Chapter 31: Chapter 31

The sun seeping through my open window awakened me. I yawned and rubbed my bleary eyes.

"Good morning, sunshine!" I relished the warm breeze of the morning.

I don't know why I feel so happy and high-spirited today despite having only six hours of sleep.

After washing my face and fixing the bed, I went downstairs. However, I didn't see anyone. So I went back to check on Greyson in his room, but didn't find him there either. I tried knocking on Garren's door, but no one answered either.

When I headed to the kitchen, I saw a sticky note attached to the food cover. It says, "Take your breakfast before you go outside."

I'm pretty sure this is not Greyson penmanship. It leaves me with a definite answer... it's Garren who wrote this note.

"Why would he do that, though?"

I brushed that off and started feasting on the breakfast served on the table.

After I was done with all my morning rituals, I stormed out of the villa. And there, I saw Greyson swimming on the beach with his father is sitting on the shoreline. The former was the first one who saw me approaching them.

"Why are you swimming this early? You might catch a cold."

He giggled. "I can manage, don't worry."

I looked down at Garren and greeted him, "Good morning, sir."

He simply nodded his head. I sat beside him, but there's still space between us. We watch his son play with the water.

"What time did Greyson wake up?" I initiated a conversation.

"He woke up at six because he wanted to witness the sunrise. He even barged into my room just to accompany him," he replied.

I scrunched up my nose. "I should've woken up earlier today too. I missed that sunrise."

"We still have a lot of days to spend here, you can witness the sunrise some other time."

"You're right."

I don't know if it's just me, but the air between us became lighter. I mean, I am still not completely at ease with him, but his presence doesn't put me on tenterhooks anymore.

Moreover, the mere sight of him doesn't make my blood oil. I guess the talk that we had last night really helped.

"Staring is rude."

My cheeks flushed. I immediately tore my gaze. I didn't even know that I was already staring at him!

"But come to think of it, I can't blame you for staring at me."

He grinned from ear to ear and looked at me.

"I'm such a sight to behold. I know you can't resist me too."

I was flabbergasted. I mean, being arrogant runs in the veins of every men, but this is Garren that we're talking about!

He's a jackass most of the time, but I've never heard him get arrogant with his looks. This the first time.

He must have noticed the disbelief on my face and discarded the smirk on his face.

"Don't mind what I said."

He's being off the wall.

On that day, just like what Garren had promised his son, we went jet skiing. It was my first time doing that- and I think it's my newfound favorite water sport activity next to surfing. We also visited other tourist spots inside the premises of Koloumbus Island.

"Where are we really going, dad?" Greyson asked curiously while we were heading out of the resort.

It was already five in the early afternoon, and Garren announced that we're going somewhere else.

"We're heading to Akrotiri Lighthouse."

This is the first time first time I've heard of that place.

"What are we going to do there?"

"That's a secret. The surprise will be ruined if I tell you now."

"I'm getting more curious."

He chuckled. "You gotta wait a little longer, son."

When we exited the resort, we were greeted by a black Lamborghini, that turns out we'll be using to reach the lighthouse. The man beside the car approached us.

The ride lasted for almost fifteen minutes. When we stepped out of the car, my breath was taken away at how panoramic the scenery is. We can see the entire view of Santorini from our spot. In front of us is the white lighthouse that Garren's talking about.

I closed my eyes to relish the soft breeze fondling against my skin. The high altitude of the place made the temperature really chilly. I should've brought a cardigan with me.

While I'm rubbing my arms to fend off the cold, a jacket was suddenly wrapped around my shoulders.

I turned around only to see Garren walking towards his son, who's running around and admiring the beautiful scenery.

I glanced at his jacket, then I looked at him. I'm pretty sure that anyone will sight the obvious bewilderment written all over my face.

"Just be grateful to him," my internal goddess interjected.

I shrugged my shoulders. We headed inside the lighthouse and climbed upstairs till we reached the gallery deck. It's a platform that circles the tower just below the lantern room.

"Dad's jacket looks good on you."

My cheeks turned crimson red, seeing the puckish grin plastered on Greyson's face. I gave Garren a once-over, but he doesn't seem to mind his son's teasing.

I jokingly glared at the kid, but he just laughed it off and turned to his father. "Are you going to tell us now why we are here, dad?"

The latter smiled and looked at his wrist watch. "Wait for five more minutes."

Greyson and I were both confused. But as he said, we stood near the railings in silence and waited.

Suddenly, the sky changes its color. The bright sun hanging over the horizon gradually melts, painting the effervescent ether with a resplendent orange and red tinge, like an artist's canvas.

As if God graffitied rainbow-flame upon the incoming evening sky, the sunset came in its boldest blaze.

As the sun hides beneath the clouds, the buildings and establishments below us slowly light up, like fireflies on a poet's lake, celebrating the night that is about to veil the entire city in its mystifying darkness.

"Wow." That was the only word that I could mutter as I witnessed the splendid skyscape in amazement.

"I've always been in love with sunset."

My peaceful trance was disrupted when Garren spoke out of the blue. I looked behind him and saw Greyson taking pictures.

"Every time I'm at work, I always take a pause during the afternoon just to watch the sky change its hue," he added.

"Why do you adore them, sir?" I asked so he wouldn't feel like he was talking to a ghost.

He shrugged. "Sunsets are mysterious. The way darkness slowly creeps over the horizon gives me a sense of mystery."

His eye bore into me. Strange as it may seem, but for the very first time, his gaze didn't make me uneasy. And so I look back at him.

"And I've always been fascinated with mysteries. I love things that puzzle and confuse me."

I swallowed a lump. The sun hitting his face emphasizes his features, and if it's a crime to say that he looks majestic at this moment, then I plead guilty.

"I love things that make me question my sanity."

•••••

"It doesn't suit me."

I heaved out a deep sigh and took off the blouse.

It has been three days since we arrived at the island, and I'm having the time of my life so far. I should really thank Greyson for convincing his father that I come with them.

Speaking of Garren, he told us this afternoon that we would attend a party that would be hosted by the resort. He said that it's always been their tradition to have a knees-up for the tourists of Koloumbus Island every Wednesday night.

That's why I'm fumbling to find decent clothes to wear later.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Yes?"

"Dad said to hurry up. We will go out in twenty minutes." Greyson replied.

"Alright! I'll come out in a while!"

The next thing I heard is his running footsteps.

I blew a fuse and went back to rummaging in the closet. And after decades of contemplation, I decided to just wear a casual maxi dress.

After I got a jacket, in case I get cold, so I don't need to use Garren's, I stormed off my room.

"Woah! You're so pretty!"

My heart warms with Greyson's compliment. "Thank you, baby."

My eyes went to Garren, who's sitting beside him on the long couch. My forehead creased when I caught him looking at me from head to toe.

He shrugged his shoulders and mouthed, "Not bad."

My nose flared up. And what does he mean by that?! Was that supposed to be a compliment? Because I swear, it ticks me off.

I chose to ignore him. I held his son's left hand as we walked through the venue of the party. Garren is trailing behind us.

Suddenly, I remember what he said yesterday at the lighthouse. I still recall the words he said, and it honestly got me thinking.

"I love things that confuse me- things that make me question my sanity."

That was the weirdest shit I ever heard from him. Not to mention that he was weirdly looking at me while saying those things.

"You're just imagining things. Why would he look at you?" My subconscious mind chimed in.

Why am I fretting over that stuff anyway?

As we walked further, the sound of stereos became clearer. When we finally reached the venue, the sight of flip-flop garlands and other beach-themed designs greeted us.

The venue is actually just a simple gazebo tent near the beach. But they did a great job decorating it. There are a few kids there as well, so Greyson isn't out of place at all.

When I looked in front, musical instruments were placed on a small stage.

"A band will perform later."

I turned to Garren, who spoke out of the blue. He must have noticed me staring at the stage curiously.

"Have you been here before, sir?" I asked as we settled ourselves on the vacant table.

He shook his head. "No. The last time that I've been on a beach vacation was two years ago."

"Same," I responded.

His forehead puckered. "Why? You were busy with work too?"

I huffed. "How I wish that was the reason why I couldn't go on vacation. But it's not. I'm just too broke to have one."

I was surprised to hear a faint laugh from him.

"Sucks to be you."

I rolled my eyes. "You don't need to rub it off my face."

Greyson coughed out of the blue. He's smirking from ear to ear. A flush crept up to my cheeks.

"You guys seem close now. I wonder what happened, dad, Cleo?" He asked mischievously.

I suddenly feel like a cat on hot bricks. If he hadn't mentioned that, I wouldn't have realized that I wasn't addressing Garren "sir" while talking to him just a minute ago.

I should really always remind myself to keep the boundaries between us. We may have settled the enmity between us, but we're still not friends. Moreover, he's my boss.

Garren chuckled at his son's remark. He doesn't seem flustered by it at all.

"I'll get food. What do you want to eat?" I asked Greyson to put off the topic.

He giggled, as if he knew my hidden agenda for asking that question. Then he looked at the buffet table. His eyes glimmered, seeing the chocolate fountain and some cookies around it.

"I want that!" He shrieked excitedly.

"Alright." I too the guts and turned to Garren. "Aren't you going to eat, sir?"

"I'm not yet hungry."

So, I went to the buffet table alone. Aside from the snack sections, there are main course dishes too. There are salad platters as well.

But what really caught my attention is the barbecue section. The resort staff are grilling different meats and handing them to the tourists, and their mouth-watering, smokey smell is making me salivate. I want to get some, but the line is too long.

I averted my gaze from the barbecue and resumed what I'm doing. After I put food on my plate, I went back to our table. I frowned when I saw that it was only Greyson sitting there.

"Where's your dad?"

He pointed at something, and I was shocked to see him lining up at the barbecue section.

My forehead creased. I thought he's not yet hungry?

I took my eyes from him. "Dig in now. I heard that the light show will start in a while."

"What about you?"

I shook my head. "I'll wait for your dad."

The corner of his lips tugged upward.

I hissed. "Whatever you're thinking right now, stop it. I'm waiting for him because it might be disrespectful to eat without him."

"If you say so."

I scrunched my nose, knowing that he's doubting what I said. I don't know why he's teasing me with his father.

We're not even friends to begin with.