Daylight (ON HOLD - for editing)

Chapter 16: Wonderful night

Chapter 16: Wonderful night

            We stood outside the deck, leaning against the rails of the rented cruise. Even though it was summer, I shivered in coldness. The air felt like a melted ice from somewhere. I put my trench coat on again. I couldn’t stand the dry cold feeling. I came from a tropical country and been there for twenty five years.

            I stared at the dazzling lights of Paris as we cruise the river Seine. The whole city is so beautiful even by night. It was almost perfect. But whenever I remember what happened to me two weeks ago, I still fear wandering alone. I looked up at him. He was smiling as he looked the bright city.

            “What were you thinking?”I asked. He turned his face on me and looked me straight in the eyes. I could feel the weight of his stare at mine. I got conscious. I looked away so I could manage to breathe easily. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I felt cold air filling my nose.

            “You.” He suddenly answered. I looked again to him with a confused face.

            “Me? What do you mean?” I asked. He smiled and turned his eyes on the city lights. He was looking again at the bright city.

            “I am thinking about you.” He smirked.

            “Why are you thinking about me?” I crossed my arms and faced him. I wanted to know his thoughts about me. Was he thinking about me going to London with him? I agreed to come with him to London. We’ll still going to pretend in public that we have relationship but not with his family. I didn’t want to know his family through lies. It was better for me if they know me as his friend.

            He put his hands in his pocket and smiled. “I was thinking if it is okay with you that I’ll invite you to stay in my pad than in hotel.” I was taken aback. I didn’t know if that was a statement or is he questioning me. I turned around and leaned back at the railings. I couldn’t compose my thoughts. I didn’t want to say no or yes. He might notice that I was thinking of what to say to him. “I called Jake already. I told him to buy an extra ticket for you.”

            “Oh. Thank you. I promise that I’ll pay you.” I smiled. I couldn’t agree yet. I looked down to my shoes and pretend that I’m inspecting it. I heard him sighing. Maybe he was thinking it too. It might look bad in the eyes of his family if I’m going to stay for awhile in his pad. But I was his girlfriend, as everyone knows. I couldn’t say anything but I think he’s waiting for me to say something. “It was nice to live in your pad. But I was thinking about your family. Will they be against it?” I finally spoke up but still looking at my toes.

            “I think they didn’t mind after all. My family was kind of liberal thinkers. They do not mind at all if a beautiful girl would be staying with me.” He said. I could feel his stares. It was like taking my clothes off. I shivered at the thought. It was getting cold too.

            When I couldn’t manage the cold, I ran inside the boat. It was warm there. The musicians were still there, resting. They must be tired of playing instruments. We’ve dance for about an hour. Then, Tom asked me to see the lights of Paris because it was really the main objective of what-he-called-date. I just shrugged the thought of were having a date. It was really romantic. He was romantic. It was kind of an old style but I really like it.

            Tom went inside to right after I ran. He looked confused. He might be thinking why I run inside. Then he spoke. “Why did you run?” he asked.

            I couldn’t face him. I couldn’t tell him that I felt like his stares are making me naked. Ugh!I I hate the thought. “The coldness outside, it was getting into my bones.” I managed to answer.