Ariana's POV

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked Stephan who has been so quiet all of a sudden since this morning. He is currently chopping some woods at the back of the house because he said that he wants to have a bonfire again tonight.

Which is I doubt that he wants to spend it with me because our last bonfire didn't end well.

"What?" He sounded like he didn't hear me. He straightened up his back and shows me his magnetizing sweaty abs. Because he wasn't wearing any shirt at all.

I raised my eyebrow and gave him my bitchy look. "Stephan, you've been spacing out since this morning. Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. No need to worry, doll." He assured but I'm still not buying it as he went back from chopping "What? I said I'm fine."

"No, you're not fine." I said. "Is it about last night? Stephan, I assure you~"

"Ariana, it's not about that. It's my fault for acting like that and I just listened to myself. I was selfish. So stop worrying about it, okay?" His tone was so calm and smooth. Like he really wants me to believe him.

"Ohh, okay. I'm sorry." I mumbled and then left him as I head back inside the house. I went upstairs to my room and stand in the balcony as I stare and listen at the loud waves of the ocean.

This place is Christine's.

The thought made me feel that I don't belong here. Well, of course. This is Stephan's gift to his ex wife who died and he even said that I looked exactly like her. A total resemblance of her and that must have really pained him.

Poor Stephan.

I really understand that he doesn't want to love anymore. So I won't force him to marry me. I have to stood up to my parents and prove them that I am better than they think about me. I'm not a weak puppet and I surely will prove that to my whole family and to Stephan.

Hmm, when I suppose to get out of this island and start travelling the world and know who I really am.

God, the ocean is so tempting.

I want to go for a swim again.

Without second thoughts, I ran to my luggage bag and grab another pair of swimsuit. It's a simple white two piece bikini and I put it on immediately. I grab this white loose blouse looking coverup and just held it as I ran down towards the sand.

I put the cover up down on the huge rock and just dove into the wild raging water as they crash into waves. To be honest, being in the water is my comfort zone. That's why I am always go swimming at our pool in the mansion, or in the tub, in the Jacuzzi. Its a place where I can relax and think. To let out some stress.

I continued swimming around, didn't care where will I go but I just keep on splashing my feet until I reached this rocky shore and I hopped up, feeling the roughness of the wet stones under me. The view here is kinda amazing as I watch the sparkling diamond reflection on the ocean. I wonder how much this island cost? Why didn't Stephan sell it now knowing that this is a memory left to his ex wife?

I planned to stay for a little longer above this rocky shore and just admired my surroundings. But then I started to walk, carefully try not to stumble through the rocks. The cold air hits my wet skin making me shiver and I'm only wearing a tiny piece of bikini! Really, nice one on that-

Ouch!

I stepped on the wrong rock! But that didn't feel like a rock.

I put all of my damp hair on my right shoulder as I picked it up and I realized it wasn't really a rock! It's a ring!

What is this ring doing here? Its a beautiful sparkling diamond ring.

"You found it." A deep voice spoke behind me causing me to jump in surprise on my spot and good Lord, I didn't stumble.

Stephan was standing there, half naked from the top to waist and his hair is wet just like mine from the water. Did he followed me? He was chopping some woods when I left him but I guess he did.

"Stephan, you're also here." I mumbled and noticed that the ring was still in my hands. "I-is this yours?" I stuttered as I handed the ring to him.

But he didn't say a word. What he did was he harshly took it from me and walked away from me, with that cold look on his face. Is he mad? He stopped near the water and suddenly he threw it so far in the raging waves of the ocean with a groan.

"H-hey! Why did you threw it?!" I ran to him even if the rocks are so painful at the soles of my feet.

Stephan's breathing is hard. I can hear it as if he was cursing and trying to control his temper. "I should have just crashed that ring and threw it away." He muttered through clenched jaw.

His actions are finally giving me a hint. The ring and his reaction.

"It's Christine's, am I right?" I asked, placing a hand on his arm...shiz, it's hard. "That is her ring?"

Stephan didn't answered. He was just keeping his breathing and looking away from me. Of all the times, why does it has it be me who can see that ring and at this moment? I am trying to do things without his help anymore and here I am, hurting him and now I saw the last thing he doesn't want to see.

"That ring is the symbol of her being a traitor to me." He answered after a few silence.

Traitor?

"This is the place where she threw that ring and decided to ran away with my brother then left this island." Stephan told me as he was not yet looking at me. "The place where she doesn't wanted to be with me anymore."

My eyes widened.

How lucky I could get. I even lead him to the place he hated the most and it was all thanks to me! I brought him back to his nightmares and it's all my fault!

I want to help him forget his past but I just keep on reminding him.

"It's a gorgeous ring." The only word that came out of my mouth trying to release the tension. "You must have loved her truly, huh?" I playfully punched his arm with a chuckle.

"Before." He replied, turning to me this time. "But when they cheated on me. My heart just died with them. I will never ever love again."

I swallowed at his strong words. He sounded so sure that he will not try to love. Why not give himself a chance?

Everyone deserves a second chance, perhaps.

"You should not let yourself drown in your hatred for them, Stephan." I sounded so tough saying this to him.

"Yes, you have been cheated but that doesn't mean for you to shut everyone out." I told him, with a smile. "Just look at me, I shut myself in my parents' wishes but now...thanks to you, I'm gonna try explore things my way without anyone else's help." I continued and noticed that he was looking at my eyes this time. He's taking my words in him, I think.

"Second chance, huh? Is that what you are saying?" He asked, the side of his mouth lifted as his shiny brown eyes sparkles because of the shine of the ocean. "Then, let us both explore this second chance together."

I noticed him leaning closer to me causing me to look at him and before I realized it.

He kissed me.

Stephan Draco just kissed me.

Holy fuck.

I was too frozen to where I stand and I didn't even bother kissing him back.

He is probably thinking that he is like kissing a cold statue because I am just literally unmoving. I even forgot how to breathe as I feel his warm lips on top of mine and my heart just stopped beating. I can't explain it.

I've been kissed before and even more just a kiss...and hug by different men but never in my life felt so different.

The kiss lasted seconds but it feels like it was so long.

When he pulled away, he opened his eyes and met mine.

"E-er...t-that was-"

"-wrong." He continued, avoiding eye contact as he looks down and he suddenly stepped back. "I-I'm sorry." Then he started walking away from me. Farther from me in this rocky shore and I caught him messing his hair while cursing silently.

Did I do something wrong???

Why did he suddenly walked away and leave me here looking so stupid?

He was the one who kissed me! But why does it feels like it's mine that causes him to leave me. Darn it, it feels like an elephant just stepped on my chest when he apologized.

I'm sorry Is the last thing a woman wants to hear when being kissed. I'm sure that my breathe is alright and I didn't even forced him to kiss me so why did he walked away?!

Because he didn't like me? Is that it? Yes, he made that clear but he doesn't have to fool and play around at what I feel! He says that he doesn't want to marry me then he will kiss me all of a sudden then he would leave me and he will say I'm fucking sorry?! Who the heck does he thinks he is?! That is not a good way to treat a friend, Amigo.

God, I just want to kill him.

But it's not that I want to kiss him even though his lips does feels good but darn he stepped on my woman pride! He embarrassed me and... and fuck!!!

I am so irritated!

Why does it even feel like I wished he did more. That he became more romantic and smile at me sweetly after the kiss? Jeez, he is so cold and selfish.

I don't want to stay here anymore so I dove back into the water and swim my way back. I quickly grab my towel that I placed on the rock and covered my body once I raised on the sand. I assume that Stephan won't be coming back soon so I head quickly to our room and threw my body on the bed and there I started shouting.

It's just a kiss, Ariana! Why are you acting like it's your first time! And besides, I don't even like him in the first place! So why do I feel so rejected?

God, I definitely looks like an idiot right now. I placed my hand on top of my chest and feel my heart beating so fast as I stare at the wooden ceiling of this room.

Did I liked it?

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Sorry for the late update, mates! I'm really sorry. I've been so busy in school since it's my senior year. But still, thank you for those who continues on supporting my stories. Godbless!