Chapter 5- I Found Her

"Tami?" He finally spoke, slowly closing the menu as he turned to face her more.

She regarded him in confusion for a while, as she tried to pin where and how he looked so familiar from.

Unlike her, Raphael had really grown into his features. Though he was a quite cute nine year old, puberty did its best on his features.

His stubble was completely full, but shaven to perfection, hiding most of his jaw and chin. His hair was no longer curly all over his forehead, but cut short in a sexy buzz undercut, which definitely enhanced his perfect jawline and brought out his features. He'd grown into a man, looking quite different from the nine year old boy she met.

They hadn't stayed in touch either, so he knew recognition was hard for her. But he knew her, because he had watched her from the moment he found her account. Kinda stalkerish, but it was the truth.

She had grown into her features too, and he loved every womanly curve and enhancement about her. But what he loved even more, was the way her eyebrows still knitted together when she was confused, just like in that moment.

"You don't remember me" He mumbled, though what he felt wasn't close to disappointment.

The fear earlier that she wouldn't recognize him went through the window. Because he didn't care anymore. She was there in front of him in the flesh and he didn't care about anything else.

Tami knew she had seen the man before, yet she couldn't remember where. It was only in her nature to engage strangers into small talk whenever she came to Peach's Pub alone. But she hadn't expected one of the strangers to know her.

She also noticed that his 'knowing' of her wasn't from her Instagram or her sister's YouTube like what happened occasionally. She could see that this man knew her personally. But sadly, she couldn't remember where she'd seen him.

Was he in one of her undergraduate classes? She couldn't tell. He didn't look like a local either, so the confusion was real.

"I'm sorry, no" Her lips pouted a little with her apology as she shook her head, but the stranger only smiled wider at her.

"I can't believe it's really you." She suddenly got uncomfortable under the stranger's intense gaze, and Raphael noticed that he was about to scare her off, so he quickly redeemed himself. "It's Raphael" He announced, and then everything came rushing to her full folds.

She gasped so loudly that some heads in the pub turned, as she threw her hands over her mouth, her eyes wide.

"Raphael? Raphael De Léon?" She questioned in excitement as his eyes danced in relief.

He nodded once at her question, loving the way she still said it with her failed attempt to accentuate his name, yet it was always perfect in his ears.

"The one and only"

"Oh my gosh!" She practically screamed, throwing herself at him in a tackled hug.

He was surprised at first, but he slowly welcomed her embrace, wrapping his arms around her too as he relished in the scent of her.

It felt so right.

Being with her felt so damn right. And he knew, just knew, that Tami was his and will only be his. He wouldn't have it any other way. He wanted her. And Raphael De Léon always got what he wanted.

"Oh my gosh how have you been?" She asked him, as he brushed off the disappointment that dawned on him once the warmth of her body left his. Nonetheless, he brushed it off as he got ready to have a casual conversation.

"I've been..." He drawled, not really sure how to explain his life "Managing" That was the only word he could think of, though it might've sounded different from what he meant.

The waitress came back with his water, after which she took his order and Tami's. He decided that he would try the meal she suggested, and she happily ordered one too.

"How have you been?" He asked, once the waitress was gone.

"I've been doing great. Just graduated with my Master's degree" The pride was radiating off her full folds, though it was never boastful. She was simply proud of herself, and he was too.

"I know. Congrats again."

"Again?" She cocked her head in confusion, and he realized this might not be the best time to suggest that he'd been Instagram stalking her all these years, using her smile as his own source of happiness.

"I saw your post" He simply said, not giving away too much, but answering nonetheless. Her face scrunched into disbelief, and his heart rate increased when he thought he'd upset her.

"You mean you knew my social media and you have never contacted me?"

"I didn't know if you'd remember me. We both moved on with life so I thought-ow!" It was his time to gaze at her in disbelief as he rubbed the area she had slapped. She had a scolding look on her face as she pointed an accusing finger at him.

"That is nonsense Raphael! You should've known better"

Raphael scratched the back of his neck, not really used to being the one on the receiving end of a scolding. "I guess this is a bad time to mention that I didn't accept your request"

Another slap.

"It was you!" She gasped, her eyes dancing with amusement despite her scolding. He nodded sheepishly, apologizing with his eyes even though she wasn't upset.

"I was-uh- I was scared that you wouldn't remember me" He admitted again.

"How could I forget about you Raphael? You were the bestest camp friend ever. It was surely a summer to remember, since it was my last camp once I moved here."

"How has it been here anyways? Ever miss Grand Bahama? I'm actually thinking of moving there" His voice was suggestive, yet he knew he was crazy to think she would just lift up her life and move back to the neighbouring island with him. She had just, after all, started a new chapter in her life.

She shrugged. "Maybe one day. It's a nice place to raise a family you know? But not now" She chuckled a little as she nibbled on a fry that the waitress not so long ago delivered. “Not anytime soon at least"

Raphael gulped, but said nothing. His stomach knotted in uneasiness when he thought about parting with her soon. That maybe one day he won't see her again, only on her social media where he will continue stalking her, only to one day see her post a picture in a wedding dress with another man stuck to her side.

His jaw clenched at the thought, and sudden fear of losing her all over again swamped him.

He refused to have her slip away from him again when he only just found her back. If she wasn't his, then why did he feel so at peace around her? Something he barely recognizes. And if she wasn't his, why is her smile his only source of joy?

The possessiveness that he felt was one like never before, and he suddenly didn't have an appetite for the wonderful smelling food in front of him, despite his starved state. And it was all because of the simple thought of never seeing Tami again--of never getting another warm hug from her again. That couldn't happen.

And he wasn't going to let it happen.

"You don't like it" Her voice broke him from his trance, and he quickly whipped his head around to be met with her cute pout.

He shook his head with a small smile, wanting terribly to get her to smile again, as he took up the burger and sank his teeth into it.

The flavours that erupted in his mouth was heavenly, and he involuntarily moaned in delight at the taste.

"It's good ain't it?" She giggled, and he nodded with a full mouthed smile.

She used her napkin to clean a little sauce from the corner of his lip, and they found themselves staring intensely at each other.

Raphael's heart skipped about a few hundred beats, and he knew in that moment, that he couldn't live without her.

He wouldn't live without her.

With a clearing of her throat, Tami quickly dropped her hand from the man's gorgeous face and focused on her own meal.

She had been shocked that after so many years, she saw him again. She felt bad that he thought she'd forget him. He was the reason she had such a great summer that year. She even thought about him in the past growing up, wondering if he was living happily and growing up nicely, or if he grew up in the wrong path and became a criminal or something.

Yet, the Raphael she knew didn't seem capable of such things, and she was more than happy to see the man he'd become--at least on the outside. She didn't understand her nerves either, so she impregnated the rest of the night with conversation and catching up.

Raphael loved how much of a conversationalist she still seemed to be, he just loved everything about her.

10 pm rolled around, and Tami was beginning to get tired. Her cute kitten yawns didn't go unnoticed by Raphael. He wanted to scoop her up and take her back with him right away, but he couldn't. Not yet.

"I think it's time to call it a night" He suggested, and she nodded in agreement.

They stood simultaneously, and Raphael insisted that he took care of her bill, leaving the waitress a heavy tip also. His kindness didn't shock Tami, it was the thought of how easily he did it, as if a fifty dollar tip was nothing.

"Did you drive here?" He asked her as they headed outside. She shook her head with a light blush, tucking a lock of year back into her curly bun from where it escaped.

"I took the jitney."

"The what?"

She chuckled at his confusion. "The 'bus'" She clarified, using air quotes for emphasis.

Raphael then remembered that he was no longer in Puerto Rico, and the dialect may be slightly different for every culture.

"Let me take you home" He offered merely out of politeness. No way was he going to allow her to take the bus home at 10 in the night.

"I don't wanna be a bother" She mumbled, looking away.

"Nonsense" He immediately dismissed. He would take her anywhere, anytime. "My driver is just over here. Come on"

Her eyes bulged a little. "You have a driver? What are you, rich?" She joked a little, not really comprehending it until she saw the car. "Oh my gosh you are rich! Are you?" She asked in shock as she turned to face him.

He couldn't help but chuckle at that, and Nick was stunned to see the man smile, no doubt ready to relay the gossip to Maddie.

"A little" Raphael shrugged as he opened the door for him. 'A lot', was what he meant. But he didn't want to sound cocky.

Besides, his wealth was never something he threw around to everyone. Women knew he was rich, and they acted so crazy. Imagine if they knew he was a freaking billionaire?

He knew Tami wasn't like that though, yet he didn't want to scare her off or make her feel uncomfortable.

Tami was indeed amazed knowing her childhood friend turned out so successful, but she was definitely proud too.

The man achieved his dreams, and she was happy for him. She quickly darted her eyes towards his hand, and she couldn't understand the relief she felt when she didn't see a wedding band there.

It suddenly made her think that she was so behind on life. If she didn't spend so many years in school, maybe she would've been somewhere there too. But then again, as her mother always said, she won't ever regret the years she spent in school. She'll only look back and smile.

They parted on sweet terms after Raphael dropped her off. She gave him her number and threatened him about accepting her follow request, before he went back to his hotel.

And so there he was. Laying in bed with a childish grin on his face, when he remembered over and over that she agreed to seeing him again tomorrow.

What are the odds that she just happened to head out for dinner at her favourite restaurant that very night? The same night when his assistant messed up, and had him all over the place trying to get a good meal.

It couldn't be anything but fate. And he knew she was his.

"Maddie?" He demanded when he called his assistant.

"Yessir?" She asked with a yawn, obviously already in bed.

"First thing tomorrow morning, call my accountant. Tell her to transfer fifteen thousand dollars to your account. You are going to buy everything and anything a female will need, clothes about one size larger than yours. Send them all to my house on Grand Bahama. I'll sign off on it all soon."

"Okay...?" It came out more of a question than a confirmation, and Maddie couldn't help but wonder if Nick was right. Her boss really found himself a woman.

But, wasn't he going a little too fast?

Nonetheless, it wasn't her place or business to question it. So she simply agreed, as she turned in her bed, already dreading the day ahead having to spend fifteen thousand dollars on women stuff, and send them to a house she haven't even been. To her, it was preposterous.

But to Raphael, it was the perfect plan and the beginning of his happiness.