Oasis Path©(English Version)BOOK 1 OASIS SAGA

Part 31.

“Alex, it’s okay!” I exclaimed confidently and happily to hear myself so sure and free. “We’re a couple. I don’t see why we can’t stay together.”

Alex looked at me puzzled. His face reflected his surprise at my words.

“Amelie, the upbringing you’ve had—”

“That Amelie is not me anymore,” I cut off his words instantly and approached to place my hands on his beautiful face. “I always felt strange, like I didn’t fit with the rigidity and seriousness of the society I was living in. Now I’ve come to understand why. It’s because I was never part of that world. I feel like this new Amelie is the real one. I like this new me; I like being like this.”

“I like this new Amelie too,” Alex said, giving in. “Alright, you win! Let’s go to your house, grab some clean clothes, and then we’ll head to my house.”

I leaned in to kiss him, enjoying the freedom of doing so publicly. I loved that Alex responded to that kiss, and we ended up walking hand in hand to my new house.

Upon arrival, I quickly grabbed some clothes, and we set off to Alex’s house. I loved getting to know the place Alex called home. The house was wrapped in a cozy atmosphere, with soft lights illuminating every corner.

As soon as we entered, I began to carefully observe every detail of the place. The dark wooden furniture added a warm touch, and the walls were adorned with paintings that revealed Alex’s history. I found a photo of his family and several of what I assumed was his new family, as I saw Hilarie in one of them.

The rooms were decorated with simplicity yet elegance, with colors that conveyed tranquility. The atmosphere was infused with a pleasant scent that gave a homely touch. I felt like I was truly entering Alex’s intimacy and appreciated every detail that revealed more about him and his story.

“What do you think?” Alex asked, taking my hands. “Do you like this place?”

“I love it,” I responded excitedly. “I could definitely guess it’s your home. Everything in here has your energy.”

“Oh, really... how’s that?”

“I don’t know, since I walked in, I felt like this place has a lot of you,” I said, unable to understand myself. “As if everything here is a part of you... I don’t know.”

Alex smiled and hugged me with much tenderness this time. At that moment, an idea crossed my mind and started to linger. We were alone, and we would spend the night together. Alex had told me a lot about our dimension, and he had hinted that couples were more liberal, everything in general was more fluid and less rigid. So, something more could happen between us.

I felt embarrassed in my own mind for thinking such things, but quickly dispelled the shame with the open-minded thought of my new self.

“Alex, you and Hilarie... What was your relationship like?” I began to ask. “Did you spend the night together often?”

“I don’t know why you want to know that so suddenly,” Alex said surprised as he loosened the hug and faced me. “Where are you going with this?”

“I want to know what kind of relationship you’re used to. I remember you told me that you ended up confusing what you felt for her partly because of the physical attraction between you,” here, I paused to take a breath and gather strength to continue. “When there’s physical attraction...”

“Forget about that, Amelie!” he exclaimed, nervously running his fingers through his hair. “What we have is very different.”

I felt disappointed and somewhat jealous imagining how with Hilarie, he had been free to do whatever they felt. In a matter of seconds, images flashed in my mind of the two of them together, being accomplices at all times. I visualized Alex kissing her without restrictions, both sharing laughs and intimate moments in a room that my mind created. I felt like a fool, invaded by the shadow of a previous relationship.

I couldn’t let him know that it bothered me. My new self urged me to be open and understanding, but still, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at the idea that with Hilarie, Alex had experienced a freedom that perhaps I couldn’t reach so soon.

“But still—” I tried to continue, but the words got stuck in my throat at Alex’s expression.

“Amelie, enough!” he interrupted, showing a desperation that I couldn’t ignore. “I won’t talk about that with you.”

“Then we’ll never get to—” I began, but Alex’s pleading looks stopped me.

“Amelie, please!” he pleaded, running his fingers through his hair once again. “There are things that just take time, and we have all the time in the world.”

My thoughts remained entangled between disappointment and jealousy, but I understood that perhaps it wasn’t the right time to address that issue. I decided to change the focus.

I lowered my gaze, determined not to ask more about that. Although my mind was still restless, I tried to focus on the present and the new stage we were experiencing together.

“I think I’ll take a bath,” I said, still looking down. “Can you show me where?”

“Oh, yes... of course!” Alex responded nervously. “Come with me.”

I followed him to the end of a small hallway where the bathroom was located.

“I’ll prepare the bed while you take your bath,” he informed me seriously. “I want to take one too.”

He kissed me on the forehead, and I closed the bathroom door. I felt very disappointed with myself. I was frustrated because it was evident that Alex was always holding back with me.

As the water touched my body, I couldn’t help but feel bad, and I started to cry. I felt small again and couldn’t find an explanation for what I was feeling. My tears mixed with the shower water, and I clung to the fact that I was in a new place, with new opportunities, but the shadow of insecurity still weighed on my mind.

Suddenly, an image of Alex came to my mind. My head began to hurt a lot, and the image became more vivid. His voice echoed in my head, and this time I also heard mine. I closed my eyes.

“We’ll be together again, trust me.”

“Alex, please, promise me you’ll come for me... please.”

“I promise. Now go, and whatever happens, don’t look back.”

Quickly, I opened my eyes, feeling alarmed at the thought that such a thing could happen. But I began to reassure myself that it was just a product of my fertile imagination, that everything would be fine. I clung to the idea that we were in a safe place, away from Glass, and that Alex would do everything possible to protect us. However, the sense of unease persisted, and I promised myself that I would talk to Alex about it when I came out of the bathroom.

I finished my bath, and when I came out, Alex was waiting to show me where the room was. I climbed the stairs and entered the bedroom. While Alex took a bath, I laid down on the bed, hoping the headache would pass.

I stayed like that for a while.

“Is the bed comfortable?” Alex asked, standing at the entrance of the room.

“Oh, yes, yes,” I said, sitting up.

It was the first time I had seen Alex dressed so lightly. He wore loose pajama pants and a shirt that exposed his strong arms. His slightly damp hair fell carelessly in different directions, giving him a casual yet attractive look. I had never seen him so handsome, and I suppose I looked at him too much, lost in the subtle beauty he radiated.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

“You look very handsome just out of the bath. That’s all,” I said shamelessly as my heart raced.

Alex lowered his gaze, let out a small laugh, and then looked at me.

“So, your goal today is to make me blush?” he asked in a playful tone. “I guess I have to get used to this.”

“What’s wrong with that? I’m just saying what I think.”