Chapter 92 Unwind With Him

Ares quickly ordered a leave from work today in order to join Kia on a trip to a quiet beach in the nearby province, as the doctor had instructed. They traveled three hours from home in order to be close to a beach of some kind. They used Google to find out how far it was from their location to the nearest beach. It was only a fifteen-minute trip to what they refer to as paradise.

“You have reached your destination!” the GPS proclaims.

“What? But this isn’t a resort or something…” Kia wonders.

“Let’s ask someone nearby,” Ares rolled down the windows as they approached a gated enclave. “Good morning, sir. Is the Paradise beach resort near here? I think we got lost.” Ares asked for directions.

“Yes! Just go straight ahead,” the man answered.

“Copy that. Thank you.”

They drove straight ahead as they realized they were really getting close when the humid, hot, and salty air slapped their faces and entered their nostrils. When they arrived, they acutely saw some incredibly blue waters with white waves crashing on the shore. They were fortunate to catch a car going directly in front of the beach after circling those congested, tight streets for what seemed like an eternity.

“We are here!” Kia excitedly screamed.

She immediately took off her clothes, showing her bathing suit and proportional body. She then applied sunscreen before heading out.

“Hon, can you find a place to set our blanket? I just need to use the restroom.” Ares said.

Because of how excited Kia was, she immediately agreed and grabbed their blanket. She had to walk for less than a minute before her bare feet could finally touch the warm sand. When she found a perfect spot, she then whipped the blanket into position and saw it gradually acquire the shape of each crater in the sand. While waiting for Ares, she then took a seat at the edge of the blanket, letting her feet sink into the sizzling sand as my eyes watched each bluish-green curl of water fold over into white splashes.

-

As Ares saw, Kianna went to find the perfect spot to place their blanket. He immediately went back to his car and grabbed his phone. While dialing someone, he couldn’t stop looking in Kianna’s direction.

* ringing * ringing * ringing *

“Hello?”

* distorted sound *

“Hello, boss? Can you hear me, boss?” a voice from the other line came from Kyle.

“For God’s sake, Kyle, why did it take you so long to pick it up? Do you want me to transfer you to the cleaning department instead—”

“No, boss! — Sorry, boss. I am currently looking for some files right now and my phone is on mute.”

“Then unmute it, you idiot!” Ares furiously said. He then sighed and tried to calm himself down. “Anyway, any update?”

“Right! Give me a minute, boss. I will just head back to the office…” Kyle said and rushed back to the office. “Ehem— I went to Ms. Kianna’s university and the plan is clear, boss. They settled with it. As their investigation continued, they found out that most of the evidence was pointing at Ms. Ventura.”

“Speaking of Ms. Ventura, have you made sure that someone is watching her?” Ares asked.

“Yes, boss. I hired two of our men to look at Ms. Ventura… As I have said, most of the evidence was pointing at Ms. Ventura and the dean was so convinced with it. But boss, I heard that they will not continue with their old plan. The other university won’t allow Ms. Kianna to participate in the quiz bee competition because of the issue. They weren't convinced that Ms. Kianna didn’t cheat on their exam and if she really is innocent, the school's reputation was already damaged because of her issue.”

Ares’ eyes darkened, “What university said that?”

“The Arellano University in Manila, boss.”

“I am one of their shareholders, right?” Ares asked, but before Kyle answered his question, he suddenly spoke, “Pull out every bit of money I spent on that useless university," Ares ordered, his eyes flashing angrily.

“Boss?! But— but you and the owner of the Arellano University had a good bond, boss. What should I say to them if I pulled out all of your shares?”

“Then don’t make some excuses and just pull everything out. They don’t deserve a single bit of money from me. I don’t need to have a good bond with them. Mess with my wife and I will make sure that they will regret it. Are we clear with that?” Ares interjected.

“Yes, boss. Right away, boss…”

“Good. How about the investigation I asked for you last time? Did you send men to look for him?”

“Yes, boss. They tracked him down in a small condominium near your place. He’s been there for months now and no one from his family knows where he is. I think he was planning something, but I am still not sure of that. Their company got back on its feet, but it was not the same as before. Their stocks had been dropped to half and the only thing to survive that crisis was by collaborating with the other company, so they were planning to collaborate with the Saavedra’s Company.”

“They were just dragging the Saavedra into their own mess. They must be planning something... Update me right away if you find anything suspicious about the Rivera Company, and make sure to keep an eye on Vincent Rivera. I don’t want him pestering my wife again.”

“Yes, boss.”

“I will call you back later. Make sure to answer it within 3 seconds, because if you don't, you are fired.”

“Bu-but boss—”

* call ended *

Ares's temples pounded in his rage. He dropped his phone and looked in Kianna’s direction, but to his surprise, Kianna was already gone. He was about to go out and look for her when suddenly there was a small knock on the window from his left side. It was Kianna. He broke into a sweat. His heart pounded, and his hand began to feel clammy against his bouncing knee. He could feel his heart in his throat.

Once again, Kianna knocks and tells Ares to open the door. He doesn’t have a choice but to open it and let her get into the car.

“Would you explain it to me? why—”

“Hon… Hon, I know this is— this is what you were expecting but I just… I just don’t know how to explain it to you. I have been trying to tell you but I don’t have any courage. I’m sorry…” Ares interjected.

“What are you talking about? And why are you saying sorry out of nowhere? What are you sorry for? I am just trying to ask you why you are still in the car. I have been waiting for you for half an hour there and I will just catch you here in the car, sitting alone, staring at outer space.” Kianna mumbled.

Ares couldn’t believe it. He was about to confess everything to Kianna because of what happened. He clenched his fist and tried to calm himself while cursing himself in his mind.

“Hey! Are you alright? You are turning pale, hon. Is there something wrong? Do you feel sick? Let’s go to the nearest hospital. I will just call someone for help—” Kianna said as she was about to go out, but Ares immediately grabbed her hand.

“I–I’m fine…” Ares murmured.

“Are you sure? But you look so pale and your hands are cold. What is happening to you?”

“Uhh… Mhm— It is because I have diarrhea today… that is why I went to the restroom earlier. I went back here to the car to find some medicine to ease my stomach pain and good thing that I found one. I have been trying to tell you while we are still on our way here, but I am too embarrassed to say it. I’m sorry…”

“Hey, it’s fine. Nothing is embarrassing about that. That is freaking normal, hon. You should have told me earlier. You know what, let’s take a rest first. There is a hotel nearby. Let’s check in first so that you can take a rest.”

“We don’t have to. I am fine now. I was just too nervous to tell you earlier…” Ares said while scratching his head.

“Mhmm… Fine….” Kianna surrendered in making Ares go to the hospital.

-

KIA

I helped Ares carry all our things to the spot where I left the blanket. After several time going back and forth, I was finally able to lie down. I closed my eyes as I relaxed in the sun, listened to every sound, and imagined everything that was happening all around me. After the sound of the wave crashing on the rocks, I could still hear the happy yells of the children in the distance.

How I wish we could be able to stay here forever...

I feel at ease. My mind is calm and all I can think of is the scene of how beautiful this place is. It feels like nothing is wrong with me. Maybe this is all I need — no, this is definitely what I need. After the worst things that happened to me recently, the man who followed me while I was going home and the accusations that they threw at me at school, those things that made my month a living hell… but look at me right now. I am still fighting and trying to cope up from those nightmares.

But will I be able to overcome those things if Ares isn’t with me?

Time has passed so fast. I didn’t even realize that months had passed. The day that he asked me to marry him feels like tomorrow. Realize how everything ended up like this. How I wish this had happened a long time ago. I wish I knew him before Vincent came into my life. Maybe I won’t get hurt by someone who doesn’t know how to value one woman in his life. Maybe I and Ares were happy for each other till now…

“Hon, I just wonder, what if we met before and… you know… ended up together just like this?” I suddenly asked. I have no idea why those words came out of my mouth.

I didn’t get an answer from him. I sat down and looked at him, and he was looking at me like I was a dead person who had just risen from the ground.

“Hey, is your stomach still hurting?” I asked, worriedly.

He shook his head and smiled at me. “That would be great... We... ended up together…” he said.

It feels so weird… It feels like those words aren’t just as simple as they should be. It feels like it has some kind of meaning in it because of how he said it.

“I wish you had looked at me like that before…” he murmured. I almost didn’t understand what he was saying because of how low his voice was.

“What?”

“Huh?” He seems like he just woke up from a wonderful dream.

“You said you wish I had looked at you like this before. What does that mean?” I asked, curiously.

Ares was caught off guard. His smile faded away and was replaced by a shrug. “I was just saying that it would be wonderful to have you before and promising you to be my wife and stuff… You know…” he laughed, a fake one.

“Mhmm…”

I didn't prolong the conversation and just ate snacks. After that, we had fun, and before we left this alleged paradise, I jumped back into the water for one last time, just for the pleasure of seeing the waves rush over each crest and pour over my head. With only thirty minutes remaining, we took a short stroll back to our blankets while tasting the assortment of cold fruit and occasionally hearing the crunch of sand. The fact that we had to depart as soon as we saw the sunset was bittersweet. Once we shook off our blanket and realized it was time to leave, I grabbed my bag and headed back toward the car.

Hopefully, we will be able to return here. Maybe the day of our actual wedding?