The Secret Island
CHAPTER 51: On the Plane

Martin was sitting on the plane that was about to depart from JFK airport. The destination was Heathrow airport. He hadn't been to London for a while, and this trip was exciting for him. In truth, much of the source of excitement was from his travel companion-sitting beside him was Celine. First, she insisted on flying first class, but he casually mentioned that we could sit closer together if it was business class. And here they were, sitting side by side on the same row. Celine didn't seem so pleased having him around. Her grimace was evidence, and she kept avoiding his gaze. Her feelings were always obvious-when she was angry, he knew.

What was important to him was to get back in her good graces.

She announced her intention clear that he had to prove himself. He understood the concept of regaining trust but acting on it takes time.

The discussion with his therapist gave him some reflections on the next steps. He would follow her to London. He asked her permission which she agreed but dismissively. He needed to prove himself. No matter where she was, from this point onwards, he would travel and see her.

Celine had her whole life in London-her family and friends and her work. He didn't know what he would do there other than see her, but that was all he wanted to do at this moment.

Martin didn't have a full-time job anyway, so he was practically a digital nomad. Traveling the world should be one of the goals of someone who did nothing but trade. He only needed a laptop and a good internet connection, and he was good to go. But with his condition, he didn't want to see the world, and he didn't want to see anyone. Being at home in his condo was the ideal situation. But things were about to change for him with the trip-he hoped anyway. Martin didn't have any concrete plan. In this part of his life, he had no concrete plan. He didn't know how to make her trust him again. They say time heals all wounds, but he couldn't be so sure how much time that would take. He was the source of so much pain and disappointment, and he wasn't sure if there was anything he could do to speed up that healing process. He wanted to support her in whatever way he could, but probably with how things were unusual between them from the start, asking her out on dates may be a simpler solution-something normal people without a complicated criminal past in life do.

"Celine, would you like to watch a movie?" He asked in a friendly tone. But the woman next to him was ignoring him. She only focused on typing into her laptop.

What he could conclude about her work was that she had become a successful executive. He could hear her giving orders on the phone. She seemed more mature. He could see that she was no longer a lively and carefree girl back on the island. She became a responsible and hardworking businesswoman.

He couldn't help but be proud of her. He always knew that she was smart and more than capable of being a leader.

"No, I need to work. Besides, I don't want to watch it with you."

Her tone was cold, the usual tone she had used with him for a few days now. He knew she was punishing him.

She was mad, and he remembered back when we were together, he had to replace ways to make her smile. But this time was different. Because we both had changed, and he didn't understand the new her at all. "Celine."

"What is it? I'm working, if you can see. I have been missing from work for more than two weeks. God forbids that my business hasn't gone bankrupt already. I can't comprehend the mountain of work I have to go through. Not to mention the suppliers I have to have meetings with. And, oh, the presentations that my teams sent to me for review. Gosh, I got a severe headache just by thinking about it! I have so much work already, Martin. I don't have time to watch movies." She gave him a long explanation with so much frustration.

"Well...can I at least hold your hand?" He tried his luck with this ask. We always hold each other hands. It felt like some sort of a bond.

The hands typing furiously on the laptop abruptly paused. She was deciding. And not long after, she nodded. Martin smiled, and without hesitation, he reached out to hold her hand.

Many things changed, but Martin believed that a small part of her heart on how she felt about him didn't change. At least he hoped she still loved him. And no matter how much of a confident woman she had become, in a time like this, she always blushed-something that had never changed.

Martin went back to watch a movie alone. And Celine continued her work on the laptop with only her right-hand typing.

It wasn't the ideal posture for her for typing on a laptop, but she seemed fine with it.