Reaping Me Softly

Chapter 15 - Sweet Day

Lia was feeling excited when she woke up the next day.

She has never been this excited before. This would be her first date and yes, she considered it as her first real date. To be frank, she kinda developed a crush for him when she saw him again. He was attractive, she admit it. She thought his uniform suits him well, what else in scrubs?

Imagining him wearing one, she wanted to jump in delight.

Simeon in a doctor suit... How can she not like him?

“I parked my car two blocks away from your house,” said Simeon on the other line.

“Alright...” She sighed deeply. “I’ll be there in less than five minutes. I need to master my excuses.”

He chuckled. “You better not get caught, then.”

Shaking her head, Lia ended the call.

For her date, she just wore a loose falbala short sleeve shift dress, paired with white sneaker. She grabbed her gray shoulder bag and put her phone inside before going out of her room, sighing as she mentally practice the script she made to tell parents if asked.

She’s not allowed to entertain men. But here she is, trying to make an excuse to come to her date.

As expected, she saw her mother on the living room. Sitting while holding a tea cup, with newspaper on the center table.

“Where are you going?” her mother asked, adjusting her eye glasses then, looked at her.

“Uh, we have a group project, Ma.”

“And? You’re the group leader?”

She nodded slowly.

“You usually do your group project alone. What changed?”

“It’s a video presentation... I need to be there...”

Her mother, Laura, just raised her brows. She bit the inside of her cheek, staring back at her to prove her lies.

“Alright...”

She secretly sighed in relief.

“I’ll have our driver to—“ Lia cut her off.

“No, Ma. No...” She even waved her hand! “I mean, I can handle myself. I learned to commute when our driver failed to fetch me.” She let out an awkward smile.

“Okay. Take care and go home early.”

She nodded and slowly, she walked towards the door with her insides dancing in joy. Lia acted normal not until she stepped foot outside their gate, leaving everyone behind.

Without wasting any second, she looked for the car and there, she saw his two blocks away.

Lia wanted to run to his car but he will probably saw her, so she kept it cool. She walked not slow, not that fast but enough to reached his position for less than a minute.

She quickly opened the passenger seat and sat there, breathing heavily.

“What happened? You’re red,” Simeon asked curiously.

“I think I need to learn how to lie from now on...” she blurted out. “I didn’t know lying could be this challenging until now. I felt like my heart would explode in fear and nervousness, and my body... Is hell already saved a spot for me? I feel hot!”

Simeon bursted out in laughter at her nonstop mouth! While Lia’s cheeks turned into more tomato red because of embarrassment! Even she, wanted to laugh at herself because of her silliness.

She never knew she could talked that much until now! Lying is what it takes, huh?

“You looked like you’re about to explode...” he commented, coughing as he tried to refrain from laughing.

Lia stared at him in annoyed expression.

“Stop laughing! You’re not helping me!”

“Stop making me laugh, then...” he stopped.

She started to feel anxious when he watch her intently. He was too serious now like he didn’t make fun of her seconds ago. She swallowed hard.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked nervously.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re feeling so blessed to have me,” she joked.

Simeon blinked twice like he didn’t expect her answer. For some reason, he faked a cough then sat straight, preparing to drive and just went silent.

As for Lia, she just focus her eyes in front. It was supposed to be a joke but why is she feeling a bit disappointed at his reaction? And his stares... Did it just make her heart beat faster than its normal rate?

Dang. She felt so weak. She knows she likes him, however, not this way! She likes him and her feelings shouldn’t grow more than that.

It’s called boundaries... She has decided to enjoy her teenage life. She would get married anytime soon, and Lia will probably regret her decision for not living her single life at fullest! Regrets has no room for her.

Filling her heart with regrets would make her heart sunk in remorse.

“Where are we going though?” she asked instead when he didn’t talk.

Simeon started driving. Meanwhile, she just roamed her eyes around, avoiding to look in his direction.

“To nowhere. We’re just going for a road trip... A food trip. We’ll find a beautiful spot then witness the beautiful sunset.”

She couldn’t help but glance at him. “I thought you were going to bring me to a fancy restaurant.”

“Do you want to?”

“No, no... I liked your idea, Simeon.”

The side of his lips rose up. “Glad you liked it. I figured restaurant date was not your thing, am I right?”

She nodded. “Yes. I’ve been eating in restaurant. Regardless of who I’m with, I still won’t consider the idea of it.”

“Same though,” he replied. “It would be too boring. You just ate in a five star hotel restaurant last night. You’ll prolly roll your eyes at me if I’d bring you there again.”

Lia stopped for a second. “You were there, too...”

“Yup. I told you I ate steak with my cousins, and sister.”

“You have a sister?”

“A half-sister,” he answered. “But enough of that. We’re near to our spot...”

At some point, Lia has a feeling that it wouldn’t be easy to get to know him. He shut her off... Although it was the right thing to avoid any personal questions but she just double checked if he has a sister!

And now, she felt so unreasonable.

Of course, he will not open up. They just met and they’ll see if they could trust each other. As for her loyalty, he can lean on to her anytime.

The car stopped.

“Are you ready to climb?”

“Huh?” She looked through the window and saw a white gate, inside was a high hill. “To that...?” She hesitated.

“From up there, you’ll be able to catch a view of sunset. You’ll hear waves as there’s sea below that hill. Don’t worry... You’ll just have to walk in a dry mud. It’s safe there, too.”

“How would you know it’s safe?”

He flicked his tongue. “I wouldn’t bring you here if it’s not, Lia.”

Simeon unfastened his seat belt and went out of the car. While she was having doubts... She never climbed a hill before. And even though Simeon was right, that he wouldn’t bring her here if it’s not secured, still, she’s having doubts.

What if there’s a sneak crawling around? Then, it will bite any one of them... And it happens to be a poisonous bite.

Her lips form into a thin line. But then, she let out a small sighs before following Simeon who was getting a huge bag out of his compartment. She stood beside the storage, waiting for him to handed her something but he didn’t.

“Let me bring that basket,” she referred to the small food storage. “That bag was obviously heavy and we’re going to climb up that hill, Simeon. You might fall.”

He just stared at her. It took him a minute before handing her the basket. Her face crumpled when she felt its heaviness.

“This is a lot of food,” she whispered.

“Let’s go,” he uttered. “There’s a rail where you could hold on to. Follow me...”

She obliged.

Simeon opened the gate for them. As she was told, Lia stayed behind him, following him. When they started to climb, she was thankful for the rail for supporting her as they climbed to the dry mud.

There were dry grass present, too. It didn’t take them long to arrived at the hill and when she saw the view, her eyes widened.

“Oh, s hit. This is so lovely...” she whispered under her breath, smiling as she roamed her eyes around.

There was a big tent and woods ready for bonfire. Big hanging lamps and goodness, she could imagine how beautiful the place once the sun sets. With these lights...

She can’t contain the happiness that started to build inside her. She never experienced this before.

Camping, or even going to a place like this. She just realized it now how her parents took her freedom away from experiencing this. They wanted her to stay at home, study, and just wait for the man they’d choose for her to marry.

Deep inside her heart, she wanted to run away from them and disobeyed them. It wasn’t a problem to her before to marry someone she doesn’t know. But now, seeing these, she felt left behind.

Lia should enjoy life. The freedom her parents took away from her.

“This is so beautiful, Simeon...” she cried.

Closing her eyes, she spread her arms and savor the cold breeze slaps her skin. Lia has never felt this free before. She thought she was free aside from the fact that she can’t choose a man she’d like to marry.

But right now, she realized she was trapped by her parents. They decide for her, and she can’t remember a thing when she made a choice for herself.

It was always her parents...

“Lia...”

She opened her eyes and smiled in the air.

“Thank you, Simeon... Thank you so much for bringing me here. I felt like a bird that has been caged for a long time, and now is free.”

She faced him and smiled widely. The longer she stares at him, the more she felt thankful for having him.

That unlucky day was not a total disaster. If it was not because of the rain, she wouldn’t have met him. Somehow, she thanked that day, even her parents for neglecting her at that time.

How can a bitter day be turned into a sweet one? How can a glum and blissful day happened at the same time?