Purple Romance

Lisa noticed he was looking at the knife mark on her cleavage and she used her free hand to pull her blouse up, covering it well before looking away. She bit her lips trying to keep the tears away. This was her war, her world and she didn't expect him or anyone else to understand her.

Leslie looked away and closed the ointment as he spoke, ''don't let water get to it. You can send the rest of the supplies home and treat the scald with it. Make sure you apply the ointment and be careful when you sleep. Don't force the blisters to open and don't go near fire for a while'' he realised she was holding a lot of secrets. Dark secrets and he didn't know whether he was ready to dig deeper or not? He suddenly felt conflicted.

''Alright, stop nagging like a granny. Why did you even stay back?'' Lisa asked him. She didn't understand why he had stayed back and even helped treat her wounds.

''I'm watching the sea with you''

''Why? Are you here to make sure I don't commit suicide? Don't worry. Even the most times I felt shitty, I never tried to kill myself. Life is so precious; why should I die that easily. I should try my best to live''

''You sure know how to live life to the fullest'' Leslie opened one of the drinks and gave it to her.

''Thanks''

''Welcome, also, I called Andy to pick up your friend''

''I guess all the sex paid off''

''All the sex?'' Leslie asked and looked at her, ''oddly enough I feel hurt by your words right now''

''Really?'' Lisa chuckled and looked at him, ''wow, you really look hurt. But, why thought? It is true that we are sex partners''

''We are indeed sex partners'' Leslie said, not bothering to go further, but the way he said it also made Lisa feel hurt. She looked at him for a while and heard him ask, ''why do you look at me like that? don't tell me you've fallen for me?''

''Let's break of our contract'' she said to him.

''Why?''

''Because we said we should never try to find out about each other personally''

''What I saw was an accident and I am only sitting here with you, but I never asked you what happened inside there. did I?''

''You are right. You didn't ask me''

''I am trying not to be nosy. I am only here because I don't want your mood to affect your sex life'' he lied. He didn't know why he couldn't tell her that he was worried and afraid of losing her. When she drove pass the traffic lights, he was scared that he wouldn't be able to save her in time, just like he couldn't save her that time.

''Thanks for calling Andy to pick up Paula'' Lisa said and looked away. Her hand on the can tightened and she bit her lips. She didn't know what she was feeling.

''Get up, I know what will make you feel better'' he said and pulled her up.

''What are we going to do?''

''Build a sand house. If you succeed, I will give you a reward''

''A reward? That sure has my attention now'' Lisa said and squatted, she started gathering the shore sand towards her.

''I will also build mine'' Leslie said and just like that, they began to play with the sand. Building their sand houses and throwing sand at each other as they laughed happily. Lisa smiled so brightly that Leslie paused and was staring at her.

''Why are you staring at me like that?'' Lisa asked

''You are beautiful'' he said and kissed her and she responded before they laughed and went back to playing around.

Paula was quiet throughout the ride. She didn't look at Andy and just stared outside the window. She didn't know how to face him. She couldn't forget of what happened between them the day before and his father's warning kept ringing in her ears.

She turned to look at him when she saw that he had pulled over, ''why did you suddenly pull over?'' she asked him.

''I saw a man selling coconut fruits behind us. let's go and get some to drink'' Andy undid his seatbelt.

''Huh? Oh'' Paula answered awkwardly and got down with him. He waited for her and took unhurried steps, walking along with her pace until they got to the man who had a large table of coconut fruits selling. He had already peeled some of it and inserted a straw into them.

''How is the coconut?'' Andy asked and removed his wallet.

The man looked at them and smiled before picking one of the peel coconut. He gave it to Paula saying, ''let me give this to your wife, first''

Paula blushed and waved her hand at him, ''no, I am not his wife'' she quickly added and the man laughed.

''Aye, look at the man. He is clearly displeased by your words. He clearly has the hocks for…''

''How much is the coconut?'' the man's words were cut off by Andy's voice which sounded a little harsh.

The man smiled warmly and gave the coconut to them saying, ''when you finally get her heart, you can come back and pay me for the coconut. Until then, this one is on me''

''Huh?'' Andy was taken aback by the man's reply. He realised he was a little harsh and nodded his head slightly saying, ''I will definitely come back and pay you''

When he said that, Paula looked at him. Her face became red as she drunk the coconut water from the coconut. Andy turned and caught her gaze and she quickly looked away.

After drinking the coconut water, Andy took the coconut from Paula and handed it over to the man before saying to her, ''let's go''

''Oh'' Paula answered and walked away with him back to the car. He opened the door for her and she got inside.

When Andy started the car, Paula looked at him and bit her lips. It seemed she had something to say but didn't know how to say it.

''Say it'' Andy said and looked at her as he drove away.

''You… nothing'' she said and lowered her gaze. She wanted to ask him what he meant by the reply that he gave to the man but she realised it was a foolish thing to ask.

''Paula'' Andy mentioned her name.

''Yes?''

''Come and work for me. I thought that you would start today but after waiting for you, I didn't see you until I got Leslie's call''

''You… waited for me?''

''Yes, I told you. I want to work with you but you never gave me your reply after yesterday''

''Yesterday, can I ask you a question?''

''Go ahead''

''About yesterday, why did you do that? I mean there were a lot of ways to prove to that jerk that we were lovers. You… didn't exactly have to kiss me to prove that to him. Are you not afraid that I might misunderstand your actions?''

''You are allowed to misunderstand my actions''

''You…?''

''Whatever you are thinking is correct, I think I might just like you. But, you don't have to give me an answer right now. I am only telling you how I feel. When you are confident enough to take that step, then, you can give me a reply, then''

Paula's face turned even redder as she looked at him. He looked so normal. She almost felt like he wasn't the one who said those words to her because he was very calm and looked ahead of the road as he spoke.

''I will work for you. I will report to the hotel tomorrow'' Paula said to him.

''Really?''

''En''

''Then, I will prepare your appointment letter and coat for you. Since you are going to be supervising the kitchen, you will be reporting directly to me and Godiva. You remember her, right?''

''I do. I embarrassed myself in front of her. Gosh, I feel so self-conscious suddenly''

''You were really a handful then. Do you always jump to conclusions like that?''

''Depends on the situation. When I am anxious, I tend to overthink things and then end up drawing my own conclusions of things''

''I see'' he smiled and looked at her.

''Your father came to see me this morning'' Paula said to him. She didn't know why but she didn't want to hide it from him, in the case that her words be distorted later on.

Andy stopped the car at once and turned to face her, ''are you alright?'' he inspected her body.

''You father wouldn't beat me. Would he? You look as if he could harm me physically''

''I am just worried. what did he say to you?''

''He told me to stop seeing you and that you are engaged''

''What did you tell him?''

''I told him I would, but he should tell you instead because you will still look for me even if I refuse to meet you''

''Good girl. You did well. Thank you for telling me this, I promise it won't happen again''

''No worries''

''So, tomorrow I will pick you up to work''

''No, I can find my way there''

''I am pursuing you right now, Paula. I want to make you fall for me fast'' he said and Paula looked away and smiled.