Felt Like A Promise

Hinata's POV

"I think that was the best coffee I had tried in my life," I exclaimed. 

I was still in high spirits after we spent almost five hours at the Read Me Cafe. I wouldn't mind staying there for a long time, as long as I have a good book in my hand. However, I was also being mindful of Zeke. I knew that he was not a fan of reading, but I appreciated it when he stayed for the whole duration without disturbing my "time".

"Nahhhh, you mean the books, right?" he asked. 

I grinned upon hearing the teasing tone in his voice. I liked the coffee, but I liked the books better. I was planning to buy some of the books from there, but they're not for sale. I even tried bribing the owner with a bigger amount of money, but to no avail. And as a reader, I understood her 'cause it's really hard to let go of the books she put her effort, time, and money into collecting. Anyways, I still had the best time there. 

"Where are we going now?" I asked. 

It was already 6 in the evening, and my stomach was growling. I noticed that we were heading away from the city because the number of houses became fewer. As we continued down the road, I saw the growing number of trees lining both sides. It was illuminated by lights coming from several poles of streetlights. The environment was eerily quiet; I could hear the sounds of different nameless insects. 

I looked at Zeke questioningly, but he just shrugged. So, I turned my attention to the ambiance outside the window. When I looked up, the night sky was housing myriad bright stars. I smiled. This was the sight I wouldn't get tired of looking at every night. There's a certain peace it gave me that calmed my heart and my soul. It felt like I could rest from all the worries in the world. 

"Are you hungry? We're almost there, and I already instructed the caretakers to prepare dinner for us," he said. 

"Caretakers?" I asked, confused. 

From the way he said it, it gave me the idea that we're going to a vacation house or something. However, I could not rack my brain about us owning some houses aside from what we had. Or maybe, we're only renting the place for the night. 

"Yeah. We're here," he announced. 

After he turned off the engine, he stepped outside and opened the door for me. I paused for a while, not sure how to react to the shift in his gestures. When he offered his hand, I reluctantly took it because this was all new to me. Well, in our married life. I was still adjusting to his sudden sweetness and gentleness. I was unsure what happened to my husband, but as the saying goes, "Enjoy it while it lasts," I would also do the same. 

When I got out, I slowly looked around the place. Just a few meters away stood an elegant, charming rest house, like a secret hidden from the world. Its exterior was painted in soft ivory white, with accents of pale blue that mirrored the nearby sea. Large glass windows framed the ocean view, covered with white linen curtains that were swayed by the ocean breeze, carrying with them the scent of salt. 

I gasped. This was exactly the place I envisioned myself to be. This was perfect!

"Zeke, this is beautiful!" I exclaimed. 

I couldn't hide the admiration in my voice, because the scenery was really breathtaking. He stood behind me and wrapped his arms around me. I instinctively placed my arms on top of his, welcoming the warmth of them. I closed my eyes, savoring this moment of pure bliss. 

"I know. The moment I laid eyes on this rest house, I was pretty sure that you'd like it here. So, I didn't second-guess buying this house. This is for you, Yna. Hope you like it."

He was whispering those words in my ear, but I could hear them loud and clear. He was thinking about me when he bought this house. That was so sweet of him. I felt the rush of emotions assailing my heart, strong and magical. I faced him, not breaking the contact between us. I was aware that I was looking at him with so much love in my eyes, but I didn't care. I want him to know how I really felt at this moment. 

"Thank you, Zeke, for all of these. I love you." 

He didn't respond to what I blurted, but his eyes softened. He slowly lowered his face to mine, and our lips touched. It was soft. It felt like a promise. And I clung to him.