By the time the ferry stops at the shore of Berta Island, I am nauseous from seasickness. I smile at the captain weakly before dragging my suitcase behind me as I exit the ferry.
It has been a day since I set off and by now Hans is probably mad at home but this is something I have to do. I touch my stomach. I need to know the truth.
As the island is the King's private land, only the sounds of the ocean and seagulls accompany me as I walk forward. There are no signs of a human at all. My stomach rumbles with hunger and I glance around for something edible.
There are some coconuts and mangoes under the trees. Smiling in relief, I collect a few and crack open a coconut. I eat one part of the coconut and more of the juicy mango slices. As I wander further inside the island, I find a glamorous mansion with a small hut in front of it. They appear to be the only buildings here.
Tiredly, I knock on the door of the mansion and ring the doorbell a few times but there is only silence to greet me. He's not here. Did I make a mistake in coming here? Could he have just mentioned this island in passing?
You can't give up now Tina. You came all the way here already.
Praying with my eyes closed, I walk towards the hut. It looks small but liveable from the outside. My eyes widen in surprise as a few chickens scurry pass me noisily.
Knocking on the door of the hut, again I am met with silence. Frowning, I knock harder and louder. I've wasted my time coming here on a whim to search for him. Of course Panda King wouldn't be here. What was I thinking travelling here? Of course. I had no thoughts and I had set off with an empty head.
As I turn to walk away from the buildings, my ears stand up as I hear the sound of a door creaking open. Glancing back, my eyes meet the familiar ocean blue eyes. Relief and happiness washes through me as I run towards him, my arms wide open. I have never been so happy to see someone before.
"Panda King!" I exclaim happily, wrapping my arms around his body, scared that he will run away again. He seems confused as he stares at me.
"What are you doing here?" He asks.
"I came to see you." I smile and lean into his warm body.
His hand slowly moves to my forehead and he gently touches it. "How is it?"
I don't feel like being mad at him for some reason as I stare into his alluring eyes, "It's healed."
"I'm sorry Tina." He says, patting my head softly.
"Pan, did you really not want to marry Ciarra Lake?" I ask quietly.
"Let's talk inside." He pulls me inside the hut and closes the door. The inside is small but cosy and homely. There is only one room with three chairs and a beanbag. A small kitchen is on the left side of the room.
I switch on my phone to check the time but there is no signal. I reach my hand up but the signal is still not picking up.
"There's no signal here?" I ask aloud.
Panda nods, "There isn't." He sits on the beanbag and I sit on a chair.
"Are you ready to tell me about why you came here instead of getting married?" I ask as I stare at his handsome face.
"I just wanted to get away from everything." He says quietly. "I've been shackled in chains all my life and had to obediently do everything for my parents and the company. When I met you, I envied your bright and outgoing personality. You showed me what it's like to live life freely. I thought that maybe I could break these chains and be true to myself. But this." He chuckles bitterly, "This marriage was all my mother's and the Lake family's plan to expand our businesses. What about my feelings? What about my opinions? Do they not matter? I feel so suffocated."
He sounds like he is about to cry. Leaning towards him, I place my hands over his. "Of course your feelings matter Panda." I say gently, "If you don't agree and don't feel anything for Ciarra, you have every right to refuse."
"I missed you Tina." He smiles through damp eyes, "Thank you for finding me."
"You could have made it easier. It's a good thing I remembered what you said to me in the car that day. What would you have done if I hadn't remembered it?" I whine at him.
He grins a little and tugs on my hands, pulling me onto his lap. "I knew you would come Tina." His hands move to my hips as he adjusts himself.
I blush as I realise that I am practically straddling him. "Um, Panda... I don't think this is a good idea." I say awkwardly.
Panda smirks and places a hand on my thigh, "I like it though." He tilts his head and suddenly places a kiss under my ear.
"What are you doing?!" I shout loudly in surprise, pushing him but I end up almost falling off his lap. He quickly grabs me and pulls me back to him.
"Stay still Tina. You can't move dangerously like you did just now." His eyes travel to my stomach as he speaks.
"Stop doing this to me then." I say quietly.
His eyebrows furrow together as he frowns, "Why? Is it because you're going to marry that bull guy or because you're carrying his baby?" He sounds angry for some reason.
I gulp anxiously as I look at his face. "H–how did you know about the marriage?"
He chuckles sarcastically, "You think I haven't overheard Liana? How can you marry that guy?"
Slowly removing myself from him, I walk away. "It's none of your business who I marry." I say coldly. If he can marry someone else why should I stop myself? I don't know why he is giving me a bad feeling all of a sudden.
Why do we always end up arguing?
I suddenly feel nauseous and quickly cover my mouth as I walk outside. I throw up over and over again. I haven't eaten properly since yesterday and with my seasickness and morning sickness, I feel weak and exhausted.
"Tina?" I hear his worried voice as he leaves the hut. Feeling his hands on my back, I feel better. "Are you alright."
I nod, "Just nausea. It happens."
He holds out some water to me which I use to clean my mouth. "Come inside Tina. I'm sorry I was rude to you."
I shake my head, "I'm used to it."
I hear him heave a sigh, "I'm sorry."