This Crazy Rich Boy - Chapter 163

Not in a million years did Claire ever expect to experience something like this. First time flying as a passenger is one thing, but flying first class in an airline that’s rated to be the world’s most luxurious is entirely another level of first.

“My hometown is just a few hours’ away, Gab,” she whispers to him as an attendant obsequiously ushers them to a different entrance, past the path used by regular passengers. “Isn’t this too extravagant?”

“Extravagant? I don’t know that word,” Gabriel says. He grins. “This is our first trip together. I want it to be memorable.”

There’s only a small handful of passengers who proceed to the upper deck of the plane, the “first class” section. Claire didn’t know what to expect. Of course, she’s not entirely ignorant; she knows there would be seats. She remembers how just hours previously, she was onboard a provincial bus. “Can I have a window seat?” She whispers again, too embarrassed to let the flight attendant hear her. but she must have heard Claire, if that slight smile is any indication.

Gabriel laughs and gives her a peck on the cheek. “Claire, my love, every seat is a window seat. Look!”

Claire stops. Indeed, the cabin is spacious.

“Let me show you to your suites,” the attendant says, almost in sing-song, as she leads them inside. They don’t have to walk very long—as it turns out, Claire and Gabriel’s “suites” are the first one in front.

Claire peers inside her suite; her jaw drops. “Is this really for passengers? This looks like a family could live here.”

Gabriel laughs. He chuckles as he examines his own suite right opposite Claire’s. He looks at it askance, then looks back at Claire, who is closely examining every knick-knack in her suite, much to the amusement of the attendant.

“You know what,” he says. “I think we can sit together in your suite.” Then he turns to the attendant. “Your finest refreshments, please, for the lady. And champagne for me.”

��Right away, Mr. Tan,” the attendant makes a slight bow and leaves.

Claire is trying out her seat. “This chair feels really good. Like I think I can fall asleep right now.”

There’s a “buddy seat” in a corner opposite Claire’s, and Gabriel plunks himself in it. “Is sleep the foremost thing in your mind right now?”

Claire looks at him. “Not really. We have a lot to talk about. First is, why are we doing this?”

“Don’t you think it’s high time?” He sighs and looks out the window, where he could see the tarmac strewn with lights. The nose of the plane glistens from the wash of light, and the engines begin to whirr, although they could bȧrėly be aware of it. “You know, when I was going out of my mind looking for you, I realize I didn’t really know you. We didn’t really know each other. I didn’t know the names of your parents, or every single one of the people you love. I’d like to know them all, Claire. I’d like to get to know you more, away from the distractions of my own life.”

Claire chokes on her emotions upon hearing those words, but she keeps it inside; she smiles, although her eyes betray her. “Thank you. I thought you’d never ask.”

Gabriel gazes at her for a moment. “I’m sorry. I was just too stupid. I had been stupid for a long time, Claire. Forgive me if I’m only starting to wake up now. After all those things that happened to us.”

“I’m stupid, too, if it’s any consolation,” she says. They both laugh. “I don’t know what I was thinking, walking away like that. Not telling you anything. I’m sorry. I won’t let something like that happen again. From now on, before I make any drastic decision, I will always, always consider your feelings. I can’t believe…”

“I can understand it if it had anything to do with my mother,” Gabriel says, carefully avoiding to mention that thing about the cheque torn in shreds back in her penthouse suite.

“Yeah, that,” she says, nevertheless catching on. “Your mom, Gab. Can you believe she offered me ten million dollars?”

“What?” Gabriel says in mock surprise. “That’s a lot of money! You should have accepted it!”

“Yeah, I thought so, too,” she purrs. “But then again, I thought if I marry you, I’d get a lot more, no?” She teases.

“Clever girl,” Gabriel laughs.

She laughs, too, in that cute way that she does only rarely, only in times of genuine happiness.

The attendant arrives with a trolley of beverages. She carefully places a tall glass of fresh, pureed fruit before Claire, then she hands Gabriel his champagne.

“What’s the menu for this flight?” Gabriel asks. Then shakes his head. “No, forget it. Bring everything here.” He gazes at Claire with meaning. “We’re both famished, you see. We really could appreciate some first-class grub.”

“Sure, Mr. Tan. I’ll be back in a moment.”

“You’re right. I’m really hungry,” Claire says after the attendant leaves. “I haven’t had anything since morning.”

“That’s because this is one of those days,” he says, “when terrible shit happens along with utterly wonderful stuff. This suite is spacious enough. Maybe I’ll stay here and not occupy my suite at all. I don’t want to be lonely.”

“You can stay here as much as you want, Mr. Tan,” Claire says playfully. She moves to show him there’s still space in her comfy chair. “Please sit here. Don’t be shy.”

Gabriel laughs. “Shy is the utmost opposite of what I am,” he says. He eagerly squeezes himself into the small space so much that Claire shrieks, giggling like a child. Then he puts his arm over her shoulder tenderly, and that does it. She tops and looks at him for a moment. She closes her eyes. Gabriel gets it; he kisses her on the lips. A sweet and gentle kiss. A prelude to even sweeter things.

As the plane starts to move, and a voice on the loudspeaker reminds passengers to fasten their seatbelts, et cetera, Claire gazes out the window. “What awaits us, Gab? What’s waiting for us when this plane lands?”

“I don’t know, Claire,” he says. “But something tells me in my guts that we’re going to be fine. That everything will be alright.”

She smiles. She rests her head on his ċhėst. He lovingly ċȧrėsses her hair, thinking about how, just an hour ago, when he thought he had lost her forever, too sick of the complications in his life, he was already thinking about turning his back on it all, going back to his place, taking out the revolver in his cute little vault, and shooting himself in the mouth. Just to end it all.

Thank God she returned; thank God he’d found her. Just when he needed her the most.

“Everything’s going to be fine, Claire,” he whispers to her. “I’m sure of it.”