From a distance, I could already see Ellwood at a corner of the restaurant. He glanced at me and slid his phone on his pocket before standing up.
“I’m glad you accepted my invitation.” I said formally before offering my hand for a handshake.
“My schedule is not that tight today,” he said and sat down.
I signaled the waiter to serve the foods and drinks I reserved.
“I wanna go straight to the point. I want to pay all of the Cervantes’ debts on you and your family. Even the interests and your effort and swats on the company. Name it, I’m ready to pay.”
“I better get going, dear.” Aling Sita stirred me from my thoughts. She’s probably finished cleaning the vacant cottage.
“Why don’t you join me in breakfast?”
“Thank you, dear, but I have to clean a lot of rooms. And I already had my breakfast earlier, ” she said.
I glanced at the cottage beside mine before turning to him again, “Is someone gonna rent the vacant cottage?”
She nodded, “Well, dear, I’ll go now. Take care.” she bade before turning her back on me.
I smiled as a reply and continued eating. When I was done, I decided to walk around the seashore.
I felt the softness of the sand and the fresh air that brings beauty to the ocean. I’ll surely miss this place once I go back to Queensland.
It’s already been one week when Alessandra and I had a talk. I didn’t have news about her now. I turned off my phone, I also don’t often go out from my cabin. I only go out on morning, then I lock myself all afternoon and watch television.
I’ll go back to work by Monday, I’m just making the best of my remaining days here in Galla. One more thing, I need to go to my doctor, I want to make sure about the child I’m baring because I don’t want to reach the point where I’ll lose another baby again.
Wearing my floral dress and cardigan, I went out of the cottage to look around. I’m planning to buy gifts for mom and my friends.
But before I could even go down, the man on the other cottage caught my attention. He leaned his both arms on the railing, standing five o’clock shadow in his greek God-like figure.
I froze in my place. My heart moved, I gulped a few times to calm my heart down but it doesn’t seem to oblige.
His gaze was just in front, he probably didn’t feel my presence yet. I tried to walk out of my cottage but the creaks of the bamboo floor caught his attention.
He stood straight, two hands are inside his pocket. His gaze that were glued on me made my body stiff.
“Hi!”
That voice, the soft and melancholic voice that I’ve dreamt and have been longing to hear… His picture-perfect built that sent shiver down on my knee, his sweetest but hot fiery smile. Damn!
“What are you doing here?” I forced my voice to sound hard although my heart was already pounding fast.
“Taking a short break from work…” he answered casually while shrugging his shoulder.
I gasped, I closed my eyes and averted my gaze. Really? Here exactly beside my cottage?
I didn’t talk more and just started walking to leave him alone. My strides were fast, as much as possible, I don’t want our paths to cross again.
We already said goodbye to each other. I accepted the fact the he chose Alessandra over me, his child over me, but why is he here? Why is he bothering my silent life?
I walked fast to the market. That’s when I felt the comfort of safety. Even if my heart feels heavy and beating fast, I still managed to buy my gifts for my parents and also for Zuay and Tawin. Even if Hezekiah and I are already through, I didn’t forget to buy some for Kesha at Zia.
“Now, how will I carry all of these?” I dropped all the bags on the pavement and wiped my sweat. My cottage was quite far from here so I’m sure it will be difficult for me to carry all four big plastic bags.
I’m worried because it might affect the child inside me. Before I could even call for help, I saw two hands carrying it with ease.
“W-What are you doing?!” Because of shock, I instinctively pulled it from him but je didn’t even budge.
His dark features remain unreadable, even if he already has the plastic bags, I still don’t have a plan on letting him help. So I tried to clutch the plastic bag from him again but he just looked down on me with dark shadowing eyes.
He started walking to the main door. I’m trying to calm my pent up emotion and tried to speak, just to at least thank him, but nothing came out from my mouth. Until he finally disappeared, I was just silent.
In the end, I forced myself to finish my food and went to the veranda after, of course, with my red wine with me. These past few days, I’m slowly trying to control my alcohol intakes. Somehow this is for moderation, I think it won’t affect my baby if I sip a glass of wine tonight.
A sigh drew from my mouth when I sat on the chair, the view of the ocean welcoming my vision. I filled my lungs with air and turned my gaze to his occupied cottage beside me.
His door is closed but the lights from inside were still on. I’m sure he’s still awake because he turns of the lights when sleeping. Biting my lower lip, I brought my eyes back to the bottle of wine in front of me.
I can’t help but to think why he’s here. I’m also bothered by Alessandra’s condition. I wonder how she is? Is their baby fine?
I glanced at his door again. My mind and heart is fighting whether to knock on his door and ask for explanation. Before I could even make a decision, his door suddenly opened, revealing his silhouette.
I gasped as I noted his familiar gaze, I quickly dropped my eyes to the glass of wine. I raised my hand and held it tightly.
My heart started beating fast, I bit my lip hard with eyes closed. After a few seconds, I glanced at him again.
He was sitting in his chair with two arms crossed against his chest. He was facing my direction and so our eyes met.
I swallowed hard, couldn’t stand the stomachaches. My stomach seemed to be filled with chaotic butterflies.
I didn’t have any choice, so I raised my glass on him and smiled timidly. My eyes locked at his dangerous dark face for a longer moment. I quickly blinked, clearing my throat and nodding. I averted my eyes and sipped my drink.
Damn it all to hell!
Heat rose up from my both cheeks as I sipped the last drop of wine in my glass. I think this is enough for tonight.
I flinched when I felt him stand up from his seat. I glanced at him as he walked from his veranda.
“Can we talk?” he asked in a low baritone voice.
No answer came out of my mouth. My eyes went back to the serene ocean. Even if I want to talk about the things involving us, I felt like I just don’t have the strength to do so.
Although I could still feel his presence, I didn’t budge. I only flinched when he slowly walked back inside his room.
I bit my bottom lip and leaned against my chair, glancing at his closed door. I sighed heavily before standing up.
I wouldn’t be able to sleep peacefully thinking that he’s just at the other cottage. I don’t have a choice but to talk to him… I need to know his real intention of coming here.