CHAPTER 3 195 COUNTRIES

CHAPTER 3

195 COUNTRIES

That night, I decided to have dinner in this pizza restaurant and ordered a plate of pasta with a bottle of beer. The restaurant had a very calming ambiance with golden yellow walls, maroon flooring and a few paintings hanging and a very Italian atmosphere. The foods were really tasty and it made me feel as if I was taken to Italy while eating it as the restaurant was filled with an Italian song in the background.

The entire day, I spent most of my time on my socials and staring at people who were really enjoying their time. People were talking and meeting random strangers, some were sunbathing and enjoying their time with a few of their friends and there were people who surfed and caught some waves while complimenting each other. Women were flirting to a few good looking men while I was just staring at everything that was going on around me but I was guarded and had my walls up since I think I couldn’t trust anyone else after Charles.

“There are 195 countries in the world.”

I flinched when I found Harry standing next to me while he was leaning forward and popped his head out over my right shoulder directly facing me. His face was too close that I can see his pores, some subtle freckles, a few elusive wrinkles, his fine hairline and a growing stubble over his pinkish plump lips. His tantalizing green eyes matches his emerald green top which has designs on it while he leaves two buttons open which I can see his chiseled chest. His eyes were so captivating that I feel completely out of words. His hair was pulled back tied in a small manbun while he smiles his dimpled smile at me.

“I can name all 195 countries all night if you want.” He adds.

“How in the world did you find me here?” I peeled my head away from him as I watch him take the seat right across me as if I allowed him to share a table with me.

“I told you, the island is small.”

“Well you’ve said than many times already. And, you do know I am having dinner.” I tell him.

“Yes, I know but you looked very lonely so I joined you.” He leans over the table. “You’re welcome.”

He flashes me his dimpled smile and this guy looks a little redder than earlier but it made him look a little bit more attractive than he actually is.

“Whatever mojo or charm you try to show me like how you try to magically lure those other women, it does not work on me.” I leaned over the table too. “So, you should stop it.”

Harry chuckles under his throat, “There’s no mojo happening around here, love. I’m just naturally charming but I really appreciate the fact that you see it.” He winks at me.

I shake my head and tried to ignore him as soon as the waitress serves his order. He thanked her with his low voice and looked back at me, “You mentioned, country.” He says.

I nod, “Yeah and you said Australia.” I smirked.

He pulled his forefinger up, “It can be a country and a continent.”

“Right.” I snort as I shake my head as I take another slurp of my pasta.

“Is your name somewhere in Asia or South America?” He asks before a taking a bite from his penne pasta. “North America?”

I bite my inner cheek, “Warmer.”

Harry pops his head up while he kept the fork in his mouth before opening his mouth, “Carolina.”

I laughed again, “If you’re forgetting it’s not a country.”

Harry blinks, “It just popped inside my head out of the blue. Anyways, Brazil would be a good name for you.” He wiggles his brows.

“And why?”

“Because you look so Brazil-liant.” He cracks the corniest jokes I have ever heard of my entire life but I still couldn’t help myself from laughing at it. He smiles at me, “I see you love my jokes.”

“They’re awful.”

“Right says the one who laughed.” I stare at Harry with a smile on my face who is hiding his smile by pressing his lips together.

This smug knows well he is undeniably charming and he’s right. He’s so naturally charming.

“Hate to break it to you but I’m not Brazil-liant.” I responded.

He pursed his lips which looked adorable while he nods his head, “Maybe Spain.” My brows creasing as he continues, “Because you’re in-Spain-ly beautiful.” His grins at me.

I chuckle softly under my throat as I tried so hard not to laugh aloud. He laughs with me, “Come on now, and don’t stop yourself from laughing.” He encourages me while smiling at my direction.

“You’re crazy.” I commented with a smile.

He chuckles, “Yeah, I’ve been told.”

I shake my head sideways as I kept hiding my smile.

“You know, it’s kind of unfair how you’re trying to make me guess your name.” He tells me.

I nod, “Yeah and you have 193 more countries to name.”

He groans over his seat, “Let’s make a bet.”

I take a quick drink from my beer, “Okay, what are we betting on?”

“Your name, of course. If I make you laugh again or smile with my notoriously great jokes, you’ll tell me your name.” The waitress comes to our table with a bottle of beer to which he thanked again.

“Okay, and if you won’t make me laugh?” I arched a brow.

“Then I guess I have to name all 193 countries.” He smiled tight-lipped. “Don’t worry, I’m patient.”

I fork my food as I kept staring at him while he does the same, “You’re really not going to leave me alone, are you?”

“Nope.” He pops the P. “Alright, this knock knock joke is going to make you pee.”

I placed my fork don to be attentive, “Okay, let’s hear it.”

“How to make a tissue dance?” He smirks at me.

My brows creasing as I stare at him and his dimples appearing while suppresses his smile. “How?”

“You put a little boogie in it.” He smiles widely and I ended up making a disgusted face as I laugh under my throat. We laugh together and to be honest it was a not so bad joke, at least a little more improv would make it better but it was somewhat good.

“That’s the most disgusting joke ever.” I commented.

He chuckles, “At least you laughed.”

I nod with a smile, “Okay, you got me. Fine.” I extended my hand to him, “I’m America.”

“America.” He says my name as if I have never heard it before but honestly I loved how my name rolls over her mouth. He takes my hand instantly, “I’m so happy to finally know your name.”

I pulled my hand away, “You can call me Merry for short.”

“Even lovelier.”

I snort, “Oh puh-lease there’s nothing really fancy about my name.”

“What? That’s preposterous. It’s a really unique name. I’ve never ever met someone named as America before.” He commented.

“Because it’s not supposed to be a name for a human.”

“I don’t think so. It suits you.”

I smile, “Thanks. Are you a tourist in here too?”

He nods, “Yeah. Actually, I used to be a tourist but I bought my own small house after a month long stay here and decided to live on this beautiful island.” He answers with such wonderful accent.

“Wow, so that means you decided to leave your life in the city for this place.”

He nods again before taking a quick gulp from his bottle of beer, “Yes, it was not really a tough decision. Life here is more peaceful. I mean, there is something magical about this island. It just heals you spiritually probably because it’s close to nature and the beach is just to die for.”

“That is really remarkable.”

When we finished dinner, Harry was generous enough to pay for our orders. We stayed for a little bit to finish our bottle of beer. “So where did you come from before Luahu?” I asked.

“London. And you?”

“North Carolina.”

“You probably have such a peaceful neighbourhood.”

“People are really nice there.” I put my bottle down as soon as I finished my beer.

“Do you want to get out of here and spend the night with me?”

I rested my back on my chair, “I’m not sleeping with you.”

He chuckles, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. But I meant, spent the night with me heading somewhere else which is more fun.”

I squint my eyes at him and I look at him suspiciously, “I don’t trust you.”

“I swear to God I didn’t imply you to have sex with me.” He responded instantly. “Although it would feel really nice but I didn’t mean for us to fuck.” Okay, so his British accent makes him say words that sounds absolutely sexy.

I stand from my seat, “Alright, I’ll play along. Where are you going to take me?”

“Do you enjoy live music and more drinks?”

“Live music is fine with me. But more drinks? I don’t think I trust you that much yet.”

He smirks at me, “Trust me love, you can.”

Harry and I headed out of the restaurant and I was inwardly thankful that I didn’t bring my bicycle. When we reached his black motorcycle, he asks, “Have you ever been on a motorcycle before?”

“No.”

“Well, you need to hold on tightly because I don’t want you to fall.” He handed me his helmet, “That goes for your head if you don’t know what it’s for.” He tells me, mockingly with a grin.

I scoff, “Excuse me English boy, but I do know what a helmet is for.”

“I was joking Miss North Carolina.” He says while he leans over my face with his cute dimpled smile.

I watch him as he hops on his motorbike and starts the engine, “C’mon now Merry. Let’s get this show on the road.”

I put on the helmet and got on his motorbike just right behind him. He loves at me over his shoulder with a serious face, “Might as well hold on tight.” He says.

I tug a small portion of his top.

“A little tighter now, don’t be shy.” He adds.

I grabbed a bigger potion of his top.

He groans and grabs both of my wrists and wrapped my entire arms around his body, “Like that.” He smiles before he begins to rev his engine, “Hold on tight, love.”

He speeds away.