Gabriel understood that Ba needs confirmation about her status in regard to him.


    Earlier, in the garden, Gabriel said in front of his whole extended family that Ba is his girlfriend, and that solidified Ba''s trust in his intentions. However, at the same time, that act increased the hostility of his rtives who now see her as a threat.


    Gabriel was a patriarch before Steve took over the position, and Gabriel maintains a good rtionship with Steve, both of those facts mean that Gabriel has a significant influence and power within the Long family. As such, Gabriel and any woman by his side should either be controlled or considered as a threat. At least that is how most of the Longs see the current situation.


    Gabriel realized that Ba pushed herself to be brave when confronting his parents, and she is acting so mature that he forgot she is only neen years old, and that this is her first romantic rtionship… and troublesome at that.


    "Oh, Ba… my sweet Ba...", Gabriel said under his breath and pulled Ba to sit on hisp before wrapping his arms around her. "I can''t deny that Victoria lingers in my mind, but it''s nothing pleasant. You have my heart and everything thates with it. Every bit of color that makes my life worth living, is tied to you."


    Ba rxed at his words and rested her head in the crook of his neck. It fit perfectly.


    "OK. Then, tell me, are few years you spent in this room with Victoria so bad that they erased everything that came before that?"


    Gabriel didn''t get it. "What do you mean?"


    "You lived in this mansion for more than two decades, and you left it because of a few years that you spent with Victoria. Even if those few years with her were horrible, was that bad enough to overpower all the good stuff that happened before it?"


    Gabriel thought for some time before responding. "I''m not sure how much of good stuff there is in my childhood. I grew up under strict rules where showing emotions was frowned upon. It went beyond sitting straight, not resting my elbows on the table, and holding a spoon in a specific way. I always had to suppress my urge tough, to cry, or anything that was not befitting a perfect image of a stoic master who has everything under his control."


    Ba forgot about this. Gabriel mentioned that his parents were controlling. And it was not only his parents, his Cousins and other rtives would also wait eagerly for Gabriel to slip up so that they can use it against him. It must have been stressful to always have your guards up.


    "So… when you moved away from here, it''s not only because of Victoria, but because of the Longs as well?"


    She lifted her head up so that she can see his expression.


    Ba wanted to hear all the details, and she was confident that she will fish them out one-by-one, in time.


    "Yes.", Gabriel confirmed. "Victoria''s betrayal was only thest straw. The truth is that the environment here is too stifling. Since I''ve met you, I can breathe freely."


    Ba smiled. "I know the feeling. Tell me, does it feel stifling now?"


    "No."


    "Does it feel any lessfortable than in my apartment?", Ba continued probing.


    "Where are you going with all these questions?"


    Ba pouted. "Just answer me."


    Gabriel took Ba''s hand in his and their fingers inteced. He kissed the back of her palm before responding: "With you holding my hand, it does not matter where we are, I feel wonderful."


    Ba smiled brightly and leaned on him to rest her head in the crook of his neck again.


    Gabriel thought about their conversation from thest few minutes, and an idea hit him. "Do you want us to move in here?"


    "No. Themute to my university would kill me."


    Gabriel was confused. "Then… why did you ask all those questions about my reasons for moving out and you evenpared your ce to this one?"


    "I don''t care where we live, because the only thing I want is to be with you.", Ba admitted. She looked him in the eyes and was pleased to see that he approves of her response. "I asked all those questions because I am not happy that you allowed people like your rtives and Victoria to make you give up on something that belongs to you. If you moved out because you wanted to experience something else, it would be fine. But you were forced into it by others and that is why it does not sit well with me. Victoria betrayed you, and she is gone. I hope that my love can soothe your wounds and you are able to lock all memories of Victoria in the past, where they belong. As for the stifling environment, if you don''t like it, I can help you change it."


    Gabriel thought that Ba is adorable. "You can help me?"


    Ba nodded earnestly. "Steve and Biddy are cool and I''m sure that they would not be against us, even if they don''t want to participate actively. The two of us can do our own thing and anyone who does not approve can go and suck a shoe."


    This made Gabriel chuckle as he imagined his parents sucking shoes. The mental image was hrious.


    Ba continued talking. "I am sure that when others see us happy and in love, some wille out of their shell. Do you think that you are the only one who does not like living a stuck-up lifestyle? Maybe it works for the elders, but I bet that many from the younger generation are screaming to be themselves."


    "You want to help other Longs by offering them a different path?", Gabriel guessed.


    "No. I am not that generous. I am only thinking about my handsome boyfriend.", Ba said and gave Gabriel a light kiss on the lips. "However, the more Longs break out of their shell, the less resistance you will face."


    "We…", Gabriel corrected Ba, making her smile. "The less resistance WE will face."


    "Yes, we.", Ba confirmed.


    "So… you want us to move in here?", Gabriel asked again.


    Ba poked his chest with her finger. "Were you not listening? In a month, my sses will start, and it will take more than an hour to reach my campus from here. It''s not practical to spend two hours a day just driving; in a week that will add up to ten hours which could be spent on something productive. However, maybe we cane here on a weekend asionally if there is a room we can call ours. Or if Biddy is organizing an event, I cane earlier and help her with preparations. As your girlfriend, I should not act as an outsider, and helping Biddy will help me learn about your family."


    Gabriel was delighted to hear that Ba would do so much. He wanted to confirm. "When you don''t have sses, we can stay here? Like on a weekend, and on holidays… and after you graduate?"


    "Yes, yes, and… let''s talk about it after I graduate."


    Gabriel smiled. She didn''t say <em>''yes''</em> for after her graduation, but he has time to turn that <em>''maybe''</em> into a <em>''yes''</em>. He was confident that a sparkly ring will do the trick. Soon.


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