Chapter 4: revelation
"Hi
Hilda!"
"Hey Betty! What's happening? How's
Diego?"
"Everything's good. Really good. Diego's great
too. Actually, he's the reason I'm calling about."
"Why?
What's wrong?"
"Oh nothing's wrong. I just need you to
look after him today for a couple of hours or so. I'm going out in
the afternoon that's all."
"Oh ok. Don't frighten me like
that Betty. Sure, when do you want me to come round?"
"Ahh,
about 4.30? Is that alright? I'm going to Tino's for coffee."
"No
problem. Who you meeting up with?!"
"Ahh…Gio. He's in town
and we're just catching up."
"Ohhhhh! Gio eh? I knew you
still loved him. But please be careful Betty!"
"It's just
coffee Hilda!"
"Sure!! That's what they all say…I'll see
you at 4.30 Betty."
"Thanks Hilda. Bye."
-----
As the day progressed, Gio couldn't stop looking at his watch. The day was going by so quickly. The work at the shop was being blitzed through and his thoughts were preoccupied with all things Betty. He couldn't wait to see her again. However, at the same time, he was disheartened at the idea of Betty moving on with another guy. 'I can't imagine my Betty with another man. She could never snuggle perfectly with someone else. Or be the perfect height. She's so pure, so true to herself. She was so true to me…'
Betty's
daily calendar was filled with meetings. As soon as she exited one,
she was quickly ushered into another by her PA. The day was dragging
on forever and she couldn't help but let her thoughts drift to Gio.
'Imagine
that, not seeing him for four years and now all of a sudden he pops
up out of nowhere! But I'm not complaining! He still looks good –
really good! Still wearing those tight layered tees…hmm…I
remember peeling them off layer by layer, sure, I was teasing myself,
but man it was worth it! Phoaaaaar…Reaching his bare che –'
"MISS
SUAREZ?!"
"Huh? Yeah, right, uhh, sorry, what was your pitch
again?"
-----
With 4 o'clock eventually rolling around, Betty packed up her desk and headed towards the daycare centre on the ground floor of the Meade building. Picking up Diego, they started to make their way home. Gio locked up the Condiment bar and headed back to his apartment. He wanted to freshen up before meeting with Betty.
Reaching
her apartment, Betty found Hilda was already waiting inside. Diego
ran into Hilda's open arms. Picking him arm, she spun him around
the room. Laughter and smiles filled the room.
"Hey
Betty! How was work?"
"Ugh! You don't wanna know!"
Betty
kicked off her shoes and made her way to the bedroom to get changed.
Once she was dressed, she came out into the living area. Squatting
down in front of Diego, she spoke to him.
"Now
Diego, Aunt Hilda's looking after you this afternoon, so be a good
boy! Ok? Mommy's going out for a couple of hours."
"Where
are you going?"
"Just down the street. I won't be
long."
"Why can't I come with you?"
"Well sweetie,
I'm meeting someone very important."
"Oh, it's a work
meeting."
"Not really. I'll tell you when I get home. Be
good and eat all of your dinner! Love you." Betty
said before planting a kiss on his forehead. She ruffled his slightly
long dark brown hair as she stood up. Betty hugged Hilda and thanked
her for helping out before grabbing her bag and heading out the door.
-----
Walking towards the café, Betty and Gio both spotted each coming from opposite directions. Reaching their destination at the same time, they stood there looking at each other not quite sure what to do. Gio made the first move and held out his arms. Betty smiled and gladly attached herself to him.
Squeezing each other, they both felt the feelings from the past come flooding back. Loosening her grip, the moved apart slight and gazed into each other's eyes. Gio studied Betty's face, while she simply stared at his mouth. Gio's eyes finally came to rest on Betty's lips also. Feeling the temptation, but somehow managing to resist it, Gio leant forward and brushed his lips against Betty's left cheek.
Feeling disappointed, Betty slumped out of his grip and suggested they order their drinks. After placing their orders, they sat down at one the outdoor tables. Silence consumed them as they stared at one another. Neither of them spoke, they both felt content just being in the others' company.
Breaking
the silence, Betty started the conversation.
"So
how was Rome? Are you still based there?"
"Rome is wonderful.
There are so many influences and flavors. But you know that already
Betty. We went there remember? Or have you forgotten everything we
had?"
"You didn't answer my last question…"
"I
moved back here about a month ago when the Condiment Bar got the
green light to go ahead. Why are you getting nasty?"
"I
haven't forgotten about you Gio. Your memory has haunted me every
day and still does. And now that you're back in town…"
"Oh
right…sorry. If it's any consolation, not one day has passed
where I haven't thought about you."
A few more drinks and cake slices were ordered as the afternoon carried on. The acquaintances spoke as though they had never left each other; as though time hadn't passed; as though things hadn't changed; but they had and Gio was about to find out.
Hanging out with Betty caused all the feelings to erupt again inside of Gio. He was falling for her again, but this time it was different. There seemed to be a deeper connection and appreciation between them. Betty was becoming overwhelmed by the love she was feeling for Gio once more. Not wanting to be hurt again and feeling the need to come clean about her secret, she interrupted the conversation.
"Gio
I have something to tell you."
Betty said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Yeah
sure, what is it B, I'm all ears!"
"I'm not
married…"
"What? I thought you were! You've got Diego too.
Ohh…And I was looking forward to hearing about the lucky guy, the
wedding and the little one!"
"Yeah, well there isn't a lucky
guy!"
Betty spat out. "Which
means there was no wedding…there's only me and Diego. I'm now a
successful career woman who is a single mom with a four year old,
Gio! That's all that I am…" Betty
said trying to fight back the imminent tears.
Doing
the math in his head, Gio realized something.
"He's
four? As in from 5 years ago?"
Betty was waiting for it, she could see him thinking and trying to
digest the information. "He's
mine? He's ours?"
Betty let out a tiny sob whilst nodding her head slightly.
The
color drained from Gio's face, the delighted look vanished and
anger started to set in.
"Betty why didn't you contact me? I would have come back home! I
would never have let you go through all of this on your own...We
could've made it together...I didn't have to go to Rome –
"
"But you did!"
Betty yelled back. Nearby customers heard the commotion and looked
towards their table. Tears started to well in her eyes; noticing
this, Gio's heart went out to her. He moved his hand to caress her
cheek, but she turned her head away. Grabbing her bag, she stood up
from the table, and said, "Good
bye Gio"
before dashing off down the street.
'Why does she always run off when things get difficult?' Gio thought to himself.
----
Ugly Betty – characters : ABC Studios
No copyright or infringement intended
