The Secret Island
Chapter 65 Defying the Past

"You bastard! You are worthless! Your life is worthless!"

"Hahaha. Yes, he is just trash, just a service dog for those rich folks."

"Yes, yes, yes. It doesn't matter if he dies. He is just trash." "Oh... death is too easy..." Arghhhh!

Martin was abruptly woken up. He opened her eyes in the darkness. His body was sweating, and his heart was beating fast. He didn't realize where this place was. It took him some time to realize that he was no longer lying on the hard bed in prison, and he was no longer an inmate. This was a soft luxurious bed of an apartment in the heart of London. He looked at the clock on the bedside table. He found that it was only past five in the morning.

As soon as he rubbed his face to try to wake up, he found himself crying again. Crying... to the memory

The past is past. She just had to memorize that everything was over, and he was just obliged to forget it. He had to try. But deep down, Martin knew he couldn't do it.

His photographic memory is a two-edged sword. Every detail, sound, smell, sight, feeling... everything was still clear in his mind. Everything still recurred in his head, and every vicious scene happened over and over again; it repeatedly attacked him hundreds and thousands of times.

But things are starting to get better now. Everything is getting better.

When he was fully woken up, Martin tapped his hand on the empty space beside him... Tonight, Celine was not here...again...

Martin looked at the white sheets for a long time. Several days ago, Celine came to sleep in his room. She didn't want him to feel too lonely. But during this time, she was busy with work. And he didn't want to bother her that much. We just got along and spent each day together without much expectation. She told him she didn't want to date anyone else. And even though she implied that she still loved him... Martin still had a very important question. How should I ask her to be my girlfriend?

Do I just ask? Is it that easy? What are we? What is this relationship?

He was already at an age that really wanted to settle down and take a relationship seriously. He thought he could take care of a family. Regardless of what happened in the past, he could probably take care of someone well. He didn't know if Celine thought the same. We only had a short time together four years ago, and then we went our separate ways. He wondered if she really knew him, and if she did, could she really accept him?

He had a few relationships before her, and we ended things with similar reasons; they said he was cold, he avoided confrontation, and they felt like he wasn't that caring, he always had his work as the number one priority, and they never think he could truly love anyone.

He wondered if Celine thought the same.

Will he be the cause of her anguish one day?

Martin brewed himself a cup of coffee and watched the sunrise. It was his favorite activity in the morning. He felt calm, and when he did this, he thought of someone and what she told him.

"...Please, stop thinking that you are not good enough. I never think you are not good enough. Have you ever truly listened to me, to what I have to say..."

He didn't realize his negative self-talk until she said that.

Fine... he could try to view himself from a more positive perspective. He will try to stop thinking that he is not good enough. This might be difficult, but he would try. Because that was all he could do, he had to try. "How long do I have to wait? Should I be gray and old and unable to walk? My friends have kept teasing me about you for years."

Martin thought about her words again while he was finishing up his morning coffee and got dressed to go out.

What she asked of him-she didn't have to wait that long...

****

Celine looked up from her laptop and was slightly startled to see that Martin was already looking.

What is he on about?

"What is it, Martin?"

"Hm. Err. Well..." He was stunned, refusing to say anything.

"Just say what's on your mind."

"Let's build good memories together...." Martin said something confusing and looked away.

"Huh?" She tilted her head and looked at that shy man sitting on the couch in front of her. He is acting strange today. Usually, he just sat quietly, doing his things alone.

Why did he just suddenly ask me something like this today?

"Hmm...err...I haven't finished. I meant to also say that we should go on more trips together and get to know each other better."

So Martin was asking her out. The way he said it reminded her of when a guy was hitting on her when she was 14. He avoided her gaze and fidgeted the whole time while waiting for her answer. Well, well, well, he probably has more courage. "Do you think we don't know each other that well?" Celine looked at the person in front of her. Her defiant voice made Martin look up and meet her eyes.

"Can I get a chance to know you more?" He said that and avoided her gaze again.

"Where do you want to go?" She was curious if he had a plan.

He gave her a broad smile once he heard that. She saw him acting a lot younger these days, not like the uptight man she used to know.

She agreed that we should get more time together and get to know each other more. To think about it, we never got time to truly get to know each other. All we had was those two weeks together and the past weeks together. There were many things she wanted to know from him and to let him know her for what she was.

Celine used to think she knew him. She didn't know if she was still right. People changed. She had changed, and so did he. But at least we knew what each other really liked. Like this place that he said he wanted to take her to, if she guessed correctly, it must be...

"Somewhere we can see the ocean...." Martin said. He smiled. And that smile had an effect on her that she smiled too. Martin... oh, Martin... we already know each other quite well, don't you know?