Our Tomorrow, Intertwined (Erotic Romance, Sci-Fi Fantasy) -ENGLISH

Chapter Nineteen: Much-Needed Vacation

MAX noticed that it is easy to be happy when someone knows exactly what they want and how to achieve it.

For the first time since meeting Hyacinth, they both agreed on something: That time is precious and, therefore, should not be wasted pondering on “ifs”. They decided to be reckless and enjoy the prospect of being together since they both felt happiness and fulfillment from each other. It may be a loveless marriage but time is too precious to wait for love to bloom.

Hyacinth now has two years and seven months left before she and Erin disappears. A month ago, after the Ob-Sonologist confirmed her pregnancy, they planned their wedding. It is a rush wedding ceremony and no one in Northern Isles, the country where Sutton City is located, allows rushed weddings. One has to book the priest at least three months in advance to perform the wedding ceremony, but the priest at Trudor Square’s heritage church agreed on the hasty wedding date. The Bismarcks are influential in that part of Sutton City so it is easy to arrange such matters there.

While waiting for the wedding to take place after three weeks, The Bismarcks and Hyacinth went on a two-week vacation to the country of Southern Isles to visit the islands there, especially the popular Patnogon Island with its white sand and crystal-clear waters. Visiting the island feels as if Hyacinth visited paradise on Earth. The two weeks with Max, Maine, and Erin were Hyacinth’s most treasured memories since it was her first time going out of Sutton City and visiting another country.

Max’s role lately is to answer her every question about anything unfamiliar that she encounters. Take surfing, for example. Hyacinth doesn’t know what surfing is until she saw some locals in Patnogon Island doing the said activity with ‘surfboards’. She didn’t know of swimwear, too, until Maine brought it up when they decided to go for a swim a few hours after they arrived at their hotel.

Max now felt the magnitude of Hyacinth’s previous situation with her parents. She has been uncultured with the outside world. Hyacinth was fascinated with the things he took for granted.

And, now, seeing her utterly shocked with magic tricks when they visited various souvenir and entertainment stalls near the beachfront almost crumpled his heart like paper.

Hyacinth never knew of magic tricks until she saw one on the island. She actually thought of the magician as someone who has a peculiar ability like her and Erin. She had been so fascinated with the idea that there were other peculiar people like her and Erin.

How lonely she must’ve felt all these years without someone to understand how it is to be the odd one out, always wondering if there is someone who actually knew her struggles.

He could see her eyes sparkle as she approached the magician and literally asked if the magician’s powers only relies on making things disappear in front of the naked eye. Max also saw the disappointment on Hyacinth’s face when the magician said that it was all a trick of misdirection and not real magic.

Erin noticed that the magician is puzzled to have a grown-up ask questions that a kid usually asks a magician. His kid whispered something to Max. He nodded to Erin’s suggestion and went to fetch Hyacinth from the magician’s stall to avoid further misunderstanding.

“Did I look stupid?” Hyacinth’s lips formed a hesitant smile, her eyes looking at him, waiting for a reply.

You were robbed of your childhood, for Pete’s sake! You have every right to be curious like a child. You’ve earned it! He wanted to voice out but he stopped himself, not wanting to remind Hyacinth of her terrible childhood. Instead, he whispered, “I heard there are fortune-tellers around here. Would you like to ask them questions about their ability?”

Hyacinth scowled. “You didn’t answer my question. Was I stupid?”

“No, Haya. You were just curious and we’re here so that you can satisfy your curiosity. Ask every magician and fortune-teller any question and, maybe, we’ll be able to find someone with real abilities like yours.”

Hyacinth’s eyes smiled together with her lips. Max noticed that she has a shallow dimple on her right cheek. She must’ve been very happy with what he had said to smile like that...like she just heard a promise of the stars and the moon from his lips.

Her smile robbed him of his breath, causing him to gasp. Erin and Maine, who immediately understood the sudden change of ambiance between Max and Hyacinth, walked a few meters away from the couple to buy a local delicacy; some dried beans coated in powdered sugar. That was just an excuse to give the couple some privacy.

“Max?”

He was so transfixed by her smile that he drifted out of reality for a brief moment. It is a good thing that her voice dragged him back to Earth. “Hmmm?”

“I wanted to thank you for bringing me here. For letting me experience a family outing. For indulging me.”

Anything for you, Hyacinth. You just have to ask and I’ll give it in a heartbeat. “You’re welcome.” He cleared his throat to brush away the sentimental thoughts that were lingering in his mind at the moment.

She took a step towards him until her lips brushed on his chin. “What do you want to do here, though?”

He nodded. “We have dinner reservations. Erin and Maine loved the island’s desserts and we’re going to a restaurant where the famous beef soup with coconut shavings originated from and—”

“I—I mean, for the two of us.”

His heart somersaulted. What did he just hear?

Hyacinth reached for his hand, linking their fingers together. “I’ve been waiting to talk to you in private but you were always busy with Jean’s updates about your business in your spare time. You’re also occupied with online meetings at night.”

Max gave her an inquisitive glance. “Why? Is there something you want to talk about?”

“Well, Erin and Maine have their own hotel suite. You have your room and I have mine, too. I was kind of hoping you can skip a meeting for tonight. I figured out that it will help us understand each other deeper, now that we’re going to get married in two weeks.”

Fair enough. “Where do you want to meet, then?”

At first, Max was wondering if his vision was wrong. Maybe the different lights from various stalls play some kind of trick in his eyesight because he actually saw the redness creeping from Hyacinth’s neck to the roots of her hair. Her blushing was a sight to behold.

“C-Can we meet...in my room?” She asked in a low, husky tone.