440 A New Purpose

[BONUS]

"Where did Isolde go? The one who got violated is me. How come she was the one running away as if she had been the one taken advantage of?" Leonel muttered to himself.

After a moment, a shadow loomed over him that made him squint.

"Ah! There you are! Where did you go?! Is that liquor I sniff on you? Anyway, get me out of here." Leonel stopped speaking when he noticed that Isolde's flushed face buckled into a sad smile like she was going to cry.

"W-wait. Why are you crying? I should be the one crying. I was the one who got violated here."

"Leo."

Leonel paused and became defensive. "W-what?"

"Am I . . . ugly?"

". . . Huh?"

"All my past boyfriends admitted that the reason why they broke up with me was that they thought of me as a man and that . . . I'm not beautiful enough–"

"You are beautiful, Isolde," Leonel interrupted her. "You're beautiful inside and out."

Leonel's serious face made Isolde unable to utter a word of repose. The sincerity in his eyes made her want to surrender to her feelings and cry her heart out.

"You're a very good shooter," Leonel added with a coy grin on his face. "And a very dependable friend."

Isolde blushed and looked away from him.

"Thank you," she replied softly.

Isolde's heart was beating fast, and she felt her cheeks were burning even more now.

She had to admit, Isolde felt a little better, and she was glad that she had told Leonel about it.

When Isolde smiled again, Leonel felt like his heart was going to explode from happiness. He wanted to tell her how beautiful she was, but he couldn't pull the courage to say anything.

And before any of them could react, brought by her emotions or the tequila setting in, Isolde leaned in for a kiss.

It was just a peck. Not a passionate one on the lips, but a simple cheek kiss.

It was just a kiss, but it was one that made Leonel's heart beat a million times in an hour. One that left him weak at the knees. One that made his brain freeze. And it was in this moment that he realized . . . he had fallen for Isolde.

After the kiss on the cheek, Isolde straightened her back. She paused for a moment as if she was stunned by what she had done.

And when it finally sunk into her what just happened, she shot to her feet and bolted away, screaming, "I'm sooooorrryyy!!"

"H-hoi, Isolde!"

W-what did she mean by that? Leonel couldn't believe that she was running away for the second time around.

Rather, could someone . . .

Leonel took a mouthful of air and screamed. "Get me out of here!"

----

Came sunset, the group was busy setting up a bonfire and grilling meat, except for Ren and Evie, who were walking by the shore and holding their sleepers in one hand.

The flames lit up the night sky, illuminating the stars above them. It was a beautiful sight.

Ren was walking ahead, while Evie was following behind him.

The silence between them wasn't awkward, but it wasn't comfortable either.

It was just strange feeling. Like a couple who got separated for a long time and then reunited so suddenly they no longer knew how to act around each other.

Watching Ren's desolate back for an hour, Evie finally made up her mind and broke the stillness, and boldly declared.

"Ren, I will aid you as much as I can. I will do anything for you and stay by your side. I won't betray you and promise to take care of you, so . . . stop pushing me away and let me help you."

She forgot how many times her voice choke with emotion that she had to pause in between speaking to clear her throat.

Evie inadvertently stopped walking because of her straightforward show of affection.

Ren also stopped, and they faced each other. Asking her why he would go that far would be pretty insensitive.

Her message was clear even for someone who was dense and indifferent as him.

Ever since her eyes locked into his, Evie had reached for his hands, and Ren knew that he would be putty in her touch.

She always had that effect on him.

He had been in love with her for years, and yet, he still got the same feeling as when she first told him she loved him back.

Each day with her was another day he fell more for her smile, her laugh, her personality, and everything else about her. Not even the biggest win in the game could make him feel as amazing as the love that she made him feel.

Actually, Ren had been thinking about it for the past few days. About what his parents said in his dreams. About what the others said, about what his friends said – as well as what Evie said about what he should do from now on.

He was so lost and aimlessly living without a purpose for a month now . . . but that was just him unwilling to change the goal of his life because it felt like acknowledging his parents' death in the process.

However, Ren didn't realize that he was already pushing Evie away.

He was so caught up with the dead . . . that he neglected his present and potential future.

The answer he was looking for was staring straight at him right now.

A new purpose. A new goal. In the form of her.

And all he had to do was to completely let her in inside his life for good.

"Thank you, Evie . . . I feel much better now." Ren smiled, the first after his parents passed away. "I'll be in your care from now on."

Evie reciprocated Ren's smile while caressing his hands over her cheeks. He then steadied her face, and she tiptoed and closed her eyes while he leaned in and captured her lips.

Evie's lips against his gave Ren such a rush that nearly made him fall for her all over again.