The Secret Island
CHAPTER 60: He Had Changed

Click!

In the middle of the night, a small sound of a door being unlocked echoed throughout the office. At the end of this sound, everything was in absolute silence. A tall figure in black entered the room and looked around. The person was on a mission to find the missing material. It was important that everything in this room was thoroughly searched-every drawer, every shelf, even the small spaces between furniture. The sources informed what was needed was hidden in an object. Luckily, the night was long enough for a detailed search of every item.

******

"Martin! Stop making that face! What right do you have to make me feel this way? That was so embarrassing! Oh no, my parents will tease me for the whole next week! Martin! You are mad. Mad. Mad. You are mad!" Celine looked into Martin's teasing eyes and smirked, and continued her barraging him.

"So you want me to stop smiling? That's not going to happen. I'm just way too happy." He smiled at her nonchalantly, and his smile broadened.

When she looked at his bright smile again, she simply stopped and stared because she felt something stirring inside-the familiar feeling she had felt long ago. Because he rarely smiled, and every time he smiled, she felt it was some sort of a phenomenon that she unknowingly waited in the hope of witnessing it once more. He used to smile so often back then...

"Fine! You can smile all you want! And when will you finish breakfast? I need to go to work, do you know that?" Celine still kept on berating him, but she also reached for more fried eggs and ham on the table.

They were sitting at the dinner table at Celine's house. Once Celine looked out the window, she saw her parents sneaking around like young children and giggling.

Gosh...if you guys are observing us like a zoo animal like this, why don't you just record it or take a picture? Martin is just asking me out on a date and proposing a more serious relationship. This is just a normal courting situation. Why are you guys so excited? What's wrong with you? Papa! Mommy!

She thought sarcastically.

Suddenly, Celine was reminded of the answer she gave her papa.

"Celine! Darling, this young man, Martin, wants a serious relationship with you. What do you say?"

She remembered coming out of hiding and pretending as if nothing had happened; it was absolutely normal for one to sneak around in dark corners of one's house. But Martin was startled once he knew that she was there all along and probably listening to his serious speech.

"He can do whatever he wants. I don't mind." She said in a soft voice, not knowing what to do, how to behave in front of Martin.

"Celine, darling, what did you just say? I couldn't hear it." Her father was still teasing her, and that was borderline infuriating. Fine! Tease me all you want! Everyone! Just bully me with whatever trick you have!

"I told you that Martin could do whatever he wants. I don't mind! Whatever! OH MY GOD! What's all this about? Agh!" She couldn't do anything much but fuss about it and spoke in such a tone that she hoped her father would understand that she was frustrated with his teasing.

But papa being papa, he just couldn't stop. He probably thought it was something he had been looking forward to doing for a while.

"Celine darling, and what feelings do you have for this young man? Do you perhaps like him?" Her father added, but that was not as bad as the comment by her mother.

"No, I think you chose the wrong word. Like is a bit subtle, don't you think? Honey, do you love this man? I think..."

"STOP! Everyone! Please stop talking about this! No more discussion about my feeling or anyone's feelings! Whatever! I'm going!!!" Celine was so infuriated that she quickly strode back to her bedroom. And while she was on the way, she could still hear the laughter from her parents.

A while passed, and she went out of her room. It was almost time for work. She had a meeting waiting for her and some work to review at the office. As she walked out, Celine saw Martin sitting with her parents and having a meal together. Once they saw her, they quickly made their way out and semi-forced her to sit with him.

"Isn't the food here delicious? Why don't you eat anything? You have been sitting here a while." Celine wanted to sit quietly, but she couldn't do it for long. Being silent wasn't part of her character, so she asked Martin that simple question. He was slowly eating his meal as if he was in no rush to do anything.

"Food here is delicious... it is just that... I don't get used to this. I don't normally eat anything this early in the day. Usually, I only drink black coffee, and I'm good until late afternoon." Hmm? I thought you had a full breakfast in the morning usually?

Celine thought of the time they were together on the island. The image of him waking up early in the morning to exercise and then cook was the memory she could remember very vividly.

"You need to eat more, you know. I still remember you used to eat salad, some mashed potato, and all those healthy stuff, didn't you?"

"In recent years... I lost all my appetite, I went to many therapy sessions, and I'm trying to fix this, but well, I can't help it." He shrugged

"....." Again, there was more about him that I didn't know again.

"Now things are different, Martin. Things are getting better, isn't it?"

Her voice softened, and he turned to look at her.

"True. I know things are better... but I still can't get rid of my condition."

"Alright..."

Celine broke away from the eye contact and simply looked at her hands on her lap. She sat there waiting for Martin to slowly eat his breakfast. He finished everything and took the plates to the kitchen to wash, defying her housekeeper's protest, saying that he wanted to wash them himself.

When he went back, he found Celine on a sofa, typing furiously into her phone, listing all the work for her employees and reviewing some documents, and making all the decisions that had to be made that day. Martine asked her a question that made her shift her gaze from the phone.

"Celine, can I hold your hand? Let's go to your office. It's getting late."

Why did he always have to ask permission?

"Sure..."

As she extended her hand and waited for Martin to take it, that question lingered in her mind.