Night came and I don't know what should I do now. I didn't join Stephan for dinner because I told him that I will just eat the fruits that was left in out basket. I didn't feel eating tonight because I've eaten so many rice this afternoon and I don't want to get fat.

So, I was already in our room, waiting for Stephan to come in and strange, I am really waiting for him. This is a first time because usually, I want to sleep first so I can't see his face anymore but now, I feel like I want to tease him before going to sleep.

But it seems that he is taking too long to be get in our room so I stood from the bed and was about to open the door when I felt his voice calling me.

"Hey, Ariana!" It was coming from the balcony.

And then when I leaned on the fences, I saw Stephan down there, looking at me with Papaya on his right shoulder and behind him, was a bonfire. Wow, I love bonfires especially with my friends in my college days.

"What are you doing?" I asked, my voice a little loud for him to hear from our distance.

Stephan shrugged "I know you like bonfire, Doll. Come down here and join me." He said then Papaya suddenly whined something that tells that he is here"...I mean, us."

I just simply laughed at the cute scene and do what he said. I hugged my cardigan closer to my body as I felt the cold night breeze touches my skin. I took off my slippers and walked towards them, barefoot feeling the roughness of the sand. "What are you planning this time, tiger?"

"Nothing. Just don't want to sleep yet on that small couch." He joked and gave me a glass.

A glass of wine? I'm surprised he has wine here.

"How did you know that I love bonfires?" I asked, wondering as I used my one arm and wrapped it below my breast as it supports my other arm that was holding my drink.

Stephan just smiled as he walks to the bonfire closer and sat down on one of the log. Papaya left his shoulder and sat down on the spot next to him. I as well sat down on the other log.

"Don't tell me that you have some psychic power that can read my mind? What are you? Edward Cullen?" I chuckled.

Stephan laughed and drink his glass of wine. "Edward Cullen? Doll, I am hotter than that pale vampire."

I made a disgust look "Yuck, I don't see hot in you."

Stephan fake a hurt look "Ouch, that really hurts my ego, Doll. You are the only girl that ever said that I am not hot."

I rolled my eyes "Simply because I am not like other girls that you met."

"Of course you are." He stated, smiling a bit. "You are very different from other girls."

As he said, I blushed quickly and looked down to hide it. I just drink my wine and finished it off with one blow.

The surroundings quickly got quiet. Only the sound of waves can be heard. Then Stephan was the first one who broke it.

"Are you gonna believe me that I know you since you were in college?" He said, looking at the fire in front of us.

My eyebrows touched in confusion. "What?"

He chuckled huskily before answering me again. "I was already informed by my parents that I am gonna marry the only daughter of the Cruz family, my family's long partners in business, five years ago."

Five years ago? Before I got into college? So he knew all about this? And no one bother to tell me! My parents just told me and he knew it for years! Five freaking years!

"I know this sounds selfish and so immature but...when I found out about that, I had a little investigation on you." He explained. "As much as I hate to admit it, I really find you beautiful, but I just can't marry you especially when I found out that you keep on following your parents wishes and you don't know how to make your own decisions." He continued, but this time he was looking at me directly.

"So you're my...stalker?" my voice came out like I was trying to joke.

"Maybe?" He chuckled. "But that was the time when I married Christina and ran away with her so I can escape my parents but that didn't stop me from investigating

Okay, the others might find this creepy but I didn't.

"Don't tell me you had people taking picture of me in my shower?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Stephan laughed so loudly this time "No! Of course, not. I'm not like that."

I sigh in relief. "But seriously, I can't believe that you knew about this while I just enjoyed my whole life enjoying and I didn't even know that I have a finance looking after me from a far." I said, smiling. "What kind of investigation did you do?"

Stephan sigh "I just want to know where you study, how were you doing and if you are worthy my wife."

"But you already made Christina your wife." I pointed out.

"I know..." He said while nodding. "But she cheated on me."

I quickly saw the sadness in his eyes when he said those words. He must have love her so much but she ended up hurting him. How painful he must have felt.

"Christina...was she your girlfriend that time?" I asked, curiously.

"Yes, but when I proposed to her, she quickly agreed." He responded.

"But how did you cope with when she died?"

"Ariana, my wife died in a car crash, it should made me so depress if she was alone. But it was very clear that she was cheating me behind my back with my brother! Damn, I've hated them so much." He gritted his teeth as I noticed his first tightening. "She said it was only me...only me."

He just looked down and continued. "That's why I hate the word love . It kills us."

I can feel his loneliness just by hearing his voice as they were low and deep. He must have love her very much that causes him to be so cold that makes him hate love.

"How about you? Do you have a boyfriend at home?" He changes the topic.

I shook my head "No."

"Have you had boyfriends before?"

"Yeah I do." I replied, where is this conversation heading?

"How many?"

"What?"

"I'm asking how many boyfriends did you had before?" He looks serious.

I pouted a little as I counted the boyfriends I had before. "I-I don't know...ten, I guess."

"Ten? You dated ten guys and you still remained like these?" He gestured me.

"Like what?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"Like so innocent?" he seems kinda shock.

Innocent?! "Being innocent and being a good girl is not the same, Stephan. I maybe a good girl who always obeys her parents but I am not innocent." I said, clearing things to him.

But his eyes suddenly went dark which is I don't know why. "Are you a virgin?"

My eyes widen at his question. "Why are you even asking me these things?"

"I'm just asking if you really are innocent." He shrugged his shoulders.

I want to laugh and shout at him but sensing the tone of his voice, he is not gonna stop until I answer him. I groaned and just answer him. "Okay, fine...no, I'm not a virgin anymore, happy?"

"No."

"What?"

"I'm not happy that you're not a virgin anymore."

"Huh?" Okay, what is this stupid words that is coming out of my mouth.

"Haha. Nice one, Stephan. And besides, it's normal nowadays. You're not a virgin anymore too, I'm sure." I tried to make him laugh a little.

"I'm married before. What do you expect? Be celibate?"

"I'm just different with the other girls because I am not the type one who wears slutty clothes, go to clubs because I grew up really sheltered by my parents. I'm not used to be having social life."

"But in our first date, you dressed like a tiger. A very hot tiger." He smirked.

I groaned while rolling my eyes. "You don't know how much I hate my clothes that night and then you also pissed me off so...that's not a good way to have a first impression on someone."

"We'll, you did throw a red wine all over my face so I also hate you." He stated.

"Because you were really an asshole"
I just laughed loudly. This man is so weird as I always say. Sometimes he's funny, then he will be cold, irritating, cute, flirty and nice. What is this man's true personality? Why won't he just let it go and let me know him more.

But I'm glad that we are really smiling at each other right now.

"Hey, can I ask you something. Gonna change the topic." I mumbled, my smile was gone.

"Okay..."

"How did you know Papaya?" I asked, out of the blue.

Stephan looked at him and pat his head with a smile. "It's a long story, Ariana. And I don't have to tell you that."

Oh...

I am just asking and he's just a monkey so what's so hidden in that?

"Okay." I just replied. Here he goes again, being secretive and don't want me to know something about his life. "It's getting late." I stated, standing up and hugging myself even more then handle him the glass that I'm holding. "I'm gonna go to bed now. I don't know what time it is but I'm getting tired. So, I'll go on ahead." I told him and quickly turn towards the house and ran upstairs to the bedroom.

I jumped into bed immediately and covered myself with the blanket. Now, that was the longest conversation we had and we are both even laughing already. It's a huge progress from our previous relationship that we keep on arguing. But yeah, we got into fight but this really different.

But should I give him a chance? I mean, give him a chance to be a husband? Should I really listen to what my family wants or do what Stephan wants and not to get married.

I really want to make my parents proud of me but now that I know Stephan more, little by little, I want to give what he wants a chance. Is to not get married and for once disobey them.

God, this is so confusing.

I slowly closes my eyes and tried to rest my mind. I just want to sleep tonight and nothing more.

THE NEXT DAY, I woke up that Stephan is still asleep on the couch so I sneaked out again to get more fruits deep in the forest. But I'm not afraid since I'm actually here with Papaya.

He is even helping me.

"Do you have any bananas here, Papaya?" I asked the little guy then he just started running again.

We'll, that is his way in saying yes to me. He will just start to run off then turn he will come back with the fruits that I asked him.

Then Papaya came back holding many bananas and he handed it to me. I also bought the basket in case that I won't carry them around in my arms. "Thank you, baby.'' I smiled at him, then took one banana in the basket "Here's for you."

He made a excited sound and then he climbed on my right shoulder holding the banana and I can't help but laugh at how cute he is.

"Okay then, I guess these fruits are enough. It's better if I got back before Stephan wakes up." I said, talking to myself as I turn around to head back towards the house.

"You know, Papaya, why do you think Stephan is so secretive? Like he was holding back something that he doesn't want me to know. Especially when I heard the two of you talking yesterday morning. Your conversation was really weird." I laughed and I look like an idiot taking to a monkey.

"He is so hard to understand..." I kept on talking. "I'm glad you two got along. I am actually very curious in how you two met."
Papaya seems to be listening but he is not responding. Well, I have nothing to gain coming from him. Oh boy,.

When I reached the house, I already notice a really strong built from afar. Stephan is outside, with no t shirt on and just some of his beach shorts and his hair is kinds messy.

"Hey, you're finally up." I said causing him to turn to me.

Stephan seems to be relieved when he saw me "Good God, Ariana! I thought something happened to you!" He quickly grab both of my arms and looked at my eyes directly "Seriously, you went to grab some fruits again? Damn it, you could have wake me up so I can help you."

"Stephan, I'm fine. Jeez, stop overreacting I just walk around and you won't get lost in the woods because of the pathway." I removed his hands on my arms. "And besides, Papaya is with me to help."

Stephan ran his hands through his hair "And you think Papaya is gonna help you when a wild animal got in your way and attacked you?"

"No but he will sure help me." I mumbled, softly.

He just tsked at me "No, he wouldn't, he will run away when danger comes."

Papaya just stayed on my shoulder and I'm sure he doesn't know what is going on because he is just simply looking at Stephan while eating the banana that I gave him.

"And how would you know that?"

"Because he's my pet five years ago, of course I know." He just blurt out causing me to stop from talking. "And I assure you, Ariana, he is not your buddy in times of danger."

"You don't have to be harsh on the poor guy, Stephan. I just went to get some fruits and he helped me. So just shut up, will you?" I snapped, giving him the angry look.

"Urg! You are so stubborn! I told never go to the woods again and you didn't even listened to me." He stated, running his hands through his hair and cursed silently. "Do whatever you want then. Don't come crying when something happened to you in there." He mumbled then turn away, leaving me behind.

"H-hey..." I tried to call him but he was already far. Why is he so angry about that? I'm sure he's not angry about Papaya in that way but I still don't understand.

He is too mysterious as I say. He is so hard to know because he's too cold.

God. I don't know if I can still survive another day with him if he still continues that behavior. I thought we're doing fine.