Gabriella's face, which looked up, was pointed directly at the large sign that read Selera Chinese Food attached to the roof. Her eyes, which were still narrowed, then turned to Wendy next to her. "I know you're a Chindo (Chinese-New Yorker) but did you really have to bring me here now?"

Wendy chuckled. Innocently, the short-haired woman who deliberately curled her hair embraced Gabriella. As she pressed her cheek against Gabriella's, she sulked. "I'm craving fuyunghai and koloke chicken, El. Is it okay if we just talk here? This is a super exclusive Chinese food restaurant. It won't be too crowded inside."


Gabriella snorted in annoyance. But there was nothing she could do but agree to Wendy's request. After all, the two of them had already arrived there. It would be a waste of time and energy if they had to look for another place during the busy hours of New York City.

The woman who was slightly shorter than Gabriella cheered softly. "Yeay, come on, come on!"

Enthusiastically, Wendy pulled Gabriella's hand and led her inside Selera Chinese Food. Considering the food that we crave certainly has a great effect on the level of mood that we will feel. Likewise with Wendy, the woman kept an excited expression on her face.


But everything soon changed, when both of them received a reality that could not be prevented. Selera Chinese Food was receiving a lot of visitors as several offices were celebrating events at the place. Wendy's face scowled instantly, but Gabriella was even worse.

Gabriella immediately looked at Wendy and gave a short snort. "What's not crowded, Wen? Hm?"


And made Wendy feel bad for Gabriella.

The intention was to cheer themselves up, but the disappointment they got instead. Gabriella spluttered, then pulled Wendy's hand. "Let's go, Wen. Find another place."

"Eh, eh, don't!" Wendy said frantically. Not forgetting to hold Gabriella's hand which looked starting to get annoyed. "We've come all the way here. I guarantee you won't regret it. I happen to know the owner of the restaurant, so we can ask for a VIP table."

"I don't think that's a good idea!" Gabriella insisted.

"Duh, El, please."

While Gabriella and Wendy were engaged in a tug-of-war in the middle of the main door, they were both completely unaware of the presence of a man behind there. Gabriella tightened her arms, then pulled her own body away from Wendy's equally powerful pull. Gabriella lost her balance as she spun around and unexpectedly, she bumped into the man walking towards her and made the man hold Gabriella's body there.

Both of them were surprised by the incident.

Gabriella widened her eyes when she realized who the man was who was now holding her shoulders within inches of each other. He was the same man who had saved her when she was about to jump off the Mall, the man who had brought her to sleep on his bed and that man was Ken Kalandra.

Ken hurriedly removed his hand from Gabriella's body before another misunderstanding occurred between them. In fact, it wasn't just the woman who was surprised, Ken felt the same way.

For the sake of earth and sky, why of all the places to eat in New York, did the two of them have to be reunited there?

"What are you doing here?" Ken exclaimed unhappily. "Oh, you probably followed me all the way here. Didn't you? You secretly followed me to ask for an answer. Isn't that right?"

Already fallen down the stairs. Intent on making her feelings relieved, it was an unexpected encounter that greeted Gabriella. She looked back at Wendy who looked just as shocked as the two of them. Oh, no. Actually Wendy was more surprised than either Gabriella or Ken. They exchanged glances for some time, before Gabriella's voice reached her best friend's ears. "Wen, let's move, we can find another cozy place."

Just as Wendy was about to open her mouth, Ken's bass voice suddenly interrupted her. "What did you just say?"

Gabriella looked at Ken. "What?

"Yeah, what?"

"Huh?"

Ken shoved both hands into his pants pockets, then raised his face haughtily. He wanted to clarify his position as the alpha among the three of them. "What you just said is that my restaurant is uncomfortable and not cozy, right? That's it, right?"

"Wait, wait!" Wendy finally opened her voice. While looking at Ken, then at Gabriella in turn, she said, "You guys know each other, right?"

"No!" "Yes!"

Gabriella's eyebrows furrowed deeply. How could the man say that they knew each other, despite the fact that everything that happened between them was just a coincidence. She cleared her throat and looked away even though Ken was still looking at her. "Wen, shall we go now?"

Hearing Gabriella's tone of voice turn low, Ken became a little uneasy. Questions like whether or not the woman was okay now filled his chest.

Wendy then replied. "Alright, alright." then turned to Ken, who happened to be her close friend as well. "I'll eat at your restaurant sometime. Anyway, it's really crowded inside. There's an event going on, right?"

And Ken nodded his head.

"Alright, I'll go first!"

Ignoring Ken's presence there, Gabriella had already left without a word. The woman in a short light purple dress with a matching cardigan outer didn't even know that Ken was still standing where he was and staring at her departure.

Quickly, Gabriella got into Wendy's car. She landed her ass roughly, before closing the door and shouting. "AHHHHHHH!"


"Holyshit!" Wendy covered her mouth when she heard the scream in the middle of the door. She looked around before hurriedly jumping on the seat and closing the car door. She approached Gabriella and made sure. "Are you okay, El? Something's wrong, right?"

But Gabriella chose not to say anything. She rubbed her temples in frustration, before finally daring to bring up the subject. "That guy at the restaurant, the one who made a fuss with me, who is he? You know him, I think. Don't you?"


Wendy nodded her head in agreement. "Sure. He's a close friend of mine who got-"

"AHHHHHHH!"

"what the hell! You're yelling like you're in the jungle, don't you know what's wrong with my heart?" protested Wendy.

"Since when did you have a weak heart?" Gabriella suddenly changed the subject. "When we were in high school, you had a strong marathon heart."

"Well, it's just a word. Just a metaphor, Darling." Wendy chuckled amusedly. She buckled her seat belt around her chest and got ready with the steering wheel in both hands. "I have a weak heart when I get close to Jimin."

"I don't care," Gabriella replied lazily.

"Do you really know Ken? He's the owner of Selera Chinese Food, you know."

And the woman who let her long hair fall back could only snort amusedly and lean her back against the top of the chair. "Technically, yes."

"Seriously? How do you know?" Wendy had just stepped on the gas pedal at her feet, when a few seconds later, she had to suddenly hit the brakes.

"He's the guy who saved my life last night."

---