C6: Her Concerns

Her heart fluttered as their eyes met and locked in on each other. It had reminded her so much of all those dramas she had watched on TV, yet it was so distinct when it happened to her in actuality.

“Are you okay, Myra? Your face is very red.”

She hurriedly brushed the sand from her face. “I’m fine, really. I’m just a little hot.”

“Ah. The tropical weather here may be a bit hot for you.” He assisted her to sit up, taking extreme care of her. “I reckon the weather in your country is tolerable? Since there are, after all, four seasons.”

She stood slowly, shaking the sand off her sundress. “And I assume you haven’t seen actual snow?”

He looked at her sheepishly. “Real snow, no. The closest I’ve ever got is playing with artificial snow in Singapore.”

They continued the walk down the pale beach until they arrived at the entrance of the cave to enjoy the almost ending sunset. As they had a few minutes before the sun went down, they were able to take a few photographs with their cellphones to record the memories of the gorgeous moment.

Myra again felt reluctant to leave the beach, unsure when her great escapade in Bali would end. Still, she couldn’t hide from her friends forever. Hart did not question how long she would be staying with him. Yet she could feel the concern he had in his silence. 

She looked down at the clothes she was wearing. In the past, one would think a spoiled little rich girl like her would only be able to accept the best of the best, yet she was not complaining about not having designer clothing or having to eat street food. Compared to how she had been with Jake for the one week in Bali, she felt more at ease with Hart. Being with Jake had often accounted for her stress as Jake was a perfectionist and a high achiever. 

The difference between the two of them was also as clear as day. One was a cold and possessive, selfish man who detested it when she just spoke to other men. The other was warm and thoughtful. But in the end, she would still have to leave Bali, so good things would just have to come to an end. 

They descended the motorcycle and took off their shoes before entering Hart’s home. Myra silently entered the guest bathroom, still focusing on the worries she had on her mind.

She didn’t want to leave just yet, she thought. But as Hart had said, her friends might call the police if she was gone for too long.

She stripped off her clothing and stood under the showerhead, unable to find the answer in her mind. After some long minutes, she wrapped herself in a clean towel and exited the bathroom. Her memory of Hart’s seductive eyes staring at her so intensely earlier from their fall came to her mind suddenly, making her smile.

A few knocks on the bedroom door brought her to her senses.

“Myra, the view of the sky tonight is priceless. Do you want to watch it from the balcony?”

“Ah, coming!”

Without wasting more time, she pulled on a comfortable tee and pants and opened the door. Hart was looking splendid in a black shirt and shorts. 

“Are you hungry, Myra?”

“I’m still full from earlier,” she smiled at him sweetly. Hart then revealed the bottle of wine he was hiding behind his back along with two glasses.

“I see you’re quite the drinker,” she teased, poking him on his belly with a flirtatious grin. 

What was she up to? Hart thought, feeling aroused by her torment. He cleared his mind and retained his composure. “I just asked to make sure you aren’t drinking on an empty stomach. It’s not very healthy.”

He opened the curtains, revealing a sliding door that led to the balcony. “Ladies first.”

Myra giggled. She unlocked the door and stepped out of the balcony. Like Hart had said, the view was fascinatingly beautiful. The sky was filled with uncountable stars that twinkled over a spread of dark blue that never seemed to end. She had never sighted such a beautiful scene. Every view at night in her city had been accompanied by skyscrapers.   

 “Gosh, it’s beautiful,” she gasped, allowing Hart to take her hands in his as he held her close and led her to take a seat. There were two bamboo chairs on the balcony, which they made themselves comfortable in.

Hart offered her a glass of wine, this time vodka on the rocks.

“Personally, I prefer my wine without any mixer. Do you need a mixer, Myra?”

She declined. “To be frank, I’ve been having alcoholic drinks since a young age. My father has always been busy and left me with the servants. Out of boredom, I came across his stash and drank it all up.”

Hart chuckled. “I could tell from our first time together that you can hold your wine very well, Myra. I know few women who can drink like you.”

“Is that a compliment?” she gazed into his eyes, emptying the glass instantaneously. He clapped and refilled the glass to the brim. She had not expressed any disgust or discomfort at her drink, and he found that amazing.

“I am impressed.” He lifted his glass in a toast to her. She finished the glass again and stretched her glass for him to refill it. 

Her neck was reddening slightly after a few more toasts, and she found it hard not to speak her mind.

“Hart, do you still love Milla?”

He was much redder than her now, and the alcohol was messing with his thoughts. In the past, after Milla’s death, he always drank alone and had made it a habit to drink until he collapsed to relieve himself of his misery.

“I can’t lie that there will be always a part of me that has loved her. And she will always be in my heart.”

Myra leaned back in her chair, admiring how deep his feelings were for Milla. 

He quickly added, “But it doesn’t mean that I don’t have feelings for you, Myra. What I just need to obtain is closure. The police found her dead, apparently robbed.”

“Have you suspected anyone?”

“Although I was with Milla for almost two years, she has never told me about her background. She only said she has a past with a dangerous man. From what the police believe, it could be her enemies seeking revenge by hiring killers to go after her.”

He had sounded so truthful, that Myra found no reason to not believe him. 

“Milla would have wanted me to find love again,” he admitted, with tears in his eyes. “It’s time that I put her down. Myra, I vow to protect you with all my life.”

Myra rubbed her eyes as she heard Hart’s profession. Everything continued to feel so unreal, but being with Hart was her medicine. Her attraction to him kept her from thinking about Jake and the pain he granted her.

“What about you, Myra? Do you still think of him?” He found himself asking. Although he knew better than to bombard her with such a sensitive question, he realised he would not be able to rest without hearing the answer from her lips.

Myra questioned herself. It had taken her so much to swallow her pride and present herself to him in his hotel suite, revealing herself in only lingerie under her hotel bathrobe. Although it had been Sierra’s idea, it had been wholly painful for her when he had taken her first time so coarsely, unaware that she had been a virgin. He never apologised to her. 

Moving forward, he had displayed jealousy on so many counts, that if she smiled or looked at any man, he would put his arm around her possessively. In addition, he was so insecure that once they were back in his suite, he would take it on her roughly. She disliked this part of him but believed that he would change with time. Until the day he was hugging another woman so intimately at the party…

Tears flowed from her cheeks. “He’s a douche and I don’t want to ever see him again. If only my first time had been with you…”

Hart dried her tears with his fingers meticulously. “Myra, I’m sorry. I’ll take care of you and never allow you to be hurt again.”

Although his words sounded so cheesy, he had meant well. She continued to weep uncontrollably. The pain in her heart would always be there, but Hart was her best consolation. With him, she forgot the pain and felt happier. But what could she do when she left Bali?

All of a sudden, she felt so scared of being alone. Hart moved towards her and put her head on his shoulder, hugging her tightly. She loved this sense of security and his warmth was spreading through her thin tee. She sobbed and wrapped her arms around him. 

“Kiss me, Hart.”