Aurora looked at Rafael with hesitation as he still held her hand tightly after their embrace. But Rafael's gaze had changed warmer now, yet full of resolve.
"Want to skip work with me?" he asked suddenly, in a tone that was both casual and serious.Aurora blinked, unsure if she had heard him right. "What?"Rafael smiled and leaned in slightly, looking at her with a gaze that was hard to resist. "Let's skip today. You need it. We need it."Aurora's mouth dropped slightly open, then she laughed. "Rafael... the unreachable president director... wants to skip?""Why not?" Rafael shrugged. "Today, I'm not a director. I'm just... a man who wants to spend time with his girlfriend."Aurora smiled. "Alright," she said simply. "Let's skip."They walked side by side, leaving the garden. Rafael sent a quick message to Nadine to cancel all his afternoon meetings, without giving much explanation. He just wanted to spend the day walking with Aurora.Soon, they arriThe morning light peeked shyly from behind the window curtains. The room still held warmth, faintly laced with the aroma of coffee from the kitchen. Aurora slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurry at first, but the comforting warmth surrounding her made her reluctant to move. It wasn’t until she realized she was nestled in Rafael’s arms that her breath caught for a moment.Rafael’s arms wrapped tightly around her, warm and protective. His chest rose and fell slowly, making her think he was still asleep until she heard that soft, husky voice.“You’re awake?” Rafael whispered, his eyes now open and gazing at her gently.Aurora nodded slightly, her lips forming a tired, small smile. “Yeah.”Rafael took a deep breath, then propped himself up a little to better see her face. “Are you okay?” he asked cautiously.Aurora only shook her head. Her eyes were clear but shadowed, as if she was holding back things she wasn’t ready to say. And Rafael u
Aurora's steps halted again when that voice called her."Aurora!"She turned around with a slow sigh. Marissa, her father's new wife, was standing there holding Renaldo, who was still clinging tightly to her neck. The woman's eyes looked worried."We're leaving," Marissa said, her voice slightly louder, as if afraid Aurora would keep walking and ignore her.Aurora frowned. "What do you mean?"Marissa took a deep breath, then replied, "In two weeks... we'll be boarding a ship. We can't stay here any longer. The police might find us if we stay in one place too long."Aurora raised an eyebrow. "And why are you telling me this?"Her question sounded cold and sharp. She didn't bother to hide the pain or irritation in her tone.Marissa said, "I... I don't know. But maybe this is the last chance. Maybe you'd want to come. To see your father. To-""To what?" Aurora cut her off quickly. "To explain why he chose you all over me? To watch your happy little family sail away and leave me behind ag
After finishing dinner, Aurora wiped her lips with a napkin and sighed contentedly. "Oh my... it was so delicious."Rafael, who had also just put down his spoon, nodded as he leaned back in his chair. "I told you so. It tastes the same as the last time we were here."Aurora looked at Rafael with a smile. "Thank you for bringing me here. I like it.""If you like it, I like it even more." Rafael returned her smile, then glanced out the window. "Want to take a short walk? The small park at the end of the block is pretty quiet and cool."Aurora nodded. "Sure. But walk slowly, okay? Your leg isn't fully healed yet."Rafael stood up slowly, supported by the cane propping up his still-injured leg. Aurora walked beside him, her hand instinctively reaching out to grip Rafael's arm to keep him from losing his balance.The night was calm. The sky was dotted with stars, though faintly visible due to the city lights. The evening breeze gently swept across their faces as t
The sound of the car door closing was followed by the roar of the engine dying. Rafael stepped down from the back seat with the help of his driver, while Aurora got out from the other side, looking around at the Japanese-style restaurant building.The restaurant appeared calm from the outside, surrounded by a small garden with white stones, bonsai trees, and a wooden torii-style gate. A gentle breeze carried the aroma of grilled fish and miso soup wafting from the open kitchen inside."Is this the place?" Aurora asked, looking around."Yes. Japanese clients like places like this; they want a traditional feel even when they're abroad," Rafael replied, adjusting the position of his cane in his left hand. "There's a private room inside, so you can wait in the general dining area. I don't want you to get bored listening to the stiff contract discussions."Aurora suppressed a smile. "I'll just order a light meal. Don't take too long, okay?"Rafael returned her smile.
Morning dawned gently, sunlight slipping through the cracks in the bedroom curtains, slowly sweeping the walls and floor with inviting warmth. In Rafael's still half-dark room, Aurora walked slowly toward the large bed where Rafael lay, his body still submerged in thick blankets and his breathing steady. He looked peaceful, his hair disheveled, and his face almost like that of a tired child after a day of play.Aurora smiled softly, then sat on the edge of the bed. "Rafael, wake up," she whispered gently, gently tapping his shoulder. There was no response. She tried again, this time with a slightly louder voice. "Hey, Mr. Director, the sun is already high."Rafael only stirred briefly, then mumbled without opening his eyes, "Too early."Aurora chuckled. "Early from where? It's already nine o'clock, Rafael. You're sleeping like a baby."The man still didn't open his eyes, but one of his hands moved out from under the blanket, reaching toward Aurora's voice. "Come closer," he murmured.
Rafael looked at Aurora, then Valery, then back at Aurora. "This... isn't what you think..."Aurora stared intently, her tone cold. "It seems like I've been thinking too much since earlier."Tension hung in the air, no less intense than the morning sun streaming through the window.Valery smiled sweetly, as if nothing had happened. She folded her arms across her chest and walked casually toward Aurora. "Wow, I didn't expect you two to be this far along," Valery said, her voice smooth. "Romantic, too." Aurora clenched her fists at her sides. "Get out," she hissed sharply. "How did you get in here?"Valery shrugged. "The door was half-open. I thought it would be rude not to check on the situation when I heard movement inside. I thought Rafael was having trouble," she then looked at Rafael from head to toe with a crooked smile. "Turns out I was right. I guess I came at the right time. Maybe... to help release?"Rafael, who was now sitting on the edge of t