The Wretched Redemption

Chapter 8- Asks on a Date

Isla's POV

I got home and texted Gavin to meet me early as usual at the park to have our talk.

I slept late last night thinking about what happened.

How did Gavin felt and how much was it weighing on his mind that caused him to lose control? I wanted to run to him after watching the video yesterday but I let him cool down on his own first. And because how Theo reacted I don’t want him to misunderstand and cause another commotion with the two.

I stood from my bed feeling a bit lack of motivation. What would be the atmosphere in UNI today after that commotion. I walk out earlier than the time I agreed on Gavin.

I checked the time, 5:40 am

I sat down on the same bench in the park as I stared in the early morning surroundings. The peacefulness of it made me feel drowsiness and I fell asleep.

“Mom, dad! Look! Did they fall asleep here all night?”

I woke up with the kid’s scream. I rubbed my eyes as I tried to focus. I saw Gavin’s a little bit red eyes.

‘What? Did we fall asleep in the park? I was just sitting here and then?’

I look at Gavin’s clothes in his shoulder a little wrinkled.

I sudden realized what happened.

“Oh my, I’m sorry” I apologized as I tried to fix my hair.

“Big sis! Do you have a home? Why are you sleeping here with big bro?” I look at the boy’s innocent eye’s.

I was about to answer when his mom shouted.

“Leo! Come here! Don’t disturb they’re having early morning date”

Her mom shouted as I looked away embarrassed I could feel my face got hot.

“Good bye big bro and big sis! Take care of big sis big bro. My mom told me that if you make your woman happy life will be happy as well” he replied as he walked away.

‘That kid is one cheeky kid.’

“Pffft! Silly kid but I like him” Gavin chuckled as he look at me

“He’s a cheeky one” I replied

“Why didn’t you wake me up!?” I smacked his arm

“I fell asleep too. You were so calm I didn’t want to wake you up”

“I didn’t drool right?” I ask wishing that I didn’t

“Maybe?” He replied teasing me

I smacked him again.

“Instead for a run, let’s go have breakfast?” He suggested

“To where?” I asked

“My house is near if you want to, I can quickly cook something”

I look at him and realize his serious. I couldn’t say no with his puppy dog eyes. I mentally screamed as I realize how I find his morning face even more handsome.

“That sounds good!”

“Then, let’s go” He replied enthusiastically

We walked side by side and he opened the gate to his house. As he opened the door to his house it was rather quiet. I was taken aback I never felt a home as empty as this.

“Feel free to look around I will call you after I finish cooking” He then led me in the living room

His house his modern. Its design has more abstract and has geometric features. Its interior is rather bold and minimalistic. The furniture’s are all white with strong lines. The walls are all black that way it blended perfectly with the white furniture.

I walked around his house as I was fascinated on how manly it is. It felt like an office rather than a house.

There’s no single thing that a woman ever lived here.

My heart felt cold. It is cold here.

‘How did he manage to survive living alone in this lonely house?’

I walked in the hallway. There’s a painting of his family. I looked closely and his parents smiling brightly sitting in the while his I assume his brother is sitting in the sofa’s arm and his hand sitting in their mother’s shoulder. While Gavin is seated in front of them grinning so happily with a toy truck in his hand. I smiled and felt sad at the same time.

I continued walking down the hallway and There’s a portrait I can assume is taken more recently.

His father is sitting alone in the sofa his once young bright smile is gone with a rather forced smile. His brother is standing beside Gavin he is also smiling but it felt forced and Gavin standing there with his poker face with no single emotion.

My heart break as I stared with his emotionless face. My eyes got teary without a warning it escaped before I could wipe it. Gavin run beside me and cupped my face.

“I-I” I tried to speak up but there’s not a single word I can begin to say

He silently wiped my face staring with his worried eyes. I cupped his face as I ask.

“I-I want you to feel the happiness you once had” I sobbed in between words

“I want you to feel that there are still a lot of happiness in life you can find.” I tried to console him while I was crying.

“You crying for me warms my heart. The time’s I spent with you became my source of hope and happiness Isla” He replied smiling and a tear escaped from his eyes.

He wiped my tears away. He pulled me to his sofa and patted my back and calmed down.

He went to the kitchen and bring me a glass of water.

“Thanks” I replied as I drink the water

“The food is ready” He smiled brightly

He guided me to the dinner table and we ate silently.

“Are you free on the weekend?” He broke the silence with his sudden question. I coughed.

“Yes why? You will ask on a date?” I asks teasing him but his eyes widened and I realize he is and I just blew it away.

“Yes, a date. Isla will you go on a date with me this weekend?” his eyes full of anticipation

I put my fork down and took a deep breath.

“Yes” I replied

He stood up and hugged me. His musky scent tickled me. I hugged him back. He pulled away and his face turned bright red.

“I sorry! I got carried away, I was happy you agreed.”

“That’s *sighed* you looked cute” I teased him more and he look at me and he put his hand as if feeling his heartbeat

“Are you Ms. Cupid? You just strike my heart with you arrow” he teased me back.

We burst into laughter.

Gavin’s POV

After breakfast I walked Isla in front of her house. We still need to attend our class even though I wanted to stay longer. I walked back home with my grinning face.

*bzzt* *bzzt*

I received a message. I opened it and it was from Reinaia.

[There’s something I want to tell you personally but I will be out of school for one week. Sorry for getting back at you this late. Take care. See you on Monday]

I replied,

[What happened? Are you ok? Where are you?]

I waited for her reply but he didn’t even read my message. I put my phone down and get ready to go to class.

I saw Isla walking to the bus stop. She wore her hoodie and jogging pants again but she straightened her hair and a little curl in it. She’s as bright as ever.

“Isl-a”

I called her name but she didn’t hear me. A motorbike stopped in front of her. He took of his helmet and it is Theo.

She smiled at him sweetly. Theo looked my way and smirked he knew I was watching. He looked one more time and glared at me. My heart tightens as I saw him put on helmet to her and she hop on his motorbike. They drove away I clenched my fist.

I arrive at UNI and I saw them passed me by. Isla hop down and Theo took off her helmet. He fixed her hair to the side and my feet started to walk closer to them. Theo noticed me and greeted me.

“Good morning Gavin”

Isla turned around and smiled

“Morning, Isla by the way was the breakfast ok? I cooked it in a hurry I didn’t even asks you if it was delicious”

“oh yeah, it was.” She smiled

Theo looks at me and Isla confuse

“Ah! I ate breakfast in Gavin’s house this morning. We met at the park” She explained to Theo

“Where was my invite? I could’ve come too if you invited me Gavin” He replied smiling at Isla but as soon as Isla looked away he glared at me clenching his fist.

I smirked. ‘If you thought you can outplay me you’re wrong’

“Then maybe next time? Right

Gavin?” She looks uncomfortable

“Right” I replied and nod to reassure her.

Other students started to notice us. They stared at Isla again. I looked around and glared at them. The video didn’t seem to help.

“Is that her? The one in the article

yesterday? Now his eyeing Theo? WOW?” a female student whispered to her friend making sure that I heard her

“Shhh! She’s with Gavin keep your mouth shut.” She warned her and pulled her away. The female student didn’t look away and just stared at me with disgust in her eyes.

‘If this is how they see Isla how much more did she suffered yesterday?’ my blood begin to boil with the thought of her getting those disgusting looks.

I was about to shout at them but Theo spoke first.

“Hey! Stop staring or I will your eye’s out! Keep your mouth shut or I will them apart!” Theo shouted and they looked away.

“Isla? Theo? Gavin?” I looked back and it was Ruby

“Ruby!” Isla shouted and walked away from me and Theo

“Hey! Don’t you dare do this again! Isla is always the one who gets hurt the most with your famous faces on. The article was put down yesterday and now they will post another one again.” She glared at me and Theo as she stomped away drags Isla away.

I looked at Theo smirking.

“I like Isla”

“If you like her you should’ve made sure you cleared you f***i*** affairs first big bro. You didn’t even think did you? Your supposedly girlfriend was Reinaia but you let the UNI assumed it and you suddenly want Isla to stay beside you? Can you even blame the students for looking at her like some kind of relationship breaker? Affair? She’s too precious for a jerk like you big bro”

He didn’t punch me physically but I felt like he did. I couldn’t reply to what he just said. He was on point. I looked away. I couldn’t meet his burning angered eyes.

“I like her too Big bro Gavin.” He continued

“I ask her on a date and she said yes” I told him looking in his eyes again

He chuckled like I just told him a joke

“Did you really think that with your sudden outburst yesterday will solve everything? even if you love her and she loves you back I will take her away from you once you make her cry. I won’t hesitate to punch you then. A love that burns fast will burn half as long. So if you plan to be her boyfriend big bro, make sure your clean first.”

He’s fake smile vanishes and he looked at me dead in the eyes

“We’ll be there on your so called date big bro”

I glared at him

“NO” I put on my poker face

“Pfftttt! You look funny Gavin! And I won’t let Isla go alone. Don’t you dare think that you will have her alone in your date. Ruby and I will be there watching you” He replied confidently as he pats my right shoulder and walks away.

My date plans with Isla was put to drain really quick. I really hate that guy but I know he’s just protecting Isla. But he really is ticking me off.

Isla’s POV

I walk at the bus stop and a motorbike suddenly stopped in front of me. The driver took off his helmet, I smiled. Its Theo, he titled his head and he smiled.

“Hop on”

“Now your acting like racer?”

“Ha! Just hop on monster”

I was about to say something when he shoved the helmet in my head.

“Hey! Can you warn me before putting it on? You messed my beautiful hair” I shouted

I heard him chuckle.

“Beautiful my ass” He replied and he started the motorcycle

I put my hands in his shoulder but he grabbed them and wrapped it in his body.

“It’s better to be safe than sorry”

I rolled my eyes and he chuckled.

It was rather a chill ride. It was my first time riding one but he made sure not to ruin it for me. He drop me off in front of my building. He took off my helmet and fixed my hair.

I snorted at him.

“Thanks Mr. Racer man” I teased him

“I drove slower than I normally do for you, so just thank me instead of bullying me” He replied and looks behind me smirking.

“It’s Him” he whispered at me.

“Good morning Gavin” he greeted him

I turned around smiling

“Morning, Isla by the way was the breakfast ok? I cooked it in a hurry I didn’t even asks you if it was delicious” He suddenly brought up the breakfast

“oh yeah, it was.”

Theo looks at me and Gavin I made sure to widened my eyes at Theo

“Ah! I ate breakfast in Gavin’s house this morning. We met at the park” I explained at Theo who looks very confuse and shock

“Where was my invite? I could’ve come too if you invited me Gavin” he asks Gavin

I look at Gavin smirking.

‘What the hell are they doing’

“Then maybe next time? Right Gavin?” I look at Gavin but He’s staring at Theo who clearly won’t back down with this staring contest.

“Right” Gavin replied as he looks at me and nodded.

Gavin looked around and notice students are now starting to notice what’s happening. I can feel their judgmental eyes again. They look at me with the burning anger in their eyes. I look away because I felt uncomfortable.

“Is that her? The one in the article yesterday? Now his eyeing Theo? WOW?” a female student whispered to her friend making sure that I heard her

“Shhh! She’s with Gavin keep your mouth shut.” She warned her and pulled her away. The female student didn’t look away and just stared at me with disgust in her eyes.

“Hey! Stop staring or I will your eye’s out!” Theo shouted and they looked away.

I was about to smack Theo when Ruby suddenly came.

“Isla? Theo? Gavin?” She called our names

“Ruby!” I shouted I felt a sudden relief with her

“Hey! Don’t you dare do this again! Isla is always the one who gets hurt the most with your famous faces on. The article was put down yesterday and now they will post another one again” she shouted at them and dragged me away.

We entered our first class and before the professor came I told her what happened. She listened and look at me in the eyes.

“You will have a date with Gavin this weekend? You didn’t even let him wait for your answer? This won’t do” She took out her phone and called someone

“Hey Theo Isla and Gavin decided to go on a date this weekend, oh? You knew? Ok lets do that.” She ended the call and smirked at me

“It’s a double date then”

“What? You and Theo, me and Gavin? Are you insane? Did you see how they glared at each other earlier?”

“It was interesting though. Two handsome guys are smitten in love with my best friend. It’s an spectacle I would want to witness” She replied without batting an eye

I groaned, if Theo decided to do something he won’s back down easily.

“How did Theo knew?” I ask

“That I don’t know” She replied as she tapped in her phone laughing like a witch

“Are you enjoying?” I rolled my eyes at her

“Scratch the word enjoy, I’m delighted” She replied

I sighed.

The class ended early today because the professors will attend a university wide teacher’s forum. Ruby and I decided to go to the mall to by some new clothes because she kept insisting that I need to look pretty in the weekend.

“But Gavin didn’t even tell me his plan and where we will go” I groaned as she kept pulling me inside the stores

“Let’s just pick clothes that will go anywhere” She explained as she threw all types of clothes she feels like it in her cart.

“You really won’t stop won’t you??” I shook my head

“Nope” She replied

“If you won’t choose just sit back there and wait for me”

I sat down and just followed her with my eyes as she browsed isle after isle after she’s satisfied she went to the counter and paid for the clothes.

“I need a new bag”

“I’m tired” I groaned

“You just sat there and watched me what do you mean tired? Let’s go” She pulled me again at a high-end store.

“Sit” she pulled me and forced me to sit down

I just sit there and watch her browse and pick almost 5 bags. My eyes widened when she paid all of it.

“What are you doing?” I pulled her to the side as she’s about to pay

“I’m shopping let go” She pushed me to the side and paid for it.

“I think you’re the one who’s more excited for the date”

“Obviously!” She replied proud

I rolled my eyes.

We went out of the mall after she’s done and because of her shopping bags we ended up riding a taxi.

I was about to go out of the taxi when she shoves all the bags at me.

My eyes widened. I realize what she just did.

“Hey! Are you kidding me????”

“Nope” She replied still busy tapping with her phone

“Did you really bought all of this for me?”

“Obviously” She put her phone down and grinned at me.

“Ruby!” I shouted so loud the driver looked back at me.

“Ms. Are you going out or not?” the driver asks and he sounded irritated

“Just take it and don’t you dare pay me back. It’s just you were so stubborn”

I smacked her and she laughed

“Pretty please I just want to spoil my only friend who’s going out on her first date,”

“You splurge your money for my date? MY DATE?”

“No, our date” She winked at me and open the door in my side and pushed me out. She took all the bags and put it on the ground.

“Young people this days, tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” the drive shook his head in disbelief.

“Byeeeeeeeeeee!” she shouted

She shut the door and the taxi drove away faster before I could even react.