How Could They Appeared In The Same Time?

A vacation was indeed something she needed. The next day, she surfed in the water, interacting with the sea. Swimming with fishes, looking at beautiful coral reefs, and then drinking coconut juices. Grace really forgot about all her negative thoughts. She enjoyed every second she spent on that beautiful island.

Her father didn't do much, Mister Norma was too old to enjoy all Grace's activities. He only sun bathed and enjoyed a local massage. Then, after he thought it was enough, he went back to the cottage and continued his work.

Grace was immersed by the beauty of the sea. She just came out of the water and now laid lazily on the beach bench drinking coconut water . The shade from the big umbrella above her head covered her body from direct sunlight. 

She left her phone on the cottage. She hoped she always had serene moments like this everyday. Not worrying about anything. Just sipping coconut water and reading some good books on the beach. She grabbed a towel to cover up her pink two pieces she was wearing.

"Grace?"

Grace was too focused on her book so she couldn't hear someone calling her name. The person ran closer and with a big smile he crouched down and grabbed Grace's book forcefully. Grace was shocked by the action and glared at the person.

"Wh-Fillo!? What are you doing here?'

Fillo put Grace's book aside, and sat beside her legs. He put his hand on Grace's bare leg and made the girl frown. Disgusted by his action. She pulled her legs back.

"Why are you here, Fillo?"

"Ah, Your dad told me that you want to go to Maldives for your birthday gift. And of course I don't want to make you more upset. We've been celebrating your birthdays together. I don't want to miss this year. I'm sorry Grace. I don't know what makes you upset. But if there is anything that makes you upset, I'm sorry. I love you, grace. See… we are engaged. We should talk about this matter like an adult."

Fillo pulled Grace's ring from his pocket. That was her engagement ring that she threw at him that day. Fillo brought Grace's finger and wanted to put the ring back but Grace quickly curled her finger.

Now he talked with a sweet tone. But in public he screamed at her. Accused of being a slut. Yes, she was cheating on him with a stranger for one night stand! But it was because he did the same. And this relationship won't ever be fixed again. 

The trust between them was shattered to pieces.

"Fillo, I can't. Please… stop."

Fille grabbed Grace's chin to look at him. The tears started to brim on her eyes. She fought hard the urge to cry. But it was so hard. Afterall, Fillo was her first love. Her first best friend. The person she loved her entire life. The disappointment on her heart couldn't be removed. 

The way he talked about her with Agnes still haunts her. 

"Why are you crying, Grace? If there was anything I could do, tell me. But not with the break up."

Grace shook her head. She tried to remove Fillo's hand from her face. But the more Grace struggled, the more his grip tightened.

"You hurt me, Fillo. You hurt me."

The tender eyes Fillo always gave her were gone. Now he glared at her. His eyes were darkened like a black cloud that contained a dangerous thunderstorm. 

"It hurts? Did you forget what you did to my head on thatfucking restaurant? You think that didn't hurt? How about my heart, grace?"

"Fillo, please… fillo …"

"Fillo? Grace?"

The grip on her chin now loosened. Another one… Grace pulled her towel back. Agnes was here. With Fillo… Were they on vacation together too? Grace was not that dumb. Of course they went on a trip together. Eighteen hours faraway from New York and then coincidentally met together? 

"Agnes, you here?" asked Fillo.

Agnes looked at Fillo and Grace in between. 

"Yeah, I have a family gathering here. You two are on a honeymoon trip, huh?"

Fillo smiled sweetly.

"We are not married yet. But maybe in the next year.. Summer Maldives are always pretty. What do you think about this place to be our honeymoon destination, Grace?"

Grace sighed deeply. "I need to go back. I should wake my father to have lunch." She didn't even greet Agnes.

"Grace, tomorrow is your birthday right? Wanna have a party tonight? There is a good beach bar near here."

Grace just nodded. She needed to escape from Fillo quickly. She didn't care what the two would do after this. Fillo was getting weirder these days. And she didn't want to get involved with him anymore.

Grace peeked behind her, where Fillo was still staring at her sharply. She glanced at Agnes who was walking towards Fillo. The girl looked beautiful in her navy blue two piece. A scarf was tied around her small waist, where one of her long legs was displayed beautifully.

Grace returned to her cottage and rested. She had to tell her father immediately about Fillo. That way, her father would definitely help Grace to stay away from Fillo.

But every time Grace tried to open her mouth to talk about her relationship, Grace always couldn't bring herself to do it. Her father was friends with Mr. Frederick Babel, Fillo's father. What if her father is disappointed in her later? There was her own fear that enveloped her, making Grace close her mouth tightly.

"Grace, is there something you want to say to me? You look confused."

"Ah, nothing, Pa. Earlier I met Agnes who was also having a family meeting here. She asked me to go to the bar. Can I go with her?"

Mister Norma smiled gently at his daughter. He put away the laptop on his lap and nodded.

"Tomorrow you will be twenty-one years old. Enjoy your youth. But remember, don't let what happened three years ago happen again."

Grace laughed remembering the chaos caused by drinking alcohol for the first time. The girl raised her pinky and Mister Norma hooked it there.

"I promise not to drink alcohol."

"Smart kid," praised Mister Norma while rubbing Grace's head. The girl giggled softly and enjoyed her father's warmth. Her father was her only family. The man managed to become a strict father figure as well as a loving mother. She wanted to grow old with her father. Her father also had to play with her future children.

"I love you, Pa."

Mister Norma bent and kissed Grace's forehead. "I love you more, My beautiful grace."

Grace promised. After this night she would tell her father everything. She needed to confront Agnes first. Then after that she confronted Fillo by herself. Now they would know why Grace was acting so differently these few days. Because she already knew their secrets.

Grace wore a loose pink summer dress. That was the dress she brought from the local store yesterday. She waited for Agnes. And that girl appeared with only a bra and loose pants. She waved her hands and Grace ran a little towards her.

Her feet stepped on soft sand without sandals.

"Hey, how are you? Why didn't you pick up my call? I also visited your house but you weren't there."

"I'm not feeling well. When you visited my house, I was busy buying travel essentials for my father. You know my father is not the type who understands traveling."

Agnes chuckled and took Grace's hand. Grace feels bad because Agnes was acting no different. That's what made Grace even more afraid. Had Fillo told her about their break up and that's why Agnes looks happy?

She was not sure, but there was a feeling of anxiety that made Grace reluctant to continue her steps. On the way to the bar, Grace saw a cliff jutting out towards the sea. The waves were so loud that Grace could still hear them from this distance.

Rather than going to a bar, that place was more suitable for calming her down. But Grace had to finish this first.

The bar that Agnes was referring to was not too far from her accommodation. Located near the Ambrose Hotel, one of the hotels owned by the Agnes family.

Arriving at the bar, Grace and Agnes sat together near the bartender's table.

"You want a drink? Because I invited you, this is my treat."

"No, thank you," Grace answered wearily.

Agnes sighed then sat facing the bartender who was preparing drinks for other visitors.

"You've changed, Grace. And your change was so fast that I can't think of a reason because we were still shopping together before you suddenly kept your distance. Fillo has told me that you want to break off your engagement. What's actually going on?"

Grace chuckled. She had expected it. Fillo must already have told Agnes about that.

The girl turned her head to the side to look at Agnes in front of her eyes.

His mouth was already open to tell everything but a large man approached.

"There you are, sister. Dad was looking for you when you suddenly left the family dinner just like that."

Grace looked up to see the man interrupting her moment. She wanted to invite Agnes to finish this until finally she looked back at the icy blue iris that sent shivers down her spine.

A smirk appeared on his lips seeing the girl who couldn't get out of his mind.

"Gabriel."