SR3. 32. Jealous

Laura relaxed on the villa's balcony, a cup of hot tea in her hand. The steam rising from the cup couldn't fend off the cold breeze of the Apple City, but Laura's spirits remained undeterred as she looked forward to exploring the beach later with her beloved.

Gradually, the sun peeked out from behind the thick curtain of the night, its rays shyly warming the surroundings. The chirping of birds added to Laura's blossoming mood as she reminisced about the first time she had met Aryan, their unconventional marriage contract, and now, the love that bound them together.

Love was indeed peculiar; when you pursued it, it often eluded you, and when you walked away, it came offering happiness. Laura had once thought that she and Aryan would never fall in love because their separation had been written in black and white. But everything seemed futile as time and emotions played their roles, slowly seeping into the depths of their hearts. Love was indefinable in any dictionary; it truly reigned in the heart, speaking only the language of emotions.

The sun's embrace began to warm her body. She placed the tea cup on the table and rubbed her hands together, occasionally blowing warm air into them. At the same time, her fingers caressed her abdomen, while her other hand held onto Aryan's, encircling her waist. Laura smiled with her eyes closed, trying to inhale the masculine scent that had always managed to captivate her heart.

"Thank you for your forgiveness and all your love," Aryan whispered, planting a kiss on the top of Laura's head.

"I forgave you long before you even asked," Laura replied, her hands still holding onto Aryan's that encircled her waist.

"It's cold here. Why are you wearing such a short outfit?" Aryan commented, taking off his jacket and draping it over Laura's bare shoulders, shaking his head disapprovingly at Laura's revealing attire. She was only wearing hot pants and a white tank top.

"Well, I have you to keep me warm," Laura quipped with an innocent expression, turning her body and draping her arms around Aryan's neck.

"You're quite clever," Aryan chuckled. His mischievous grin returned as he lifted Laura's body and carried her inside, gently depositing her onto the freshly made bed.

"It seems this bed won't need tidying up while we're here," Aryan mused, his fingers tracing Laura's face while their gazes remained locked.

"Because I have you to keep me warm," Laura quipped with an innocent expression, turning her body and draping her arms around Aryan's neck.

"You're quite clever," Aryan chuckled. His mischievous grin returned as he lifted Laura's body and carried her inside, gently depositing her onto the freshly made bed.

"It seems this bed won't need tidying up while we're here," Aryan mused, his fingers tracing Laura's face while their gazes remained locked.

"Looks like this bed won't need to be tidied up as long as we're here," Aryan murmured as he lowered himself onto Laura, his fingers tracing the contours of her face while their eyes remained locked.

The sound of a knock on the door stopped Aryan from kissing Laura's neck. There was a rough sigh from Aryan's lips because his pleasure had to be disturbed by the villa service, but unlike Laura, he was actually relieved because he only intended to tease Aryan.

"Just when I'm hungry," said Laura with a gurgling sound from inside her stomach when she saw Aryan carrying a tray containing their breakfast.

Aryan laughed when he heard the sound of Laura's stomach. He knew that Laura was hungry because Aryan had beaten her on the bed all night until she was exhausted. With a smile, he walked over with the tray and put it on the bed. Aryan quickly slapped Laura's hand which was about to reach for his food. Laura immediately became angry with her eyes bulging.

Aryan ruffled Laura's hair then took a plate containing white rice then he opened the plastic cover of the bowl containing vegetable soto. Laura gulped hard when she saw that the soto sauce was still steaming. Aryan did order simple food which was Laura's favorite while they spent time in Malang.

Laura again tried to grab the plate in Aryan's hand by moving her lips 5 inches but Aryan pushed the plate away.

"A..." Aryan opened his mouth and extended a spoon toward Laura's lips. Laura's eyes instantly lit up, and she obediently opened her mouth.

Laura's heart melted as she felt Aryan's loving gaze on her while she chewed the food he had fed her. She never expected to be loved by someone so deeply. It felt heavenly to eat food from the hands of the man she loved.

"You need to eat too," Laura said as she picked up a spoon from the tray and reciprocated by feeding Aryan. They continued to feed each other in silence, their eyes locked, each pouring their feelings into the silent exchange.

After breakfast, they changed into casual clothes and headed outside the villa. Holding hands, they strolled along the shoreline. It wasn't just idle talk when people called Teluk Asmoro Beach the "Raja Ampat of Indonesia." The beach was truly stunning, with a bright blue sky, vast sea, and gentle waves kissing the shore.

Laura looked around in wonder, feeling grateful in her heart that her dream was now a reality. She had always dreamed of honeymooning on the beach with the man she loved, and now that dream was no longer just a mirage. She gazed at Aryan, who was also smiling at her.

"Let's go," Aryan said as he tugged Laura's hand and playfully ran toward the shoreline.

Now, they played in the water, splashing each other until their clothes were soaking wet. After enjoying their time in the water, they sat at the edge of the beach, playing with the white sand. Before their trip, Laura had searched for information about Teluk Asmoro Beach on Google, as Andra had mentioned it would be their honeymoon destination. Her research had revealed that this beach was one of the newest marine attractions in Malang and a highly recommended destination for honeymooners and couples looking for a romantic getaway.

Once again, Cupid seemed to be on their side, as there were only a few other couples on the beach enjoying the sunrise that morning. It felt like the world belonged to just the two of them.

"Let's go over there, Honey," Aryan said, pointing to some interesting photo spots that had caught his attention.

Laura accepted Aryan's outstretched hand with a smile. Aryan had noticed something unique about the place. Upon closer inspection, the hills around the beach seemed to form a heart shape.

"No wonder this place is called Teluk Asmoro Beach," Aryan remarked. "Look at that hill, Honey. It's shaped like a heart."

Laura was left speechless, becoming even more enchanted with the place. She felt like she could spend more time here with Aryan, but Aryan's work commitments and his upcoming community service program were waiting for him once they returned.

"Let's take a picture there," Laura suggested, pulling Aryan towards a unique and stylish spot in the shape of a heart with the words "Bukit Pantai Teluk Asmara" as its decoration.

"Okay, but let's head back to the villa first. You might catch a cold," Aryan said, concerned about Laura's well-being.

"Sure, I'm hungry anyway," Laura replied after checking her wristwatch, which indicated that it was already 11:30 AM.

Laura was taken aback when Aryan knelt down in front of her. She glanced around for a moment before deciding to climb onto Aryan's back. Now, Laura was piggybacking on Aryan, enjoying the ride. From the edge of the beach to the villa, Laura wore a smile that graced both corners of her lips. The romantic scene, reminiscent of a Korean drama, which she had often seen, was now a reality. So sweet.

Aryan set Laura down for a moment as they stopped in front of a mini-market near the villa to buy some snacks and cold drinks to stock in the fridge.

"Come on, let me carry you again," Aryan said, crouching down and offering his back to Laura while holding two shopping bags.

"Nah, I'll just walk on my own," Laura replied and started walking ahead of Aryan. Aryan laughed and followed Laura's steps as she climbed the stone pathway towards their villa.

They quickly cleaned up together, avoiding any activities that might lead to intoxication, even though Aryan desired it. He was restraining his desires for now because he wanted to create a more serene and romantic atmosphere for later, a surprise that they would both cherish.

Aryan leaned against the bed as Laura dried her hair with a towel. He was also scrolling through his Instagram feed when he realized that they hadn't followed each other yet. He began to browse through Laura's posts, and his heart sank when he saw a comment from someone named Noval, posted just 10 minutes ago. He tried to hide the storm of jealousy that was brewing within him.

Laura crawled onto the bed after grabbing some snacks and cold drinks, creating a chorus of crunchy sounds. The room suddenly became quiet. Laura was annoyed when Aryan declined all the snacks she offered him. Feeling ignored, she took Aryan's phone from his hand and gave him a stern look.

"Is there a problem?" Laura asked, her gaze scrutinizing Aryan's face, which appeared different.

Aryan didn't respond and instead got up from the bed, heading towards the balcony. He leaned against the balcony railing, his gaze fixed on the crashing waves hitting the rugged rocks. Aryan's body froze momentarily as a pair of small hands embraced him tightly from behind.

"Tell me, Honey, what's wrong? I want you to be honest with me. Aren't husbands and wives supposed to be honest with each other?" Laura spoke softly but with a sarcastic tone that Aryan couldn't ignore.

Aryan took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before turning to face Laura.

"I am jealous," Aryan mumbled, his right thumb gently caressing Laura's cheek.

"Jealous?" Laura repeated, her eyebrows furrowing as she tried to recall if she had done something wrong that might have made Aryan jealous.

"It's nothing, never mind," Laura continued, still trying to remember what had happened.

"Okay, suit yourself. I'll rest for a while," Laura grumbled, her annoyance evident, and she returned to the room.

"I don't like it that Noval keeps commenting on your Instagram stories," Aryan replied, stopping Laura in her tracks. But instead of responding, Laura just stared at Aryan with a blank expression.

Aryan ruffled his hair in frustration, realizing how possessive he had been. He felt frustrated because his ego had taken control of his actions. He looked at Laura, who was sitting on the bed, staring intently at her phone.

"Oh, now you're sulking," Aryan muttered to himself.

"Darling, don't sulk," Aryan approached Laura slowly, feeling guilty.

"I'm not sulking, why should I?" Laura replied without looking up from her phone.

"Darling, please, don't be angry," Aryan whined like a child.

"I'm not angry, Beb. In fact, I'm happy that you're jealous," Laura responded after placing her phone on the nightstand. She looked into Aryan's eyes with tenderness.

Laura's hands cupped Aryan's face, and she smiled warmly before playfully biting his lower lip, which caused Aryan to growl as a warm sensation spread from his toes to the top of his head, creating that familiar feeling that always arose whenever they were together.