CHAPTER 33: GAVIN TAUGHT ME

CHAPTER 33: GAVIN TAUGHT ME
“Why can’t you speak?” she asked when she noticed me frozen in silence.

“My… former classmate. From the last batch I was in before deciding to stop. He just asked if I wanted to hang out with our fellow batchmates,” I answered quickly.

I tried to make my voice steady, firm, and believable. Anything to keep her from suspecting.

“Why don’t you join them then?” she asked casually as she slid into the driver’s seat.

I shook my head. “No. Jake needs me. It wouldn’t be right if people found out I went to a party while my fiancé is in the hospital.” I explained, fastening my seatbelt before offering her a small smile.

Her hands lingered on the steering wheel before she turned to me, her gaze soften. “You really care about others… more than you care about yourself.”

“I’m not confused why Jake fell in love with you since you were a ki—” She stopped mid-sentence, cutting herself off abruptly.

“Since?” I repeated, furrowing my brows.

Instead of answering, she simply tapped my shoulder while forcing a small smile. “Thanks for choosing my cousin… again.”

Again?

The word lingered in my mind like a riddle. What did she mean by 'again'?

But I didn’t press her further. Instead, I forced a smile of my own and leaned back against the seat. On the outside, I looked calm. But inside, I knew my thoughts would not let me rest. It will keep on spinning around in circles.

We drove back to the hospital in silence.

“Hey, you’re tired?” Jake asked the moment I sank into the chair. He immediately rose from the bed and faced me. I can see the concern etched on his features.

“You want to rest? I can ask Trix to take you to the villa in the meantime. It won’t be safe in your house right now,” he said as his eyes softened as he spoke.

I smiled and placed my hands over his. “I feel safer around you. I’ll just stay here until you get well.”

His lips curved into a faint smile, and for a moment, it felt like it's just the two of us.

“Stop that, lovebirds. Excuse the single one here,” Trix interrupted, setting the food on the table with exaggerated annoyance.

We both laughed, and I stood up to help her.

“You know what, Trix?” Jake teased, grinning. “You have a lot of suitors out there. You’re already twenty-five but you don’t want to settle yet—that’s why you’re being like this.”

Trix’s brows shot up, and without hesitation, she threw a plastic packet of tissue at him.

“Hey! That hurts!” Jake whined, rubbing his shoulder like a child.

“Excuse me? That’s just a plastic of tissue, Jake!” Trix shot back, glaring at him.

I couldn’t help but laugh at the two of them. They looked so cute when they bickered—like siblings teasing each other endlessly.

After the playful mockery and laughter faded, we finally sat down and ate together.

It had been so long since I last shared a meal with Jake.

And God… I missed it.

Jake ordered coffee for the three of us. But the moment the cups arrived, I noticed it.

“Jake… um, did you forget that I prefer warm?” I asked, forcing a polite smile.

“Oh—right. I forgot. Sorry, it’s been a while since I made coffee for you,” he said, snapping his fingers lightly as if scolding himself.

Right. He forgot.

But Gavin… he managed to remember with just one look.

What the hell am I even thinking? I shouldn’t be comparing. I’m literally thinking of Gavin—what the—

“I remember,” Trix chimed in before I could spiral further, then took a sip from her cup.

She glanced at Jake. “Reina suddenly had a headache earlier at the convenience store. She said it felt like static.”

Jake’s brows knitted tightly at her words. His gaze shifted to me. “Is that true, Reina?”

I didn’t trust my voice, so I only nodded.

“What do you mean… like microphone static?” he asked again, frowning deeper.

I nodded once more.

“Don’t worry. Maybe it’s just a headache from overstudy,” I said quickly. “I… I overstudied for days after you left.”

His jaw tensed. “That bullshit forced you to overstudy?”

My brows shot up. “Who?”

“Gavin,” he answered flatly.

“No—he actually tried to stop me from overstudying. But I forced it,” I blurted out, my defense too quick, too sharp.

“Reina. Calm down,” Jake said firmly, his eyes narrowing on me.

Damn it. Do I sound that defensive?

I froze, realizing the silence had grown thick. Even Trix had gone still.

The tension only broke when the door creaked open.

“Hi, baby,” an older woman said warmly as she walked toward Jake.

Jake’s entire expression softened. He stood, hugging her tightly.

Beside her, an older man entered quietly.

Maybe his dad.

“Hi, my favorite nephew,” the woman greeted Trix next, pulling her into a hug with the same familiarity.

After their moment, her eyes finally found me. Amusement flickered across her face, the same glimmer mirrored in the man beside her.

“And… who’s this?” she asked, smiling curiously.

“Mom, this is Reina. Reina, meet my mom and dad. Reina is a model—and the heiress of Hamilton Corporation,” Jake explained, his tone proud, almost boastful.

I returned his smile, touched by how proudly he said my name… and my title.

“Wow, she’s grown up so well! The last time—” The woman stopped herself mid-sentence, her words hanging in the air like a secret.

My smile faltered slightly.

“I mean… I just saw her in Hamilton’s magazine. I couldn’t believe I’d meet her in person. She's so beautiful,” she corrected quickly, her laugh too light and smooth.

I just smiled again, though inside, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed… and strangely unsettled.

"Thank you, ma'am. You're beautiful too," I praised her back with a smile.

Everyone seemed stunned at the way I carried myself. I greeted Jake’s mother nobly and formally.

“Reina, you don’t sound like yourself when you do that,” Jake said with amusement in his voice.

“That’s good, Jake. I really knew her parents,” his mother began.

“Actually, it’s Gavin who taught me to act like this,” I cut her off without thinking.

The moment his name slipped out, her expression changed. The color drained from her face and her smile vanished.

“Gavin?” she repeated. Her brows furrowed and her tone sharpened with something I could not quite name, whether it was fear, anger, or disbelief.