Chapter 68

Martin Moore’s POV

I could hear the sound of the notification that the plane I was on would soon take off filling the plane's cabin. I closed the magazine in my hand and turned to the seat beside me which belonged to Freshia. The chair was still empty, she hadn't come back from the toilet yet.

I started to feel worried and decided to look for her. However, when I was about to get up from my seat, a flight crew member who was checking passengers stopped me and forbade me from leaving my seat because passengers had to remain in their seats, wearing seat belts, when the plane was about to take off. This is for the safety and comfort of the passengers themselves. I knew that very well, but I also couldn't hold back my worry which was increasingly covering my heart at that time.

“Sorry, but I have to look for my acquaintance. She said she wanted to go to the toilet about five minutes ago but she hasn't returned yet. I was worried about her and I had to make sure she was Ok.” I said to the plane crew.

“Then leave it to us. We will help check all the bathrooms on this plane and help you find your contacts. But I ask that you remain in your seat and wear your seat belt, sir. Don't go anywhere at least until the plane has actually taken off and passengers are allowed to remove their seat belts. Wait until we let you know, ok, sir?” Replied the flight crew who was seen immediately taking out his walkie-talkie and saying that he asked the nearest crew to check every bathroom on the plane. Then he excused himself from my presence to check other conditions.

I immediately sat back in my place and obeyed his orders to wear a seat belt. Not long after, the flight crew who had approached me returned. Then he said something that really surprised me.

"Sorry, sir. Earlier, one of our crew seemed to have run into a woman you were looking for. She admitted that she was a passenger in seat number 6A and she gave his ticket to our crew." He showed me a plane ticket with Freshia Ava's name on it. It was indeed her ticket. I immediately took the ticket from his hand. Then he continued his interrupted speech.

“The woman said that she didn't go because she had urgent business. After that, she rushed out of the plane. Didn't she tell you anything?"

I just responded with a shake of my head. I can't say anything. My mouth feels locked. My mind went blank for a moment. I was really confused at that time and without realizing my hand squeezed Freshia's ticket which was in my grasp. Seeing that I didn't seem to want to talk anymore, the plane crew then gave permission to leave me after previously reminding me that I had to stay in my seat because the plane was ready to take off from the airport.

A few minutes later after the flight crew left, the plane I was on started to feel like it was moving until it actually left the airport. With the chair next to me empty and I couldn't do anything. Instantly I realized that Freshia had really left me in a bad way.

***

Freshia Ava's POV

Without hesitation, the words that I wanted to return to Eros just came out of my mouth when I stood in front of him. There was not the slightest fear in me when I looked at him. Everything just flows. I don't know whether it's because I'm really desperate right now or whether this is truly a desire from the bottom of my heart. I don't know yet and don't want to think about it for now.

Eros was still silent until suddenly his gaze turned firmer towards me, not as gentle as before. "Are you sure about what you said just now?" he asked.

“I've never felt more confident in my life. I don't know what will happen later, but now I just want to lean on you, Eros." I replied softly.

After that, Eros stepped forward, leaving only an inch of distance between us. He grabbed the umbrella that I had been holding all this time with one of his hands, then I felt that he deliberately made the umbrella lower than before while he used his other idle hand to gently caress my cheek.

“Then I will allow you to come back and lean on me. But after this, I will never allow you to leave me again, Freshia.” Eros said very firmly. Then he rubbed my lower lip with his thumb and turned my face towards him, and then he kissed my lips and started to crush them slowly but surely.

I didn't stay silent and immediately returned the kiss. Now I put my two free hands on his firm jaw and give him gentle strokes there. Until a few minutes later the kiss broke. Who knows who ends it first, we don't care. What is certain is that we both know that in the kiss just now, neither party felt forced between us.

***

The next day I woke up and found myself in a very familiar room. The room I previously occupied was full of compulsion, but now I returned to this room because of my own conscious request. I laughed to myself in my heart, feeling funny about what was happening in my life. I betrayed the person who intended to save me to return to the person I previously hated the most and didn't want to be by his side. Ah, yes, speaking of that, how is Martin currently doing? Have his feelings for me now changed to hatred because I just left him after all the sacrifices he made for me?

But no matter what, I can't do anything that goes against my heart. I really couldn't go with him abroad as he had arranged for me. Shouldn't he ask first what I think about my own life choices? Not just deciding it just because he thinks it's the best for me. Why is everything upside down now? The people who used to be by my side became strangers to me. Meanwhile, now I choose to be with the person who previously hurt me the most. Actually, who is at fault?

I don't understand myself either. But now I just want to follow what my heart wants. I just wanted to try to lean on someone again after my grandmother, who was my support, left me forever. Am I wrong if I want it all?

Question after question started popping up in my mind and it made me question myself again. Is my decision this time correct?