Chapter 2-Long vacation

“So…” Dasha’s attention focused back on me. “It is still a month before my wedding, and I guess you took a vacation leave earlier than you should?”

 “I've already told you, sis, I want a long vacation this time.”

 I looked away and fixed my gaze through the glass panel of Mon Refuge. The weather was sunny outside. In the corner of my eye, I could see my sister staring at me with critical eyes. I ignored her, pretending to be busy passers-by. I was aware that Dasha was analyzing me, trying to see through me, but I would keep mum for as long as possible. She would surely nag me if she found out my real purpose in coming here.

Gian Voltaire.

As soon as the name popped in my head, everything related to the man automatically came like a flash flood.

 The man was damned gorgeous, and he knew it. He was a real flirt. He had such dangerous charisma that I could not help myself getting affected on that very day our paths had crossed for the first time. He could bring out the best and also the worst emotions in me. The arrogant bastard had annoyed the hell out of me.

I could still remember that day like it was yesterday.

“Aren’t you shameful to be chasing a man?”

 I glared back at Gian. “What do you care? And why are you here again? Stop being nosy, will you?”

 I was at Orange Cup Café, having my breakfast, when this obnoxious guy came to bother me. I remembered seeing him every morning. I didn’t know if it was a coincidence or he really intended to appear just to ruin my day.

Hmph!

He’d been in my face since the first time I had set foot in Costa Galaxia. I was here for Lenox, not this bothersome guy.

 “FYI, I have the right to be here as much as you do." Gian shrugged and tapped the space on the couch next to him. “Come here. I’ll join you. Let's gawk at my friend together so you won’t be the only fool here.”

This guy was really getting on my nerves.

“There's no way I’ll hang out with a guy like you. And I’m in love, not a fool!” I said haughtily.

I was about to turn my back when he talked again. “He already loves someone else; that is why you are being ignored.”

I was about to yell at his face, tell him it was a lie when Lenox suddenly entered the café with an attractive woman for company. They were smiling at each other like a couple of fools.

I was rendered speechless.

I had the urge to slap Gian on the face when I saw his grin and that I-told-you-so look.

Damn!

Dasha had already warned me about Gian. The guy was known to be one of the heartless playboys of Costa Galaxia. But willful as I was, I had thrown caution to the wind and kept seeing him. By then, my feelings for Lenox had already veered off in Gian's direction. I had soon realized that what I'd felt for Lenox was superficial and what I had for Gian was something much deeper.

 But Gian was a player, not the 'commitment' kind of guy, so I'd resolved never to let my true feelings show.

I had been scared of my feelings for Gian. It was the first time I would not—could not—get what I wanted.

I had known better than to expect much from him. He knew how to have fun. What we'd had was like everything else in his life: pure fun; no more, no less.

He was such a fascinating man. A gorgeous flirt and a charmer. Who wouldn’t go crazy for someone like Gian Voltaire?

 “A long vacation? Here in Costa Galaxia?” Dasha’s incredulous voice sent me back to the present. She definitely knew I was hiding something. “Have you forgotten that Gian is here… with his girlfriend?”

 Girlfriend…

 My heart broke into many pieces.

I held back my tears, telling myself it was all in the past now. I was over him.

I was so over him.

I was strong and brave enough to face him again. I had fixed my broken heart, and now I was ready to get the closure I needed.

I had even unblocked him from all my social media accounts last week. He had started reaching me out, and I had let him. We'd been chatting online. We were both casual, like old friends who did not share a bitter past.

“So, what? I don’t care about him anymore,” was my brave reply to Dasha.

“You, sure?” My sister’s voice was calculating, and she was still trying to catch my eyes.

 I smiled with confidence, mentally reciting my ‘Ways of Moving On’ list.

 : If you can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen.

 I had walked away already. It had been a long time since then, but it didn’t seem to be enough. It had failed, so I was off to the next item.

 : Bring myself back to the place filled with our memories and replace them with new ones... without him.

 That should work.

 Hopefully…

 “One hundred percent sure,” I confirmed.

 Dasha patted my hand on the table. “Good luck, then. When you see the person you once loved, let's hope old feelings won't come back. Because, to be honest, Chyna, no matter how you say you don’t care anymore, I think you still do.”

 When my food arrived, I focused my attention on it.

 I didn't realize how I'd missed the food they served at Mon Refuge. These were world-class dishes exclusively for Costa Galaxia’s residents and guests.

I set the past aside to enjoy the food on my table better. It is better to focus on this than dealing with my sister’s investigation.

And yes, I really missed the food at Costa Galaxia. And the place. It was so relaxing here.