Chapter 13 - A new feeling

Calvin didn't think he'd feel this way, he thought it would just be any other day in his life, like handling his business affairs. He somehow felt a sense of fulfillment the moment he uttered those words in the crowd. His whole being slowly being colored by her. He doesn't know how to name this feeling, it's too absurd to call it love at this point but somehow...

He finds himself missing her, wanting to be near her, touching her, kissing her...even the scent of her stirs him.

Calvin finally ended the kiss. Aila found his expression quite serious. He turned to the crowd, smiled & waved.

"A great news indeed, don't you agree?" Grandpa Harrison said.

"Congratulations!"

"Best wishes to the both of you!"

"That could've been me!"

"She's so beautiful."

"Where'd she gets that dress?"

"Damn, he got engaged first? did the sun rise on the opposite side?"

"That kiss was hot."

Random murmurs from the crowd can be heard, some audible than others. It was a mix of reactions. Some still don't believe it.

"Thank you all for your warm wishes, I hope you enjoy the rest of the banquet."

Then they walked off to the backstage. Aila slowed down her movements then stopped. Calvin waited patiently for her while checking messages on his phone that seemed to be vibrating non-stop.

She's slowly realizing the heaviness of the responsibility of this role she blindly went into. If she forced the agreement to break early, it would affect both their families, although her family now are understanding people, she'd hate to be the cause of their troubles in the future. She is not a random person on the street anymore. She belongs now to a high-status family with its nuances.

She may not know the reason she got thrown into this book but right now these people are real to her. She looked at Calvin, found him just staring at her as well. Just waiting. The future is quite uncertain with this man around, she should have just walked away & not get herself involved with these characters. But for better or for worse, she was not forced into her decision & she does not think Calvin is an evil person. Playful yes, but she could live with that.

Maybe time will tell how this thing will go. But for now, as someone who has honor on her words, she would stick by him till the contract ends.

Finally, having had some decision within herself, Aila moved, smiled at Calvin & said softly:

"Sorry, I was spacing out. These just all feel so overwhelming at the moment. I'm hungry, I hope we have some place we could eat quietly. I'm not ready to face the crowd right now."

"That's understandable, we came here to do what we need to do. No need to force yourself. Come, I have something for you that you might enjoy."

"Oh really? I'm looking forward to it."

*****

They are now sitting on a dinner table for two on the highest point of the hotel with the breathtaking views of the whole city. A classical band is playing an instrumental version of David Pomeranz "Ordinary Song" somewhere in the back.

That's so ironic, maybe I should be singing the song to him.

Aila forgot her thoughts as the chef came in with the meal, she was so famished. The smell is just making her mouth water. She didn't wait for Calvin to say anything else & just dove right into it.

Calvin laughed.

"I didn't know you were so hungry, honey."

"Women prepare differently for events like this, you know. It takes hours of work to look the way I am."

"You're still beautiful without them on, honey."

Aila choked on her food. Calvin tapped her back to help her get off the obstruction.

Damn it! do you need to remind me!

With her face red, Aila took a swing & downed on a whole glass of water. She looked at him fiercely. Calvin raised his hand in surrender.

"Ahem...anyway, mother was quite excited & forgot to feed me. Oh, my goodness this roasted pork is so good! the crunchy skin!"

Aila got distracted again, she is considered middle class in her old world but food like this is only available for the rich. She used to just imagine the taste as she looked at her boss eating it at banquets. The world there had scarce resources left. A shower of meteors landed on Earth & practically made almost half of the planet inhabitable.

"Your mother is quite the character. You must take after her a lot." Aila noticed how refined Calvin is when he eats, there's no sound of cutlery at all.

Aila shrugged her shoulders, nobody is here to nitpick her etiquette. Besides food like this should be savored!

"Alright, slow down. The food will not run away from you. You got something here."

"Huh? something where?"

Calvin wiped the side of her mouth with his finger & proceeded to lick it.

"Oh my God! why are you always on playboy mode all the time!" frustrated, Aila rubbed the napkin on her lips.

"What are you talking about? I'm just here taking care of you. By the way, I need you to come with me for a beach party 3 days from now."

"What's in that party?"

"It's Dalton's birthday."

"Why are you guys having birthdays so close with each other?" did your parents compete as well?

"Well, you have to come. Dalton also extended the invitation to you too. We'd be staying there for a day or two."

"A day or two? where is it that we had to stay overnight?"

"It's in Greece."

"...."

Right, I totally forgot beach didn't mean some seaside place in the city for these people.

"I don't know a lick of Greek."

"Don't worry about it. There would be guides there. Come on, I'm sure you'll have fun."

Reluctantly, Aila agreed. She thought back and remembered she didn't have time to go on a vacation before, it was always work & home. Besides, Greece on her old world got destroyed. Seeing the place now with all its glory would simply be amazing.

come to think of it...

"Will we be staying at the same room?" Aila asked dubiously. She has a bad feeling about this.

"Honey, whatever will people think if we stayed apart? Aren't we so in love that we can't stay away from each other?" Calvin said grinningly.

"Don't you dare have any funny business!" Aila said seriously.

"I will not, cross my heart & hope to die." He then proceeded to cross his heart & raised his right arm as if swearing.

****

3 days later...

Aila found herself sprawled on top of Calvin.

Dammit!

.