A/N: Bad news guys. They changed our schedule and now our Sunday work will be extending 'til the second week of September so i won't be able to update TB&TP 1 'til then. Please, bear with me. I hope you understand. 

GAELLE woke up when she felt someone kissing her on the lips. She groaned in annoyance and pushed him away.

She's still so sleepy and she wanted to sleep more. She heard someone chortled and then she felt another kiss that landed on her lips. She opened her eyes and the smirking face of Kellan was the first thing that she saw.

"Good morning, chérie" her eyebrows creased and then looked around them. Her eyes went wide when she realized that they were no longer inside the car because they're already inside a beautiful room.

Kellan was already wearing a sleeveless shirt and shorts.

"Where are we?" she asked him confusedly. The last thing that she remember was they were inside the car, on their way to his vacation house in La Union. She wasn't in favor of his idea but she couldn't do anything but to just go on with the flow because he didn't let her escape.

"We're here in my vacation house. Welcome to La Union" He said as he went towards the Spanish style window. He pulled the curtain to the side and then opened the window. The very good weather and fresh provincial air greeted them.

She got off the bed and approached him who's still standing by the window. She took a look outside. She gasped in awe when she saw the breathtaking view.

She realized that Kellan's vacation house was on top of the hill and she could see the bluish ocean water not far from where they are. There were a lot of coconut trees around and their leaves were creating sounds as the gentle wind blows. She looked at the sea shore and she noticed that there was no one there.

"Why aren't there any people around?"

"Well, this is a private resort you won't see anyone there at the seashore. I actually just bought this property last month" She gaped at him.

"Why did you buy this property? I mean, La Union is far from Manila" she asked curiously. He shoved his hands inside the pockets of his shorts and then leaned back against the wall. He was staring at her intently that she suddenly felt uncomfortable. Not because she's scared but because of her body's reaction to his hot stare.

She cleared her thought and pretended to be focusing on the view outside.

"Well, I bought this property because I knew that one day, the woman I love would come back to me. I wanted to bring her here and spend days with her in this paradise" she felt like she suddenly lost the capability to think as her body went numb. She didn't know what to say nor how to react of what he said.

She didn't want to assume that she was the one he's referring to even though he told her a couple of times that he's still in love with her.

"I know that she really loves swimming in the sea and I want that whenever she goes to the sea to swim, it will be here because I'd like to be the only one who'd see her body while wearing swimsuit" Her cheeks flushed. Hey, just wait a minute, heart! Don't react like that because you might get embarrassed and disappointed if he's referring to someone else! Don't assume things!

"Aren't you going to ask me who I'm talking about?" she bit her bottom lip and then looked down.

She was about to answer when her stomach suddenly growled because of hunger. Her cheeks went red even more.

She heard Kellan's laugh and she leered at him.

"Where's the bathroom?" she asked him instead in order to hide the fact that she's already blushing hard.

"That door" he pointed at the door. She was about to go inside when he spoke again.

"Want me to join you?" She snapped her head to his direction and was expecting for him to have a playful expression on his face but he was serious.

She swallowed hard because of the way he's staring at her. There was desire and passion in those tantalizing green orbs of his that caused her throat to dry up. It's been a while since they made love and her body was reacting to his hot gaze uncontrollably.

She tried her best to erase those strange feelings that struck her right at that moment.

"I don't think so, mister" she managed to answer him before she went inside the washroom and locked it. She leaned her back against the door as she was having a hard time breathing normally because of how fast her heartbeat was.

Just a simple stare from him and he could manage to arouse those feelings that she's trying her best to hide from him and make her heart beat like crazy. She took a deep breath in order to calm herself down. She clutched her chest, to the part where her heart was located. The beating of her heart was still hard and fast.

"Relax, Gaelle. This is just your first day of being alone together in this house but your defenses are already crumbling down!"

WHEN GAELLE finished taking her bath, she went out of the bathroom. She almost sighed in relief when she didn't see Kellan inside the room. She approached the big closet and opened it. She was surprised when she saw a lot of women's clothes inside. Everything she needs were all there; from underwear, shorts, shirts, swimsuits, etc. Where did he buy these things anyway? She wondered.

She looked at the left side of the closet and she saw men's clothes there. It must be Kellan's, she thought to herself. Her eyebrows knitted together of the thought. Why were his clothes inside the closet of that room as well?!

She quickly got dressed and the combed her wet hair and then after that, she marched her way out of the room to look for Kellan. She even got lost a little bit because the house was big not to mention that she was asleep when they arrived and didn't even have the chance to get a glimpse of it yesterday.

But when she smelled a very good aroma coming from somewhere, she followed it and she was right. Kellan was really there, at the kitchen, while whistling happily while cooking.

She suddenly felt like she lost her tongue because of the view that she saw. Kellan was busy cooking something while only in his boxer shorts. He was sweating a little bit because of what he was doing but instead of appearing less attractive, that added to his appeal instead.

The world really is unfair sometimes. How come that he still looked so handsome even though he was sweating like that whereas some men looked untidy when they're already sweating?

Every move of his arm as he stir the food he's cooking was making his muscles flex deliciously that she suddenly felt the urge to approach him and make him her breakfast instead.

"Hey, I might melt down because of the way you're staring at me right now, chérie" she came to her senses when she heard the playful voice of Kellan. She blinked a couple of times before she cleared her throat.

She could feel her cheeks blushed hardly when she noticed that he was smirking playfully at her while his eyes were twinkling with happiness because of her reaction.

"You look so beautiful while blushing like that, chérie" He said huskily after he turned off the gas stove.

HER EYES widened when he suddenly closed the gap between them and snatched her by the waist. She looked like a fool that couldn't utter even a single word while staring at him.

"Good morning, beautiful" before she could even have an idea of what he's about to do, his lips were already on her lips; giving her a passionate kiss.

"Let's eat" he said after that breath-taking kiss.

"W-Why did you kiss me?!" she hissed when she finally found her voice. He winked at her teasingly before he held her right hand and guided her towards the dining table. He pulled a chair for her like a gentleman.

The tableware were already in place except for the food. He went back to the stove and took the fried rice that he was cooking a while ago. Her mouth watered when she saw it. It has a lot of ham, green peas and corn in it that's why it looked so colorful and delicious. After that, he took the hotdogs and sunny side up eggs that he fried.

He also prepared a vegetable salad. She got surprised because Kellan still knew how to make her favorite vegetable salad. It has sliced lettuce, cucumber, apple, corn, batonnet saveur crabe and mozzarella. He put a dressing that consist of sugar, balsamic vinegar and that special salad cream. It has a sour taste but that's how she likes it.

He mixed the dressing with the vegetable salad before he put some in her plate.

"T-Thank you" he just smiled as a response and was about to sit on his chair when she noticed something.

"Aren't you going to put a shirt on first? You're sweating" he looked at himself before he answered.

"It's okay. I'll do it later" he even shrugged his shoulders. She huffed and stood up from her seat. She went to the room and took a small towel which she saw a while ago. She took a shirt for him as well before she went back to the dining room.

"Wipe your sweat off. It's not good when you just let it dry on your body like that" she said and handed him the small towel and t-shirt. He looked surprised because of what she said.

"You're worried about me?"

"Can you just wipe your sweat off and put that damn t-shirt on, Kellan?" there was a hint of irritation in her voice.

He took the towel from her and wiped the sweat on his stomach, chest and neck while she on the other hand was just watching him.

"Can you do my back, chérie? I can't reach it" she raised an eyebrow at him.

"Pretty please?" he said cutely like a child. Instead of getting irritated of what he's doing, any resistance in her got melted away just like that. She heaved a sigh before she took the towel from him and went behind him.

She wanted to kick herself because she couldn't stop the trembling of her hands. She felt like her throat was already so dry. She started sweating too.

"I think my sweat will really dry on my body if you won't wipe it now, chérie" he reminded her teasingly. She raised her right hand which was holding the towel and started wiping his sweat on his back. She was trying her hardest to calm her throbbing heart but she failed to do so. He really has a strong effect on her and it's crazy!

She sighed in relief when she finally finished. She quickly distanced herself from him and was about to go back sitting on her seat when she felt his warm hand held her hand.

She looked at him and she saw that he has a serious expression on his handsome face.

"S-Stop that" she rebuked, stuttering.

"Stop what?"

"The way you're staring at me, stop it!" his eyebrows arched.

"Why would I do that? I am not doing anything bad" he said nonchalantly.

"For goodness' sake, Kellan. I am not kidding around with you!" she tried to pull her hand from his hand but he didn't let it go.

"I already told you that I wasn't playing around, isn't it? I brought you here for me to have a chance to show you how much I love you and I really intend to do that while we're here. I will do anything for you to accept me in your life again" she swallowed hard as she felt his emotions as he said those words to her.

"Let's see" She muttered.

"Get ready because I'm going to melt that stubborn heart of yours" he said meaningfully before he let her sit down on her chair. Later on, they were already eating.

"Did you like it? I hope that the way I made the dressing is still as perfect as years ago" He said out of the blue. Gaelle swallowed the food in her mouth first before she answered.

"I am actually surprised that you still know how to make this" she muttered, referring to the vegetable salad and the dressing.

"Of course. I never forgot about it because it reminds me of you. I actually make this frequently whenever I'm at home and mom and Jillian really like it" he said proudly while smiling. She couldn't think of any words to say because her heart began beating erratically again. Even if she wouldn't admit it, she couldn't help but to feel giddy because of what he's telling her.

He didn't forget even after all these years. She used to make him that simple dish and he loved it. She couldn't help but to remember about their past. Those bittersweet memories.

Those were the times that she felt like she couldn't breathe anymore because of how strict her parents were that she wanted to get away from them even just for a while...

"Gaelle, what are you still doing there on your bed? Go downstairs so that we can all eat together. We'll be going back to France tomorrow that's why we should be complete at the dining table. Your mammie and papy will surely feel bad if you won't eat with us" her maman Belinda said.

She sighed and sat up on her bed.

"School vacation will start tomorrow, maman. I want to stay here longer" her eyebrows creased. They arrived in the Philippines two weeks ago. Because their summer vacation was already near, the school permitted her to go with the condition that she must passed all her exams first. She aced it so they let her.

Thankfully, her teachers were really kind and understanding that's why they let her take her exams in advance. Her parents just needed to send the school a letter just for formality.

"What are you talking about, Gaelle? You knew very well that we just came home because your papy was sick. Now that he's fine and finally got out of the hospital, we need to go home. You know that we can't leave our business in France for a long time"

"Maman, I'm already mature enough to take care of myself. You can go home with papa then I'll go home after vacation. Please, maman. I want to stay here. It's so boring there. I don't have anything to do this summer vacation anyway. At least here, I could be with mamie and papy and also with Enricko and Gia as well" her maman sighed.

She stood up from the bed and hugged her.

"Please? Just this once, let me do this?" her face softened.

"I'll let you stay if you convince your papa as well" happiness filled her as she hugged her mother. Even though she haven't told it about to her father yet, she already knew that she could convince him.

After they finished eating dinner, she informed about her plan to her papa and just like she expected, he allowed her to stay. Well, after a lot of reminders first. But it's okay. She was very happy because finally, she could experience being away from them even just for summer vacation.

"HEY COUSIN, come with us okay? We'll be going to a birthday party at a resort on the other side of town" Gaelle lifted her face from watching a movie on her MacBook.

"Why would I come? I'm not invited and I don't know the birthday celebrant personally. It would be embarrassing if I attend also. It would be awkward for sure because they would wonder who I am" Enricko sat beside her.

"You're thinking way too much about things. Don't worry. I already informed my friend that Gia and I would bring you along with us. C'mon, Gaelle. Your parents already went back to France so you're free to come with us. We won't don't do anything stupid. We'll just eat, enjoy the party and introduce you to our friends" she went silent while thinking if she would go or not.

But then, she realized that he's right. Her parents already went back home to France so she could go with them freely. It's just a birthday celebration anyway.

"Okay. I'll come"

"Yes! It's good that you agree. We'll come pick you up at 5:30, okay?" she nodded her head.

"What would I wear?" she remembered to ask. He smirked.

"Wear something sexy" Her eyes widened.

"Why would I wear something sexy?"

"It's a pool party and there will be many boys there for sure. Who knows, you'll meet a handsome guy there" he winked at her and then stood up.

"But---"

"No buts, cousin. Make sure to wear something sexy, okay? I'm going now. Ciao" She rolled her eyes at him.

GAELLE looked at herself in the mirror. . She's wearing a backless yellow sundress. It has an above the knee length that's why her milky white legs were exposed. Even her arms were exposed as well because the dress was sleeveless. She matched it with flat sandals. She just put a light make up on and then put her hair into a ponytail. Later on, her cousins arrived. As usual, Enricko was dressed up perfectly like a man while Gia was wearing a sexy black dress. She really loved black clothes.

"Wow, you look sexy" Enricko even whistled while Gia was nodding her head while looking at her appreciatively.

"Thanks. Shall we go?" Gaelle asked them. They went out of the house after they said goodbye to their grandparents.

They used Enricko's car to go to the venue. After about 30 minutes, they finally arrived.

She thought it was just a simple pool party with a small crowd but she was wrong. Thankfully, she wasn't underdressed because the girls were wearing dresses as well.

When they entered the venue, Enricko and Gia introduced her to the birthday celebrant named Beatrice Gonzalez. She looked so beautiful and elegant. She looked like a nice person and they hit it off right away.

"I'll leave you guys here for now. I'll just talk to the other guests. See you later" Beatrice said after almost an hour of chatting with them.

"Gia, who's this beautiful lady with you? Can you introduce me to her?" A guy asked to her cousin when he came to their table. Gia's eyebrows furrowed.

"Louis, can you go away from here?" she answered with a hint of annoyance.

"And why would I do that, Gia? I am not doing anything bad here"

"I don't care. Shoo" she drove him away with her hand.

"Miss, I'm Louis by the way. My friends want to know you as well. Can I invite you to our table?" he said to her instead of just walking away.

"You're so persistent! I already told---"

"It's okay, Gia" Gaelle interrupted her cousin.

"I'm Gaelle. Nice to meet you but I can't go with you. Sorry" she said as polite as she could. He just smiled and then nodded. When he left their table, she sighed in relief. Thankfully, he went away without saying anything.

THE PARTY continued. The music was loud as the other guests danced to their hearts out. Some of them were already dipping in the pool. Most of them were already drunk. Gaelle tried to search for Gia and Enricko through the crowd but she couldn't get a glimpse of Gia while Enricko was busy talking with the guys. He was obviously flirting with them.

She heaved a sigh.

She was already drunk. She felt like her surroundings became hot. She suddenly felt her head ached because of the noise so she decided to go out for a bit to breathe some fresh air.

She sighed in relief when she managed to get out of the party and go to the resort's garden. The resort was so beautiful and classy. She took a deep breath in order to savor the nice breeze of air through the night. Nobody was there aside from her so she stayed for a couple of minutes. She was about to leave when someone suddenly sat beside her on the bench where she was sitting.

"I see that you like it here" She snapped her head to his direction and she didn't expect what she saw. His tantalizing green eyes were staring at her intently which made her gasp. She didn't expect that strong kind of effect on her upon seeing him.

In front of her was the most gorgeous man she had ever laid her eyes on and that wasn't an exaggeration. 

****

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