The Secret Island
Chapter 71: His Question

Celine woke up with an aching body. She couldn't explain how much she didn't ever want to leave this bed. The word lazy is probably an understatement. She halfhearted wanted to get rid of all the activities she planned out for the day. The reason for these aches was the man sleeping next to her.

Last night was more than a dream. We went on for hours under the moonlight, embracing each other, and it was glorious. But she must admit, she should exercise more for this. Gosh, she hadn't touched anyone in four years-that was the price of her wait for him, and she must admit she felt a bit like a teenager when it came to things like this.

Still drowsy, she saw him turning his back to her. We were under the same thick blanket, and the warmth she felt was from him.

Celine moved closer and hugged him from the back. She could hear him waking up and his hand on her arm around him. "Celine..." He greeted her with her name in a gruff sleepy voice, and she found that so cute she hugged him tight.

"Yes?" It was a special feeling to be with someone. She felt accepted in every single thing she was, every part of her, the good, the bad, the ugly. It was strange how being naked and vulnerable in bed with him could make her feel that. That feeling was only intensified when he was someone she had always loved. And that relief she felt when the wait was over... hugging him here... she felt the freedom she always longed for. Just being here together already means so much to her. And Celine appreciated every second of it.

"....." Martin was silent again. She guessed his shyness had returned.

"Oh, please, there is no time to be shy. You were not exactly reserved last night...." She teased. Suddenly, Martin turned to face her.

"I didn't do anything." The once again reserved man refused her accusation. He acted like a victim in all this. And she found that laughable.

"You didn't do what? And what is this? You sleep like a bear in winter. It should be me who is too tired to move! Still, I wake up before you. Huh! And where is my breakfast in bed? I'm starving."

She was blushing, thinking about what he did to her last night. But she could not stop being herself. She was being bossy in the hope that he didn't see her cheeks turning red. And besides, he used to pride himself as an early riser, so she found waking up before him a small win.

However, this morning, Martin talked back to the bossy version of her.

"Well, you said you liked it, you liked what I did, you kept calling my name, and you said you loved what I did with my hand...."

"...." This time, it was her who kept her silence. He had a good upper hand with just that one statement.

"And you also told me that you wanted me to do that one more time. I'm sorry I was a bit too inept at first... but I believe I redeemed myself later in the night."

Goshhhhhhh.... Martin!

"OMG! Martin!" She felt her face hot. She probably couldn't hide her blushing. He was getting better at handling her teasing.

She got up, wanting to get away from him, but his strong arms pulled her back into his embrace.

Martin was laughing with so much joy on her frowning face that she hit his arm in retaliation.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, darling." Then he kissed her to make peace.

"I just like having a beautiful young woman in my arms a bit too much... my girlfriend is pretty hot, after all." And Martin said that word that startled her. He still gave her a broad smile. Then it was as if he just thought he said something wrong. That smile disappeared, and he fidgeted as he didn't know if he had said something wrong.

"Err..." He looked down at his hands and then fixated his gaze on the wall.

She could only stare at him. He didn't know what she had in mind. "Just ask me."

"What?"

"Just ask me and make it official." Celine thought she had made it obvious, but maybe what she said was not obvious enough.

"I'm still naked and on the same bed as you, telling you to make us official. I don't know how else I could spell it out more for you, Genius." She started to get annoyed. This was the most unladylike thing she did but whatever! There were no rules. She held her breath, waiting for Martin to say something. She hoped she wouldn't die of asphyxiation from this.

His frown face started to relax and was replaced with a broad smile that she had seen just now. She hadn't seen his smile that was this bright and full of joy.

He looked into her eyes and asked her the question.

"Celine... will you give me the pleasure of being my partner? Let me be your boyfriend..." She was certain no one else would ask their partner this question, but this was Martin, he was still the same serious nerdy man that she loved, and she knew he liked processes, and making official was something he was comfortable doing.

"In my life, I don't want to be away from you ever again, and please allow me to be part of your life. Please consider being my girlfriend."

He tried to persuade her. He knew he wasn't good at his words. Although she thought he should know, he didn't say all that for her to agree.

Martin waited for her answer in anticipation, and he was visibly nervous.

"You silly man! You know I'm going to say yes!" She was overjoyed and leaped into his arms.

"But I have terms for you to sign on to. Don't disappear anywhere ever again without telling me first! Don't blame yourself for your past mistakes. Do you agree with that?" Martin quickly nodded in agreement.

"Yes, I signed up for all that. I won't disappear anywhere, and I will be more confident. I will try anyway. Nah, that's not good enough of a promise. I will do it. I will definitely do it." Between us, those were the basic things that she wanted.

"Good. Very well."

She smiled at Martin. Today was another day that she would always remember as the day she became Martin's girlfriend once again. The man she loved the most.

When we get older, it will become the day she and Martin both laugh at the memory of today. She will tell him how happy she feels at this moment.

She will tell him how beautiful her life had become with him in it.