C8 ONE DAY

ONE DAY. It's only for today and I can't believe he has given me a day to spend with him.

"Now, are you happy?" His face was almost funny but the seriousness in his voice made me stop.

We just arrived at the beach. I take the basket and followed Gabriel as he strode off - such weird sight that is expected from the couple like us, a billion worth couple strutting in plain sight, hoping not to be recognized. I know that there is a lot of risk because of what I had suggested but this is the only place I want to visit now. I wore my glasses and look around the vicinity, expecting the paparazzi tailing us from behind the stalls, ruining Gabriel's mood. I look up to see him still frowning down in the sand, "Gabe, what's wrong?"

He sighs, scratching his forehead, "Nothing."

"Tell me, Gabriel." I urge for him but he just looks down at me. He sighs. I lay the baskets and blankets down on the sand and hear him, mutter, “Later."

"Fine." I stuck my tongue out and walked faster than him, leaving him with all the baskets and blanket. "Elle, help me with this!" His words were drowned as I rush unto the waves and shrieked.

God, I never felt this happy before ever since I have married the devil.

Looking back at the shore, I spotted him, frowning at me. He has already spread the blanket under him and is now eating a sandwich, "Gabe, swim with me!" He shakes his head making his sunglasses fall from his head and to the bridge of his nose, looking ridiculously hot. The sight of him reminds me of those French guys I have come to be acquainted with over the years I have spent in Paris - his curly brown hair and sharp jaw is definitely a kill. He waved his hand as he holds the sandwich, sticking his tongue out.

"Don't be such a party pooper, Gabriel!"

I got out of the water and headed for the shore trying to pull him up from his seat but it was no use; he was far stronger and heavier than me. "Gabe, please?" I pulled his shirt and mocked a cry but he only frowned at me and resumes his date with the sandwich. I gritted my .teeth, annoyed that he is being a bum. "Alright, then. If this is your idea of spending the 24 hours you sacrifice for me - letting me enjoy myself while you stay here, dating with a sandwich, and not even bothering to enjoy the beach with me - fine! I hope you are happy." I turn around and scowled at the crowd who was watching us deliberately, not even pretending that they are not aware.

I headed back to the sea, feeling down because of what I said to Gabriel. I know it is wrong for me to be that bossy but I am only stating my feelings. It is unfair because he has promised to spend a day with me, to make it up to me. I am about to dip my toes in the water when someone rushes over and pushed me.

"Oomph!" I gurgled, my throat constricting as I unexpectedly swallowed the seawater. With my burning eyes, I struggled to free myself but it felt like someone is holding me down. I was about to scream for Gabriel to help me when I am pulled out of the water and heard the devil himself, laughing at me.

"What's funny?" I look around, trying to spot him as I blink my eyes, trying to get rid of the water. I crane my neck and bump my head with someone, "Ouch!" I push my damp hair away from my face and impatiently wipe the water off my eyes, seeing him there, his eyebrows furrowed as he massages the side of his head. "Gabriel? I thought you don't want to--"

"I was kidding back there when I told you that I am not interested in playing here in the water. I wouldn't miss a chance like this," He adjusted his shades and look at me, "Though your face looks funny once you realized that you are almost dying." His laugh sounds so irritating to me that I can't help but divert my gaze, my nose flaring as I let him finish his sentence, "So you are the one who pushed me? God, Gabriel! I almost drown." I shake my head at him and tucked a stray hair on my ear, a question at the tip of my tongue. "You thought it was funny to see me panicking and trying to call you for help?"

Gabriel stopped laughing and turned his attention at me, his face turning serious, "Elle that's --"

"No. I thought I was dying back there," I bit my lip, finally losing it. How can he joke about that? It's not cool at all. "And you just did it all for fun? What a sick idea you have for joking." My eyes burned of the emotions I am feeling. I bit back a sob, as I push the glasses up my nose and planned to march back to the shore, not wanting the curious attention I am getting from the crowd. I better escape from here while the paparazzi haven't figured out we are here. I breathe out, hugging myself tight. I can feel him drawing near and in an instant, his arms were around me, making me feel much horrible than before. "Gabriel," I remove his hands and frown at him, "Gabriel, let me take a break for a while. " I pushed him off me and walk back to the shore.

•

It was almost midday when I decided to leave the shade and find something delicious to eat for I wanted to cheer myself up, my thoughts in a jumble as I walk, dazed. Gabriel was nowhere to find and I decided not to drag him on my food trip. I'm mighty fine without his obnoxious behaviour. I do not need him teasing me every step of the way for he has a sick idea about what is fun and what is hurtful.

I am threading through the crowd of tourist when I found a hotdog stand. I ordered two jumbos and a fruit shake to go with it. Pulling my wallet from my handbag, I paid for the food and started to walk away. It was quiet at first then I heard them mumbling around me, before they erupted, the whole crowd laughing. I curiously stared at them and realize that it was me whom they are laughing about. I followed their gaze and was surprised that my dress was now split in a half, showing my cleavage and a bit of my breast. Blushing, I tried to cover myself with the drinks and two hotdog jumbo's on my hands but it was a futile attempt. I tried to hurry back to the shade Gabriel made for me back at the shore, my head bowed while I tried so hard to cover myself.

"Look at her body! God, she looks like she wanted to have sex with me, mate!"

"That was quite embarrassing."

"I wouldn't dare to walk around like that."

"Can you even imagine how small her tits are?"

"Sheesh, she must be so desperate to find a husband to walk around like that!"

"I would be displeased if she was my daughter. What a whore!"

I am feeling so down, my confidence hitting the bottom as I tried to quicken my pace. I was about to turn when I felt his presence. Gabriel's arms provided warmth all over my body as he shielded me from the curious crowd. Muttering something on my ear that I cannot comprehend, he carried me back to the car and closed the doors while I sob in my hands, the two hotdog jumbo's now stained with my tears as I cry.

"I'm so sorry, Gabriel. I have ruined this day." I muttered in my hands, tears trickling in my cheeks as I tried to suppress a sob, "It is so embarrassing. They've seen me naked! Oh, what will they tell about me?" Gabriel takes the hotdog from me and settled them at the back seat along with the drinks. "The media will laugh at me if they saw that. This is bad, really bad." Staring back at me, he huffed. He turns the engine on, putting the car in reverse as he speeds away from the beach.

It was silence before the storm and I could feel it - his heated glare on me when he is looking at me, his fist tightening around the steering wheel and his occasional huff. I know that he's angry at me. He is ashamed of me.

The tears slowly trickle down my cheeks, and I didn't even bother to wipe it off because of how I felt so hurt of his treatment at me. It hurts so much that even if I am the victim here, he is making it appear like I am at fault of everything that has happened. I didn't know that my clothes have split, showing my breast to the crowd who laughed at me. I have reduced myself to silently crying, staring out of the window. A couple of minutes have passed before all that I could hear is my sniffles as he slowly pulled over on the side of the road, cutting the engine.

"Shhhh," he pulled my chin up and kissed my forehead. “You did not ruin this day, I did. If I chose not to play a prank on you, you won't be angry and walk off alone. It was my fault. I should've been there with you. I was too confident on myself that you could handle yourself but I didn't realize that you are a woman. I am not saying it in a bad way - I just fail to realize the fact that you could be fragile even though sometimes you act like you are not." He wiped the tears on the sides of my face with his hands, smiling at me.

"I won't allow this day to end like this, Elle." he pulls my chin up as he made me look at him, "Tell me, how does ice cream, pizza and Wall-e sound for you?"

“Wall-e?”