Chapter 17: Chapter Sixteen

back to present time

GUN'S POV

It's a day before the opening of my coffee shop. Some friends are already sending their congratulations for me. I am beyond excited to actually have another dream crossed off my bucket list. It's a free day for me and I decided to go to the mall and enjoy a little before I go through the details of everything needed for tomorrow.

I was walking around when I got tired and decided to order some chai tea latte at the small coffee shop inside the mall. I saw that the bar tables outside of the coffee shop aren't occupied that's why I decided to grab a seat and rest for a while.

"G-Gun?" Someone from behind me called me.

I looked around and the blood immediately left my face seeing Oab standing behind me. I couldn't find the words to say to him... This wasn't a part of my plans, he was supposed not to see me again...

"Can we talk?" He said again.

I don't know why I agreed, It's literally a day before something important in my life and I don't need to walk into a trap that will probably ruin something for me. Oab ordered and I waited for him to go back here, I mean, I could run away...

"It's been so long..." Oab started when he finally came back.

I don't know what he wants from me but with his tone, he seemed like he's not up to something good and he's far too different from the last time I saw him.

"It wasn't really that long Oab..." I told him.

"Yeah, it felt like hell everyday Gun, I never forgot about you, the cafe you went a few weeks back? That was mine now... the coffee shop we always dreamed of" he told me

I remained silent still not finding the right words for him, I clearly did him very bad before...

"I wanted to hate you... It haunts me every time, what have I done wrong back then? I've been slipping away from you at your worst I know that. I have been giving up on you when you were having your own battles but Gun, was that worth all the heartbreaks? Those times you were hooking up" He told me.

"Oab, we're done with this... we're done" I said when I finally found the courage to speak up to him.

"Why did you came back?" He asked me

"It's my life Oab, I have friends and family here" I told him

"Friends and Family you chose to run away from when you chose yourself" he told me

"I know I've hurt you before Oab, but those people, they accepted my choices when I needed to choose myself, when the earth itself wasn't choosing me" I told him.

"If you're here to talk about how terrible I was back then... I'm sorry, If you can't forgive me that's alright, I admit everything I've done. It was terrible what I did Oab, but we're done, years ago. Again, I'm sorry and I'm gonna have to go" I said and stood up.

"You're always gonna be at your worst when you keep running Gun, I'd make sure of that" He told me

It scared me... he's hell bent on making me feel the pain I've made him feel... I almost stumbled while I was walking but seeing Oab that way wasn't really what I expected, I expected to get a better closure or at least some catching up.

I was anxious about meeting Oab again... he sends me the anxious thoughts that I always run away from, I don't have a good feeling about him.

"Hey Gun" I was shocked and kind of shaking when Off caught me in his arms.

"Hey, are you okay? You're kind of shaking Gun... you have something very important coming up tomorrow. Let's get you somewhere" Off said

I just nodded and he took me with him. Good thing I didn't brought my car with me. He drove to the rooftop restaurant, it was still open and it made me smile that he brought me here...

"You better now?" Off asked me as I continued to eat the food he ordered for the two of us.

"Yeah..." I said as I kept eating.

"What happened to you a while ago" He asked

"I-I saw Oab... my ex..." I said still kinda shaky of that thought

"Did he do something to you? Did he hurt you?" Off said suddenly very concerned and was checking on me for bruise or something.

"No, he just triggered anxious thoughts that has been haunting me. He seemed like he was up to something... It was very scary, it was very different of him" I told him as I sipped the milkshake I ordered.

"Gun... we're here for you, me, Tay... your family. Maybe check on the security details of your event tomorrow? We'll all be there to protect you" Off assured me.

His words were comforting enough for me to let go of all of the anxious thoughts that has been soaking me since that talk with Oab.

Off sent me home and Pim invited him to stay a little, Chimon and some other cousins were also here at our house and they were talking about artist stuff as they let me do my work and last of the detail checking for everything to go perfect tomorrow.

"Everything ready?" Off asked me when he finally got away from my sister and cousins.

"Yeah, Dad said he'd take care of security, I asked personally everyone not to let Oab in the premises" I said as I scroll through more of the details tomorrow.

"Can I already say congratulations? You've been reaching your dreams Gun" Off said which made me smile.

"Thank You, though I'm just starting, it's not even a lot yet. I haven't reached hollywood" I half jokingly told him and giggled.

"Be an actor, you'd get there faster" Off told me.

"I don't want to, I can't act, plus, I love going around malls being unbothered, look at you, you're running from fans who kept chasing you haha" I told him.

"Yeah about that, some caught photos a while ago when I bumped into you" He told me.

"I saw those too. They are looking for me, good thing my social medias except instagram is private" I told him and smiled.

"I could clear up your name and make them stop bothering you" He told me

"It's fine Off. They should get to know Director Gun too" I said laughing at what I just called myself.

"Don't laugh. It's true though, remember what I said before? I still look forward to make a film with you." He told me.

Wow he remembers the details huh?

Off went home a little late since he kept insisting that he won't leave until he knows I'm perfectly fine and that I've finished overlooking everything for tomorrow's event.

The invitation stated 3PM as the time of the launch of my coffee shop and I decided to go there at lunch. I brought myself some lunch and ate there. Looking at how my coffee shop turned out, I was happy seeing it all turn out so well.

"Hey, you said you have something to tell me?" Tay said when he walked in.

I haven't told him about the encounter with Oab yesterday... I got busy with Off and all the other stuff I had to check for this day.

"First of all, Congratulations! Finally I'm here for the dream cafe opening, unlike the one in New York" He told me which made me laugh because he was so mad when I told him I'm opening up a coffee shop in New York and the date wasn't fit in his budget and schedule.

"Haha. Thank you" I told him.

"So what happened?" He asked

I went into the details of my encounter with Oab yesterday and pretty much everything that happened after that.

"What the freak?! Please tell me he won't be here today." Tay seriously said.

"He won't. I asked the security to be serious about outsiders and non-invited people" I told him.

"You've got to be kidding me, If I see him, he's really gonna pay for what he did to you yesterday" Tay seriously said which scared me.

"Tay, hey, I know we got each other always but please promise me, you won't do anything with Oab, you won't even say a single word to him" I said.

"No promises" He said

"Please? I'm fine and I'll sort it out" I told him which made him sigh and just nod.

Guests started coming after an hour. There are also a few press gathered outside when Pim and Chimon came. Chimon the rising artist was actually a big hit in the industry and Pim already famous for her girl group... well, we can't really keep the press away huh? Knowing that there will be a lot more flocking the outside later especially what they do not know is that the famous Off Jumpol will be coming.

"Is Off coming?" Tay asked when we're 20 minutes away from starting the ceremonies prepared for today.

"Yeah. He stayed late at our house last night making sure I had everything covered" I told him.

"You're still a thing after all this years huh?" Tay teased me as he grabbed a champagne.

"Tay... we're just good friends" I told him.

"Yeah Gun, I could see that, I could also see the fact that you bond like you never left and you're actually closer than you were before. Is that because you bond without a reason now? Date?" Tay kept teasing me

"Tay Tawan, your boyfriend is over there enjoying the food buffet I have prepared, why not join him?" I asked him.

"Speaking of the devil, there's your soon to be boyfriend. BYEEEEE" He said pointing to Off Jumpol that just arrived and he immediately ran to New.

I smiled when Off walked towards me. He handed me a small box and hugged me a little.

"Congratulations Gun" He told me

"What's this?" I asked looking at the small box

"A little something for you that says my congratulations" He said and smiled

"Gun? Ready now?" My event coordinator asked me.

"Yeah... uh.. I'll see you later Off" I said as the event was about to begin.

I said my thank you speech and formally opened my coffee shop to everyone who joined. I've basically said thank you to everyone since I finished the speech, everyone that comes across me found their way to actually make conversation.

"P'Gun! We're doing this again huh?" Chimon told me when he had the chance to talk to me.

"To more branches with you?" I told him as I raised my champagne glass.

"Oh I'd love the free coffee and travel. Congratulations P'Gun!" Chimon said

We took a lot of photos and boomerangs and videos that day. Since the coffee shop is officially open today and the guests started leaving at around 6pm because I don't really serve dinner, so I decided to ask Tay, New and Arm out for dinner.

"You're leaving me?" Off said which I didn't noticed who was still here.

"You can join us if you're free" I said

"Yeah Off, since we're gonna be more than business partners now" Tay said bursting into laughter which got them all confused and I know he's trying to tease me.

"I mean, we all gotta be friends now. There's no turning back anymore" Tay said

"Off is really supposed to be our friend if he wasn't delayed a year though" Arm said.

We all went to have dinner and I'm not gonna lie. I was so happy tonight, it's scary what can come in return but I was happy and that was all that mattered to me that night. I shrugged off the fact that Tay kept teasing me and everybody couldn't really get the hints and all about Tay's jokes and all.

I looked over at the noisy man beside me. Who would have thought that I would be this close to him? That we'd be in a same group of friends despite the history that we've shared together? Maybe Tay was right... I know I'm old enough for this but maybe, I still do have the slightest crush on Off Jumpol, who wouldn't have a crush on this man?

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Thanks for reading! <3