We finally arrived at the hacienda, and it had been a few days since Logan and I had a proper conversation. He used to be playful but not very talkative. However, now he seemed like an open book, eager to share his stories. I enjoyed listening to him as we traveled to the manor, finding entertainment in his words.
Honestly, I missed this side of him. I missed his subtle smiles and the way he raised his eyebrows when I said something silly. Every moment spent with him felt precious, and I wanted to cherish these moments.
"So, what now? I have work to do," I said with a smile.
"Work? No, I brought you here as a guest. Relax, you don't have any reason to work for me," he replied. However, my smile faded when he said that.
It wasn't a secret that I hated the idea of working as a servant at the hacienda. Going from a luxurious life to a countryside with fewer resources was difficult to accept. I almost had nothing. I couldn't say I was poor because we weren't, but the thought of being responsible for damaging an expensive antique vase was annoying.
But suddenly, my heart changed. All I wanted was to think about how to stay by his side. I couldn't imagine a life without him. Just the thought of it gave me a little heartache.
"Why? I still have two weeks left, you know. Don't you want to see me anymore?" I asked, expressing my desire to stay by his side. I wasn't sure if I could bear the thought of leaving him, considering how much he meant to me.
He seemed surprised by my reaction, and I hoped he wasn't annoyed or turned off. All I wanted was to be transparent about my emotions. I had been holding them back for days, and they were about to burst. I wanted to tell him how much I missed him, but I couldn't find the courage to do so. Perhaps I was also afraid of rejection and the countless "what ifs." What if I misinterpreted his signals? What if it was all just kindness and friendliness? I was overthinking, and I hated it.
"All I meant was that you don't have to work here, but it doesn't mean we won't see each other. Trust me when I say that every weekend, you should be here. Maybe we can relax, enjoy a sunny day, take a break, have some tea, chat like usual, swim in the falls, or even ride horses..." he suggested, making it sound like a date.
When he confirmed that I was still welcome at the hacienda, I couldn't help but smile. I saw him pause for a moment, and then he smiled back at me.
"So, what will I do here then?" I asked, genuinely curious.
He acted as if he were thinking for a moment. "Alice told me something," he began, mentioning the girl I knew all too well. Sometimes, Alice couldn't keep her mouth shut when she needed to.
"What did that girl say now?" I couldn't help but sound a little annoyed. We were sitting in the gazebo for no particular reason, just enjoying the beautiful flower garden surrounding us. I had developed a fondness for flowers.
"She said you can't ride a bicycle," he suddenly said, and I didn't know whether to calm down or get even more annoyed by his words. Especially now that he was laughing so much.
"Happy?" I asked, my irritation showing.
"Haha, I'm sorry. Why haven't you learned how to ride a bike?" he inquired. Excuse me, is it a requirement in life to learn how to ride a bike?
I mean, I'm sure I'm not the only one. Just like swimming, there are other people who can't swim! Besides, we had a driver back then.
"I tried when I was younger, but I had a minor accident. It wasn't serious, but my big brother and Dad didn't let me ride a bicycle ever since," I explained.
"Are you still willing to learn?" he asked, surprising me.
My eyes widened. "Yes, of course! I envy others because they're so good at riding bicycles. I also want to learn how to ride one..." I said enthusiastically.
"Then let's go? I'll teach you the basics," he offered.
"You have a lot of time, huh?" I teased him, wondering why he seemed so free today. I was genuinely curious.
"For how many weeks did we not see each other? I kept myself busy to distract myself from the fact that you were mad at me," he confessed. And there I was, unable to shake off the guilt I felt. I had wronged him, and I deserved to feel guilty.
"Actually, David told me everything too. I thought that night was just a plan to humiliate me. Of course, I went along with his grandmother's plan. I was also scared that you would be angry with me," I admitted.
"Why would I be angry with you? I'm the one who planned it without consulting you. I never considered how you would feel," he responded sincerely.
I shook my head. "Let's forget about that. It's not important. What matters now is that we're okay, right?"
He smiled at me, and my heart melted. "Let's go."
And so, a horse was ready for us. Logan took the reins, and we set off for the park. It was a private park with few people around.
"So, are you ready?" he asked, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
I nodded. "Let's go..."
At first, I struggled. Learning to ride a bike wasn't something that happened instantly. But Logan was patient with me, determined to teach me.
I had never seen a man who could be so serious and patient. Whenever I was about to fall, he would quickly catch up to me, running to save me.
"You know, I won't learn if I don't fall. You make me feel safe to the point that sometimes I feel like I can be careless. Let me learn," I told him, grateful for his support.
He nodded, understanding my words.
We tried several times until I could pedal for a few minutes without losing my balance.
"Ahh!" I shouted as I lost my balance once again. Logan immediately ran towards me, concern evident in his eyes. I had a few scratches, but they were nothing serious.
"It's bleeding," he said, lifting me up as if we were a couple.
I squealed as he carried me in a bridal style. With my face lifted and his handsome face in full view, a strange feeling stirred in my heart.
I could feel the firmness of his chest, and my breathing became irregular with the excitement I felt. What kind of magic was this?
"Hey, I can walk! We'll leave the bikes behind," I protested, trying to insist on getting down. But he held me even tighter.
I could feel the strength of his muscles and his abs against my body.
And I couldn't help but scold myself for having these wild thoughts and fantasies. I wasn't the most religious person, but may God forgive me for desiring this man.
Who could resist such a godly figure, reminiscent of Greek mythology?
I covered my face in embarrassment, but eventually, I buried my face in his firm chest. He laughed, and I could feel the vibrations against my cheek.
If Kyla and Alice were here, they would probably be screaming with excitement.
We returned to the mansion, and Logan got a first-aid kit to clean and bandage my scratches.
"I don't know if I should regret teaching you how to ride a bike. Your smooth skin got scratched," he said playfully.
I laughed and playfully tapped his broad shoulder, ironically hurting myself because of how firm it was.
"You know, don't mind my skin. It will heal," I reassured him.
"Okay, Krystal," he said, using the name that he seemed so fond of. But to me, it reminded me of my old friends and the betrayal I had experienced. It left a bitter taste in my mouth, and I preferred not to dwell on it.
"I know... But I dislike that name. I'm aware that you've investigated my background information. You know about my family's status and how our world has changed. Ever since we weren't as wealthy as before, I realized that there are things we can't see when we're too happy. It's unfortunate that I only learned too late how my old friends were using me.
"There are people who won't stand by you in times of need. Instead, they all pushed me away because I no longer fit into their circle."
Logan embraced me, knowing that I was feeling down. I had been through a lot, and the feeling of betrayal still weighed heavily on my heart.
"Trust me, they don't deserve you," he said, comforting me with his words. "It's okay because you found your new home."
I thought about my new friends—Alice, who always supported and stood by my side, Kyla, who brought laughter and encouragement, and our two boys, Christian and Lance, who never failed to make me happy. I was truly fortunate to have them in my life.
"Right, I should be grateful that I finally found my true and good circle of friends," I said, feeling content.
"And me, you found me too," he said, his tone slightly arrogant.
"Excuse me? Maybe I found you. Who was the one who trespassed, hmm?" I teased him.
"I never saw anything at that time. And may I remind you who trespassed?" he retorted.
I rolled my eyes, savoring the playful banter between us. "Yes, yes, it was me."
We laughed together, and he even tickled me playfully. In the midst of our laughter, his hand accidentally touched my scratches, causing me to wince in pain.
He immediately took action, blowing gently on the area I felt pain. It was a sweet gesture, and I could tell he genuinely cared.
"Does it still hurt? I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to touch it," he said, showing his concern.
He knelt in front of me while I sat, and from that perspective, I couldn't help but see him as someone I wanted to be with.
I had never felt this way about someone before. If it wasn't him, then I would be grateful for everything as it was.