Nickel tried to look around just to find Zoey, forgetting the fact that he can easily call her and ask where is she at. Sometimes Nickel likes making thing complicated for him. He tried to look for her in the pool area, lobby, playroom, and anywhere it is possible for her to say. It is actually a bit embarrassing because he is also carrying Zoey's bouquet from the awards ceremony and her trophy and sash.
Until she saw Polly entering the changing room. "Hi, Polly!" it is the first time Polly heard her boss speak so casual to her. It also made her question is Director Nickel is possessed or what. Either way, she internally prays that it will possess him for a long time. "Have seen Zoey?" That's it! Polly already knew that Nickel would not talk to her unless he will ask about Zoey's whereabouts.
"I haven't seen her about before she leaves the banquet hall, she mentions that she visit the back garden." That is the only information that Polly can share to him, in case Zoey moved places then he has to find her by himself.
"Thank you so much."
Nickel proceeds to the back garden as told by Polly, it is also where lies his surprise for her; will his plan be put in vain?
Zoey at the time is relishing the tranquility of the area; this is the reason why she prefers to be alone and away from people on her holidays.
She is watching the fishes on the pond and mastering the rhythm of the insects around when suddenly someone broke her bubble.
"I may say that you are really good at playing hide and seek. Did you know that I almost turned this resort upside down just find you?" Nickel was catching breath from running all his might to the back garden. This garden is actually in the deep section of the resort. It is in the middle of a labyrinth maze. Thanks to the arrows provided by the resort management that guests can still find their way out once they tried roaming around.
"Many have told me that." Zoey is still a bit mad at him for witnessing that kiss and on how he enjoys the ladies around. "And why are you looking for me, anyway?" she asks while facing the pond. She doesn't want to lay an eye contact to him to let him feel that he is becoming a jerk in her eyes.
Nickel, on the other hand, senses that there is something off against her but because he doesn't want to spoil the mood and the night, he will stop himself in giving any negative comment about it.
"I just want to present to your award." He passed the sash, bouquet, and trophy but Zoey placed it beside her getting it from Nickel.
"Is there a problem, Zoey?" He cannot take it anymore that is mouth couldn't stop its function and asked her why is she so moody at this moment.
"You shouldn't be staying here with me, May might think that there is something between us." Zoey also couldn't help herself giving him indirect comments from that afternoon.
"So what? I loved everyone to think that we are an item so they will stop lurking around you. Did you know that it really stresses me out when I see any guy trying to approach you? And who is she to stop me staying here along with you?"
She is trying to calm herself from what she has heard from this guy. Really he even wants them to be an item? Does he really think that she is that easy? Does he really think that everything he does is appropriate and acceptable on her part?
And with that, the calm, soft-spoken Zoey explodes like an atomic bomb that Nickel never imagines.
"For God's sake Nickel, I'm not your girl toy, and I would like for you to stop playing with my feelings, for stop caring and being too concern on my well-being wherever things are not getting well, for stop making me feel that I can rely on you, for stopping sending mix signals because you are already invading my mind from day until night, from the time I opened my eyes to the moment I closed it. It honestly exhausts to the maximum that you keep running inside my brain, that I'm being too concern about you. Stop making me think that you like me because fuck the hell.
If you like messing with a girl, please exclude me from your escapade. I already had been there so let me spare for that. To be honest, I'm not an easy woman but because you showed me something that I missed for a long time I started letting my guard down but fuck you to think that you can play with me and my feelings.
Because I really hate to say this but I'm starting to like you. No, let me rephrase that, I like you, Nicanor!"
Zoey took a deep breath after her long monologue. Good thing that the back garden is far from the main hall because it allows Zoey to release all her angsts and emotions that were building inside her.
Nickel was shaken from everything she had said that he the only line that registered her mind is her last words.
"Wait! What? Will you repeat that again?" he blankly asked.
"The fuck! And now you want me to repeat all that I have said?"
"No, not all just your last line."
"And why would I do that? Who are you to command?" for the first time, Zoey let go of her passive side and becomes aggressive on her entire life.
"Just do what I say, Zoey. Please!" out of desperation Nickel kneeled down to her as if she is a statue of a saint that he is worshiping. "Please!"
"Will you please stand up? People might think that I'm punishing you." Slowly Nickel stood on his feet and looked directly at her.
With her crumpled glabella and flared eyes, she said. "I like you, Nicanor."