Chapter 26: Chapter 26

My eyebrows furrowed at what he said. What does he mean by that?

"Cleo."

I faced Garren. "Yes, sir?"

"We need to go now. Stop standing there looking stupid."

I felt my hackles rising. Curse him.

We rode in a black car once again that led to the hotel.

"Cleo, look! The ocean looks so great on this side!" Greyson shrieked, peeking through the window.

When I took a look at it, I was in awe. I saw the golden rays of the sun reflecting on the surface of the crystal clear ocean. It does really look beautiful.

As the car moves, I notice that the traces of the metropolis are gradually fading into view. I can barely see any infrastructures, and both sides of the road are covered with a canopy of trees and tall grass.

Where are we heading exactly?

After almost a twenty-minute drive, the car finally stopped.

"We're here," Garren announced.

I helped Greyson unbuckled his seat belt and he excitedly stepped out of the car. I shook my head. He's full of beans today.

The humid sea breeze and the rays of the sun kissed my skin as soon as I got out of the car. The fine white sand beneath caresses my feet. I looked up and saw the "Koloumbus Island" signage on the wooden archway.

I roamed my eyes around. The word "beautiful" will not be enough to define the island. The enticing scent of the washed-up waves, the stiff cliffs in the distance, the white-painted villas, and the coconut trees add to the picturesque setting. Every corner of this place speaks of resplendence.

This island seems like a point wherein fantasy and reality are intertwined. It's like continuing a wonderful dream after waking up.

I closed my eyes and inhaled a lungful of fresh air, relishing the tranquility and the breath of serendipity. Damn, I wish I could live in this paradise forever.

"You look unhinged doing that."

I was pulled out of my peaceful trance when someone spoke from behind. I turned around and saw Garren giving me a weird look.

This is the second time that he called me stupid just for this day.

"I was just admiring the beauty of the island, sir." I shammed a smile.

"Whatever. Go help us carry our luggage to our villa."

I nodded my head and got our belongings from the car trunk. We were greeted by a woman as we headed inside the hotel. She introduced herself as the hotel's owner.

Garren gave me the key and told us to go first to the villa where we are going to stay. My jaw dropped to the floor when I saw that it's almost as big as an actual two-storey house.

I thanked the man who helped me carry all the luggage. He was also the one who drove us here.

He simply nodded and turned his back.

I looked around the house. It looks elegant for a villa. There's even a chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

"Cleo! Can you please help me find my rash guard?"

"You want to swim now?"

He nodded fervently while racking his own luggage.

"We need to rest and eat first before you do that."

He sat on the floor. "Can't I do that after swimming?"

I shook my head. "No. You need to stuff yourself first."

He pouted. "Fine."

I ruffled his hair. "Bottle up your excitement for now. You can swim as long as you want later."

Garren emerged from outside and helped me carry the baggages upstairs where the bedrooms are situated.

"I'll have the middle room," Greyson answered when his father asked him which room he wanted to take.

"Alright." He unexpectedly turned to me. "What about you?"

I was flabbergasted. It was unlikely of him to ask my opinion.

"I'll take this," I replied, pointing at the room right beside Greyson's.

"I'll call you two for lunch," he said before walking to his own room.

I shrugged my shoulders. I helped Greyson arrange his clothes and other stuff first before I did mine.

I was able to rest for a bit before Garren knocked on the door.

"Lunch is ready," he informed.

"I'll follow you downstairs, sir."

He didn't respond and just walked away. I'm getting used to it, though.

I quickly fixed myself before I headed downstairs, where I saw Garren and Greyson. My lips curled into a smile when I saw the latter excitedly telling something to his father.

"Oh, Cleo's here! Let's go!" Greyson was the one who saw me first.

After we locked the door, we headed  outside. I don't actually know where we are heading. I'm just following Garren.

While we were walking along the seaside, I let my eyes relish the beauty of the island. The water is as clear as crystal that I can see the depths of the sea. There are multitudes of greenery and lush foliage around that look like they were painted on.

We stopped in front of a cave-like house. Two people assisted and led us inside. Much to my astonishment, there's a table in the middle and the food are prepared already. The lamps hanging around and the scented candles made the settings looks romantic and magical.

"Control your voracious demon," I whispered to myself as I saw the mouth-watering foods that were served.

We sat at the table and started eating. I'm not really familiar with all these cuisines, but that didn't stop me from enjoying them.

"This place is awesome, dad," Greyson remarked while eyeing the cave-like house. "I wonder how they are able to build this."

"Do you want to have something like this too?" Garren asked.

I just listened to their conversation in discreteness.

"Of course I would love too!"

"Alright. Once you finish pre-school, I'll buy an island under your name and ask my engineer friend to build something like this."

"Really?!"

"Anything for you."

I shook my head. Rich people love throwing money around like it's nothing.

After we ate lunch and rested for a bit, we headed back to our villa.

While walking, I noticed that there were only a few tourists and people around. I couldn't see any trace of residence on the island either. It seems like this place is secluded. A marble statue also caught my attention. It's a naked woman holding a shell. Whoever sculpted this did a really great job because the details are immaculate.

The three of us went to each other's rooms to change clothes. I decided to wear a simple white breezy top and a classic green chino short since I'm not really in the mood to swim right now.

"What are you wearing?"

That was the first thing that Garren asked me as soon as he saw me.

"A shirt and-"

"I know. I'm not blind," he cuts me off.

Then why did he bother to ask?!

"You look like a crap. Don't you have swimming attire with you?"

I heaved out a sigh. "I have, sir. But I'm not really in the mood to swim, so I'm not wearing it."

He scoffed but didn't say anything. Why does he care so much about what I'm wearing?!

I covertly scanned his entirety. He's sporting a white polo shirt with three buttons down and board shorts. He's not wearing anything extravagant, and yet his appearance demands attention.

After a few minutes, Greyson came out of his room wearing a rash guard.

"Let's go!"

He excitedly pulled us outside. He screamed jovially when the water touched his feet. That made me smile.

This kid deserves a break from all the pain that he's been through. After all the silent battles that he faced alone, he deserves to feel nothing but bliss.

I'm really glad that Garren is doing everything to redeem himself. This is the least that he can do to atone for all the things he has done to me—to be a better father to the kid I care about.

I sat on the shore where the water could only touch my feet, watching Greyson having the time of his life.

"Aren't you going to swim?"

I looked up at Garren beside me- and that was an absolute wrong decision. I quickly looked away when I saw that he was taking off his polo.

"Y-Yes, sir."

I badly want to castigate myself for stuttering. Not to mention that my cheeks are heating up!

This is already the third time that I've seen him naked, but the feeling of discomfort is still there. I think there's something wrong with me.

"You're no fun."

He strode towards his son and began teaching him how to swim. I just sat on the shore and watched them.

"Cleo!"

I looked at Greyson when he called me.

"Aren't you going to swim?"

"I'm not yet in the mood!" I shouted because they're quite far from me.

His face contorted. He ran towards me, and I was startled when he splashed water on me, damping my hair and some portions of my clothes.

"Why did you do that?!"

He giggled. "Don't be a party pooper and join us! You look like a lone wolf there!"

He grabbed my wrist and forced me to stand up. I had no choice but to let him pull me. My plan to just sit on the shore was now gone as I felt the water soaking my entire body.

"Don't just stand there and have fun!" Greyson whipped me up.

I chuckled. "You're stubborn as a mule."

The longer I stay on the water, I started to loosen up.

"I now know how to swim! Watch me!" Greyson smugly smiled at me.

I arched my brows. "Let me see it."

He excitedly showed me what his father taught him. He submerged in the water and started kicking his legs.

True to his words, he had already learned the fundamentals of swimming and how to do freestyle strokes. He's a fast learner.

"Did you see that?!" He proudly asked.

I beamed heartily. "I must say, that's pretty impressive."

He held his chin up. "One day, I will join the Olympics!"

I patted his head. "I support you on that."

I glanced at Garren, who was watching us with crossed arms. There's a subtle smile plastered on his face.

He must have noticed my stares and turned his head to look at me.He scowled and mouthed, "What?"

I looked away and castigated myself. I decided to go further instead of staying in the shallow part of the water.

I'm walking carefully on the bedrock, testing the depth of the water. I don't want to get shocked and had my winds up because that might put me in danger.

My heart starts racing inside my chest when the water level reaches my chest. It's been a long time since I've done swimming. That's why I'm really nervous at this moment.

I took a deep breath before I plunged myself beneath the water. I started paddling my feet. I got up when I felt that I was already running out of breath.

Fortunately, I didn't drown.

"Your posture when swimming is really bad. It may harm you."

I jerked when I heard a voice. I turned around only to see Garren behind me. I took a look at the shore and saw his son building a sand castle.

"You're overusing your shoulder and arm muscles while barely using your legs and hips. That causes you to have a hunched-over posture and might impair your body alignment, which slows you down in the water."

I gave him a stern look. I didn't get anything from what he said.

I puffed out a heavy breath. "I'm not really good at this, sir. Also, it's been a long time since I've been in a beach."

"I can see that."

That was one of the most insulting responses I've heard.