1 - 11

Thanks to Ben, Melanie and Gayle didn't last even half a day in hiding the fact that they were dating. The end of the day was very chaotic as most of the people were surprised by the sudden news. They never expected those two to date since they didn't look that close even when they needed to compete for a contest.

The ones who weren't very surprised, were Gayle's friends. They had noticed that there was something happening between them, or at least from Gayle's side. He left them too often to go eat or chat with Melanie with a happy smile that he never had before. They were watching how this whole thing would turn out since Gayle was being cautious around Melanie.

However the cautiousness was gone after everything was revealed. In the following days, you could see them holding hands in the school's halls or chatting happily during breaks. It was mostly Gayle who was all over Melanie since it took her time to be comfortable but she didn't shy away. People realized that Melanie wasn't a shy introvert just a calm one and she can be very talkative as long as you showed that you're interested in what she's talking about. As such, she became quite close with two of Gayle's friends, Mark and Ellie and also because they were active supporters of Gayle and Melanie ship even before these two were aware of their feelings.

"Hey Mel, we're going to watch a movie this weekend. Do you wanna come ?" asked Ellie. They were heading towards their class with Mark and Gayle.

"Ah, sorry, i can't. I have to work–"

"–on your project, we know. It won't kill you to take a day off, right ? Gayle, say something" Ellie said while nudging Gayle with her elbow.

"She's not wrong, Mel. Have a day off so we could go on a date instead"

Gayle intertwined his fingers with Melanie's while looking at her with pleading eyes. Ellie complained that Gayle stole her idea, making Melanie laugh.

". . . I guess that i can do that . . ." Melanie said, avoiding Gayle's gaze. However, she jolted when he actually kissed the back of her hand and she retrieved it quickly.

"Gayle !" she whispered. They were still in the hallway with a lot of people around. Gayle gave her an innocent smile while Mark and Ellie were grinning in the background. They were really hardcore fans of this ship.

—Damn, he's so aggressive. I'll probably get laid soon, hehehe—

—I said they're underage. Don't you have any morals?—

—Morals? What is it ? Food ? Doesn't sound tasty at all—

—How can something even "sound" tasty ? . . .Wait stop distracting me !—

—You're the one distracting me. I'm in a middle a conversation—

"Let's plan this for another weekend though. I've already made a work plan for this weekend. I don't want to change it " Melanie said as they entered the biology class. Gayle nodded and they went to sit in their respective places.

"Hi Tania" Melanie greeted as she sat next to her. Tania was looking at her phone and she just nodded her without even looking at Melanie. She wasn't her usual cheerful self so Melanie supposed that something was burdening her and didn't question it much.

However, after several times, Tania was still ignoring her or was straight up rude to Melanie, when she tried to talk to her.

—What's her problem ? She was nice to me so i was trying to put up with her recent behavior but if she continues, i'll start throwing hands—

—It looks like she's jealous—

—. . .Jealous? . . .Please don't tell me that she's that girl that likes the male lead, won't make a move but then gets mad when he dates another girl ? Do they really exist ? That's so cliché ! Boo ! Whoever wrote this needs to know that's such a boring theme! Boo!—

—Will you calm down ? In the original timeline, she used to date Gayle. Cut her some slack—

—Absolutely no. I didn't steal her boyfriend since he wasn't. Anyways, she better stops before i lose it—

—You're so extreme.—

Melanie sensed that Tania's bad mood had something to do with her and decided not to try to talk to her anymore and ignore her like she did. It wasn't really hard as she had more people to talk to now.

Time for Gayle and Melanie's date finally came after they tried to find compatible timing and activities many times. They asked their boss and coworkers for a change in her shift so they can have their night free. Which lead them to work in the morning. It was Saturday so it wasn't particularly busy but there were still quite a few people. Melanie was working at the counter when a customer came to her.

"Good morning. What can i get you, sir ?" Melanie asked softly, noticing that they shared the same mole next to their mouth.

"I would like an expresso. Also do you make delivery ?" He said before taking a glance at his watch.

"...Hum, normally yes but we're lacking people today. Where do you want to deliver? Maybe if it's not far-" Melanie started explaining while making his coffee, when her manager Mark, came from behind, interrupting her.

"Oh, good morning sir. Did you come to see Melanie ?" He asked while looking at the customer. The latter and Melanie eyed him, wondering what nonsense he was uttering.

"Excuse me?...I think there is a misunderstanding;" He said, with his eyebrows frowned.

"Aren't you Melanie's dad ?" Mark said, his eyes bouncing between her and the customer.

—Oh, my! Dotti ! He's that her father ?—

—Yes. Meet Luke Marshall Jeffers, Melanie's dad. He's the CEO of an investment company which has been growing significantly recently—

—Do you have his character background, like Natalie ?—

—Sure. Do you want it now ?—

—No, let me get out of this situation first—

"What ? No, he's not. Why would you think that ?" Melanie replied immediately, still baffled by what Mark said. Realizing his mistake, Mark's eyes widened and he turned to the man.

"I'm deeply sorry, sir. You look a lot like my employee so i thought you were related. I shouldn't have assumed this" He apologized, a bit embarrassed. Choosing perfect timing, the coffee machine stopped their rumbling, signifying that the coffee was made.

"Is it his order ?" Mark asked Melanie. She nodded her head and went to take it. "It'll be on the house, sir. Then I'll excuse myself" Mark added before fleeing to where he came.

"Here is your coffee, sir".

She gave him his order and took the opportunity to look more at him. She couldn't decide if he really looked like her. Almost the same thought was going through Luke's head with the exception that he was wondering if she could really be his daughter.

"Thanks" He took his coffee while he tried to shake off the questions that were popping in his head. He never sought to know his daughter, it wasn't going to change just because he potentially met her. After he left, he still turned back to look at her and saw smiling at her co-worker. Seems like she was living well without him. . . Not that she was his daughter. He sighed and went his way.

After a while, Melanie was able to take a quick break and Sei took the opportunity to talk to Dotti.

—Okay Dotti. I want the info.

—Ok. Melanie's father, Luke Marshall Jeffers, 50 years old, CEO of Jeffers Holdings. He met Natalie at a party and they started dating. They eventually broke up because Nathalie wanted to take it to the next level but Luke, no. So she ended up being pregnant so try to keep him. Luke didn't buy it at first because he was sure that he always used protection. Natalie explained that she's been keeping his used condoms . . . what? That's totally sick!—

—Definitely another level of twisted ! And how could he leave a baby with this kind of woman ?!—

—Well, he couldn't be bothered by a baby at that time, his job was more important. Mostly a kid with a woman like Nathalie. He really despised her as she kept on harassing and threatening him with the baby. He agreed upon giving her pension until you're 18 to make her stop—

—Did he or Melanie tried to meet each other in her past life ?—

—Melanie had no clue who her father was but given her mom's taste in men, she assumed he was another trash. She never tried to know. For Luke, he avoided meeting Natalie at all cost which lead to not meeting Melanie. There's no info about what he really feel towards his daughter—

—Well we'll find out in this life. I'll make so they definitely acknowledge each other and voila, debt problem resolved. What's the utility of having a rich daddy if i can't spend his money?—

—Melanie will never ask nor want him to help her—

—It won't matter what she want, he will help her nonetheless as her father will become the most doting father in the whole universe—

—What are you talking about?—

—Hehehe, you'll see—

The rest of the day went on without any major incident, even tough Mark kept on telling that the customer from earlier must definitely be related to Melanie in some way.

"So see you at the cinema at 8pm. I miss you already" Gayle said as they were waiting for th bus. He accompanied her at the bus station just like the usual and told her that as the bus was approaching.

"Haha, you're so clingy. I wonder how you were able to live without me until now." Melanie answered playfully.

"I wonder too. I can't even remember what it was without you and i don't really want to remember. The only thing I'm sure is that i never want to live without you anymore"

Melanie froze upon seeing that he was actually serious. She had noticed that Gayle was very straightforward with his feelings and those were definitely very big. The defenses she had put around her heart were breaking easily as he was always so honest about his love for her.

"I dont want to live without you either" She said before kissing him on the cheek ang hugging him. They unfortunately had to part as the bus parked. Gayle let her go and watched as the bus was leaving. When the bus was out of sight, he sighed heavily and start bumping his head against one of the pole of the bus stop, trying to calm himself. The kiss and the hug sent sparkles through his whole body and butterflies flying in his stomach — even lower. He felt like a beast in heat around her but he was still able to keep it under control unless she initiates the action. He really didn't want her to know that he was feeling like 'that' around her. He sighed deeply again.