A/N: Hello everyone! Sorry for another late update. I've been busy these days since I have school and I'm also preparing for my second book. I hope you'll understand. But I will not neglect this story. I will update two chapters weekly.

Thank you for you understanding and support!

P.S. Another update in an hour.

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The café had at least five customers, including Lenna and I, who were drinking a hot beverage to keep warm from a chilly night. Across the table, a group of high school students were chattering loudly, lightening up the tension of what had happen.

Lenna remained silent after I gave her hot chocolate drink. She kept on sipping every few seconds while holding the warm glass with both hands. I hadn't engaged her in a conversation until she was ready. And when she was, her words needed no response from me. She gently started telling me about Stephen.

They were high school sweethearts. During her junior year and Stephen's senior year, he had been courting her for over a few months before they've became official. It was a typical popular guy dating one of the school's beauties. Everyone expected them to be dating even before Stephen held interest with her. But like any other egotistical popular teen in high school, Stephen wasn't completely committed with their relationship. He openly flirted with the other girls, which Lenna blindly ignored.

"When I thought about it now, I wanted to slap myself for being so tolerant. I was afraid to be an outcast if I broke up with him. Everyone knew he was a man who doesn't get dumped by girls like me. Things were always that way when you are born in a privileged family. But it wasn't all fun in games during high school. Even then, you get a glimpse of how the real world works." The bitter tone of her voice was drowned by the teenagers laugh across from us. "Though I hadn't realize there was an option to get away and leave, but then I had Gavin. I had no regrets when I had him in my life. Because of him, I got something to fight and live for another day."

After baring her soul to a stranger, she had become silent again. I cued it as my turn to talk.

"Even though you're pressured to be in a relationship with him, everything was a conscious decision. Don't loath yourself for choosing to believe and love someone even if he hadn't lived your expectations."

For the first time since we entered the car, her weary almond eyes locked with my gaze. She gave me a strained smile before putting her beverage down.

"You know, for a guy, you're very attentive."

"And for someone who looked tough, you're rather sentimental." I countered in humor.

She coughed a laugh, her weary eyes brightening up. Mirroring her expression, I chuckled and smiled back then gave her a playful wink. Lenna shook her head in amusement as she grabbed her glass again and finished her drink.

Lenna decided to head back home. I offered her a ride, which she gladly accepted. The drive to her place was short. She lived at an apartment complex near Central Avenue. I parked the car on the third house unit per her instruction. Studying the exterior design of the compound, all yellow-painted two-story apartment was identical. There were approximately twenty units fenced within the vicinity. It was difficult to distinguish who lived where with the exemption of the number engraved by the door.

"This is me," she announced.

"Which one is your place?" I asked out of interest.

"That door across from us," she replied and pointed at the door opposite from the truck.

"So who is taking care of Gavin while you were at work?"

"Gabe is retired, so he minds Gavin for me."

"But Gabe and Gavin's father are related right?" The question was shifting slightly towards something personal. I had been itching to ask this particular question since I found about this fact.

"Yes. Gabe is Stephen's Uncle, brother to his father," she replied without flinching, seemingly unaffected by the question.

"Doesn't that seem rather...?" I trailed off once I noticed my questions had turned too delicate.

I watched the end of her lips tugged into a smile. "Don't worry about asking. This isn't really new to me since I had Gavin. But there was never a time someone asked the question directly. Everyone in town had expected that he would be part of our lives." She paused for a moment, glancing towards her apartment. "Stephen was arrested in high school for under age alcohol consumption. It created a ledge between his relationships with his father. That was when Gabe stepped and took him in. It's why he listens to what he says. And with him there, things aren't as bad as it seemed."

"That's really kind of him. But doesn't he have any family of his own?"

She looked at me, her smile faltering. "Gabe was married. His wife used to be my English teacher in high school. But about a year after I graduated, she had gotten ill ..." Lenna's voice sounded pained while she trailed off silently.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, not sure who I should apologize.

"He had Stephen, so he treats Gavin like his own grandson." Lenna stated lightly, looking back at me with a genuine smile.

"Is this okay for you to share such a private information about Gabe?" I asked, trying to turn back the topic towards lighter tone.

"Gabe doesn't really mind about people knowing his past. Everyone in town knows who he is, given his older brother literally runs this place."

"When you say that, do you mean Stephen's father is...?"

"The mayor," she interjected before I finished. "It's his second term in the office." She added in context.

"I see..."

"I think I need to head inside. It's almost Gavin's bed time and he wouldn't sleep unless I'm there to tuck him in."

I nodded my head as I watched her got out of the car. She gave one last brief wave after closing the door, and then walked in a quick pace towards her apartment. After she knocked twice, I watched Gabe open the door and greeting her. They had a quick exchange before Gabe looked up in my direction. It was difficult to read his facial expression from the lack of light on Lenna's front door. But then he held up his hand and gave me a hesitant wave, recognizing my presence. At the same time, Lenna glanced in my direction again, mirroring Gabe's hand.

Confident that she was safe, I backed up the drive away. Gabe and Lenna remained by the door while they watched me turned to the main street. The drive back was silent yet my mind was the opposite.

The next day, I hadn't notice I was in a trance at work until Benji knocked out some sense into me while I manage the register in the morning. Brent was doing an errand for his mother.

"What happened to you?" Benji asked after slapping my back with a bit of force. I snapped out of it and place a hand on the counter before my face hit the register.

"What?" I peered at him in both surprise and annoyance.

"Since you've entered the store, you looked like you've been high on something."

"I'm sorry. My mind was elsewhere..." I trailed off, turning away in embarrassment.

"Let me guess. It's a woman." He remarked bluntly.

I snorted in mock disbelief. "You make me sound like some teenager experiencing their first love."

"From how you've just zone out, you look like a puppy in love." The old man teased me with an amused grin.

"Please. In thirty years, I've never once been told I looked like a crazed teenager in love."

"Even at thirty son, you can still experience your first love." He pressed in remark, not willingly back down from his point.

I opened my mouth for another shameless excuse but then close it again, allowing his words to linger in the quiet room. With a triumphant grin, he patted my arm once before heading towards the back room with a backhand wave.

As afternoon came, Brent rejoined the crew as he took the rest of shift manning the cashier register. While he was up front, I started sorting out the new products and put them up on the shelves. Once I finished, I hadn't noticed the new customer coming in the store.

"Kyle!" Gabe walked up towards me, packing up the empty boxes.

I turned to my left and found him carrying Gavin, who looked a bit messy from mud strains on the sole of his shoes and shorts.

"Hey!" I greeted back after reeling in my surprise.

Gavin held up a hand right in my face. For a moment, I thought he wanted to slap me until he said, "high-five!" I slap my palm with his small hand, making him grin in accomplishment.

"How's working with Benji? I only hear how he treats you well, not how he actually treated you," he asked, reeling my attention back towards him.

I tried to hold back a smile at his remark. "Benji is really nice, jokes aside."

"Glad to heard that he wasn't sugarcoating a thing." Gabe nodded, liking my response.

"Mr. Kyle! Are you going with us next time to play?" Gavin interjected. His high-pitched voice was giddy with excitement.

"Sure, if your mother agrees to it." I replied with a smile.

He beamed in delight before his expression turned to worry. "I think dad doesn't want it though, even if mom agreed." He mumbled in disappointment, his eyebrow creased in concentration.

His word put Gabe and I into silence. It made me curious about how much he understood the relationship his mother and father were in. Gabe repositioned Gavin in his arm, turning his attention towards the little boy.

"Gavin, your mother's opinion counts more whether your father is okay with it. It is her opinion which is best suits what is right for you." Gabe softly stated to him word for word.

The little boy didn't look away from his gaze before his head bobbed, understanding his point. "Okay." His voice was almost a whisper at his verbal reply. After that, he wrapped his arms around Gabe's neck and rested his head by his shoulder. Gabe soothingly rubbed his hand in comfort at his small back.

"How about we get some ice cream for dessert tonight?" Gabe asked, turning in the direction of the fridges.

Gavin leaned away and looked at him with a triumphant smile, his foul mood gone. "Yehey! Ice cream!"

I watched as they grabbed a bucket of vanilla flavored ice cream and a few bag of chips before checking out in the counter. Following them, I helped placed their groceries in a bag while Brent handled the register.

"What time to do you get out of work, Kyle?" Gabe asked after taking his change from Brent.

"I stick around until the store closes," I replied, placing the last item in the brown bag.

"Oh, good," he nodded in thought. "Thank you for what you did for Lenna last night. I heard what happened after you dropped her off."

"It was nothing." I brushed if off. "Do you need help with these?" I asked, changing the topic as I gestured at the two bags of groceries. From how he carried Gavin, he couldn't carry any of it.

"Oh, sure. The truck is just outside." With a quick wave towards Brent from Gabe, I picked up their groceries and carried it all the way to the silver truck outside.

Gabe seated Gavin by the front passenger seat while telling to place the groceries on the back seat. Once I closed the door, Gabe lingered outside until he had my full attention.

"Kyle, I know this is asking too much on my part, but I want you to hear me out. Gavin and Lenna is much my family as Stephen is like my own son. It is difficult for me to choose which one to protect, but know my first priority will always be Gavin. Yet, I want you to understand that Stephen has a good side of him. He just lost his way somehow." His words were sympathetic. From the look in his eyes, he seemed like it was his fault what Stephen had done. And after hearing from Lenna his relationship with him, I grew nothing but respect towards the man. It wasn't his responsibility yet he treated him like his own.

"I understand, Gabe. Though I can't promise you if he does lift his hand and hit her, I won't hold back." I affirmed.

"I wouldn't hold it against you if you did," he nodded in agreement. "Oh! One last thing, would I be asking too much of you to drive Lenna home tonight as well? Archie is out of town for a few days, so he wasn't there to look out for her."

"Sure. It's not a bother."

"And if you have nothing to do tonight, why not have dinner with us after you drop her off?" He offered as the idea came across to him.

"I don't want to impose again..." I hesitated with uncertainty. But the look Gabe was giving me had me changing my mind quickly. "Oh, sure, if it is okay with Lenna."

"She wouldn't mind. I would give her a call that you'd be taking her home and having dinner with us." He smiled from my reply and patted my arm in a friendly gesture. "I will see you then."

In response, I only nodded my head and took a step back as he entered the driver seat. I stayed by the pavement and watched the truck back away towards the main street. Gavin peered over the window and enthusiastically waved at me as they drove off. A moment too late, I held up my hand and waved back. Once they car disappeared in the distance, I headed back inside to find Benji by the counter with Brent. The suggestive smile on the old man's face had me stop on my tracks.

"Don't say it," I commanded firmly.

"Say what?" Benji feigned innocent.

I sighed in defeat and headed towards the back of the store, where a few unpacked store good needed my attention. "I will be here if you need me."

As evening approached, I cleared out the boxes and placed them in the small storage area then helped Brent clean the store. At exactly seven, Benji had literally kicked me out of the store. The amused looked plastered on his face hinted that he knew I had plans tonight. When he finally voiced it out, it cleared my suspicion.

"Send my regards to Gabe and Lenna for me. And tell Gabe he owes me a game of poker." Benji called out as I entered the store after putting my work apron back.

"What makes you think I will be seeing them tonight?" I asked, trying to keep a straight face.

"Son. You can't hide that smile and excited glint in your eyes. Like I said, you're a man in love. You'll be wearing your emotions in your sleeves without even realizing it." He jokingly pointed out.

I pursed my lips and held back the urge to respond. It would backfire if I said anything, like adding fuel to a fire. Without further remarks and comebacks, I briefly wave at them before headed towards my truck outside. Before the door closes, I heard the old man's soft chuckle of triumphant.

Afterwards inside my truck, I sat there contemplating about Benji's words. I titled the overhead mirror, checking my facial expression. My dark brown hair was jostled up sloppily like I had been working for almost nine hours today without pay – which was a fact. Though my cheeks looked a bit flushed for some reason, the look on my eyes wasn't screaming happy or in love. It was the same dead look I had before living in this small town. With a disgruntled sigh, I rubbed my face in annoyance and rearranged the mirror to give me a better view behind my truck. I hurriedly turned on the ignition afterwards and backed up towards the street.

On my way to the bakeshop, my phone I placed on the front of my pocket suddenly ring. I left it until I stopped at a red light. Before I got the phone, it halted from ringing and flashed a missed call on my screen. I studied the caller I.D. And as I was about to hit redial, the screen flashed another incoming call. It was Luke. I glanced up and check the traffic light, which was still red. So hurriedly, I clicked the answer button.

"Hey! I'm driving. Can I call you back later?" I asked before he got to greet me.

"Oh! I'm sorry for calling... wait, you're out of the house at this time of the night?" he apologized but then shifted the topic in suspicion. "Where have you been, or are you going somewhere?"

"I just got out of work and heading back," I replied vaguely, not yet certain I wanted to share the information with him about Lenna.

"Work? Wait what?" His voice raised in disbelief. "I hadn't called you for a few days and this is what I hear? What the hell happened to you?"

I was about to respond his question when the traffic light turned green. "I can't talk now, Luke. I will call you when I get home for an update." I insisted and avowed before ending the call with a quick goodbye.

In a slow speed, I drove the car with one hand while placing the phone on the dashboard. I was only a few minutes away from the bakeshop. When I arrived, Lenna had gotten out of the store on cue. I parked the car in front of the store, making her look up at my arrival. After not seeing her for the last twenty-four hours, whether it was how she neatly tied her hair or a casual shirt she traded from her work uniform, she looked undeniably beautiful. With those thought racing my head, there was no going back on how my heart started to beat for her.