Chapter Seventy-Two: Movie Star Swim Lessons
1330 Words
“It’s only days like this that one can truly enjoy the heat.”
The woman beside me said as she rested her eyes then let her body float with the water from the resort pool.
Her pregnant belly was the first to peer through the water.
Perhaps because of the timing, it was just us.
I was alone initially; hence I gathered the confidence to wear a bikini and swim while Breca and Leon were on errands.
There was only so much hiding I could do without actually missing being in my skin.
I lowered my shades to protect my eyes from the scorching sun, then settled back on my floater.
“Are you supposed to swim when you are that…?”
“Pregnant?”
I tried to look as nonchalant as possible while asking that, but I was curious.
Can you swim pregnant?
Then again, these days find myself asking, ‘can you do this if you are pregnant’ ‘are you denied this luxury when you are pregnant with no end.
Almost as though I had actually decided to keep it.
The woman turned her gaze to me.
“How far along are you?”
I turned to her in mock surprise.
“Are you calling me fat?”
“What? No-no I just- I just thought since your stom- oh gods! I am sor-.”
A chuckle escaped my lips before I could hear the rest of her fluttered excuses.
“You are toying with me?”
“Only a little.”
“Why, did my boldness irk you?”
“Again, only a little.”
She smiled.
“Four.”
I answered her finally.
“I am four months along.”
The woman was beautiful, her shade as dark as the skin on coconuts, her smile hiding a piercing in the gap between her upper teeth and lip.
“Is this your first pregnancy?”
“Yes.”
“This is my third.”
“What? Wow…”
“Yap. And what I learned from the other two, is that exercise is important in this state. So don’t fear the water and get off the floatie!”
She shook the balloon bed I was on causing me to squirm nervously.
“What? You don’t know how to swim?”
‘No, no one’s ever taken the time to teach me.’
“I can. Just, maybe in the more shallow regions.”
“Get out! seriously?!”
The woman exclaimed with a smile on her face.
“Want me to teach you? I didn’t know until my husband taught me either.”
“S-sure.”
*
After the brief lesson, we went to the buffet and complained unendingly about our symptoms, as we ate what only two elephants would, and for what seemed like hours, neither thought nor worry crossed my mind.
The only thing I believed wholeheartedly was that I would love it if my child would lead such a life.
A life where food tasters were obsolete and the only worry between the sun and the sand was if the water was cold.
“By the way, I didn’t get your name.”
She asked finally then ripped the meat from the bone in her hand.
“I am Aru-, Hafsa. I am Hafsa Cyrille.”
As much as it was stupid to feel this way, must I really mix this feeling with the world that surrounds Arusei? Can I not be me, for one moment.
“I am Alivai, Alivai Nichols.”
“Noo! The actress? You acted the King’s dawn.”
Her smile brightened.
“All while pregnant might I add.”
“Noo!”
“Okay, I got pregnant halfway and they had to kill me. But still, handling morning sickness with that crazy set schedule is insane.”
“So that’s why Millia died! I thought it was unfair for the king to execute his aide over hearsay from the female lead.”
She sighed deeply.
“As well, I. Millia was portrayed brilliant, it felt unfair to kill her off that way, but whatever the viewers want.”
“Ah yes, the veiwers. I am all to familiar with that.”
I muttered the last part but she heard me.
“Do you act or sing? Or are you nobility? Or are you a painter?”
I know what she was asking.
‘I don’t know you, but you must be famous since you have been allowed into the resort.’
“I dabble in things.”
I smiled, then leaned back in my chair.
“Will you not clarify matters?”
“mystery is not your advantage is it?”
She chuckled.
“Unfortunately.”
“I am nobility.”
“Ohh…oh wait! This is perfect.”
“It is?”
“Yes! I need some help with my next movie. I want to write a royal romance based on Norvig but I am not familiar with your customs or houses, could you teach me?”
“Oh? Uh… how long will you be here?”
“A week or so, my husband has some work around here. Oh! Is yours with you, we can schedule a double date!!”
“I- Uh…”
Is she a noble?
High chance she is.
‘Let’s see, Nichols…Nichols…’
“Alivai Isles?”
“Yes. Wow! you know Cursix nobility?”
‘s**t! The duchess of Isles in Cursix continent?’
“I dabbled in politics when I was in school.”
“That’s fantastic, I’d kill to have your memory.”
‘I wouldn’t’
If she is a noble would she judge me for getting a child outside wedlock?
“Sure, on the double date. It sounds fun, I mean when he is around of course.”
“Perf- hold on! You said when you were in school, are you not in school now?”
“N-no.”
“Oh, I wanna be young. How old are you, anyway?”
‘Nineteen…sounds too young to mention pregnancy, plus we won’t meet again anyway. I am a countess of a small unimportant island. What is that in the face of a Duchess? We wouldn’t even get invited to the same social parties.’
“Guess?”
*
The day was marvellous, the amount of laughter packed into small moments almost made me feel human.
Almost.
*
*
*
“Alright.”
I gave my bulky gown another squeeze
“Leon, Breca, I am counting on you.”
“I believe that I should stay in with you.”
Leon Tagen insisted as he gripped the sword on his bed.
‘He is getting anxious.’
“It’s auction season and we need things for Clay, so get!”
I pushed both of them out of the room before he grew insistent, then let out a sigh.
After twenty minutes passed, I pulled open the gown to reveal some baggy pants and an almost sweatpant resembling garment.
I grabbed a cloak from my suitcase and a matching mask, then lept through the window, closed my eyes and channelled myself into the trees around me in search of the hidden auction house.
Patum was the definition of city life.
It was clean, well kept and most of all developed.
The nightlife buildings were the brightest while those meant for office work were dull, dimmed and lifeless at night.
I don’t know how to get to where the hidden auction house is, but I know the name of the fancy bar it lay hidden underneath and the password.
I don’t have an invite but there is no door money cannot open.
My gaze through the petal I was currently inhabiting zoomed in on the most brightly lit bar in the entire line of buildings.
‘Luna Circles’
‘Crazy! How can it be left this open?’
I, as the pink flower, broke off from the tree and as soon as I landed on the ground re-emerged into myself.
- Writer
