The Escape Plan

When she was a child, Rhea had always been wondering about colors. It's already amazing that there are so many colors around us. It's even more amazing that there are so many varieties in each color.

The scarlet, crimson, carmine, vermilion, maroon, burgundy, and claret in red, the royal, cerulean, cobalt, navy, cornflower, sapphire and sky in blue, the jade, emerald, lime, malachite, olive, forest in green, and so on. This diversity makes the beauty of Earth.

Rhea as a child had wanted to go around and visit different countries to see those new environments and new colors!

The Maldives...

It was definitely a place that she had on her travel bucket list and now, she could visit the Maldives.

From the instant, their flight landed, it felt like heaven. The Maldives is also known as a tropical paradise. It's not an exaggeration.

The group of coral islands with its own white beaches and blue sea stretched around them everywhere.

As an additional reward, nature had painted the same ocean in different kinds of blues and greens. And what Rhea could see by the shore was a beautiful kind of green. The deepest sea around reflected a perfectly fine blue.

Undeniably, one of the most beautiful islands.

The immense beauty is surely irresistible. It's certainly healing. It's unquestionably a soothing environment.

That's what Rhea really needed that moment. Healing!

It was her escape plan!

Many of the crew members didn't join the tour. The most important heads of the crew were there. A total of eleven people. Every other people except Yuan Yu was not very familiar with Rhea. They were just acquaintances, not friends. So Rhea agreed as she could have her me-time there.

An escape from those unwanted thoughts and ideas which had been surrounding her in Shanghai.

An escape from her love.

An escape from Ryan.

Rhea feasted her eyes on the spectacular surroundings for some time.

Within a couple of minutes, the resort staff readily welcomed them.

From the airport, they flew in a seaplane to the island they were going to stay.

At the first glance of the island from the plane, Rhea could say that it was going to be one of her best vacations.

It was already 1.30 pm when they landed on base.

Since they could check-in at 2.00 pm they continued to wait in the reception area.

There were so many beach villas, ocean villas, a restaurant, a bar, a gym, and many other cottages for various purposes.

Although it was full of luxury, it was a tranquil and beautiful environment and a perfect retreat.

Rhea had already known that the whole island was the resort's property. She wanted to know what she could do on this island. She wanted to explore the island more. So she picked up the tourist brochure from the table beside her and found so many interesting things about the island.

The island restaurant and sea villas were built considering the sunset and sunrise views. Their lunch and dinner menu were full of seafood. One side of the island is specially allocated for stargazing. There were facilities for diving. Also, guests can book a cruise ship to spend the night.

Rhea was well pleased with all these options. There was indeed a lot to do but she got only three days. She decided to make the most of it.

Yuan Yu brought Rhea to her relevant beach villa.

The beach villas were the villas built next to the beaches. For each villa, there was a private beach. Also, an additional swimming pool by the villa. In addition to a five-star hotel presidential suite furnishings, there was a carry bird swing chair with a cushion by that swimming pool and a hammock chair by the entrance of the villa.

Rhea was pleased with the villa but she got a lot more to explore.

She hurriedly changed her clothes and wore some lighter clothes and walked to the beach.

The sea breeze provided her a gentle calming effect. Rhea was peacefully looking at the horizon. Suddenly she remembered that beyond this vast ocean, somewhere far away, there is Ryan. And this thought was enough to bring back all the thoughts which she was trying to hide from.

She heard someone laughing and playing so she turned to see a couple. The two seemed close. Seemed like newlyweds. They must be on their honeymoon.

Her attention drifted away briefly from them and she absent-mindedly recalled his face. The moments they've spent together, the memories seized her.

In a flash, Rhea felt a downward spiral in her mood. She turned towards the ocean once again.

Now it looked so different from a moment ago. She was standing in front of the vast ocean, alone!

It was as if the ocean is going to devour her. She felt lonely.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. At that moment, Rhea was staying in an astonishing place. Before her eyes, there was a beautiful, appealing visual. Still, even the most picturesque seashore in the world could not completely extinguish the sorrow or loneliness. It was still fuming deep down in her heart.

This picturesque scenery, this calming breeze, this ambient sound that rises because the waves keep crashing on the shore, the beautiful azure blue sky and snowy white clouds were not enough to make her forget him.

No matter what she did, he kept staying in her heart. He had no intention to leave.

This made her wonder if he is fine. It's been a while since the last time they met. Rhea didn't exactly know what effect the recent scandal had on him.

She had all long controlled the urge to know how he is doing.

Yuan Yu was staying in the villa right next to hers. She could go and ask. But her pride didn't let her do so! She buried her concern within herself.

Rhea thought today was comparatively peaceful but the latter-day turned out to be an agitated one.

At times, staying alone is the best choice, but sometimes it's not.

But Rhea recently feeling that it's better to stay alone, all the time. So she didn't leave the villa area.

She chose to swim!

Doing something is better than doing nothing. Keep herself busy would help.

Since it was the first day, Rhea didn't immediately jump into the sea. She only swam in the swimming pool. She almost spends the whole evening in that swimming pool.

When she came out, Yuan Yu was knocking on her door, inviting her for dinner. So the two of them walked their way to the sunset view restaurant.

Yuan Yu found the most comfortable seat to view the sunset in that classy restaurant.

"It's beautiful", Rhea said.

"Mn. But it's the same sun everywhere", Yuan Yu replied.

Rhea couldn't help but smile.

"I thought you were a romantic person since you are a director"

"Why?"

"Because of your movies", Rhea smiled.

"My movies are my perspective of other couples. That doesn't apply to me"

"Why is that?"

"It's not like I have never been in a relationship before. I'm just fed up"

"Fed up?"

"Yeah. It's better to stay alone"

"...", Rhea kept silent. She didn't know what to say. She couldn't understand Yuan Yu's mood either.

Yuan Yu turned her head towards that sunset view and spoke again.

"When we are in love, whenever we get to see something beautiful, we naturally want to share that with the one we one"

"Mn?"

"It's a line from my movie"

"Oh sorry. I may have forgotten"

"It's ok. It's an old movie. There is no way youngsters these days would watch it", Yuan Yu smiled.

"...", Rhea couldn't say anything. Indeed, she doesn't have much interest in movies without Ryan as the male lead. She felt guilty.

But Rhea, if you ever feel someone is worthy enough to share every beautiful thing in your life, you must try to hold on to them or else, you'll end up just like me.

When Yuan Yu said this to Rhea, Rhea didn't know if she should laugh or cry.

Rhea really felt like it could be better if Ryan is also there.

She had someone like that.

She felt that it would be great if he should see this beautiful scene.

Why would she still want him there? It was a mystery indeed.

She suddenly remembered the sunset saw in Fairbanks together with him.

The sun, set behind the icy white surface then. Now on the contrary it was the sapphire blue ocean the sun is hiding behind. Also, Ryan was not here.

She also tried to hold on to him. She did everything she could.

It's hi who doesn't want her!

Suddenly with a sigh, she covered her eyes with her hand.

Yuan Yu who had already started eating was a little confused.

Judging from what they were talking about and how Rhea reacted just after that, Yuan Yu could understand vaguely.

"Are you alright?" she asked in between her munches.

Rhea just nodded then once again looked in the direction of the beautiful sunset again.

"You really want to share this with someone. Don't you?", Yuan Yu asked out of the blue.

"Oh? No. Not really?", Rhea denied and started to eat.

She indeed wanted to see every sunset just like this together with him, for the rest of her life. But...

There were no buts... It is over already!

'Didn't you already had enough? Why are you thinking of him now?', she asked herself.

It seemed like it's going to hurt just like this. Whenever she sees a beautiful sunset, beautiful moonlit woods, a mountain covered in snow... It's all going to hurt. Till the day she dies.

Rhea shook her head and gathered herself. The tasty garudhiya and masroshi on the table fell in her sight.

Yuan Yu was still keenly eating.

"I'll go back to the villa"

"...Why? You hadn't had anything. Try some. It's really good"

"No... I just don't feel like eating"

"Hmmmmm?", after a long 'Hmmm' Yuan Yu nodded.

"Ok"

Once Rhea went back, Yuan Yu made a phone call.

"Everything is ok. You don't need to worry. What time will you arrive?"

"Tomorrow morning. I'm now in the airport ."

"Ok!"

"Is she ok?"

"Well actually she was swimming all day and didn't have any dinner"

"Why?"

"I have no idea. It's such tasty masroshi. You know"

"..."

"She will be definitely hungry at night after all swimming"

"Can you grab something when you go back? Try to make her eat"

"Ok. I'll do that"

"Thank you!"

"I was already planning to do so. By the way, why are you thanking me?"

"..... Well, it's ..."

"I care about her as well. It's funny that you say thank you. Don't you think?"

"Ya. It's kinda funny. I...."

Yuan Yu couldn't control the smirk on her face.

"Ok, Ryan. Safe journey!"

Yuan Yu cut the phone call.

It was not that easy to hide something from the experienced woman. She could see that these two were caring too much for each other and worrying too much because of each other. Although she had been keeping quiet, she had always been doubting that there is something more than a friendship between them. As an experienced woman who had seen so many couples, she couldn't trust these flings between youngsters so she ignored them. Her personal life experience also did not support the idea of love. Also, she wasn't sure about the intensity of this. With time, she understood that there is definitely something, something more than a spark or fling!

'It's fishy', Yuan Yu thought, then as usual brought her brain back to her business.

That night, Rhea slept really well after a long time. Since she was swimming the whole evening, she was really tired.

She woke up around eleven the next day!

When she looked at herself in the mirror, she could see a more beautiful herself. The recent dark circles around her eyes were considerably reduced.

Rhea packed everything in the luggage. It was the second day. She and Yuan Yu will be moving to water villas. Water villas are definitely the most brilliant feature of that resort. She happily packed everything.

She was really excited to see the interior of that incredible water villa which she only saw in the picture Yuan Yu showed her. She quickly picked up the tale green dress and carried it to the bathroom.

She bathed and wore it. It was a new dress she randomly bought in a mall since she is going to the Maldives. It really suited her well. It was sleeveless and shorter than what she usually wears. There were floral white and pale yellow designs all over. Rhea didn't expect the dress to suit her this well. It was so beautiful indeed.

When she got ready and came out of the villa, Yuan Yu was there by the door with her luggage. She called an attendant woman and told her to carry the luggage to their new villa.

She had asked Rhea to move to the water villa.

The water villas were connected to the land by the bridge. It was like a tree structure. One main trunk-like bridge is separated into branches and each branch leads to each water villa. One villa is considerably far from the other. So there are not going to be any disturbances for Rhea.

Rhea's villa and Yuan Yu's villa were both the size of the island where they could see the sunset from their villas.

There seemed to be eleven villas by their side. Rhea's villa was the one before the last one.

Surpassing the last villa, the main trunk went a little far into the led to a dead-end from where anyone can view the perfect view of the ocean, sunset, and the night sky. Rhea ad already wanted to go there.

She placed everything in her room and went out to have a walk to that bridge end. It would definitely be peaceful, she thought. Since it was the afternoon, no one would want to go in the sunlight there. But to her surprise and disappointment, she could see that someone was already there!

And that man who was looking at the horizon just like she did yesterday seemed lonely. That's not what gave Rhea chills. That figure far away seemed a lot familiar and intimidating at the same time.

A strong wind passed her making her hair flutter fly. Rhea was dumbstruck. It's been a while. It's been a while since they met the last time.

She thought it was her escape plan, but, could it be that she voluntarily fell into a trap?