Chapter 4 4

I waited for another tweet from him. This is his last day for that road trip, but until now, I haven't heard any news about what he's up to. I've wanted to call him several times or stalk his Facebook account, but I don't want to sound clingy. I don't want him to think that I'm being possessive. But Vincent is such a flirt. If I don't keep an eye on him, he'll make the girl next to him swoon. It's annoying.

I kept walking in front of Shawn. He's in his walker, watching me intently. Maybe he's learning how to walk, which is why he's studying me so closely. Smart kid, really.

"Hey kiddo! Don't take after your godfather and your dad, okay?" I said. He just smiled and sucked on his fingers.

"Don't be a playboy, okay? You can collect girls, but never play with them, okay?" I told him. His drool dripped while he smiled at me. I immediately smiled too because he's just too cute. If I ever have a baby, I hope he looks like Shawn.

But if he looks like Shawn, then he'll resemble Stan, right? And Shawn also has features that resemble me, and Tori, she had a fling with Iñigo, so there you go, a mixture of Stan and Iñigo. I sighed while looking at Shawn. Tori was busy talking to Stan on the phone while I wondered why Ethan still hasn't contacted me. Damn that playboy!

When Tori was done with her lovey-dovey conversation, I quickly left their house. I decided to go home. Maybe I should just paint my nails instead of thinking about the mischief that guy is probably up to. It's annoying. I've wasted effort on the picture diary if he's just flirting wherever he is now.

I bit my lip while imagining Ethan swapping saliva with another girl. I kicked my car's tire out of frustration.

Why hasn't he called? The other AEGGIS members check on their girlfriends and wives every hour while he...

"You'll break your toenails if you do that."

I abruptly faced him upon hearing his voice. When he saw me, he immediately grinned, that playboy smirk that could make any girl kneel in front of him.

"Miss me, babe?" he arrogantly said. He closed the distance between us, placing his hand on my waist and giving me a deep kiss.

"Nope," I gasped. The corner of his lips rose in response to my denial.

He pouted. "Too bad. You didn't miss me while I could hardly sleep because of you." He was trying to charm me. I just laughed before hugging his neck and tiptoeing.

I waited for another tweet from him. This is his last day for that road trip, but until now, I haven't heard any news about what he's up to. I've wanted to call him several times or stalk his Facebook account, but I don't want to sound clingy. I don't want him to think that I'm being possessive. But Vincent is such a flirt. If I don't keep an eye on him, he'll make the girl next to him swoon. It's annoying.

I kept walking in front of Shawn. He's in his walker, watching me intently. Maybe he's learning how to walk, which is why he's studying me so closely. Smart kid, really.

"Hey kiddo! Don't take after your godfather and your dad, okay?" I said. He just smiled and sucked on his fingers.

"Don't be a playboy, okay? You can collect girls, but never play with them, okay?" I told him. His drool dripped while he smiled at me. I immediately smiled too because he's just too cute. If I ever have a baby, I hope he looks like Shawn.

But if he looks like Shawn, then he'll resemble Stan, right? And Shawn also has features that resemble me, and Tori, she had a fling with Iñigo, so there you go, a mixture of Stan and Iñigo. I sighed while looking at Shawn. Tori was busy talking to Stan on the phone while I wondered why Ethan still hasn't contacted me. Damn that playboy!

When Tori was done with her lovey-dovey conversation, I quickly left their house. I decided to go home. Maybe I should just paint my nails instead of thinking about the mischief that guy is probably up to. It's annoying. I've wasted effort on the picture diary if he's just flirting wherever he is now.

I bit my lip while imagining Ethan swapping saliva with another girl. I kicked my car's tire out of frustration.

Why hasn't he called? The other AEGGIS members check on their girlfriends and wives every hour while he...

"You'll break your toenails if you do that."

I abruptly faced him upon hearing his voice. When he saw me, he immediately grinned, that playboy smirk that could make any girl kneel in front of him.

"Miss me, babe?" he arrogantly said. He closed the distance between us, placing his hand on my waist and giving me a deep kiss.

"Nope," I gasped. The corner of his lips rose in response to my denial.

He pouted. "Too bad. You didn't miss me while I could hardly sleep because of you." He was trying to charm me. I just laughed before hugging his neck and tiptoeing.

I bit my lip while thinking of Ethan exchanging saliva with another girl. It's so irritating.

"Why didn't you sleep, Vincent Falcon?" I harshly asked. He looked at me, grinned, and extended one of his hands to pinch my nose.

"You're cute." He said.

"I'm not cute. FYI, I am phenomenal. And don't make me laugh. Ethan, sleep is important. Next time I'll give you keys to my place, so you can sleep there. Why didn't you sleep?"

"Because I wouldn't be able to sleep anyway. Augustine and Stan had a fight. We always argue, but something different happened between them."

"Why?"

He grinned. "Because of that thing called love."

My eyes widened at what I heard. I groaned immediately and slumped in my seat. I stared at the cars outside, moving alongside us.

"Love sucks," I commented.

I bit my lip when I remembered my Mom. I wish my Dad had fought for her and their relationship. I wish my Dad fought for me. Maybe Mom wouldn't have left and gone back to her ex-lover. Maybe I would still have a Mom now.

They say that love is some kind of thread that binds people together, but I doubt that. Love, if it even exists, is something that ruins relationships. Just like what happened in my family, just like what's happening now with Stan and August.

"Have you ever been in love?" I asked Ethan. He glanced at me briefly before focusing on driving.

"You?" he asked. I just shrugged before crossing my arms over my chest.

"Never," I answered. Our car stopped at a red light, and when Ethan looked at me again, he didn't immediately withdraw his gaze.

"How about you?" I countered. He stiffened before letting out a sigh. When the light turned yellow, he began maneuvering the car.

"Once. First and definitely the last," he replied. I pursed my lips, watching him carefully, waiting for the next thing he'd say.

Holding on to the memory, he said, "She cheated on me. With Iñigo."

I took a deep breath, swallowing the lump in my throat, realizing the weight of his revelation.

"So, what happened?" I asked. Ethan bit his lip, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

Numbness settled in his face as he recounted, "She cheated on me. With Iñigo."

I continued to gaze at him, and he seemed drowned in his memories. His usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by a blank expression.

I remained silent. It's clear to me now. It seems like Vincent hasn't fully moved on. He, too, is a victim of that thing called love.