Isabelle POV

I tap my fingers on Cyrus's arm while he massages my toe fingers. We are waiting for Xavier and Elora. We made plans for sightseeing. Yesterday, Cyrus and I went for a dip while Xavier and Elora stayed back on the deck. "What are we gonna do now?"

"We need to wait for that husband and wife." I laughed. Cyrus gave up knocking on their door an hour ago.

"What's this called?" Cyrus asked, holding out my shorts. "Shorts?"

He rolled his eyes. "The style?"

"It's boho," I said. "I got them from Shein. I love these kinds of wide-leg shorts."

"Hmm, they look good on you."

"You look good too." He is wearing a beige summer shirt and cargo shorts. His hair's messy but he looks hot.

"Sorry, darlings." Elora wandered wearing linen shorts and a crop top. Xavier was behind her holding her hat and water bottle.

"Finally."

"Come on... Come on..." Cyrus threw the car keys at Xavier. "You're driving."

"Me?"

"Yeah... You." Cyrus stood up from the sofa. I picked up my bag and held his hand.

"It's okay, Xavier. Or else I will drive. I even got my driving licence."

"No."

"No." Both the men said in unison.

*

We are at Pearl Harbour. The ride was long but we had fun. Xavier and Elora knew how to spend time. Throughout the car ride, we played the 'guess the movie' game. It was fun.

"Where will we be going after this?" I asked. Cyrus placed his cap on my head. He used Xavier's. "Hanauma Bay."

"Did you see the movie Pearl Harbour?" Elora asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"West of Honolulu is Pearl Harbour, you must have known the rest of the information about this place in the movie," Cyrus said, wrapping his arm around my waist.

"Yeah, I want to see the sunset here," I said.

"You know the sunset scene in the movie was always my favourite scene."

"Ohh."

"Come on," Elora said.

"Yeah," I said. I pulled Cyrus along with me to where Elora and Xavier were.

"Just a moment, you people go. I will be back in a few minutes." Cyrus said, kissing my cheek.

"Why?"

"I need to make a call."

"Okay."

"We will go to the museum gallery, first. Cyrus will join us there," Elora spoke, holding my hand. "I have been here but haven't got to see the museum."

"Why?" I asked.

"It was a rainy day and it seemed like it wasn't going to stop any time soon. So, we had to leave early."

"Oh yeah. It was a hell of a day. We weren't able to step out of the beach house for a while," Xavier added.

*

I kept my hands behind me as I looked at the photographs on the walls. Xavier and Elora were ahead of me. I decided to leave them alone and go around on my own. I was looking at the photograph of the USS Arizona when I jumped in horror as I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Jesus! Cyrus!"

"I'm sorry if I startled you." I gave him a smile. "I― Don't repeat it. I'm not habituated to this."

"I will not repeat." I wrapped my arm around his waist. "Okay."

The next hour we spent at the memorial before we went to have our lunch. The waitress kept on hitting Xavier. Xavier was uncomfortable, which made Elora ask for another waitress. I was expecting Elora to get angry but she was calm.

"It's not worth my energy. People hit on him but I know I don't have to worry about it." I smiled giving her a nod.

"But the last time I saw you punching the hell out of the waiter in London?" Cyrus asked. Elora rolled her eyes. "That was because the girl wasn't getting the memo and molested my man." I watched as Xavier gave a proud smile.

"You don't know how proud I was watching her smash the girl's face," Xavier said.

"She's a badass."

"Yes, I'm," Elora said.

"But not more than Sitara," Xavier added.

"She is more badass than you?" I asked Elora. She laughed. "You have no idea. There are no words... Only violence. If it's her."

"Wow."

Xavier chuckled. "I always thought she didn't like me because of her cold-shouldered behaviour."

Elora and Cyrus chuckled. "Bro, trust me. She didn't like you a bit."

Elora patted Xavier's chest. "Don't worry, babe. Sitara doesn't like anyone."

"Your sister is the opposite of you?" I asked. She nodded her head. "We are polar opposites."

"I actually visualized her sister as a sweet teenager. The shy types," Xavier said. I sipped my mojito listening to them. "What changed when you met her?"

He chuckled and Elora joined him. "I think she was standing near the pillar with a bored expression. She gave once over before sighing and leaving for her room."

"Hey, don't make her seem like an arrogant girl," Cyrus said. I turned to him. "Sitara isn't extrovert or friendly, but she is good once you cross the cold bridge."

"Huh― That's a tough thing," Xavier said. "But thank god, she didn't exactly ignore me all the time. We are on a friendship basis. And your man is good friends with Sitara."

"You are?" Cyrus shrugged his shoulders. "We clicked because we are introverts."

*

"Isabelle...Isabelle wake up."

"No, let me sleep." I pushed Cyrus away.

"Come on.'' I groaned before opening my eyes and looking at him.

"What's the time?"

"9:00 pm."

"Wow, you are going somewhere?" I asked Cyrus because he changed into other clothes.

"We are going out," he said. "We are going out?" He nodded his head.

"Give me a moment. I will freshen up."

"Okay, I will wait for you." I used the washroom and quickly changed into a fresh pair of clothes. I put on my sandals and he took my hand in his. "Aren't they joining us?"

"No, it's only you and I."

"Ohh."

"I'm hungry."

"There's a restaurant down the road."

"Are we walking to the restaurant?"

"Yeah... You don't want to walk?"

"No... I mean, I want to walk."

We walked down the road hand in hand. There were backpackers along the road. The street was bustling with people as it was the weekend. "I want to talk with you."

I looked up at him. "Regarding."

"Will have the conversation at the restaurant."

"Okay." It took us around ten minutes before we reached the restaurant. We had to wait for another ten minutes for the table. We didn't have any problem waiting.

Once settled, we ordered the food. Cyrus pulled his phone out and faced the screen towards me. I read the job announcement. "What's this?"

"Hmm― My company is going to hire Taxation graduates next month," he looked at me, "I― I mean you can join the company if you are willing to."

I stared at him in shock. I opened and closed my mouth. "I― I would love to join your company and apply for this post." He gave me a big smile. "It's done. You will join us next month."

"But." His brows frowned in confusion. "Yeah?"

"I want to join your company through the procedure."

"Hmm? You don't have to go through the interview process." I shook my head. "No, please I would like to give an interview and go through the procedure. I― I don't want you to help me with the procedure. Let me see if I will be able to pass the interviews."

He gave a nod. "Okay, if that is how you want it to be done."

"Thank you."

"Anything for you." He kissed the back of my hand and I smiled. Grateful that I'm a part of his life. I'm grateful that I'm able to start living upon things that I have imagined and dreamt of. This is just the beginning of a new life and I will not let anyone have control over it.