Chapter 12

From the beach to Ansel Balder's mansion, Daphne Tjia was speechless. They will live together. Ansel Balder took Daphne Tjia up the stone steps. The Mediterranean-style house has a natural white stone facade decorated with tiny lamps in front of it. The closer to the door, Daphne Tjia's heartbeat grew louder, almost ripping her chest cavity.

"Why are your hands icy cold?" asked Ansel Balder.

Daphne Tjia grimaced. Ansel Balder is like a seasoned actor. A moment soft, a moment overflowing. She didn't expect a man as calm as Ansel Balder to have such a big appetite. Daphne Tjia let go of Ansel Balder's hand to cover her red and hot face.

"Are we going to be together?" asked Daphne Tjia.

"Would you like to sleep at the orphanage instead?" provoked Ansel Balder with an amused laugh.

"No, no. Of course not." The fine hairs all over Daphne Tjia's body bristled. The kids always managed to give her goosebumps.

Ansel Balder turned the key to open a sturdy-looking wooden door. Daphne Tjia shouldn't be surprised to see the living room of a human house as rich as Ansel Balder looks like the cover of a home decor magazine. A small extinguished fireplace was at the very back of the living room. The white sofas that look soft are arranged in such a way that they look harmonious with the fleece rug that is held in the middle of the living room.

"Come here, I have prepared a room for you."

On the right and left of the living room, many arches connect to other rooms. Ansel Balder opened one of the doors. How surprised Daphne Tjia was when the scent of lavender came upon her when the door was opened. The suitcase containing his clothes stood neatly not far from the large window. Candles lined the small wooden tables. That's where the origin of this fragrance indulges the olfactory nerves.

"This is your room, I hope you brought a light change of clothes. It will be a little hot," said Ansel Balder.

"I'm used to the Florida air. The weather there is only good for growing oranges, but bad for humans," Daphne Tjia tried to joke to temper the awkwardness.

Ansel Balder opened the light curtain that had been closed. "I used to open the curtains to see the full moon. Beautiful and golden. You will have plenty of time to enjoy its beauty," said Ansel Balder sadly.

Daphne Tjia felt that the man was not here, but somewhere else. The girl hesitantly sat on the soft mattress. Ansel Balder's clothes felt loose on his body. The man's back muscles were visible from a distance Daphne Tjia was observing him. Ansel Balder just looked out, she doesn't know what made him pensive. Daphne Tjia was also reluctant to disturb him. Because Ansel Balder seemed to enjoy his reflection. So they were both silents until Ansel Balder broke the silence.

"Have you ever loved someone you shouldn't have loved?"

"Uhh…Umm… I'm not sure. Who do you mean, B?"

"Someone who has no right to love and give you love."

Daphne Tjia frowned. "Isn't love universal, B? Do all creatures have the right to receive and give love? Like I love the environment or love Justin Bieber."

Ansel Balder snorted, sounding amused at the same time. "Not that kind of love, Love. It's eros, romantic love."

"Oh. For example, a married man loves another woman and vice versa. What do you mean?" Ansel Balder turned and looked at Daphne Tjia expectantly. "Something like that. Have you ever experienced it?"

"I've loved Justin Bieber since before I got married, when he changed girlfriends, even now after getting married I still love him. What's wrong with that? Love is a right. We can't control who our heart is going to, right?"

"So the feeling of love is not wrong, Love?"

Daphne Tjia shook her head without thinking. "Love is the most beautiful feeling. I'm a little confused about how to put it, I want to do a lot of things to get Justin Bieber's autograph. Maybe some people think I'm stupid, B, but I think it's beauty. This is where we learn to struggle."

Ansel Balder was stunned. Daphne Tjia's opinion is not at all judgmental. The girl he thought was less intelligent was open-minded.

"Do you want to express your feelings to the person you love?" Ansel Balder inquired increasingly curious about Daphne Tjia's thoughts.

"Of course not. Say how you feel before you regret it. If Justin Bieber were here, I'd say what I feel. How I dream of him and am excited to hear his songs." Daphne Tjia's glowing eyes gleamed about how honest the girl was.

"But your answer makes me even more doubtful about my decision, Love," Ansel Balder muttered barely audibly.

"What decision?"

Ansel Balder smiled faintly so that his dimples were also only faintly visible. "Nothing," he said. "You should sleep. Because tomorrow is a special day." Ansel Balder turned around, preparing to leave Daphne Tjia's temporary room.

"Ansel Balder, I want to ask too," Daphne Tjia stopped Ansel Balder who had reached the door, "did you feel anything strange about Mrs. Colleen?"

Ansel Balder gulped to himself, afraid that his dirty secret would be exposed. "Like what for example?"

"I don't know, it seems she doesn't like me."