3

Nia quickly put the towel around her body as she heard the man chuckled loudly. She imagined the man scanning her buttocks from behind and it made her cringed.

It's the first time that a man was not attracted to her slender body figure. In her previous work in an Italian Restaurant in New York, she was pretty popular that all the men drool over her even though she wears a chef's uniform. The women told her she has a body to die for like a model's figure.

Some magazines also called her to be their new face including the Vogue which is based in France, New York magazine, Harper's Bazaar and GQ so she was insulted by that man's respond when he saw her body silhouette from behind.

Is it only a silhouette? Or is she afraid that the man saw her round buttocks and will saw motive to seduce her? Ah! I don't know and I don't care! I only came here to have a peaceful vacation but it looks like she will not have one.

She had a habit of pleasing people with her cooking skills that her mom managed to pass on to her but this time, she's not confident to do so.

She ran towards her bedroom door to choose the right clothes to show off her curves all over her body.

She rummage her big suitcase and managed to let all her things out in her bed. Its a big mess considering that all her clothes were consisting of branded dresses, several suit and coats, sweat pants and shirt and her favorite spaghetti strap Sando and some baggy clothes.

Her make up kits were still intact since her other bag is not yet open.

After half an hour of not able to decide which clothes she should wear, she sigh deeply and sat down to the chair in front of the table with face mirrors.

Why am I doing this in the first place? I didn't do this for the past years of staying in my birth country! Am I attracted to that man? Well, I it will be a good start for me to think of him more often instead of thinking about the accident of my father in the plane crash that saved her life and at the same time, gave her a huge trauma!

Why did I even think of that?

Her hands began shaking in horror as the memory flood through her mind...

She was sleepy and the last thing she saw was her father's smile before she closed her eyes and felt that a blanket was placed to cover her shoulders up to her feet.

She always wear a headset since she loved listening to music when she's sleeping.

It was actually the first time that her father brought her to his business trip and they plan to visit the famous Eiffel Tower in France.

It was her dream to see the sight at night with either of her parents with her.

She was in a deep slumber until the music came to a stop and she heard a couple of women's voice screaming in terror!

When she removed her headset, she saw her father standing, getting their things above them. When her eyes landed on the seats in front of her, she saw the sign "fastened your seatbelts" and there is an announcement coming from the captain pilot that they will have an emergency landing since one of the engine motor had a problem.

Shocked, she slowly gaze back to her father who managed to put their things in her thighs before she heard a loud sound of crashing metals to the ground.

Her whole body is shaking from the tension just thinking that they will die from that plane crash and she will not see her mom anymore. Her father James saw all that emotion that crossed her face so what he did is to hugged her tightly.

They were in a three-seater economy class seats near the aisle so they can debark as quickly as possible after the arrival and it didn't happen.

She passed out after her father whispered to her ear.

"Always remember that I love you, sweetie. I will love you and your mom endlessly until I die. Please tell that to your mom and even if I die today, I won't regret it since I have you both in my life."

After her mother heard about the plane crash through her secretary, she had a nervous breakdown in front of a meeting presentation.

Her valuable mother's secretary didn't hesitate to use their money to locate her and her father but it was too late.

She was found after three days in an isolated island covered with her father's blood and shattered body. She didn't know what happened after she passed out until she woke up hearing her mother's sentiments while crying.

She was lucky that she survived and that the only part of the plane that landed on the ground was their seats with the stranged man near the window.

Her mother told her that the plane tear down in half and she is the only survivor in Economy Class seat thanks to her father's love and protection.

When she woke up, she cannot speak and no voice is coming out of her mouth even if she wants to said something.

She cried with her mother holding her left hand at that realization. After she was discharged in the hospital, the doctor scheduled a Physical therapy and a Psychology appointment for her. It takes two years for her to barely managed to get back with her previous life as she was a graduating college student.

Instead of receiving the highest honor in graduation ceremony as she planned for her father to witness, she had the lowest honor rank in The School of Health and Sciences at Touro College in Brooklyn New York in a virtual graduation.

She stayed in their house until recently that her mother urged her to go to Philippines. Her mother and her friend Andrea agreed that it's better for her to stay with Andrea for her full recovery.

****

Bryce impatiently taps her desk while waiting for Naya to come out of her room. It's been almost an hour from the time that he told her to get dressed and he's dead worried. He didn't know why but he started to feel uncomfortable while shifting in his seat.

After a few minutes of thinking, he decided to get the room's spare key just in case he needs to open the door if it's locked inside.

He temporary used the connecting door from his bedroom to the bathroom that is also connected to the woman's room. He sigh as the door was unlocked.

He run towards the connecting room and there he saw her sitting at the carpeted floor while facing the whole body mirror.

She look terrified in her reflection while facing the mirror. Her hands are continuously shaking, she cannot speak anything nor didn't bother to know that he was there.

He remembered his mom said that she needs to recover on something. He's not a doctor but he knew that a hug can calm her nerves after a few minutes so he did.

It's was the longest minutes of his life---hugging a stranger woman in his arms after three years.