The Secret Island
Chapter 72: Breakfast

We only had only more than a day to rest at this resort. And from the many things that happened. Celine was more than well-rested beyond explanation. The reason for this jolly mood was nothing and no one other than the man sitting next to her, sipping coffee and enjoying the view.

'Girls! Martin and I are official!' Celine typed this into the chat group with her girlfriends. She typed, but then she erased the text. Maybe this was not the right time just yet. If she typed that in, then her friends would reply, and some might call, and then she would end up spending the rest of the remaining of this short holiday talking to people other than Martin.

Also, she was not ready to endure the teasing from her friends about her falling head over heels for Martin. It was true, but she didn't exactly want to listen to all that now. She appreciated this time together with him. She had been waiting for exactly this for way too long. The time that she could casually sit next to him and tell him she loves him. She had been through a lot before this day that we were together like this.

"How's the food? Are you full already?" Martin asked, and she quickly hid her phone away before smiling at him.

"Oh, no, not yet. I haven't eaten the fruits yet."

"Alright, I will go get them for you." We were a bit far away from the resort breakfast buffet area, and Martin was such an enabler that he was willing to do anything that she wanted. But that was not what she wanted of him. No matter how much she liked what he did, she knew that this relationship dynamic was not favorable to us long-term. Besides, what she had in mind right now was to make sure that he regained his confidence, like the old Martin. He used to treat her as an equal and reprimand her for what he saw as wrong-like what she did just now, playing with her phone on the breakfast table. The old Martin would probably ask her to stop and give her some lecture about real human connectivity during a meal together.

While she was getting fruits for us, Celine looked back at our table. She saw Martin appreciating the view; the morning breeze blew through his hair, causing some strain of hair to cover part of his handsome face, but for a moment, he put that strain behind his ear. His hair was getting long, she thought. Maybe when we got back to town, she could bring him to her favorite barber.

The sight reminded her of the first day we met. She liked to secretly look at him like this. Under his quiet demeanor, Martin was thinking of something more complicated than she could understand. And that idea fascinated her. He was someone mysterious and fascinating to look at.

"Martin, some melon? Open your mouth."

"Huh?" He was startled to know that she was already back and had one hand holding a fork with a small piece of melon. She knew he didn't mind. It was just a simple act of affection from her. She found his confusion funny, but in the end, he did open his mouth for the melon anyway.

"Let's go for a swim together today." She asked while he was still chewing. The weather was not too cold, and surprisingly the weather forecast even predicted that there would be some sunlight in the afternoon. She remembered he mentioned that he was a really good swimmer. We swam together once, and that time was quite fun. She first saw him smile when we went for a swim.

Martin didn't reply. He was silent and kept looking at her. She knew straight away that something was on his mind and something was bothering him. He was figuring out a politically correct answer. Then he denied her request.

"I just want to read a book and sit on the beach. But please don't let me stop you. You can go ahead and swim. I will just be on the beach."

She didn't understand this rejection at all.

"No...I only want to swim because I want to swim with you!"

She asked him again, not knowing if that would work. She just wants to try.

Martin was quiet again. His face was unreadable. But deep down, she hoped he would agree. He once said her wish was his command, and so she had this unrealistic expectation that he might agree. She was wrong.

He shook his head. He avoided her gaze, and Celine frowned from not getting any explanation.

"Please...Celine. Not this time." His voice was soft. It was a simple plea. He turned his head to look at the vast landscape outside of the resort.

She was still unrelenting. With her natural curiosity, she asked for more explanation.

"Is there more to it I don't know?"

"........

"Martin...." Is this something she fears...

"I will tell you when I'm ready." And it was as she expected. His refusal had something to do with what happened to him. It was alright. She hoped that someday he would get better and healed. No matter what happened to him in the past, she will help him get through it. We were on the same team, after all. No matter how bad things were, the day he was ready to tell her, she would be right beside him and tell him things were all good now. It must be. We are together. "No worries." She smiled with understanding.

"Please tell me you are not mad." He still cared so much about what she felt. He had always been considerate towards her.

"How can I be mad at you about something this small? Nah, don't worry about it. We can just grab something to eat and walk along the beach once again. You know, appreciating the view. Do you like that?" "I'm sorry, Celine..."

"Martin... I'm not mad about this at all." She reached her hand to touch him in the act of encouragement. There was something that she didn't know about his past. And he was not ready to tell her. But again, she vowed to wait. "... Don't worry about it, Martin. I'm still holding your hand like this. No angry girlfriend is doing this, don't you know?" He was still lost in thought, maybe from what he remembered.

"Let's go walk around town, stroll along the beach, and enjoy the view. We can take more photos together. That already sounds so much fun to me. I also want a new couple of photos of us on my desk. Do you like the idea?" She walked across the table and hugged him.

"Yes..." Martin wrapped his arms around her waist and sighed.