It's been a while since she last went on a solo trip. She used to love doing it back in college. To travel to strange places she had never been, to learn the cultures, the food, meet new faces that she probably will never see again, to be anonymous where no one recognizes her or knew who she was.
She finds it easier to connect with people without them knowing personal details about her. People are much friendlier, less judgmental, and not interested in prying on her private life when the encounter is brief, the conversations are on a need-to-know basis. No need for false pretenses. No drama. They will go about their day with a smile on their faces and a feeling of delight after meeting a nice stranger.
But this was the first time she had ever been on a cruise ship. She booked an ultra-premium cruise line for a trip to Bhorma where she will spend 3 nights on the ship, 2 nights docking on the island, and another 3 nights to come back. She wanted to experience the luxury of a smaller cruise ship where she can enjoy both her privacy and well-deserved upscale pampering services.
It's a much-needed trip from having been so busy setting up her new upcoming business. She will be opening her own home decor studio once she's back from the trip and who knows when she will be able to travel on her own again. This trip was a gift to herself for working hard and going through all the hardships in her adult life.
The sun was warm on her face. She had found a nice spot on the cruise, although she hadn't thoroughly explored the whole ship, she wanted to lay on one of the sunbeds by the swimming pool and read the guidebook that was provided in her cabin.
She had put on her blue bikini that matches the color of most of the interiors around the pool, she wore her favorite blue and white floppy hat, Bottega sunglasses, and smeared sunscreen all over her body before finally stretching her legs to relax under the afternoon sun.
Soon after, a waiter came by with a glass of champagne. She asked him to leave two glasses on the table next to her. Pre-dinner drinks seemed like a good idea.
She opened the pamphlet of the cruise's itinerary. LUDUS OCEANIA "Where Your Dreams Become Reality"
She smiled thinking of how amazing her days will be for the next 9 days, and of course the days to follow where she will finally get her business up and running.
The lavish grand staircase at the atrium, the luxurious dining area, the private cinema, casino, spa, library, fitness center with sauna and a squash court are among the activities she can choose to do onboard. She had also made arrangements for shore excursions once they arrived in Bhorma. Everything was all set and planned.
She leaned her head back and let out a satisfied sigh. She was looking straight at the upper deck across from her when something caught her eyes from the left side. A woman was looking down at the pool site. She was in her bikini leaning against the railing. Her straight long hair was blown by the wind.
Even from where she was sitting the woman's silhouette looked perfect. She was young, probably in her early 20's. The sight took Olivia back to her younger years where she used to look like that, not that she looks terrible now, she was a beauty queen once. A title that any woman could only hold for so long. Afterward, it was just 'Ex-beauty queen' as they get older, and then they just wish they never had been one so they don't have to live up to people's expectations for being one in the first place.
The years pass slowly but surely. She was 22 years old when she got the title. It surprised her when she tried to remember how 16 years had come and gone without her realizing it.
She'll never get that skin ever again no matter how hard she tries. Although she was still in a better shape than most 25 year-olds could ever hope for, her bosom and her backside had succumbed to the 38 years of gravity. Soon the skin on her face would follow, she had started seeing wrinkles around her eyes and her smile lines.
She may not be young anymore, but she wouldn't trade her wisdom for her youth because she finally understood what she wanted for herself. Something she could only learn through aging, to find herself in a way a 20-year-old could never do.
She picked up her champagne, took a sip, and was about to go back to her pamphlet to plan her next day when a man came up behind the young woman at the upper deck balcony. His unbuttoned long sleeve shirt was rolled up to the forearms, he was wearing beige cargo pants and holding a glass in one hand. He was probably the same age as the girl.
He kissed the back of the woman's shoulder and she turned around to kiss him. A sweet passionate kiss of young lovers in the dusk. He put his hand on the small of her back, she leaned closer to him. Their skin brushed against each other, she lifted one leg up and a wide smile bloomed across her face. They laughed at something he whispered in her ear.
Olivia smiled. Young love was probably the only thing she missed from her younger years.
They look like a handsome couple. Fresh out of college probably, or slightly older, but for them to be able to afford that trip, they must've come from a rich family, she thought.
The girl went inside the ship right after that kiss and left her boyfriend alone on the deck. One swift second passed by when the guy turned his head and their eyes met. She looked away, a bit embarrassed for getting caught watching them from afar. But she felt his eyes on the side of her face, he was still looking at her. She glanced at him to make sure, and their eyes met again.
He smiled at her this time. She held her breath. As much as she hates to admit it, that guy had caught her attention. She curved her lips slightly to return his smile. The guy raised his glass to her, and she did the same. They sipped their drinks as if they just made a toast with each other. He tilted his head to one side, rested his chin on the palm of one hand, and leaned his elbows on the railings, his eyes still pinned on her.
It was the strangest feeling she hasn't had in a long time. That guy was flirting with her.
Classy elegant semi-formal Chanel dress was the one she chose for her first dinner on the cruise. She recently purchased it for the sole purpose of her trip. She bought a few items for the vacation and even the tags were still attached to them. Blue is her favorite color, deep dark blue that matches her skin tone and her dark brown hair. She didn't want to be overdressed for the occasion, but she didn't want to be underdressed either. Ludus Oceania was a plush establishment, everyone must look like they belong in that ship. She always tries to dress the part. She grew up in a middle-class family, then she became a beauty queen and appearance was everything. Everything she owned, or put on her body was nothing less than posh. Olivia enjoys the finer things in life, it's what she had been accustomed to for some time. She had a cert
In her younger days, she would've stayed for a few more minutes to see what his game was. Too many of them didn't really have anything to offer personality-wise, and she was experienced enough to see that within the first 15 minutes of conversations. She's tired of first impressions that lead to nowhere, unimpressive sex at best, and weeks sometimes months of trying to get rid of them because they seem to like her more than she likes them. More than that, she has Declan now. The love of her life whom she married when she was 25 years old. The end of her search for the perfect man that every girl wanted to spend the rest of their lives with. Declan was hers. Her husband was the man who was able to convince her that she didn't want any other man in her life. He fulfilled
Roman was telling the truth when he said he was on that cruise for a job. He was 26 years old, single, and prefers women who are older than him. When he spotted Olivia by the side of the pool, his mind was fixed on her. She's beautiful. He couldn't get her off his head. When he said he wasn't following her, he was lying. The first thing he did after the initial sighting from the upper deck was to find out who the strikingly attractive woman in blue whose eyes have met him and send shivers down his spine. Adele Leighton, suite 401, staying alone, and nothing more. He had to conjure up his own theory based on that limited information. Suite 401 was a confirmation that she was a lady of leisure, only those who come from a certain social class can afford that cabin if it can be called a cabin at all. It resembles a Presidential Suite
One dance led to another. One drink led to another. She called it a night after less than two hours she was there. He was getting too familiar, and she was enjoying his company more than she should. "I can't." The two words ended the night and Roman thought he was losing his Cinderella just before midnight. He would smack his own head if he wasn't in public. They were chain drinking, he might have stood too close to her than she would've liked. His hands must've wandered to places that made her uncomfortable. "Stupid." They murmured to themselves when they went their separate ways. Olivia went back to her room in a hurry. She didn't even explain to him why the night had to be cut short abruptly. She walked away as fast as she could, and left him stupefied on the dance floor without a chance to redeem himself. She sighed a breath of relief when she got to her room. Locked the door and closed her eyes for a moment to wash away the hysteria that was still left in her. He wasn't tou
She was giggling while looking through her binoculars. Finally, she found the site she'd been wanting to see. A pod of dolphins swimming near the ship. They seemed to be having fun jumping in and out of the water close to the rumbling engines. Dolphins are one of her favorite creatures. They're mammals that live in the sea, they are technically fish with the intelligence of a chimp, and they behave like dogs, they even have a facial expression, they're always smiling. At least that's how she sees it. Watching them in their natural habitat was a different experience. The way they swim so freely in the vast body of water, they are in their element. They spun their bodies up in the air, racing against the boat while putting on a show, cutting through the water, their tail wagged as if to say 'hi', their excitement was contagious, she was grinning from ear to ear. A fluttering sound of a camera shutter came from her back. It was a moment worth eternalizing, it's very rare for that many
It didn't surprise him when she didn't show up at the Club that night. In fact, she was nowhere to be seen. He spent hours going around the ship with his camera pretending to be doing some work when he was really searching for her. She was isolating herself in her room, he thought. 401. He knew where it was but he wasn't going there. He had to give her some space, or she would shut herself completely and he didn't want that. What was his plan? When he thought about it, he really didn't have any. He only knew that he had met the woman he had always imagined would be his soulmate and now he was pursuing her no matter what the obstacle was. Isn't that what people do? She's married. That much he was sure of. Does she have any kids? How long has she been married? The more he thought about it, the more restless he got. He was already jealous of the man who was living his dream. It's not too late, he thought. There must be something wrong with her marriage, but then again, there's always s
"Looks like someone's gonna miss the boat," he said as he sat on the sunbed next to her. "And I won't be alone," she raised her glass at him before she sipped the special drink. He shrugged, "Well ... I'm supposed to stay on the island for two nights as part of my job." He smiled, his clear blue eyes were looking straight into hers. "Hmm ... What a nice coincidence." "I hope they know you won't be going back to the ship, you might want to tell someone about it or they'll call the police." She almost choked on her drink, "You're kidding, right? They would do that?" He raised his brows and nodded, "Technically they're responsible for your well-being as their passenger." She grimaced, and leaned back on the sunbed, "That's ridiculous, I don't have to do that." Roman laughed lightly, "You really don't abide by rules, do you? Let me make it easier for you ..." he reached into his pocket and got his phone. "I'll call them for you." She wanted to stop him from doing it, but he was to
When did it all start? Was it when his cheek brushed against hers when they danced? His voice whispered in her ear telling her what a wonderful time he was having with her, how beautiful she looked under the dim lights of the seaside bar. Was it when he took her hand and swirled her around to land in his embrace over and over again? Until his embrace no longer felt out of place but was expected, she wanted to end up that close to him. He felt new to her, exciting. Or did it start when they first laid eyes on each other? Is there such a thing as an instant attraction? It felt like it. She tried to avoid it, didn't she? Or maybe, it started even further back before they even met. When her world crumbled to pieces when she found out her husband had slept with another woman for reasons she has yet to understand. He loved her, he adored her, and he told her she was everything to him. Yet it didn't stop him from sleeping with another woman and tarnished their once flawless marriage for a