Edelweiss for Angel [9]

Annisa was finishing her article to be delivered the next day to her office when a short message popped up on her cell phone.

"Goodnight, Beautiful Lady. What are you doing?" From Dave.

Anissa replied, "replying to your message now, Dave. Ha ha ha..."

Annisa laughed a bit while amusingly replying to Dave's message.

"Really? Then you must be reading my message while scratching your itchy nose, am I right?" Dave replied.

Annisa startled for a moment. Hmm, how did he know? She thought hard while scratching his nose again without realizing it.

"How do you know? Are you looking at me now?" Annisa asked.

She moved from her chair and walked to the door that blocked her room from the apartment balcony. Shortly before Annisa was about to open the door, she abandoned her intentions.

Impossible, Annisa thought. She just realized that her room was located on the third floor. Therefore, it was a very small possibility for Dave to peek at her and find out what Annisa was doing in a closed room.

Her cell phone vibrated again.

"Obviously I know it. If you are laughing amused you always scratch your nose accidentally ..."

Annisa's cheeks blushed if Dave could see her face. Annisa tried to get rid of Dave's face dancing in her mind.

"What are you doing now, Dave?" Annisa asked him to change the subject.

"I am imagining your blushing face right now, Sweet Lady..."

Shit! Annisa's heart mumbled. Why did Dave always guess everything?

Annisa's heart became thunderous. There was a strange yet comforting feeling in her chest. Annisa began to enjoy the sensation.

Before Annisa could reply to Dave's message, her cell phone vibrated again.

"What's your favorite flower, Nisa?"

"You will not be able to get it for me, Dave. Three words for my favorite flower. White, rare, eternal."

"Hmm, well ... Do you have time this Saturday?" Dave asked.

"I have no plans this Saturday. What's the matter, Dave?"

"I want to find you your favorite flower you want. Edelweiss, isn't it?"

Once again, Dave answered correctly. Annisa started to wonder if Dave was a psychic.

Again, a short message from Dave popped up. "How about going to Mount Batur with Nico and Ella this Saturday morning? At the same time, you can refresh your mind for a moment from your writing job."

Annisa chewed her nails to overwhelmed a sudden nervousness. She felt her chest swell with full of joy. With pleasure, Dave.

"Good idea, it has been long enough I don't climb to the Mount Batur. Who knows I can get new ideas for my writings while I'm there." Annisa replied while looking for an excuse to cover her very happy mood at that time.

"Okay, then. See you on Saturday morning, Nisa."

Dave jumped with joy. He jigged like an Indian doll looking for a pole to show his ecstasy. Nico who witnessed his best friend suddenly acted like a crazy person laughed as he rolled on the floor.

The trip to Mount Batur in Kintamani Bangli took about two hours by a rental car. This time, Dave took the initiative to rent a package with its driver because he didn't want any more problems happened, such as the incident of a leaky carburetor and a flat tire on the nail at that time.

As Dave, Nico, Annisa, and Ella arrived in Toya Bungkah village, they were directly greeted by a local guide before hiking. There were already some tourists waiting to climb to Mount Batur in groups.

The morning air was still pretty cold. They put on their own jackets and carried backpacks containing climbing equipment, along with the food and soft drinks needed during the trip.

Dave walked right behind the guide, followed by Annisa, Ella and followed by Nico right after. They climbed in a row, like a railway line running on its path. Slowly but surely, they headed upward.

The farther they walked, the steeper path they found. They kept enjoying the mount climbing while the sound of panting breaths could be easily heard.

"Fine, we'll take a rest for a while at the next post. If you all guys want to drink to quench your thirst and eat snacks as an energy booster, this is the time, I urge." The guide said to four of them as they walked to the long bamboo bench and urged them to take rest there.

"We will reach the summit, soon. But, I remind you not to get too close to the canyon edge to avoid falling down," said the guide reminded them.

Finally, they reached the summit of Mount Batur. Dave, Nico, Annisa, and Ella came to the edge to see the white clouds that seemed to be under their feet.

The sun looked poking out among the clouds, very beautifully, emitting a light that was not too bright in the morning. The orange light it emitted looked amazing.

"Hi, look! The mound is blowing out a small smoke." Annisa pointed to a spot near Dave's feet.

"What's that, guys?" Dave asked the guide. "Is it dangerous?"

"Not at all," the guide said soothingly.

"Are you guys bringing the raw eggs I asked you all to bring in your backpack before hiking?"

"Yes, sir. Here we are," said Nico as he pulled out four raw eggs from his backpack.

"Well, just bury the eggs there, but not so deep and wait for a few minutes." The guide explained, giving an example of burying an egg into a mound blowing out a small smoke.

"Like this, the eggs are cooked. Hurry up ..." The guide handed Dave the cooked egg.

Dave flayed the egg thoroughly, and then handed it to Annisa.

"For me, Dave?" Annisa asked a little stunned.

"Certainly, my Beautiful Lady," Dave said. "You have the right to taste the egg for the first time."

"What... are you flirting, Dave?" asked Annisa while receiving the cooked egg from Dave's hands. Her cheeks blushed with embarrassment.

From the top of Mount Batur, Lake Batur with its sparking blue water could be seen and really amazed anyone who saw it. The four of them constantly admired the natural beauty they had witnessed.

After they were satisfied to enjoy the natural beauty at the top of the mountain, they rushed down the mountain because it was getting darker. They managed to reach the foot of the mountain before nightfall in order to get Denpasar before too late at night.

On the way down, Dave saw a bunch of Edelweiss flowers growing on the edge of the mountain slopes they passed. Instantly Dave reminded of their initial goal of climbing to Mount Batur.

Dave got closer to the slope and tried to reach the Edelweiss to pick it.

"Be careful of Dave ..." Annisa asked anxiously.

"I'll take it for you, Dave." Nico volunteered.

"No, Nico. This time, I have to do it on my own without your help, buddy." Dave was determined, and tried to move forward to reach some edelweiss flowers.

Unfortunate for Dave. He slipped to the slope of the mountain for not seeing a pile of stones and he stumbled over it.

"Dave ...!" Annisa shouted in panic.

Luckily, Dave could still reach the branches of the trees growing at the edge of the slope. His body hang, while his legs tried to reach the rocky ground as a stirrup.

Spryly, Nico grabbed Dave's right hand. With his sturdy hands, Nico pulled Dave up to save Dave.

Dave and Nico lied on the ground due to tiredness. They panted and looked pale. They had no idea that they were both saved without any lack of anything.

Annisa ran up to Dave while pretending to be nagging, but the tone of her voice sounded almost crying.

"You're so stupid, Dave! You almost made yourself wretched just because you wanted to take the Edelweiss flowers, for me!" Annisa mightily hold her tone of voice that almost turned into crying.

"I'm very sorry to tell you about edelweiss. The flower is nothing compared to your salvation!"

After Dave managed to regain his breath, Dave smiled weakly and handed Annisa a bunch of edelweiss flowers with his left hand that he managed to reach before she slipped down to the edge of the mountain slope.

"The risk is worth it, Annisa." Dave teased Annisa with her eyes flashing with stubbornness.

"I'm willing to take that dangerous experience to get something you like very much."

"Promise me that you won't do something stupid like this, Dave!" Asked Annisa while hitting Dave's left shoulder gently.

"Hmm ... We'll see ..." Dave teased Annisa again.

When they got into Annisa's apartment, Dave asked Nico time to take Annisa to the third floor, while Nico was waiting for him in the lobby.

Finally, Annisa and Dave came to the door of the apartment room. They looked very tired that night after climbing Mount Batur. But their faces showed the happiness implied from their smiles.

"Thank you for today, Dave," Annisa smiled.

"By the way, thank for the Edelweiss as well. Even though, you made me panic to see it happened," said Annisa while pretending annoyance and protruding her mouth to Dave.

"You're welcome, Sweet Lady," Dave replied.

"You deserve the flower, whatever the risk I have to face." Dave chuckled as he scratched his not itchy head.

"Good night, Dave," Annisa said good-bye to both of them that night.

"Umm Nisa, wait a minute," Dave grabbed Annisa's hand which was about to open the door of her apartment room.

"Yeah, Dave. Anything else?" asked Annisa.

"I intend to take you to the dinner tomorrow at the Rock Bar in Hotel Ayana. And just the two of us this time, without Nico and Ella if you will," Dave said hopefully.

"Of course, I will, Dave. You were willing to take a big risk to get my favorite edelweiss today. Consider it as a small celebration for us because you've successfully got my favorite flower and we've got through all this well."

"Okay then, I'll pick you up tomorrow afternoon here. Good evening, Nisa."

Dave entered the apartment elevator while whistling with excitement and anxious to wait for his date with Annisa tomorrow.

That afternoon, Annisa wore a knee-length black dress that showed her well-treated white skin. Her wavy brown hair was fluttering softly on her white shoulders. It was occasionally twitching after her footsteps wrapped in black wedges with like-ribbon laces up to her ankles.

Dave who walked beside the pretty girl wore his favorite black jeans, but instead of wearing his t-shirt, he wore a shirt with an unbuttoned masculine black jacket. And the boots up to his ankles added Dave's perfection at that time.

Annisa's hands gently hung on Dave's arm as they entered the Hotel Ayana. They are really a matching couple that night.

They walked through the neatly landscaped hotel gardens, then passed the hotel's tidy pools before they reached the place. Annisa and Dave were endlessly amazed at the nice scenery along the way to the Rock Bar.

When they arrived at the entrance, the queue was long by people who wanted to have dinner there. Dave and Annisa were warmly greeted by the officer who asked for their reservation, and the officer immediately informed the reservation officer downstairs to prepare a special place for Dave and Annisa.

The entrance to the Rock Bar was quite unique. To come to this, visitors had to take a cable car which was the main access to enter the bar.

From where Dave and Annisa queued, Rock Bar was located downstairs so they had to wait to take the cable car alternately.

It was time for Dave and Annisa to take the cable car that would take them downstairs. Dave stretched out his hand to Annisa to let her get into the cable car first.

"Please, Princess. Be careful with your step," Dave said very gently.

Annisa smiled and said, "Thank you, Dave."

By the time they were on the cable car heading down, they witnessed a magnificent view. The Uluwatu ocean was clearly seen from above with a panoramic view of the orange sun gonna set from the sky. The twilight began to dim followed with the cool wind blowing shyly accompanying the romantic atmosphere felt by both of them.

From the cable car, the atmosphere of the Rock Bar could be seen from all directions. They could see it from above, from the place in front, or inside the bar environment. What an unforgettable experience for both of them. They never ceased to admire the beauty they enjoyed with their eyes in the late afternoon.

When Dave and Annisa got to downstairs, they were greeted by very friendly staff and then led them to a fairly strategic seat in front.

Dave let Annisa sit on a quite comfortable couch and Dave took seat beside her.

The stillness of the atmosphere at the Rock Bar extended the romantic situation that night. The sound of the waves sounded beautifully in the ears. The natural landscape of a deserted night and the melodious huge waves which occasionally stroke the large solid rocks of solid added the sadness of the sky which was full of stars.

David and Annisa had just finished their dinner. There were not a lot of conversations expressed before, as if they were enjoying being together with each other that night without a lot of words.

"Hmm, Annisa. May I ask?" Dave tried to break the silence.

"Of course, Dave. What's the matter?"

"Maybe it's too soon for you, but I just want to express my feelings for you all this time." Dave restlessly hid his sweaty palms and wiped them into the pockets of his jeans under the table.

"Please listen to my explanation. I want you not to have any unnecessary thoughts on me."

Annisa fell silent, looking at Dave's face with a curious look and she held her breath while waiting for further explanation from Dave. Her chest was pounding instantly.

"Tell me, Dave."

"I have actually hidden a feeling of liking you for a long time, Annisa. Since the first time we met. From then on, I could never get rid the shadow of your face of my mind."

Dave paused for a second, then he continued.

"Your beautiful face, your long wavy brown hair tumbling on your white and smooth skin like a cotton, your smile on your tiny lips and your well-groomed teeth, your black and glowing eyes as you eagerly say something, your soft voice in my ears, even your crisp laugh, are always in my mind wherever I am."

Annisa bowed ashamed at Dave's expression. She tried to hide her blushed cheeks.

"I have liked you since the first time we met, Annisa. I don't know if this is called a love at first sight. All I know is that I just want to be with you ever since. It is only you that is always in my mind and come to my dreams every night. And I don't want to lose you, my princess."

Dave looked at Annisa's face closely which at that moment was bowed ashamed at Dave's words. Dave raised up Annisa's chin slowly with his left hand, while his right hand clutched Annisa's right hand and squeezed it gently.

"Tell me, Annisa! Do you have the same feelings to me?" Dave asked softly and vibrated a bit.

Annisa stared back at Dave's gorgeous brown eyes, found a shady and loving face smiling at her.

Annisa nodded slowly, "I also have the same feelings for you, Dave."

Then Annisa smiled sweetly at Dave. To Dave, her smile felt like a spray of ice water in his throat, satisfying his thirst like an oasis rescuing him in the desert, like a downpour wiping out a long dry season. The long awaiting for this had been paid off.

Dave grabbed Annisa's fingers and kissed them gently. He then embraced Annisa's body into his arms. Annisa leaned her head against on Dave's sturdy and plane shoulders. They felt the comfort and warmth emanated from their bodies to one another. The night was getting late accompanying them who were enjoying the beautifully intertwined intimacy.

"Dave, look up! There's a falling star." Annisa shouted suddenly when she saw a glimpse of a falling star that fell down quickly in the sky filled with stars that night. She pointed to sky in the right side above the steep cliffs.

"Let's say what we want now, Nisa." Dave said while bending his head and muttering his mouth saying something but unheard.

Annisa followed what Dave asked, wishing something in her heart, to be granted.

"What do you expect just now, Nisa?" Dave asked curiously.

"Let me know yours first, Dave." Annisa replied shyly.

"I hope our intimacy will last forever and we'll both live happily ever."

"And yours?" Dave asked Annisa again.

"Umm ... I expect the same thing Dave, and whatever obstacles or distractions that hinder our relationship, hopefully we can get through it and overcome it well."

"Amen ..." Dave and Annisa said simultaneously.