Chapter 20 - A surprise she doesn't know
"Today is our last day of sailing, Serena. We're going back to our original routine," Vernon said, informing Serena. “What do you think so far? For a week on this ship?”
She sighed as she was told and looked around as if she wanted to remember every corner they had once occupied with a love that was unspoken but through behavior.
"It's regrettable that it has to end. I still want to be alone with you," Serena said, spoiling. “But, of course, I feel so blessed to be here with you.”
Vernon stroked her hair in the sea breeze and touched her cheek as he said, "We can see each other all the time, whenever we want."
Serena knew that, but her busy schedule would get in the way. She was required to work for herself to become an independent woman. For her, being dependent on a man was a low point.
She stared at Vernon for a while until she realized that their relationship was not yet official. Serena, who still remembered the pain from her past, and Vernon, who patiently waited for her, were the perfect combination. For Vernon, he just needed to be more patient and continue to convince Serena that he was different from Henry.
"Let's go to the top of the ship. I have something to show you," Vernon said.
Serena frowned but she complied as her hand was pulled by him.
The atmosphere of the ship felt warmer than before. The waves also felt so calm, unlike yesterday. Until Serena truly regretted that their cruise would stop for the next few hours.
When they were on top, the music played by professional players sounded so romantic, as if it was their background when Vernon was about to show something.
Then Serena realized that there was not a single guest there, just the musicians with one table and two chairs facing each other.
Serena's heart skipped a beat when she realized something was different, she knew Vernon was up to something.
"A week with you is wonderful. I can imagine years and years with you, Serena," he said.
Serena was still silent, her tongue lolling as if in favor of not speaking and just listening to Vernon speak.
His hand embraced Serena's cheek while his other hand pulled her waist in his arms.
"Ah!" Serena sighed, feeling Vernon's sudden aggressiveness.
"Will you dance with me?" he asked suddenly.
Puzzled by the words before and after, Serena complied anyway. She wondered what kind of madness Vernon would do to her.
"Of course," Serena replied.
Vernon demanded her to dance to the rhythm of the music that was flowing beautifully and intimately.
The sound of the music was so exotic that every touch Vernon gave Serena set her body on fire.
"You're up to something, huh?" asked Serena as her lips finally parted.
"You know about it."
"There are no other humans besides us, just music and one table and two chairs ... you think I didn't immediately pattern it?"
Vernon chuckled and turned Serena's body around and held her in his arms again.
"You're a genius," Vernon praised.
"You're too easy to read, Vernon."
"In that case, do you know what's next?"
Serena immediately shook her head, afraid of her own expectations. She chose to feign ignorance rather than blurt out what she was thinking and was even more afraid of it not coming true.
"Do you really not know?" asked Vernon, teasingly.
"No, Vernon."
He just smiled and continued to dance with her with the exotic touches he gave Serena as his body embraced her.
Serena, who did not see Vernon's expression, closed her eyes and savored his touch.
Her body felt more aroused than usual, but she was reluctant to tell him, afraid of being considered a slut.
"Let's eat first," he said as he pulled away and stopped the dance.
Serena blinked, staring at the table full of dishes, surprising her because she had no idea when the waiter would arrive and set all the things on the table.
She felt really impatient with what was ahead. But she chose to wait patiently and still show herself to behave gracefully as she should always show.
"This is a classy meal that I deliberately ordered last to conclude our cruise," Vernon said. "I told you that I wanted to make you memorable, right?"
Serena nodded and smiled gracefully. "Even if I don't ask, you always do."
"I have to. Special women should be treated as special as possible."
Serena was delighted, her heart just kept bursting whenever Vernon treated her special. She had barely even fought with him since she had been with him.
"I hope the beauty you give me is not temporary, Vernon."
"Of course not. I can guarantee that you will always smile."
They ate quietly, enjoying the sea breeze that was about to dock at the harbor where they first boarded the cruise ship.
The strong wind fluttered Serena's beautifully flowing hair, channeling the scent of her shampoo into Vernon's nose, fragrant and opiate.
Suddenly Vernon's cell phone rang, interrupting their meal until Vernon had to check it and sighed.
"I have to accept this," he told Serena.
Serena nodded, relenting and thinking that the caller was his ex-girlfriend Cherry. The expression on her face read that she felt jealousy and dislike, but who was she to feel that way?
Finally, Vernon moved behind Serena, starting to talk without Serena knowing what he was talking about. She even wanted to eavesdrop but couldn't.
Finally, while waiting in annoyance, Serena opened her own cell phone and she kept getting messages from Henry even though she had changed her number just to avoid him.
When boredom began to get the better of her, she made up her mind to return to the cabin, and when she stood up and turned around, she was suddenly startled to see Vernon standing behind her chair.
The roses and a ring in the box made her even more surprised. Her lips gaped with eyes that blinked in disbelief.
"Vernon—since when you have—I meant, what is this?" asked Serena, confused.
"Do you want to be my girlfriend, Serena? If you do, accept this and wear this ring. I want you to be the only woman in my life. I ... feel so crazy when I'm with you and I can't stop thinking about you, just so you know."