“T-thank you.” Chiara said in a small voice as she took the bag from him. She inspected it first. She heaved a sigh of relief when she realized that the snatcher didn't manage to get anything. Her wallet, her cell phone, and her salary from her part-time job were still there.

Her eyes moved back to the guy in front of her. “Thank you, really," she said in a sincere tone.

“You're welcome," he answered, a smile still plastered on his handsome face. “Next time, be extra careful. There's a lot of snatchers in this area.”

Chiara couldn't stop herself from staring at the guy in front of her. His smile was something else.

He already looked like an angel with his looks, but he even looked kinder and more angelic when he smiled.
Chiara felt her cheeks heated up. She didn't know if it was because of the hot weather or if it was because of the guy's pleasing smile.

“Anyway, I'd rather go ahead, Miss,” he said.

“Uh, okay…” Chiara said, nodding at him.

But even before he could leave, she called him. "I forgot to ask your name, Mister," she said, smiling at him.

“Gabriel," the guy answered with another smile.

Gabriel. Even his name suited his name. Was he named after an angel?

“Thank you again, Gabriel," she said once again.

“Oh, no worries, Miss," he answered.

“Chiara," she found herself muttering.

"You're welcome, Chiara," Gabriel smiled as her name rolled on his lips.

Chiara entered the mall and went directly to one of the fast-food restaurants inside.

Her lips parted when she saw the man in line beside her. It was the guy in a white uniform. The one who helped her earlier. He was looking at the menu in front while talking to someone on the phone.

When he put down his phone, his eyes landed on her. She saw how his lips parted in amusement.

"Hey, Chiara. You're here," he said, smiling at her.

She gave him a small smile. "Hi, you're here too."

The corner of his lips curled up in a teasing smile. “You're not following me, aren't you?" he asked, putting his phone back in his jeans pocket.

Her lips parted at what he just said. “Huh? Of course not. Why would I follow you…”

A small chuckle escaped his throat. "I’m just kidding.”

Gabriel moved in line when the woman in front of him finally got her order.

While he was talking to the crew, Gabriel turned to her. "What's your order, Chiara?"

She blinked at him. "Huh? Why?"

“You're still two customers away from ordering so just let me take your order for you?" he said.

Chiara shook her head shyly. “No need, Gabriel. I'm not really in a rush anyway.”

"Just accept his offer so the line will get faster, Miss," the woman behind her commented.

Chiara shyly turned to Gabe. “Uh, just one cheeseburger meal, Gabe.”

"That's all?" he asked.

"Yup," she muttered. She then left her line and went to his side. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Gabriel said, pulling out his wallet from his pocket.

Before he could open his wallet, she immediately stopped him. “Let me pay for this.”

Gabriel turned to her with furrowed brows. “No, Chiara.”

“Come on. Let me treat you, Gabriel. Just a way of thanking you for what you did earlier."

“You don’t have to do this. You already thanked me earlier. That's already enough for me," he replied with a smile.

“Come on. If not because of you, I won't be able to retrieve my bag," she glanced at the bag on her shoulder. She smiled at him. “Come on. Let me pay for your food.”

“Are you sure? You're really going to pay for my order?"

She nodded at him, smiling. “Of course."

“Excuse me.”

Both Gabriel and Chiara turned to the woman behind them. She looked annoyed while looking at them.

"Can you please stop chatting and order now? In case you forgot, there are people behind you." She muttered, slightly raising her brow.

"Sorry, Miss," Gabriel politely muttered to the woman.

Chiara bit her lower lip and slightly bowed her head. Then without meeting her eyes, she handed her five hundred peso bill to the cashier on the counter.

"I'm sorry. I'm really hungry right now." Gabriel said with pursed lips when he placed the tray of food on their table.

Chiara's eyes went to the tray of food. Gabriel ordered two quarter-pounder cheeseburgers, bff fries, and a large coke.

She only ordered a cheeseburger and sundae .“Hmm, yeah. It's obvious you're really starving," she couldn't stop herself from saying.

"I hope you're not regretting that you treat me," Gabriel said, pursing his lips.

Chiara chuckled at him. “Uh, slight, I think?” she answered in an obvious playful tone.

Gabriel chuckled along with her. At that moment Chiara realized that even his laugh sounded angelic, if there's such a thing as that.

“Kidding aside, this is still not enough for what you did for me earlier," she said to him with a smile. "If not for your help, I won't be able to retrieve my bag. My cellphone is here along with my salary."

“You're working?” he asked in a curious tone.

“Yup, I'm working part-time in Cafe Frances."

"The coffee shop near the campus?" he asked.

She nodded at him.

Gabriel took off the bun of his burger. Her brows furrowed when he put a couple of fries on top of the cheese before he put back the bun.

"Why put fries on your burger?" he asked with an amazed face.

Gabriel smiled at her. "Yup. Here, you should try it. It will taste better if you put fries in it."

She followed him and did it on his own burger.

"It tastes better right?" Gabriel asked her with a smile after she took a bite of her burger after putting fries in it.

She nodded at him, giving him a thumbs-up sign using her hand. "Wow, you're right. It does taste better. Thank you for teaching me this trick."