Falling For The Man I Married

Chapter 42: Can we be friends?

We were both laughing when we heard a knock on the door. It's already 10:00 pm, who would knock at that hour?

I was about to go and open the door when Gabriel grabbed my hand and he took the lead inside. We heard another knock before Gabriel opened it and I frowned when I saw Greg outside Gabriel's room.

"Greg," he called him.

"Oh, I'm sorry to bother you," he said looking at our intertwined hands and then he looked at me smiling. "Madi, is this yours?" He showed us a white handkerchief.

And my eyes widened as I looked at him. That was my handkerchief embroidered with my childhood nickname, 'Maiden'.. where I got the name of my restaurants.

I took it straight away and smiled. "Thanks, Greg."

"Tss!" I Gabriel huffed. "So, is that just your reason why you knocked on our door at this of a late hour?"

"Gab?" I squeezed his hand.

"Yes," Greg replied shortly.

"You can give it to her by tomorrow, so why do you---"

"Because I also want to say goodnight to her." then he smiled at me. "Goodnight, Madi." This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

"Goodnight, Greg." I returned his smile.

"Goodnight, cousin." he patted Gabriel on the shoulder before he disappeared from our sight. I felt Gabriel's grip tightened and I slightly winced.

"Gab!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, love." he sighed and checked my hand after closing the door.

I was about to turn around when he pulled my hand again, so I looked at him confused.

"Love..."

"Hmm?"

"Can we be friends?" And my lips curled into a wide smile with his question. I took a step forward and stared at him. I can't believe he's really asking me.

"Of course, why not? Friends?" I said taking my hand and offering it for a handshake.

"Friends," he said accepting it with the same smile as mine.

But when he pulled me into a hug, I don't have a choice but to hug him again.

"Tsk.Tsk. You know what, my friends' list was consists of nice and kind people. Now, I really don't know If I can still call it 'nice list'."

"And why?" he looked at me furrowing his eyebrow with his hands still on my waist.

"Because you added to that list. You're totally the opposite of them. They know how to smile and laugh often, but you're not. They were nice to others but you're difficult to approach. You're cold, distant ...." he started to open his mouth, nodding "... rude, a big jerk and---"

"And what else, heartless? Bastard? Arrogant?" He interrupted me, holding back his smile.

"Exactly! Those were the words I was about to say." I said laughing at him.

But he just laughed, shaking his head. "Love, I promise to lessen your bad impressions towards me."

"Owws?" I don't believe him.

"Yes. I told you, you can slap me."

"Alright." I shrugged, smiling widely.

"Okay, let's go to bed, it's getting late."

"Yeah, I'm going to bed. But you... you're going to sleep on the couch." I said smiling as I pointed to the couch. His jaws dropped.

"Love, we both fell asleep in bed last night."

"Yeah, we both fell asleep in the bed 'last night'." I emphasized the word 'last night'. "But that was last night and tonight is another night, so you're now going to sleep on the couch." I patted him on the cheek before jumping on the bed with my back first.

"Ohh... it's really nice to sleep in the soft... and ... comfy bed... hmm..." I said rolling my body left and right. And when I looked back on him, I chuckled as I found him still in his post, frowning. "Hey, love? Are you just going to stand there? Aren't you going to sleep?" I bit my bottom lip to suppress my laugh.

"Love, that's a king-size bed."

"And so?"

"And so? That's enough for the two of us. We can sleep on both sides of the bed and it's still---"

"Uhmm... is that so?" I asked him getting up. "If you want, you can sleep here and I'll go to sleep on the couch."

"Huh?" He frowned.

"But tomorrow I'll tell your Mom that you let me sleep on the couch, while you sleep comfortably in your bed. Hmm... how's that?" I pretended like I was going to take the spare pillow, but then I heard him speak.

"Oh, God, woman! Fine! I'm going to sleep now--- 'on the couch'!" he emphasized the last three words and I chuckled.

He took some extra pillows and blanket from the cabinet and laid down on the L-shaped couch while I settled myself, staring at the ceiling. But then I was back to thinking again. We can't stay that way forever, no matter how I wish... I know we can't.

"I love you, Madi." My head snapped in his direction.

"Should I answer you back, I mean, do I need to say I love you, too?" I asked him feeling the heaviness of what we were doing.

"Of course, you need to." he checked on me, raising his head from the pillow.

"Hmm... alright, I love you too."

I sighed, looking back at the ceiling. I turned my head in his direction and all I can see is just his head. He rolled over and I sighed. How can I go to sleep when I know he's not comfortable?"

"Gab..."

"Hmm? Yes, love?"

"Are you still awake?"

I heard him chuckled. And I realized my question. He's obviously still awake. How silly of me? How would he respond when he's already asleep?

"Yes, love." he raised his head. "Why, are you still cold? Do you want some cuddle buddy?"

And it's my turn to laugh at him.

"No thanks. I was about to ask you to sleep here in bed, but I changed my mind. I think you're already comfortable on that couch, so goodnight."

"Ohh... come on, you're kidding." he got up immediately and ran to the bed.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him when I felt the other side of the bed dipped in his weight.

"Thanks, love," he said grinning widely.

"Fine." I put two pillows between us and smiled at him.

"What's that?" he asked frowning.

"Barriers. Sleeping barriers, my love."

"Oh, sleeping barriers, huh? I thought you wanted some cuddle buddy?"

"Hah.. no thanks, just cuddle yourself if you want." I rolled my eyes but he just laughed at me.

"Okay, just feel free to hug me when you change your mind." He winked.

"Hahaha... do you know how to spell the word 'wish'?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, wish, it's W-I-S-H, wish."

"Wrong!"

"What? But that's the spelling of that word."

"Nope, they've already changed it and this is the new spelling of the word 'wish'... Y - O - U !"

His frown got deeper.

"That's you! You just 'wish' until the morning comes that I will hug you!" and with that, I turned to my side of the bed as he continued to laugh.

"Okay, love. Goodnight."

"Goodnight," I replied smiling.

"I love you." It was then that my smile faded.

"I love you too." I sighed.

-'Goodnight, love.'- I muttered silently before closing my eyes.