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.”
Without hesitating, Hart’s hands moved to cup her cheeks, kissing her passionately. Please, don’t stop, she implored him in her heart. The night breeze was chilly, making her shiver in the cold. He scooped her up in his arms, laying her on the bed before resuming his affection on her lips. Taking his hands, she placed them on her chest. Was this… a direct invitation to touch her? He wondered, stroking her through her thin clothing. She let out a few moans, pulling him closer. She had to be aroused, but he did not want to be a monster to her. Separating their lips, he lay down next to her and stared into her eyes. “Myra, are you sober?” She nodded. “Hart, I only want you to think about me when we do… that.” Maybe it was a
[Back at Hart’s hideout]“Morning,” Myra yawned, rubbing her face against what turned out to be Hart’s chest. Daylight was streaming through the pale curtains. She was exactly where she wanted to be.If only, she didn’t have to wake up from the dream. Every moment with Hart had been so delightful and not hurtful.“Slept well last night?” Hart ran his hair through her hair, which was now probably a mess from their adventure last night. Her forehead throbbed with pain, reminding her of how much she had drunk last night.They had both called each other’s name last night. He had even taken her in
“Will everything be okay?” Myra said as Hart unlocked a decent-looking black Atoz hatchback. She breathed a sigh of relief to notice that there were no signs of the men chasing them earlier. The bustling crowds of shoppers and vendors fended them off from the rest of the bazaar, giving her a confirmation that they were safe, for now.“I’m the king of the bazaar,” Hart announced with a smile. “They wouldn’t be able to find us easily through the crowd. Particularly when they are not from the area.”He started the car, and they were on their way. Compared to his usual casual speed, he was driving fast. The car whizzed off into the distance, passing down the highway into the streets. Hart almost didn’t stop, until he finally reached a red light.Myra found her stress
Myra led Hart, still hand in hand, into the suite where their friends awaited. It was not a big suite, with a master room, two shared bathrooms and a kitchen which the rich girls barely used and a smaller room where Lesley slept. Hart put down his duffel bag carefully, observing the room as thoroughly as he could. This would work for a temporary hideout, but he would have to go forward with his plan.“You’ll be sharing with Lesley,” she said, hoping he would not be disappointed that they would not be sharing a bad. Sierra smiled with a hand over her mouth, anticipating what her sister shared with the divine man that she had just brought back to the hotel. Between them, they had the habit of calling the hotel ‘home’, as they did on several occasions. The home was where Myra was with Sierra, although now, it was where she hid with Hart. Hart had presented her with such a special
“I suggest we leave for your city as soon as possible,” Hart said solemnly after they finished eating. Under the table, his hand was warm on Myra’s thigh, sending electrical volts down her back and inciting her arousal.“Back to City V?” Myra gasped, pulling her legs together to contain her desire. Stop it, Hart, she uttered mentally. Fortunately, after a long silence, Hart moved his hand away, to her relief.He stood up and made an enormous bow before the others.“I’m deeply sorry for the inconvenience.”Sierra’s eyes followed Hart’s hand gestures as he explained about his situation and how he had indirectly caused Myra to be entangled in his family affairs. His excellent body language would make anyone s
Myra placed her head down on Hart’s shoulder as the plane took off.Goodbye, Bali, she told herself reluctantly. Knowing Jake was in City V along with that girl he was hugging in the party, she didn’t feel keen to go home. While she missed her overbearing daddy, she wasn’t sure how to face him after she had just left without a word, without his golden permission. But no news was good news. Surely he would have taken Sierra’s words.From now on, it would be her and Hart. She hadn’t expected so much from him when she had taken his car in the first place, and now he was going to her country with her, to be her dutiful boyfriend. It sounded so fairytale-like.In the aisle behind her, Sierra behaved intimately with the man she had met in Bali. Teos, the person who had stepped up
The following weeks had flown by like a breeze. The holidays ended, and it was back to university. As usual, Myra and Sierra would dine together between lectures, ignoring the handsome men that passed them.“Jake Yu is here, and he’s in a discussion with the Dean,” some girls chattered amongst themselves as they strolled by carrying trays of their food orders. The cafeteria, while having the most affordable meals the average university student could afford, was known for its variety. Of course, as wealthy as they were, the sisters didn’t need to subject themselves to inferior quality dishes.“How are you and your guy?” Sierra asked, seeing how distracted Myra was.“I guess, good.”Sierra noticed how Myra wasn’t paying attention to what she was asking, waving two fingers in front of her eyes repeatedly.“Jake Yu inherited his father’s conglomerate. Shall w
Jake stopped the moving car just outside a convenience store before returning with a plastic bag filled with cans of beer. It was a sea of silence between them as he sped in his brand-new luxury car towards a destination where only the two of them knew to have existed.The old house in Myra’s memories stayed preserved beautifully, cleaned and devoid of cobwebs or dust. Myra allowed Hart to unbuckle her seat belt and lead her into the place.The pain of her father’s alleged demise hurt her even more than Jake and the other girl. Mustering her courage, she decided to put the past behind her for once and moved around the house, running her fingers over the old furniture.She needed a break from everything.Once, she had been a silly little girl, and she and Jake