Chapter 26:
Nadia's POV:
Everything was like a fantasy, the kind of fairy tales I used to read about in books and I never thought they existed in real life, the kind of dreams I always dreamt of when I would drift into consciousness, daydreams I used to think of in the boring history class, and the reality that Zack created for me that evening.
Everything was perfect!!!
There I was, standing in the front of the pool of the hotel, mesmerized by the details and the efforts made, in order to pull such a scene together. The pool's surface was filled with white petals and small candles floating on beautiful little boats. Candles outlined the edges of the pool, marvelously, adding to the beauty of the water, a beauty from another kind.
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The floor was simply covered with petals and candles with different shapes, thrown everything, making the entire pool area shine romantically. However,the table was the thing that caught my attention and astonished me as I started walking toward it; it sat proudly beside the pool with two beautiful chairs, and it was empty, but it was still beautiful.
'Why was the table empty?' I wondered although I was having my own cheerleader dance inside my head.
I turned my head to the side and I spotted Zack staring at me intensely, and that's when I realized that I had been standing there for quite a while without uttering a word after telling him "wow" and few incoherent words because my tongue got suddenly tied as soon as I entered.
"It's just..." I tried to find a convenient word but all my tries were all in vain and I didn't even find what to say "I can't even define what this place looks like"
"But it's a good thing, right?" He suddenly rubbed the back of his head, nervously.
"Is it a real question?" I grinned at him widely but his expression didn't change a bit "Okay, there's one thing I can do to show you how all of this mean to me"
His seemed taken back from my words but he could mask his confusion right away and just fixed his gaze on mine, watching my every move while I put the basket of flowers on the table and marched toward him, slowly and making sure that I took all of my time in the process.
I wanted him to grow impatient!!!
When I was an arm's length away from him, I offered him my hand and smiled at him, reassuringly to take it. He did what I wanted and intertwined my fingers with his, brushing his fingers on my skin, affectionately. I felt a warm shiver run down my spine. I liked it!!!
I tried my best to read his body language because after being close to him, I had managed to learn so many things that others couldn't see in him. And at that moment, I could tell that he was impatiently waiting for my next move, that I personally didn't figure out yet, because I had to do something but what exactly, I didn't know.
Then out of a sudden, I realized that small gestures were all that mattered in a relationship, like the small circles he drew on my skin whenever he held my hand, or the way he loved playing with the loosened ends of my hair, or else the way I would catch him looking at me from time to time. Those were the things that counted at the end of the day, not material words.
With a new found confidence, I pulled my hand out of his hold and stepped in his arms, wrapping my arms around his waist. I put my head on his chest and snuggled into him as I thought of something to say to take his confusion away "This is the only way I could find to show you my gratitude because my words wouldn't cover everything I am feeling right now"
In fact, there was a word but I couldn't say it, at least not yet, not when I was still afraid that someone would snap me out of my dream. I would keep that simple word that starts with an 'L' till we figure everything out.
"I wish you always lose your words because you're a great huger" He whispered in my ear before planting a kiss on the top of my head.
"So I've been told" I chuckled, uncontrollably, remembering the one time Lara told me the same thing.
"Who said so?"
"Everyone" I answered as a matter of fact.
"You are mine" He lifted my chin and made me look at him, leaving his thumb on my skin "Only mine"
"I am not an object to be owned" I pulled back, glaring at him although my heart almost had a back flip at this words.
"What I meant is that I am the only one who gets to hold you this close" He pushed me back to his chest and hugged me tightly "The one who has this affect on you" He ran his fingers up on my arm, making me flinch slightly "Who gets to enjoy your sweet taste" He outlined the shape of my lips, sending my senses to hover in a hurricane "And of course, the one that you will always enjoy fighting with"
His words were more than perfect and I felt like I was flying from happiness, especially with the way he was gazing down at me, as if I was his precious belonging and he was promising me that he would never let me go even if I wanted to leave. I liked his unspoken promise.
I would praise that moment in my heart and cherish it forever.
I just stood there admiring the beauty of his eyes until he titled his head to the side and started laughing, hysterically. I had no idea why he was laughing that hard but I couldn't complain because even his damn laugh was addicting, like a loud low chuckle, as if it makes sense. But then I reminded myself that nothing made sense with him.
"What's so funny?" I demanded, stepping out of his embrace.
"I never thought I'd do something like this before" He pointed at the entire place "I used to think that making up a place like this was cheesy"
"Well, is it?" I raised my eyebrow at him, skeptically.
"As long as it made you happy, I'd do it tomorrow, the day after and every day if you want to" He spoke lowly after his chuckles died down, and that's when I started laughing, like there was no tomorrow.
"Now I want to ask the same question, what's so funny?" He stared at me, confusion written on his face.
"Well, let me start by saying that you are adorable" I pinched his cheek, which made him grumble, cutely at me.
"I'm supposed to be hot not adorable" He brushed the nonexistent dust off his shoulder.
"You are, but let me finish" I managed to talk between my giggles "You were funny that day when you bumped into the waiter" I said, remembering the full scene as if it happened that morning, but Zack didn't seem to relate to me so I just contained my laughter and added "The blind date"
"Ah" He made a disgusted face "Those drinks were hot"
"I know"
"By the way what did you tell your grandpa that made grandma so furious on me that she almost tackled me when I arrived home?" He questioned.
"Just that you called me spoiled ugly girl and other names" I answered, honestly.
"I actually thought you were beautiful that day but I thought that I would never admit it to you" He rubbed the back of his neck, uncomfortably.
"I thought you were handsome too" I admitted as well "Anyway, why's the table empty?"
"Because we won't be eating here" He answered, winking at me.
"What do you mean?" I asked him, pretty confused since what's the use of the romantic scene if we weren't going to eat there.
"I know that you probably hate fantasy dinners as much as I do, that's why I thought I'd take you somewhere else" He explained, reaching for my hand and intertwined our fingers together.
"You never cease to amaze me dude" I grinned at him, widely because what he said was absolutely true.
"Thank you, I take it as a compliment" He started walking me to the door but I tugged at his hand, stopping him from walking furthermore.
"Just give me a minute" I turned my head and memorized every detail of the place.
Or at least tried to. !!!
With a huge grin on my face, I turned back to Zack and nodded at him to keep walking. Clutching my dress in one hand because it was so long that I almost tripped, I didn't miss people's gazes as we passed by them to reach the elevator, especially women who were eyeing Zack as if he was a piece of meet.
I wanted to kick them...
However, I felt lucky for having Zack by my side, holding my hand possessively and glaring at every man who even tried to look at me, making me realize that looks fool and I should've looked deeper in his soul before making assumptions on him, and showing me life from another point, in which I was starting to build big dreams and expect things for the first time after mom's and Col's deception.
We climbed in the elevator and headed to the suit after having one of our usual moments where I would stare at the ground while Zack kept gazing at me until I am fully red. However, as I walked-in the suit and waited for Zack to follow me, he just stood still at the entrance without making a move therefore, I walked back to him and stated "Don't we have somewhere to go?"
"Yeah but I have to go to my room" He told me, rubbing his head nervously.
'His room? He was staying in a different room?' I didn't even know how to feel as I suddenly frowned at him.
"Before you leave your mind drift to false assumptions" He reached for my shoulders and held into them tight "I will sleep with you tonight"
"Hein? Then why did you book another room?" I questioned without even thinking.
"To surprise myself when I see you all dressed up" He replied, a slight blush, creeping to his cheeks.
'Was he blushing?' I thought to myself, feeling my own blush taking control of my face's color because of what he said 'What have I done good in my life to deserve to be treated that way?'
"I am the lucky one, not you" He kissed the top of my head.
"Have I said it out loud?"
"You're so cute" He pinched my cheek, teasingly "Now go get changed, I will be back in fifteen minutes"
And with that he left, leaving me in a state that a passing person would laugh for hours because of it; I was standing at the entrance of the suit with my hand on my cheek, smiling like a lovesick fool and still staring at the closed lifts' door even after the number indicated that the elevator was on the lobby's floor.
Deciding that it was time to pick what to wear, I turned in my heels, closed the suit's door, and headed to the bags Zack ordered for me earlier. I went through everything and after checking them, I decided to wear something casual but yet worth a date, classy. And I started changing my clothes.
I picked black Denim, Wyllie Collared Boxy Top, brown Chloe SB27155 shoes, as I read on the shoes' box. Instead of leaving my hair down like it was moments ago, I used a cat outline bobby to tie it back. I left my makeup intact since it was already light, wore my Cashmere jacket and my brown leather flap messenger bag, put the Gucci watch that Zack offered me once, and looked at my reflection in the mirror.
I was good.
By time I was done checking myself in the mirror, I heard a light knock on the door; I headed toward it after inhaling a deep breathe and pushing the weird sensations I was starting to feel in my stomach, and opened it, revealing Zack, looking as handsome as ever in distressed skinny jeans, Denim perforated leather jacket, a black V neck shirt, sage sneaker and a printed Cashmere scarf.
He was hot.
Something in his eyes flickered at the sight of me, he seemed distant but so close at the same time and I seriously wanted to snap him out of his daze, but I just stood still and waited him to react, and he did fortunately.
"You look beautiful as always" He sent me one of his beautiful smiles, making me literally drool over him.
"Thanks" I smiled at him back, holding his hand and closing the suit's door behind "Where are we going"
"Honestly?"
"Yeah!" I nodded at him in approval.
"I haven't planed anything, I just want us to be like a normal couple exploring the city" He answered me, hesitatingly, obviously thinking that I would be disappointed but little did he know that I liked the idea "So? What do you think?"
"It's an amazing idea, and I want to to buy a Hamburger and eat it somewhere, let's stay away from our reality for a couple hours" I started talking, excitedly, thinking of the things we could do "I want to eat ice cream as well"
"Hahaha" He laughed at my sudden excitement "Okay, we'll do everything you want"
"Come on, let's go" I tugged at his hand, urging him to speed-walk.
From the moment we walked-in the elevator to the second we stepped out of the hotel, I couldn't keep my excitement to myself since I really liked simple stuff, where I could act like myself without being obliged to act like people wanted me to be in order to fill the title I inherited as the heiress of the Mathews.
Hand in hand, we started walking in the streets, talking about everything and nothing at the same time, bringing back distant memories, especially his mother's and my father's good memories; it was hard on both of us to talk about the past freely and live back in those sad moments but it was releasing the weight we had on our shoulders so we did it.
Zack never talked about his father and I wasn't going to ask about him since I knew that it was a sensitive topic to him; however, while we were walking, he suddenly blurted out that his father left him after his mother's death and got married with another woman recently, and he had a kid.
'Zack had a brother?' I pointed out to myself but I didn't say it out loud since it would hurt Zack even more.
Zack told me that his father never called nor tried to reach out to them, which made his grandparents cut off his money and they decided to never mention his name in the house, thinking that it would make Zack forget about him faster, but little did they know that the absence of his father affected him as much as his mother's loss did but he was just too hurt to admit the truth; he missed his father.
As he opened up to me, I found a new found courage in me, and told him everything about my relationship with mom, and the reason behind its coldness. I told him how mom became distant after dad passed away, how she stopped reaching out for me, and started missing all of the big events of my life, including my graduation after making up silly excuses related to dad's business.
I told him everything that I kept in my heart for so long, even things I didn't dare to tell grandpa because he would be sad and think that it was his fault since he was the one who suggested she would be better if she took over dad's work instead of being depressed at home.
I just spoke until nothing was left in my heart for myself concerning her, and just like I did when he told me about his father, he stopped in the middle of the road and hugged me so tightly to his chest that I almost choked on my own breathe, but I didn't dare to complain because it was more than I could ever ask for.
The atmosphere became heavy due to the revelation so I changed the topic and hurried to a restaurant and ordered Hamburgers and Pizza, and for the drinks, we just picked, Pepsi for me and Sprite for Zack, then we took our orders and headed out to look for a spot to sit.
As we were walking earlier, we passed by a small garden for kids and because it was late, it was merely empty, besides a sleeping man and another couple, who were eating ice cream. We looked around and picked the furthest seat away from the others and headed toward it.
"Are you really sure about eating here?" Zack asked for the fifth time.
"I don't know how many times I'll have to tell you that this place is just perfect" I frowned at him because his question was annoying me.
"Okay as you like, but when we grow old, our grandchildren will think that I didn't take care of you and I took you to a dirty garden to eat" He pouted at me, unintentionally, and the moment he saw my reaction, he masked his expression and lifted his hands up in defense "What?"
"You're cute when you are talking about the future like that" I nudged him with elbow.
"Like what?"
"Like you really want to grown old with me" I stated the first thing that came to my mind without hesitation because I was so comfortable that I could say anything. Literally.
"That's because I'm really thinking of that option" He answered sitting on a bench and pulling me on his lap "I want to see how our kids would look like"
"They'd be cute for sure" I made myself comfortable by putting my head on the crook of his neck "My hair, your eyes, perfect combination"
As those words escaped my lips, I took my head off his neck and looked down at his face. His eyes bore into mine with a strange intensity and deep lounging in them. I wanted to be drown in them and as I was about to leave myself to sink in, he lifted his head slightly and said "You know what?"
"Yeah?" I managed to say after clearing my dry throat.
"I don't know what you are doing to me" He pushed my hair to the side, buried his head in my neck and whispered "I'm falling in love with you"
'Have I heard him right? Did he just say what I was craving to hear? Was it a dream or my inner voice fooling me?' I started questioning myself since what he said was way better than anything he planed for that day, it wasn't a fantasy, it was my reality.
*****
/*Eghhhhh yeah, you read right, the L word in on the table, hahaha*/
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/*The next chapter will be published on April 21st, 2017*/
/*Kisses-N*/