The Secret Island
Chapter 63: A gift

Memories are difficult to control. Images and events in the past often pop up in Martin's head as a movie that plays over and over again without any permission. But those memories stubbornly kept coming to him with only the slightest tricker or recurrent in a dream. For Martin... the only thing that could stop those bad memories was just a normal woman. The woman he had the courage to say he loved and hoped to give everything he had, even though she didn't request anything from him. Every time we held hands, every time our eyes met, every time he heard or felt the warmth of her body, his heart started to melt little by little...

Martin used to think it was practically impossible for him to reintegrate himself into normal society. He couldn't possibly bring back the old him, that stellar young man that everyone wanted to talk to.

Being alone steals all of his life experience away, but it reduces the risks of being exposed to all the negative triggers. But Celine made him think that the risks were worth it. He wanted to be a better man. He didn't have to be good enough for the whole world. He didn't have to be good enough for any of his friends or anyone else, not even his parents or anyone else in his else-Martin only thought he had to be good enough for Celine. That should be enough. And with that thought, Martin had tried so much to please her. And today was no different.

"Which color do you like? I think white might suit you perfectly." He broke his personal finance rules on expenses for her maybe once, twice, or more for her.

"Is that your attempt at being a sugar daddy?" Celine frowned as she considered each color for the expensive brand-named bags in front of her. There were a dozen being presented to her. Each one was at least a few thousand pounds. Martin asked Celine to pick any bag she liked. He said this was his way of thanking her for spending time with him last night. He was in such a stage that he lost half of his memories and felt guilty by the time he woke up. He never bought her anything, and he didn't know how to behave in dating. He heard that it was a good practice to buy gifts for a date-this used to be the notion that a former scholarship study like him disagreed with. But he could sense that buying a gift could be a very effective way of pleasing a date. He didn't know if it would please Celine, though.

"A sugar daddy? What do you mean?" He didn't think he was that in the slightest.

"You are making me feel like someone who has to be repaid with a gift in return for a very small act of kindness. Anyways, what got into you? You used to lecture me big time for spending too much money on shopping?" She really didn't understand him. Still, Celine observed each bag, unzipped the bag and inspected its inside, and touched the leather.

"I remember you like beautiful handbags, and I simply want to buy you one. Plain and simple. I just want to make you happy."

He said straightforwardly. And Celine's reply was a little louder than a mumble, and Martin could barely hear her.

"You already have my heart. What else do you want?"

"What? What did you just say?"

"Nah, nothing. I said this one is kind of pretty. But it's a shame that it's a little too expensive."

"Oh! The price shouldn't be an issue. I'll buy it for you. Anything you like."

"Hrr! That stingy man is now my sugar daddy. Time really changes a man."

"Pardon?" Martin seemed confused, and she could only laugh.

"Which one do you like? How about you choose the one you think is nice? And enough for a handbag. How about a briefcase for a laptop? It's a nice change. I already have too many handbags." She pointed to the leather briefcases on the shelf, and Martin spent some time considering the options.

"This one."

He picked her a leather briefcase.

That was all he did. Then Celine picked a color, held his hand, and walked to the cashier. But once Martin got out his credit card, he was in for a surprise.

"No, you don't have to pay for me this time. I am already earning quite a bit from my hard work. I can pay this for myself."

But his bigger surprise was what happened next-Celine paid for the briefcase that he thought was a bit too masculine for her usual taste, and she handed him the purchase and smiled.

"I bought this one for you, actually. Welcome to London. Consider this my welcome gift or something."

"Huh? I don't understand...."

"I remember that you like this light color or somewhere in this tone. And I think your old bag is getting old, and please use this new one. I think this one is great. You can put the books you like here. Do you like it? I know you chose it, but you picked it for me. Tell me, do you like it?"

He wanted to surprise her, but it was him being surprised. She looked at him with hope in her eyes.

"I do. I like it very much...." He didn't know what to say.

"Good..."

"Why..."

"I have way too many handbags already. And I don't want anything new this season. Also, consider it a welcome back gift and my thank-you gift for the time I depended on you on everything all those years ago." Martin was more than confused, but he extended his hand to take the gift. And every time he was confused, he could see Celine smiling as if she liked seeing him like this, confused at what was going on. "Why didn't you let me buy you anything?" He really didn't understand her.

"You got good memories, don't you? I once gave you an answer four years ago. Try to remember it."

"...." Martin searched his memories, and he couldn't remember anything she said that might answer his question.