In Phut Bi, Sebastian introduced Violet to the local delicacies over a simple lunch with spicy seafood coconut milk soup and Violet's new favorite stir-fried mixed local vegetables consisting of many ferns and herbs she had not seen before. Mostly due to Phut Bi having lots of dense jungle, the vegetables were sourced uniquely only in the region.
Sebastian and Violet still felt awkward despite multiple times trying to act normal, only to end up eating quietly. Thereafter, they strolled a short distance to the beach side while he was still disguised with sunglasses and his cap. Along the way, they paused to let Violet buy them a coconut ice cream as they sat enjoying the breeze of the sea.
Sigh, I should be more alert, especially now when I am all alone. Sam was right about me being oblivious to my surroundings. Perhaps I have been too protected by Dex all this time to have things prepared in advance despite the distance we faced. How did I not see all this when our love was drifting apart? What should I do next? I can't be hiding here all the while. And it's getting awkward with him… Violet thought to herself while sighing a couple of times, stealing glances at Sebastian.
Why do I feel like not leaving? I love this place, and I do enjoy Sebastian's company… If it weren't for me being oblivious, he wouldn't be angered. But why do I care? He is just a stranger I befriend and might not even keep in touch with since he is an artist… Or will I? Vi, it's not right… But his eyes are so captivating… Violet thought to herself while keeping her gaze on his features being illuminated by the sun's rays.
Despite the loud waves' crashing sound, Sebastian caught her heavy breathing a few times and noted her discomfort, but she seemed to be deep in her own thoughts while keeping her gaze on him.
How should I break this awkwardness, though I had already apologised? I shouldn't be this snappy. She isn't anyone I should bother much. She is just anyone, Sebby. But why am I concerned if she was still upset? Ignore Sebby… Just act normal. Sebastian nagged at himself.
"Do you like the ice cream?" He finally broke the awkward silence while clearing his throat as Violet looked away, only to meet his gaze again. She nodded with a polite smile.
"It's good… Something new out of the norm…" She commented briefly.
"Right, another local specialty. Like the mixed vegetables we had earlier." He tried to create more conversation.
"Right… That was good, too. I love everything you have recommended so far. It's really nice." She complimented courteously as the sun began to set, and a soft "aww" was heard from the growing crowd beside them.
"That's very spectacular…" Violet whispered under her breath, enjoying the majestic view.
"Right… That's also one specialty of this region…" Sebastian took a deep breath, trying to absorb the breeze to calm his anxiety and enjoy the moment when he noticed Violet beaming at the view, looking all memesrised. He began to notice his heartbeat rising as he forced himself to shake away his confusing feelings.
This isn't the time for a budding romance, Seb! He nagged at himself, but his body was not listening to him.
He met with Violet's gaze, who could feel he was staring at her intensely, and she was not oblivious to the changes in Sebastian's gestures since lunch. She could sense he was into her as much as she was into him, but they were both in denial and holding back.
She knew it had been awkward since they reached Phut Bi after the argument, but it was not merely because of the incident. It was cause they both knew their past few days getting to know each other, and their past had made them understand each other well. It was the sense they both wanted people beside them to comprehend, only to have each of them as a stranger to be the one. They wanted to care for each other and protect each other's vulnerable selves, only to find themselves in an awkward situation.
Sebastian inched closer to her face while she wearily waited for his lips to reach hers. They shared a kiss, overlooking the sunset, ignoring their current status and problems in life, and the kiss they both nervously tangled in felt comforting. Slow and on pace with each other, they both wished time could stop a little to let them savour the moment a little longer.
As they parted ways, he was holding her hand in his. "I'm sorry… I… I have taken this a little too far…" Sebastian apologised softly.
"It's not a little. It's too far. We shouldn't be doing this." Violet pointed out as Sebastian nodded in agreement but their bodies were not aligned as their gaze and heartbeat grew intense.
"Why don't we just enjoy this trip and leave everything here when we leave later?" Violet suggested impulsively. At that moment, Sebastian wanted their trip to never end.
"Right, let's do whatever we want and keep whatever happens here… Here…" Sebastian agreed as they both got up and rushed back to their homestay before indulging in each other passionately through the night.
Sebastian and Violet both were curing all their hurt and disappointment while being entangled with each other. They could not have enough of each other that night and by the time Sebastian woke in the early morning, he found her snuggling by his side as he smiled, kissing her forehead gently.
She stirred awake, finding him gazing down on her. She could not help but tear up, recalling that her last time of excitement in bed was a month ago after being drunk with Dexter at his cousin's wedding. It was the tiniest glimpse of hope she had to reconcile, only to find Dexter avoiding her even more, leaving their marriage even more strained.
"Hey… You're alright? Does it hurt?" He whispered while holding her in his arms as she shook her head.
"It's alright… It's going to be all right. I'm here…" He comforted her as she continued to sob in his arms.
Sebastian had known that women tend to be vulnerable when in bed, especially after a good session, and that was also when they felt their true feelings. She must be facing her shoved-away feelings, or perhaps regretting what they had just done, as he pouted in disappointment slightly, if that was the case.
"I'm sorry…" She apologised. "I shouldn't be this clingy or weak, knowing we have agreed for it to be just a one-night thing, or you know this trip thing…" She apologised.
"It's fine…" He said gently while putting her fringe behind her ear.
"It's alright to feel this way… We will head out to the sea later in the morning and enjoy our date while we can. Stay for as long as you want. We could always stock up on more protection..." He tried to cheer her up. She chuckled and shared a comforting kiss with him.
"Let's catch the sunrise together before heading out to the sea," Violet suggested as he nodded and got them ready.
They took a tour out to the sea on a motorboat and visited several iconic islands. They were mostly chilling by the shallow water as Violet could not swim. Sebastian swam a little further at times while trying to teach Violet to swim. Violet was a fast learner, as at the end of the day, she could comfortably hold her breath underwater for a short while.
He wanted to take her scuba diving, only to realise it required a different skill set. Instead, he accompanied her sun tanning by the beach side while the rest of the guests in the tour went scuba diving. They could not help but chuckle at some seasick guests. There was one who had thrown up on board as well.
Probably, it was karma. Right when they were alighting from the boat, Violet accidentally slipped and hit her arm on the boat's railings, sending Sebastian into a panic for a moment that she might have injured herself severely, only to find her giggling in his arms while he checked on her.
As it started to pour from the sky, they quickly ran back to their homestay and got changed, preparing for dinner. They went to have a sumptuous steamed fish dinner with savoury, unique tropical fruits fried rice. That was also where Violet learned that Sebastian was actually a small eater cause he would constantly feel hungry after a couple of hours. They made their way to the convenience store to shop for instant noodles for supper when the rain finally subsided.
"Do you want one?" Sebastian offered as Violet shook her head. "Are you sure?" He asked again as she smiled and whispered to him. "I would rather share it…" She teased him as he stole a kiss from her.
"Violet…" A familiar voice called out her name when she locked eyes with the man in front of her.
"Sam…" His name escaped her breath in surprise.
"Sam Chu… What a pleasure to see you! What are you doing here?" Sebastian greeted him while holding Violet's hand. Violet quickly let go of Sebastian's hand, but Sam was already glaring at her.
"Sebastian Lu, really, Vi?" Sam vented as Violet tried to calm him.
"Sam… I can explain. Wait…" Violet said while Sebastian caught on that they both knew each other.
"Violet?" Sebastian called out to her for an explanation.
"He is my older brother," Violet said guiltily.
"You're Violet Chu?" Sebastian tried to confirm in surprise as she nodded.
"What are you both doing amid both your divorces?" Sam scolded while Violet tried to cover his mouth.
"Quieten down! You're in a public area! Let's head back to the homestay opposite!" Violet reprimanded him in a low voice before pulling him out of the convenience store, but ran back in alone to Sebastian, who was left a little flabbergasted.
"Sebby, I'm sorry… I will explain later!" She apologised before running back to Sam as they headed back to her room.