting next to her father and another man on the other side of him. Charlbi felt alive and gave the best performance of her life at that time.
Bae and Jee have always said Charlbi is a fantastic dancer. Gareth is mesmerized as he watches how beautifully and gracefully she dances. He never expected to be blown away.
When the musical ended, the crowd gave the performers a standing ovation, shouted an encore, and threw roses on the stage. Charlbi sits in her dressing room, absorbing what has just occurred. She couldn't get over the crowd's reaction. Tonight was the first time she had been the lead dancer. She has been a supporting dancer many times before.
The door opens, and she runs into her father's arms. Bae hugs and kisses her forehead. "We're so proud of you. You were wonderful."
"You were fantastic, sis," Nuala winks at her, pointing behind her.
"Thank you," Charlbi looks behind her sister and covers her mouth, looking at Gareth and two bouquets of red roses. "I believe a star has been born. You were great out there, kido."
She takes the flowers and frowns at the word kido. Charlbi slightly hugs him. “Are you going to eat with us?”
He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, I wish I could. But no can do. I was supposed to have flown out this morning for Germany. But there wasn’t anything that would keep me from your show. I’m proud of you.” He takes a box out of his jacket pocket, but looks at Bae and Jee, "I won't be here for Charlbi's birthday. I hope you don't mind me giving her an early birthday gift."
"No, they don't mind. What did you get her?" Nuala walks closer to him and her sister, looking at a jewelry box. "Hurry up, open it."
Charlbi is also looking at her parents, but mostly at her father. He makes the decisions for their family. Her mother gives him her opinions, but it's always up to him. Truth be told, Charlbi wished her mother had been more outspoken and stood up for herself. Her father doesn't mistreat Jee. He still has some old ways regarding his wife's duties.
Gareth is still looking at her parents. Bae shook his head. "Go ahead. It's nothing like receiving gifts for birthdays."
Jee is looking at the box, thinking, "That better not be a ring of any kind."
"Happy Birthday." He's looking at her, looking at a pair of 14k white gold diamond hoop earrings.
"I love them." Charlbi jumps up, throws her arms around her neck, and hugs him. "Thank you."
Gareth's arms go around her waist. "You're welcome."
Nuala smiles, looking at his hands around her sister, and mutters, "Diamonds are a girl's best friend. I love the gifts he gives."
Jee hits her husband's arm with her elbow. Bae chuckles and clears his throat.
Gareth slowly slides his arms from around her waist. Charlbi removes her hands. "They're beautiful. The best present I have ever received. Be careful, and I'll be watching your games. So, make sure you win."
"Will do, kido. Stay sweet. I'll see you soon," Gareth winks at her.
Charlbi stands there looking at him until he's out of view. Her father walks over to her. "Gareth Cartier is too old for you. Do I need to say anymore?"
"No, father," she shakes her head, looking at her sister, mouthing, "You got him hooked." Charlbi chuckles and mouths, "You're so bad."
Nuala chuckles. "I know. But you still love me."
*****
Gareth has been in Cologne, Germany, for three months now and can't seem to forget about his young neighbor. Andrea Kasper has known Gareth for two years, and they have become close friends. Gareth has always been the first one to suggest they go out clubbing. Every time Andrea asks him to go out, Gareth rejects the idea so fast it makes Andrea's head spin. "Oh hell no, you must tell me what the hell has happened to my old friend."
"Charlbi Phan. That's all I can say. A young lady who's off-limits, I do mean off-limits. Her old man would beat the hell out of me if I touched her. She turned seventeen a couple of months ago." Gareth showed him a picture of Charlbi on his phone.
Andrea smiles and nods. "Damn, I see. She looks like a gorgeous doll. Man, you know you can't lay a finger on her. Over here in my country, we call her Gefangis-Koder."
Gareth looks at him, confused, "Speak English, damn it."
"Prison bait," Andrea says, looking at the picture again. "Yep, gorgeous and taboo. That's why you need to get off your ass and go out. Come on. I can't let you sit here mulling over something you'll never taste." Andrea picks up the car keys and dangles them in Gareth's face.
Gareth looks at Charlbi's picture again. "s**t, I hate it when you're right. But it was a nice dream." He runs his finger across her face and takes a deep breath.
Later that night, they arrive at Club Sphinx. Four women spotted the two handsome men as soon as they walked in and surrounded them as soon as they sat down in the VIP section. Andrea loves the attention, especially since the women are throwing themselves at him and his friend. Gareth waves two of the women away who have a habit of touching his biceps.
The two women sit beside Gareth, frowning and whispering while plotting a way to get the man to spend money and the night with them. One of the blondes decides to tell a joke. She and the other blonde were the only ones laughing. Gareth looks at her as if she has lost her mind. Once the women stop laughing, the one named Elke rubs his hand and gets a back-the-hell-off look.
Elka waves her hands. "Can we at least have a drink?"
"Good idea. Maybe someone will loosen up," Leni mumbles, looking at her other two friends wrapped around Andrea's neck and arm.
Andrea sees Gareth has no plans and thinks, "Damn, my friend has it bad. I need to get him out of the funk."
He motions for a server to come over and buy a round of drinks for the table and tells her to keep them coming.
At first, Gareth was hesitant about drinking. The more he thought about not being able to love the beautiful young Charlbi, he drank several glasses of Derrina Schwarz.
Before long, he was on the dance floor, dancing with Leni and Elke. Photographers are taking pictures of him and the two women.
Andrea smirks, looking at Elke and Leni as they lead Gareth out of the club.
- Writer
