Isabel was sitting next to Gaby's bed in the hospital, while Dylan was on the couch and the doctor was talking to Franco.
"She's too stressed," said Isabel
Dylan did not speak. He knew it was because of the two of them and Clark that Gaby was stressed. He just took a deep breath.
"Young love is truly stressing," said Isabel. She turned to Dylan. "You'd better go back to the villa, Dylan, so that you can rest."
Dylan smiled. "I'm just staying here, Tita. I won't be comfortable in the villa when Gaby is still here."
"You like my daughter this much, huh?"
"We're friends too, Tita."
Isabel smiled. "I'm just curious, Dylan." Dylan looked at the woman. "Why didn't you say before how you felt for Gaby? You had many opportunities before to tell her you wanted her before everything happened. Why didn't you?"
Dylan was stunned for a moment. "I don't know either, Tita."
They were distracted when Franco entered the room. "I have to leave first. I can't take you, sweetheart; it's a bit dangerous."
Isabel stood up and approached Franco. "Is that urgent?"
Franco nodded. "I'll be back until my work is done." Franco looked at Dylan. "Dylan, you take care of my two gems first."
Dylan nodded. "You can count on me, Tito."
"Are you with Jeff?" Isabel asked.
"He'll be left behind, for you have someone with you." Franco held Isabel's hand. "You can't follow me outside, sweetheart."
Isabel hugged Franco. "Be careful, sweetheart."
******
Heavy rain was not expected. Clark stood by the window of the room while watching the heavy rain from outside the window. He was also able to have a bath after getting wet from the rain.
Riki stood next to Clark. "Heaven sympathizes with you, dude."
Clark didn't answer, and he just took a deep breath. "I called Dylan earlier. Gaby is fine, and she'll be out of the hospital tomorrow."
"I don't have to worry anymore."
"You know Clark, and I think Matt was right about what he said before." Clark turned to him. "Because of your excitement today, you forgot about Gaby. We noticed that too. You've been busy preparing for …"
"I'm jealous of what happened last night," said Clark. "When Dylan and Gaby came, I felt like something had happened to the two. Gaby was always an idiot, and I caught Dylan staring at her."
Riki did not speak. "In our games, the two of them kiss. I'm not numb so that no one can feel that something is happening, Riki. This morning, when I entered the villa, I saw the two of them again. I think I did the wrong thing to avoid Gaby.
"What you did is wrong, dude," said Riki. "It's better if you talk to Gaby or Dylan. You know what's wrong …"
"Do I feel wrong? Dude, Dylan is Gaby's, first love."
"How did you know? Did Gaby tell you?"
Clark took a deep breath.
*****
Gaby woke up to the noise from outside. She wasn't sure, but it seemed like it was raining hard outside. Gaby looked around the room.
"What am I doing here?" Gaby asked weakly.
She saw Dylan take her to sleep on the sofa with two hands clasped around her armpit. Gaby was frightened to hear thunder and lightning from outside the building. She quickly approached Dylan, and he was lying next to it. Gaby is stunned when she sees lightning in the window. Soon she heard thunder again, followed by lightning. Gaby felt, even if she were in that room, it would hit her.
Gaby was surprised when Dylan hugged her. She clung to him that moment.
"Are you afraid?"
She was surprised at Dylan. He seemed to wake up as he hugged her, his eyes still sleepy and his voice a bit hoarse. She was about to answer with another thunder followed by lightning, and she screamed while covering both ears with both hands.
Dylan pulled her closer to his body. "Don't be afraid; I'm here!" Dylan said softly.
"I- I'm sorry if I woke you up. Go back to sleep. I'm okay here; just let me beside you." Gaby said shyly.
"You're still scared of thunder and lightning; you've never changed a bit, Gaby," Dylan said
Gaby looked up again to see him. He almost kissed her because he was bent over and looking at her. Dylan looks wide awake as well. Gaby bowed her head again.
"Y- yes, I think it will hit me. It is the reason I'm not too fond of rain. Thunder and lightning always occur when it rains." Gaby said.
Dylan did not speak. Gaby didn't look at Dylan either. Again there was thunder, and lightning followed. He froze and covered his ears with both hands.
"Oh my gosh!" Gaby screamed.
Her hug with Dylan tightened. Gaby never removed the grip of his hand on Dylan's body.
Gaby fell asleep shortly after. Dylan couldn't sleep; he was supporting Gaby's body while lying on the sofa. When Dylan noticed how deeply asleep she was, Dylan carefully got up from the couch and carried Gaby back to the bed. Instead of returning to the sofa, he sat down next to Gaby's bed while holding her hand.
"Dylan, why are you still awake? I thought you were asleep earlier?" Isabel asked.
He was carrying food he had bought in the cafeteria. "Gaby woke up, Tita. She feared thunder and lightning."
"Is that so? I'm sorry, and I wasn't here earlier," said Isabel. "Come on, Dylan, let's eat together."
Dylan stood up and sat down next to Isabel. They began to eat, because of the silence, Isabel was restless. Dylan noticed this.
"Auntie, when will you tell her the truth?" Dylan asked.
"When everything's okay," said Isabel. "Franco wants him to imprison the man who took us away from Gaby."
Dylan did not speak. "What, we thought, was dead was just next to us. We're with him almost every day. It hurts for us, Dylan."
"Gaby loves you …"
"As his Auntie and Uncle. But Dylan, we're his real parents."
Isabel couldn't stop herself from crying. "I'm sorry, Tita. I don't want to …"
"I'll go out first," said Isabel
Isabel walked quickly out of the room. Dylan put the food he was holding on the table and then looked at Gaby, who was looking at him.
“Gaby …"
****
"Whoa, champurrado," Matt chirped as he quickly sat down at the dining table.
Everyone woke up early after the heavy rain overnight. Everyone was eating in the dining area when the gang saw Clark. It sat next to Sasha.
"You haven't slept, Clark?" Sasha asked.
"How can Clark sleep. With Gaby now in the hospital, is Dylan." laughed Matt.
"Haist, Matt …" Belle said softly, then kicked him in the leg under the table.
"Aw …" Matt complained.
Jeff stood up to everyone's surprise. "Are you done having breakfast?" Ashlee asked.
Jeff smirked. "Yes, I'm full now."
Jeff removed his food and washed it in the kitchen sink. "I'm leaving, Clark. Do you want to come along?"
"Where are you going?" Sasha asked.
"Tsk, he's inviting Clark; where else can he go? To the hospital, of course, where Gaby is," said Matt. "I'm coming, Jeff."
"You two and Clark are ready if you come along," said Jeff, then walked out of the kitchen.
*****
On their way to the hospital, Clark sat quietly in the passenger seat. Matt was in the back seat, but he was in the middle of the two front seats.
"Do you miss Gaby too, Jeff?" Matt asked.
"Why would Jeff miss Gaby?" annoyed Clark
Matt laughed. "I miss Gaby. After our bonding last night, I feel like we've become close to each other."
"Close, my foot," said Clark softly
"I miss him too, of course." smiling, Jeff said. "I also need to make sure he's safe in the hospital."
"Huh? Why?"
"Kuya Franco left because of an important job, and as his partner, I need to make sure Gaby and Ate Isabel are doing well," Jeff said
"Oh, okay. It means we'll be late …" Matt said.
"Not exactly. Gaby is also out of the hospital now," Jeff said.
Clark looked out the window. "What scene can we catch in the hospital?" Jeff asked once glancing at Clark.
Matt smiled.