Chapter 7

Vien leaned on the glass railing of their balcony, sipping her wine as she closed her eyes, letting the cool breeze caress her face. She sighed softly, her gaze dropping to her arms. Did I lose weight? she wondered, absentmindedly tracing the curve of her wrist.

Just as she was about to take another sip, movement caught her eye. Someone on the balcony of the house across from hers stepped out. Vien froze, recognizing the familiar figure. Her heart skipped a beat as she watched Gabriela walking along the railing.

Panicking, Vien spun around and crouched low, attempting to hide. Realizing how futile it was—considering their glass balcony—she muttered a silent curse.

"Mommy?" a small voice called out. Vien looked up to find Blair, her daughter, staring at her with wide, curious eyes, a milk carton in hand. "What are you doing?"

Clearing her throat, Vien pretended to pat the floor, her movements awkward and frantic. "Uh, mommy's just looking for something, sweetie," she stammered, forcing a smile. Please don't look at the house. Please don't look at the house.

Blair blinked, her gaze shifting toward the glass railing. "Oh," she said, pointing toward the mansion. "Mommy, isn't that Gabi?"

Vien's heart sank. Damn it. Smacking her forehead lightly, she scrambled for a response. "Huh?" she mumbled, trying to sound oblivious as she straightened up. "Where?"

"There!" Blair exclaimed, dragging a chair toward the balcony railing and climbing onto it. She stood on tiptoe, waving enthusiastically. "Gabi!"

Vien peeked over her shoulder, swallowing hard. Of all the people to have as a neighbor, why did it have to be her?

Gabriela, standing on her balcony, noticed Blair's cheerful wave and responded with a warm smile, raising a hand to wave back.

"Mommy!" Blair tugged on Vien's sleeve, her eyes shining with excitement. "Call Gabi! Please, Mommy!"

Vien frowned, feigning indignation. "Blair, I'm starting to feel jealous of how much you like your friend Gabi," she said, crossing her arms.

Blair pouted, clasping her hands together as if in prayer. "Please, Mommy! Just this once—pretty please?"

Vien sighed, covering her face with one hand while clutching her wine glass in the other. "Quit acting cute, will you?" she muttered, though her lips twitched in a faint smile.

Blair giggled, tugging her sleeve again. "Come on, Mommy! Gabi's so nice!"

Vien set her wine glass on the coffee table and walked back to Blair, picking up her phone on the way. "What's so special about Gabi anyway?" she asked, tilting her head.

Blair grinned, her cheeks dimpling. "Because she's beautiful," she said confidently. Then, after a brief pause, she added with a thoughtful nod, "And I feel like she's really kind."

Vien's expression softened, but before she could respond, Blair was already calling out to Gabriela again.

"Mommy, don't you like Gabi?" Blair asked, her big eyes filled with innocence as she looked up at her mother.

Vien gulped, glancing between the house across the street and her daughter. "What?" she stammered. "What do you mean I don't like Gabi?"

Blair's lips pursed into a small pout. "I mean, it's like you don't want to be close to her. You're always so snobby, Mommy. That's why people are scared to come near you."

Vien blinked, momentarily stunned. Then, with an incredulous scoff, she placed her hands on her hips. "Well, excuse me, little missy," she said, arching an eyebrow. "I am not a snob. I just don't like people bothering me. That's completely different." She chuckled lightly, hoping to brush it off.

Blair giggled softly at her mother's reaction. "Mommy, you're still snobby," she teased. "You keep rolling your eyes at Gabi. But I think Gabi likes you anyway."

"I—" Vien started to argue but stopped short, her mouth slightly open. She blinked at Blair, her voice lowering as she asked, "Am I really?"

Blair nodded earnestly. "Yes, Mommy," she confirmed. "Don't you like Gabi?"

Vien looked away, glancing briefly at Gabriela before turning back to her daughter. "It's not that Mommy doesn't like her," she said quietly. "Maybe Mommy's just... afraid."

Blair tilted her head, curious. "Afraid of what?"

"Of getting too close to people," Vien admitted, her voice barely audible. She offered Blair a faint smile, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Sometimes it's easier to push people away than to let them in."

Blair's expression softened as she hugged her mother's arm. "But Gabi's nice, Mommy. You don't have to be scared of her."

Vien looked back at Gabriela, who was still standing on her balcony, her gaze soft and warm. For a moment, Vien's chest tightened—but for the first time, she didn't look away.

Vien panted, resting her hands on her knees as she caught her breath. Her breathing was ragged after completing her daily jog around the sports complex near the park. She stood up slowly, placing her hands on her hips and doing some breathing exercises to calm herself.

After a moment, she walked toward the vending machine, intending to buy a bottle of water. As she reached into her sweatpants pocket, her expression shifted. She realized she'd forgotten her wallet. "Ah, shit!" she hissed, slapping her forehead in frustration.

"Here." A voice caught her attention, and she turned to see a dollar being offered to her. Looking up, she locked eyes with the person holding it.

Both of them froze, pointing at each other in surprise.

"Vien?"

"Gabi?"

The words escaped their lips in unison, both of them staring at each other with stunned expressions.

Gabriela cleared her throat, awkwardly dabbing a towel to her face. "Gabi, huh?" she muttered, clicking her tongue.

Vien flushed slightly, glancing away. "I meant to say Gabriela," she explained, her voice faltering as she noticed Gabriela was dressed in a sports bra and sweatshirt, her sweater tied around her waist, and a towel hanging over one shoulder.

"Uh," Gabriela rubbed the back of her neck. "Aren't you going to buy something?" she asked, pointing at the vending machine.

Vien glanced at Gabriela and then back at the machine. "Oh, right. I left my wallet," she said, stepping aside with a wave of her hand. "Go ahead," she added, gesturing for Gabriela to go first.

Gabriela tilted her head, eyeing Vien for a moment before stepping in front of the vending machine. She chuckled softly as she bought a bottle of water and then turned, offering the other bottle to Vien.

"Here," Gabriela said, extending the bottle toward her.

Vien looked at the bottle, then up at Gabriela. "Why..."

Gabriela clicked her tongue, placing her hand gently over Vien's to pass the bottle to her. "Just accept it. You look thirsty," she said with a shrug, stepping aside to drink from her own bottle.

"Thanks," Vien muttered, gripping the water bottle tightly.

Gabriela smiled softly as she watched Vien take a sip. She sighed contentedly. "Do you always jog here?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Vien nodded, capping her bottle. "Yeah, I usually jog around midnight," she replied.

Gabriela crouched down slightly, peering off into the distance. "I can see that," she chuckled, letting out a deep sigh.

Vien's gaze wandered to Gabriela's shoulder and upper arm, where a hypertrophic scar marked her skin. Her brows furrowed in concern. "What... happened with those scars?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Gabriela stiffened, her fingers brushing over the scar as she glanced at Vien. She gulped, her voice faltering. "I... uh, third-degree burn from boiling porridge," she explained, forcing a chuckle.

Vien bit her lower lip, feeling a wave of sympathy. "I'm sorry about that," she murmured, her voice soft.

Gabriela laughed lightly as she stood, facing Vien. "Why would you apologize for that?" she asked, clicking her tongue, clearly puzzled.

"I... just... feel like I should," Vien mumbled, avoiding Gabriela's gaze. "Stop looking at me like that, okay?" she added, fidgeting uncomfortably.

"Like what?" Gabriela asked, her head tilting in confusion.

Vien shook her head and shut her eyes. "Just... don't look at me," she said, biting her lip as she turned her face away.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" Gabriela asked, her tone sincere as she stepped closer, sensing the tension.

Vien swallowed a lump in her throat. Since her husband's betrayal, she had trouble trusting anyone—especially people who might bring happiness into her life. She had built walls, ruining her chances at something good or someone else's chances of happiness.

"Not like that," Vien said, turning to face Gabriela. "I just don't want you to look at me like that... like you want me or something," she said, clicking her tongue, trying to push the feeling away.

Gabriela raised an eyebrow, a soft laugh escaping her lips. "Like what?" she repeated, her smile teasing. "Like I want you?" she asked, almost amused.

Vien took a step back, her face flushing. "What kind of conversation is this?" she asked, laughing nervously, clearly uncomfortable.

"You're the one who started it," Gabriela said with a shrug.

Vien raised an eyebrow. "Forget it," she muttered, about to turn away when Gabriela grabbed her wrist.

"Wait," Gabriela said, her voice soft but determined. "I like you," she confessed, her words hanging in the air.

Vien's breath hitched, and she yanked her wrist free, turning sharply to face Gabriela. "What did you just say?" she demanded.

"I like you," Gabriela repeated, her gaze shifting away. "Ever since I bumped into you at the mall... I felt something different."

Vien scoffed, disbelief crossing her features. "What is this, love at first sight? Are you crazy? You can't just get attracted to someone you barely know," she said, shaking her head. "This is ridiculous."

"I'm just telling you how I feel," Gabriela said, her tone calm but firm. "I haven't even said I love you yet," she added, correcting Vien as if explaining something simple.

"That's the same thing!" Vien hissed, her irritation growing.

Gabriela laughed, the sound light and teasing. "Why are you so grumpy? I'm just telling you that I like you," she repeated, clearly amused by Vien's reaction.

Vien's face flushed deeper. "Can you stop saying that you like me?" she groaned, fanning herself, overwhelmed by the growing heat in her chest.

"But you're blushing," Gabriela pointed out, her smirk widening.

Vien's jaw dropped, her frustration mounting. "Can you even hear yourself, Ms. Vaega?! This isn't blushing! This is me being irritated!" she said, pointing at her flushed face, though deep down, she knew it was more than just irritation—her heart raced in ways she wasn't ready to admit.

Gabriela raised her hands in mock surrender. "Okay, okay, calm down, maybe? You're so hotheaded," she teased, clicking her tongue with a knowing smile.