Chapter 164 - The Limo Journey (1/2)

”The thing about first class,” Gabriel says, as though patiently explain the rules of the universe to a child. ”Is that they treat you like royalty. For example, that limousine over there—” he points to a black, elegant-looking vehicle, right outside the lobby's doors, where a serious-looking man in a black suit stands by—”will bring us to your parents' house's very doorstep.”

”Really?” Claire feels it must be too extravagant; she begins to worry about what her parents would feel about this. She hasn't warned them that she's coming home; right now, all they know is that their dear old Claire is still in the big city, working her cute ȧss off in one of those office buildings.

”It's actually the safest means of transport, Claire. We'll just tell our guy our destination, and he'd drive us no matter the distance.”

Claire looks at Gab with her head tilted. ”But you're used to all this. Why do you sound like it's your first time?”

Gabriel laughs. ”Because it's your first, and I just feel so excited for you.”

Claire giggles. She takes his hand. They're such an odd-looking couple, walking without care in the world, completely sans luggage.

The chauffeur already knows it's them as they approach him. ”How's the trip, Mr. Tan, Miss Monteverde?”

”Splendid,” Gabriel says. ”Couldn't be better.”

The chauffeur snappily opens the door for them.

Claire eases into the luxurious backseat, looking around. There are a number of tiny bottles of what look like miniature liquor. ”Can we drink those?”

”Yes and no,” Gabriel says. ”Yes, we can. But no, we shouldn't. We're meeting your parents in about an hour, right? We don't want to make a bad impression to my future in-laws.”

Upon hearing what Gabriel just said, Claire feels like her heart just jumped, like it's the sweetest thing in the world, what she just heard. Yet, she doesn't let him know that; she just smiles and squeezes his hand, a subtle way to let him know how much his words mean to her.

”Where to, sir?” the chauffeur asks as he takes the driver's seat.

Gabriel looks at Claire, who gets it. She tells the chauffeur the destination.

The chauffeur's face furrows upon hearing the address. ”Hmmm. Isn't that the hilly region almost at the boundary to the next province? There's nothing but farmlands there.”

”It's not just farm and animals there, Mister. I grew up there. My parents tend the land.”

”Oh, sorry, madam,” the chauffeur stammers. ”Not meaning to offend. Merely trying to be clear about the destination. Frankly, this is the first time I'm driving this limousine to that region, although the truth is, I also grew up near there. In a farmland. Pardon the misunderstanding.”

”Pardon granted,” Claire smiles.

Gabriel laughs at this exchange. ”Interesting,” he says. ”This just excites me more.”