Love and history

Texas Airport* A young man dressed in a black suit, flaunting his masculine features, walked down the path to the airport’s exit. His almond, brown eyes were focused on his screen as he read the news about his return. Then his eyes left his phone screen and gazed up at the huge banner at the airport. His face lit up. There was a text: “Welcome back to Texas.” A smile formed at the corner of his medium, full-sized lips. He enjoyed seeing himself everywhere and he loved the attention he was getting. The smile on his face suddenly faltered as he watched a puppy run toward him. “No way! There’s no way that thing is heading toward me,” he thought, his eyes filling with fear. He turned back and said to the butler his father had sent to pick him up, “Let’s go by this way, Butler V.” “But the exit is this way,” Butler V pointed at the airport’s exit, his face etched with confusion at the young man’s action. The young man’s prominent nose twitched. He could smell the dog getting closer. He so badly wanted to run, but he, Gaspar Nashville, shouldn’t be seen running because of a mere dog. Gaspar glanced around for a weapon and his eyes settled on the umbrella Butler V held beside his trunk. “Let me borrow this,” he took the umbrella from Butler V. But at the same time, he didn’t want to be seen attacking an animal, so he held the umbrella open and placed it right in front of his leg. He was sure to hold the umbrella properly to prevent the dog from attacking his leg. Just then, the dog started barking, drawing all attention to Gaspar. “It’s just a puppy, Mr. Nashville,” Butler V said, amused at Gaspar’s actions. “Yeah, right,” Gaspar said sarcastically. The dog circled the umbrella, looking for ways to reach Gaspar’s legs. Seeing that, Gaspar pushed the puppy away with the umbrella. “HEY!” He heard a feminine yell and shivered. He pulled the umbrella up slowly. He first noticed her shoes; they were white and stained, partially dirty. Then her skirt, which was ruffled, and her top… Gaspar almost chuckled at the sight of the lady, but when he saw her face, he fell in love immediately. “Is this what love at first sight feels like? And why is she so beautiful?” Gaspar’s mind raced. “Dog hunter!” the lady snapped, bringing him out of his thoughts. By now, the puppy was in her arms. Gaspar smiled at her. “Yes?” “Are you a dog hunter?” she asked, her peach-blossom blue eyes, button nose, delicate jawline, and love-shaped lips looking down on him. Gaspar’s smile faltered at her expression and the words she used. “I’m not a dog hunter." "Then why did you attack a puppy with an umbrella? Are you scared? Are you a cat?” She half-yelled, her voice laced with contempt. “I’m not…” Gaspar couldn’t complete his statement because she just kept bombarding him with questions. “Are you allergic to dog fur? Even if you are, don’t you know there’s a word called ‘running’?” Gaspar interrupted. “I’m Ga—” “I don’t care who you are. Stop attacking my dog, scaredy cat.” Gaspar’s eyes widened and he scoffed. “Scaredy cat?” he asked, his blood boiling. For one thing, he had only received compliments from everyone except his sister. Hearing her call him a “scaredy cat” sparked his anger. “Who does she think she is? I was rather expecting her to quickly apologize and drool after seeing my face, but there she was, staring at me like I’m s**t, yelling and calling me names? How dare she!” “You told your dog to go in my direction to catch my attention. I mean, all girls try to catch my attention, but you used a different tactic, hoping to make me like you,” Gaspar said. “You’re not even my type,” her words hit him like a bomb. He felt his legs grow weak and he quickly held his trunk for support. “Are you okay? It seems like she has the upper hand. Maybe we should leave,” Butler V whispered in his ear. “I’m no Gaspar Nashville if I back down,” Gaspar whispered back and turned to the lady, full determination on his face. “I know your type. You pretend not to like men to make them like you. Who knows what stunt you’ll pull if they don’t end up liking you back, huh, fake thing!” Gaspar half-yelled and turned to Butler V, who gave him a thumbs-up. “I know your type too. You easily get scared and expect girls to fall for your charming smile. Who knows how scared you’ll be when the mother dog comes here. You scaredy cat!” The lady half-yelled and spat on his face. Both Gaspar and Butler V’s eyes went wide with shock. The lady scoffed at him and walked away with her dog. She was long gone, but Gaspar was still in shock. “Mr. Nashville?” Butler V called, trying to revive Gaspar from the shock. “How could she spit on my face? Call me scaredy-cat? Doesn’t she know who I am?” Gaspar asked the butler. “Should I run a background check on her and deal with her family?” the butler asked. “No. It’ll make me look petty. Forget it. I wonder who’ll date someone like that,” he scoffed in annoyance and left. While in the car, Gaspar kept asking the butler, “Doesn’t she know me? Gaspar Nashville. I’m literally every woman’s dream. Tall, handsome, with a muscular physique. What else does she want in her man? Or was she purposely acting that way to catch my attention?” “It’s possible she doesn’t like you,” V said. “You’re supposed to be supporting me.” “Most women like men like you, but some of them prefer slender men or younger men.” “I’m not old, V, and neither am I fat.” “I know, but you’re giving this ‘muscle’ type of man. Not all women like that.” “Are you saying she likes thin men? The ones with real bones?” Butler V chuckled at Oswald’s expression. “You said you weren’t bothered by her words,” he reminded, already getting tired of Gaspar’s questions. “Of course I’m not bothered. I’m just curious in case I don’t get ahead of myself and think that I’m every woman’s dream,” Oswald scoffed and turned to the window. There was a brief pause. Butler V sighed, thinking he could have some moment of silence in the car. “But… if I’m not her type, then she has very bad taste.” Gaspar continued “Oh God, not again,” Butler V mumbled. The exam went on with Butler V getting scolded if he didn’t get the answer right. Finally, at the Nashville villa, a guard took Gaspar’s trunks from Butler V and Gaspar stopped the questions because Butler V had to leave to bring his father home. “C?” Gaspar called, excitement on his face. “I’m home, Cecily.” He frowned when he heard no reply. “Aren’t you home?” He called again. “What?!” He heard his sister’s annoying groan and rolled his eyes, then he saw her coming down the stairs. “Come on, hurry! You haven’t seen me in eight years. You should be excited to see me,” Gaspar beckoned. “I saw you this morning,” she rolled her eyes. “Video call, Cecily. Video call! You haven’t seen me in person for eight years. You should miss me, girl!!!” He emphasized and spread his arms out. “I’m not your girl!!!” Cecily bent her head, passing through his armpit. “Hey! That’s not nice. Do you know how many girls will die to hug me?” Cecily sat on a couch and turned to him. “I’m not many girls. I’m your sister.” “Still, you should hug me. You don’t know when next you’ll be given the opportunity to hug me.” “I’ll reject the opportunity if it comes again.” “Jeez! You haven’t changed a bit,” Gaspar chuckled and climbed up the stairs. “Dad has arranged blind dates for you,” Cecily said, and Gaspar’s eyes went wide with shock. "What? How many dates?" "About ten dates." "Jeez!" "And I told Summer that you’ll be back today. I think she’s on her way." "Who?" "Don’t you remember Summer?"