“CHIARA, what's happening to you?" Reese asked Chiara when she finally went to work that day. "You're absent for three days."

Chiara's life literally stopped when Toby broke up with her. She was absent both at school and work for a couple of days.

It was time to continue her life without Toby.

“He's an asshole...” Gabe muttered angrily after she told him what happened between her and Toby.

Chiara looked at Gabe. This was the first time she saw him get mad.

“And you actually beg him to stay with you?” Gabe asked her with gritted teeth.

Chiara smiled bitterly. “Well, I love him.”

She took a deep breath. “But I want to move on,” she said in a determined voice. After all the things that Gabe said to her last night, she finally managed to come to her senses.

She was wrong when she decided to make Gabe the center of her life. But just like what Gabe said, it wasn't too late to make everything right.

“I want to move on…” she repeated.

She was done chasing after Toby. She needed to accept now that he already left her. She needed to continue her life even if Toby wasn't with her anymore.

“I will help you,” Gabe said, giving her a gentle smile.

“We were worried about you,” Reese said.

Chiara's lips parted. She didn't accept that she'd be worried about her considering they only knew each other for a month.

There are people who cared for you, she remembered what Gabe told her.

He was right.

“Uh, I was,” she said in a small voice.

“Are you okay now?” Reese asked, her voice still full of concern.

Chiara gave her a small smile before she nodded. “Is Ma'am in the office?”

“Yeah. Go talk to her. She was also worried about you."

Chiara entered the owner's office. Reese was right. Even her boss got worried about her. After changing into her uniform, she replaced Reese at the counter. Chiara promised herself that she wouldn't waste the chance that was given to her.

She stilled when she saw a familiar built of a guy that entered the shop. It was Gabe.

“I’m happy you’re back, Chiara,” Gabe said, smiling at her as she stopped at the counter.

Chiara gave him a small smile. “Yeah. Thank you, Gabe.”

He smiled at her again before she looked at the menu board. “Strawberries and cream frappe and…matcha cake… But wait, I want to also try Oreo cheesecake.” He then turned to her. “What do you think should I order, Chiara?”

“It’s really up to you, Gabe. Both of them tasted good, anyway,” she said.

“Okay. Give me a slice of each,” Gabe said.

“For takeout?” she asked.

He smiled. “Nah. I’ll eat here.”

After Gabe got his order, he went straight to a vacant table near the counter. Chiara’s eyes couldn't help but follow him. After he was settled, he opened his bag and brought out his laptop.

“OMG, angel Gabriel is here,” Reese muttered beside her.

Chiara turned to her. “You know Gabe?” She couldn't help but ask her.

Reese nodded. “Yup? He went here twice when you were gone, Chiara. He was looking for you.”

Chiara didn't expect that she’d heard from Reese. she then glanced at Gabe’s direction. He was sipping on his drink while sipping on his laptop.

“I didn’t know what to tell him 'cause I also don’t know why you aren't going to work.” Reese continued.

Five hours later, Chiara’s shift ended. But Gabe was still there at his table. Chiara thought if he was waiting for something.

After changing from her uniform, she walked to his table.

“Gabe,” she uttered as she stopped in front of him.

Gabe looked at him and smiled. “Are you done, Chiara?”

She nodded at him. “How about you, aren't you leaving yet?”

Gabe then closed his laptop and put it in his bag, Then he stood up and looked at her. “Do you have something important to do after your shift?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Uh, nothing. I’m going straight home.”

“Then is it okay if I invite you to watch this movie with me?” he said, showing her two movie tickets from his pocket.
Chiara’s lips parted. Did he wait for her just to ask her that?

“Uh, why are you inviting me, Gabe?” She asked, confused.

He smiled at her. “You’re my friend. I want to spend time with you.” He then turned serious. “Besides, I said I’ll help you with your mission, right?”

“Mission?” she asked her brows furrowed.

“To move on from your asshole ex.”

Chiara didn't know how to answer him. She didn't expect he was really serious about that.

“I mean it, Chiara…” Gabe said in a serious tone.

Chiara remained speechless in front of him. She felt like something warm enveloped her heart at that exact moment. She felt the corner of her eyes heated up.

“Well… Unless you don't want to go with me,” Gabe said, pursing his lips.

Chiara blinked her eyes a few times to stop her tears from falling.

“Okay,” she said in a small voice.

Gabe slowly smiled at her. “Okay…as in, ‘let’s go, Gabe?’”

She nodded and gave him a small smile.

“CHIARA?”

Chiara turned to Gabe beside her. The man was looking at her with a concerned expression on his handsome face.

“You’re crying,” he said in a small voice as he continued to stare at her face.

Chiara touched her cheek. It was wet with tears. They were watching a romantic comedy indie film. she didn't realize she was crying while staring at the screen.

“Sorry,” she said feeling ashamed. She immediately wiped her cheeks. “I just… couldn't help but remember our first year anniversary. We also went to the theme park to celebrate that.”

Gabe handed out something. She looked at it. It was a white handkerchief. She took it and wiped her face. After that, he held out his hand to her. She looked at him with a confused face. “Let’s go.”