The morning arrived gently, unveiling the cold night and replacing it with the warm light of the sun that slowly filtered through the curtain gaps. Golden-yellow rays touched the wrinkled white sheets and greeted the two souls still asleep in the warmth of each other.
Aurora slowly opened her eyes. For a moment, she was confused by the tranquility surrounding her, but she immediately became aware of the arm wrapped gently around her waist and the warm breath flowing against her nape. She turned her head slightly and found Rafael still asleep, his face peaceful, lips lifted slightly in a small smile.Aurora smiled, gently touching Rafael's cheek with the tip of her finger. "Good morning," she whispered softly.Rafael moved his eyebrows slightly, then opened his eyes. His sleepy gaze instantly brightened when he saw Aurora's face so close to his. He pulled Aurora closer and kissed her forehead lovingly."Good morning, beautiful," he said hoarsely, hThe sky outside was dark, dotted with dim stars covered by thin clouds. Aurora sat alone in the living room, bathed in the warm yellow light of the lamp hanging above her. She sat on the long sofa with her legs folded, hugging a pillow in her lap. Her gaze was blank as she stared at the front door, which was still tightly closed.The clock on the wall showed it was ten o'clock at night.There was still no sign of Rafael coming home.Aurora sighed softly, then glanced at her phone lying on the table. No messages. No calls. Silence. Even the ticking of the clock sounded too loud in her ears.Anxiety was slowly eating away at her heart. Since Rafael had left without much explanation that afternoon, her mind had been restless. There was something in Rafael's gaze at that moment-a gaze filled with anxiety and conflict. Aurora knew it wasn't just about ordinary work matters. Her feelings felt like they were being thrown back to the past. Straight to her last meeting with her father, Edgar
The car slowed to a stop in front of Rafael's house. Aurora breathed a sigh of relief as she recognized the familiar sight of the grand house, where they had spent many dynamic days, both happy and sad. Their vacation was over, but the beautiful memories still lingered warmly in their hearts.As soon as the car engine was turned off, one of the house servants immediately came over and opened the door. Quickly, he carried the suitcases and bags from the trunk into the house. Aurora thanked him as she stepped inside, removing her hat. She glanced at Rafael, who was still standing beside the car checking his phone, and said softly, "I'll go to my room first. I want to change clothes."Rafael nodded without looking up, replying, "Sure, just a moment."Aurora climbed the stairs leisurely, a smile still on her face. She entered the room and changed out of her beach dress into comfortable house clothes. After combing her hair and washing her face, she realized Rafael hadn't com
The night air grew cooler as Rafael and Aurora sat together at a small wooden table, right next to the grill, which was now beginning to dim. The candlelight on the table danced softly in the breeze, creating a warm and intimate atmosphere. In front of them, various seafood dishes were laid out, their aromas tantalizing. There were grilled clams with garlic butter, barramundi fish, lemon sauce shrimp, and a plate of fresh salad. Beside them, a bottle of white wine had been opened, and two glasses were nearly full.Aurora fed Rafael a piece of fish with a small fork, smiling gently. "You must be hungry after cooking all afternoon."Rafael nodded as he chewed slowly. "If you keep feeding me like this, I could eat twice as much," he replied with a small laugh.Aurora laughed along, then wiped the corner of Rafael's mouth with a napkin she had taken playfully. "There, still messy," she said teasingly.Rafael didn't want to be outdone. He took a piece of shrimp and carefu
Rafael loosened his embrace slightly, giving Aurora room to lift her face. Their gazes met in a deep silence, as if the world around them faded into a soundless backdrop. Rafael's gaze was sharp yet gentle, tracing every line of Aurora's face with meaning.Aurora felt her heartbeat quicken. A faint blush slowly spread across her cheeks, reaching her ears. She could feel Rafael's gaze piercing through her final defenses, expressing things that had never been spoken aloud."You know..." Rafael whispered, his voice almost like the wind touching leaves, "when you look at me like this, I feel like the only person in the world."Aurora smiled softly, her eyes meeting Rafael's with tenderness. "Because it's only you... that I see."Without another word, Rafael lowered his face slowly, closing the remaining distance between them. His lips touched Aurora's with the gentleness of the first spring breeze touching the earth. The touch was not forceful, but it carried a warmth th
Morning arrived quickly, the sky was so bright. The sun had just risen from behind the horizon, painting the sky with soft orange hues that caressed the surface of the sea. The fresh, coastal air filled their lungs, creating the perfect atmosphere for their little adventure this morning.Aurora wore a light blue beach dress with a straw hat and sunglasses that made her face shine even more. Rafael, in a white T-shirt and casual shorts, was already waiting at the edge of the small dock belonging to their villa."Come on, let's go! The water is calm; we can go out a bit to see the view," Rafael called out, helping Aurora into the small boat he had prepared earlier.Aurora smiled enthusiastically, though she hesitated briefly when her bare feet touched the slightly rocking bottom of the boat. "I'm not sure this is a good idea. If the boat capsizes, you'll be ready to swim while carrying me, right?"Rafael laughed lightly. "I could carry you on my back even without a boat. But today, this
After the score reached 6-6, Rachel took a moment to wipe the sweat from her forehead."Wow, Aurora, it turns out you're pretty active too. I thought you could only sit pretty next to Rafael," she said with a thin but sarcastic smile.Aurora held her breath for a moment, then replied, "And I thought you'd already gone back to the city. Turns out you're still hanging around, huh?" Rachel laughed. "If you're not satisfied with the game, why rush back?" "Funny. You're the one who said you just wanted to have breakfast."Rafael approached them, trying to lighten the mood, "Alright, enough. Let's keep playing. Four points left."The game resumed. Aurora grew more focused, each step and swing precise. She no longer dwelled on the emotional tension between them, but only wanted to win. Rachel wasn't about to be outdone; her flexible body allowed her to leap nimbly and save difficult shots.The score ended 10-8. Aurora won. She was out of breath, her hair was wet, but her face was glowing.