15 THE PARADISE

We were talking and enjoying our desert. We finished our dinner and waiter took the dishes. He poured us more water and left us.

“Do you want to have anything else...?” Nova asked me taking a sip of water from his glass.

“No. I’m already full.” I said with a smile. We sat there in silence for some moments. I turned toward the ocean side to have a view. It was totally dark out there. But I could feel the waves hitting the shore in that roaring sound. After few moments I turned toward Nova. He was still looking at me with an innocent yet surprised smile.

“I need to use the restroom.” I said to him getting up from my seat.

“Okay.” He said weaving at the waiter. “Okay.” I replied moving toward ladies room. It took me about five minutes to get out of there. I washed my hands and took tissue to dry my hands. Suddenly a lady came to another tap and stare at me from head to toe in big round mirror. It was very awkward. I throw used tissue in the bin and moved out of there leaving that strange lady behind. I walked to our table and sat down across Nova.

“Did you get the bill...?” I asked him opening my small cute bag.

“I have paid already.” He said looking at me.

“What...? How much it was...? This place is really expensive you know.” I said in a low voice. He laughed at my comment.

“Tell me.” I pouted like a little girl. He smiled at me and patted my head.

“Don’t worry. I’m having enough money.” He said.

“Hmm.” I hummed in a tone of suspicious.

“Come on. Let’s go now.” He said trying to get up from his seat.

“Wait.” I stopped him.

“What...?” he said in a worried voice.

“I want a promise...!” I said to him turning out my pinky finger at him out of my small fist.

“What? What promise...?” he said with a surprised look.

“I want you to split up bills of everything from next time onwards.” I said with an eye to eye smile.

“No.” He said with a blunt expression.

“Please. We both are brother and sister. You have to promise otherwise take me home. Now.” I said pouting.

“Ahhh. Are you always like this?” And he surrendered. I giggled as he put his pinky finger across mine. “But not today. Okay.” He added.

I gave him a dead look. He smiled at me. “Cheater!” I yelled at him.

Everyone around looked at us. It was so embarrassing. I was face turned red with embarrassment.

“Ha-ha.” He let out a small laughter. “Let’s go now.” He said getting up from his seat and standing next t my seat holding his hand out for me. I nodded and got up holding his hand. We both started to move toward the stairs.

Suddenly I noticed a familiar figure on the last table of the terrace. It was him. Yes, it was him.

Sitting with one leg over another like a prince, holding a glass of wine in one hand and resting other on the edge of table, he was looking at me.

I stopped moving as he made a little toss his glass of wine in air.

“What happen?” Nova asked me looking at me. I looked at him with a pale face. “Hey...why are so pale suddenly...? Nova asked me. I nodded in a yes holding his hand tightly with all of my strength.

“L-let’s get out of here. I’m not feeling good here.” Saying this to Nova I took a final look at the place where I saw him. He was not there anymore. Nova nodded in a yes and pulled me out of that place.

After we were on the open street he asked me again why I was so pale. I looked at his face. He was worried about me.

“Hey. I’m okay.” I said collecting myself pasting a grand smile on my face.

And as I said so he hugged me. It was so sudden that I got baffled that what just happened.

“You can tell me everything. Okay. I’m always here with you right here beside you.” He said creasing my back. I nodded still entangled in his embrace putting my arms around him. We remain in the moments when we hear someone passing by saying “cute” to both of us. We get away from each other and looked away from each other in awkwardness. Then I burst out in laughter and he followed me. We were so loud like it was only us there, nobody else. Then he looked at me and holds my hand.

“Let’s go.” He said tucking my hairs behind my ear.

“sure.” I replied with a smile.

Then we made our way toward the dense streets. We tried several street foods and had ice cream. He still like mint flavour ice cream. Then he took me to a book shop which was so elegant. It was a Disney land for me. As we were standing outside the shop, my eyes got wide and smile was at its brightest. I looked at him but he was already smiling at me. He pointed at the door and we both entered the place.

The place was so big with different sections of books. You can find any book here. I was really excited. He was still holding my hand when we were exploring the place. I was checking each and every corner of that place.

“Are you looking for something specific...?” Nova asked me.

“Mm. I wanted to read from a Japanese writer. Haruki Murakami.” I tell him still looking at book shelves.

“Wow. I like his work of fiction.” He said looking away from me.

“What? You read? I mean you read fiction.” I said looking at him with a surprised look.

“Ya. And why? Am I not allowed to read?” he said looking at me.

“No. No. I mean me never saw you reading anything.” I said and he cut me off. “That doesn’t mean I don’t read”

“By the way which one do you want to read...?” he asked me letting go of my hand and moving toward fiction counter.

“Which one is good for the first time reader? You tell me?” I asked him with a shy smile.

“In that case you can start with KAFKA ON THE SHORE.” He said taking out a book from the shelf and looking at its cover. “You can borrow it from me.” he added.

“Wow. Thanks.” I replied clapping my hands.

“Okay. But you have to make sure that you take care of those books and tell nobody about them. okay.” He said in a deep voice.

“hm. Okay.” I said ignoring him and taking that book from his hands.

“MAN WITHOUT WOMAN.” I said looking at the cover. I turned to him to say something but he cut me off. “I wanted to read it so I’m taking this.” He said. “I want to use restroom. You see the place I will be here in two minutes.” He said to me as I was busy in flipping the pages of that book. I nodded without looking at him. He walked away to the gifts centre and selects a diary with a black ink fountain pen.

“Please gift wrap it and send it to the main counter.” Nova said to the staff handing those goods. He looked around to check on me. I was still busy in that book. He moved toward me and holds my hand. I looked at him and smiled.

“Do you want to have anything from here...?” he asked me.

“No. You are already having books that I need.” I said with a smile.

“Shall we get going then?” he asked me taking that book from her hand and looking at its cover. I nodded and we moved toward the main counter for billing.

“Oh. Mr. Nova. It’s so nice to see you again here.” A man with round glasses said from across the billing counter.

“Hey. What’s up Bob?” Nova asked him shaking hand with him.

“Just busy as always.” Bob said looking at me. “Girlfriend?” he asked Nova.

“No. She is my sister. Licia.” He said letting go of my hand and putting his arm behind my back.

“Hello. It’s nice to meet you.” I said with a bright smile.

“Licia. Such a pretty name though you are also very pretty young lady.” Bob said smiling at me. I smiled at him back and thanked him.

He packed the book taking from Nova’s hands and holds him bill. Then a boy came near me and hand me a packet with something in it. I took that and opened it. It was something wrapped in a beautiful floral printed glace paper. I took that out. “To my lovely sister.” The care read. I looked at Nova. He smiled at me. My eyes got blurred with happiness. He paid for the bill and bid farewell to Bob. “Visit soon” Bob said as we moved out of that paradise of books.

“THANK YOU Nova.” I said to Nova holding his hand. He smiled at me but didn’t reply.