Girl In The Winter's

Chapter 16

"Geez, my body feels like it's broken" said Ayumi as she slowly tried to sit on the chair of the ski resort restaurant they were visiting. Due to a fall in a sitting position several times he felt pain around the back of his body.

"But you were so amazing" praised Erik, who looked fine, with the sky blue sweater he was wearing, making him look fresher and incredibly handsome, and it made Ayumi curse him in her heart because it felt unfair, when she who was a woman looks messy even to walk even now she feels pain, he said, how could the appearance of Erik who was a man still look perfect without any blemish.

"It's a shame you mean." Ayumi took a sip of the hot chocolate that had just been delivered by the waiter, Erik laughed at the words of his lover. This day had somehow Erik laughed, it was beyond his habit all this time that seemed to be made of cold ice. After dating Ayumi, Erik looks more relaxed, a smile is always engraved on his face when he is with the round-eyed girl, it is not as stiff and cold as usual to make everyone who knows it feel astonished and at the same time happy for the change.

"I think you've at least learned to ski since you've been helping John at his resort every winter."

"I only help at the reception" Ayumi replied while enjoying poutine, a typical Canadian meal of fries with a sprinkling of cheese and doused in beef broth. They ordered a large serving of poutine to be enjoyed together, while waiting for the steak to be served.

"I'd rather enjoy the view. You know, I like to see snow or sunset.I don't know every time I see it like I'm bewitched and into another world. In my country it never snows, so every time I see snow falling it's like a miracle, the white color looks very sacred and pure by looking at it I feel calm. The coldness seemed to make a chaotic heart even better."

Erik watches Ayumi who looks very beautiful even without makeup and wears simple clothes. This time he only wears a bright yellow sweater that makes his white skin brighter, his black hair ponytailed, and his, a white gold necklace with an ice flower-shaped pendant and a diamond in the middle complete the appearance of the girl.

The necklace itself Ayumi received as a gift from Erik, at first, of course, he refused to accept such an expensive gift but Erik was not his name if he did not succeed in persuading his lover until finally even with a heavy heart to accept and wear it. He said that it was only fake jewelry that cost little, until finally Ayumi could calmly accept jewelry that the price could actually make the girl have an impromptu heart attack.

"What about the sunset?" Erik cuts a sirloin steak for Ayumi who has just been delivered by the waiter.

"Let's see, it's like a ritual for me, when I have a problem I'll find a high place to watch the sunset, and hope all my problems will disappear as the sun goes down. And the next day when the sun rises, I'll start my day with a new leaf."

Ayumi watched Erik cutting his steak into small pieces, often surprised by the treatment of his lover who made his heart grow out of happiness, even though it was only simple actions like today, he was surprised by the treatment of his lover, or open the car door for her or even give her own jacket for her to wear because Erik is afraid of Ayumi being cold and sick. Yes, the ice statue had gradually melted and turned into a white riding prince.

"Aaa.." Erik's order that Ayumi immediately executed without much protest, he liked when Erik bribed her like that. "Nake?"

Ayumi nodded with sparkling eyes that made Erik smile happily. He received a plate with steak that had been cut by Erik and began to eat it himself.

"Did you do this often?"

"Hmm?" Erik is now slicing his own steak.

"Cutting food for a woman and feeding her food?"

Erik looked at Ayumi who was eating his food but his eyes could not be separated from him. Erik just shrugged his shoulders indifferently in response.

"Basic playboy."

"Not a playboy, I just don't want to lie to you by saying that you're my first boyfriend. Tell me, am I your first lover?"

Ayumi now took the poutine while raising her eyebrows in response, which made the man choke.

"Wait.. So, I'm your first lover?"

Ayumi was silent for a while while enjoying the fries with the cheese, whereas Erik faithfully waited for the girl's reply while looking at her with sparkling eyes.

"I'm sorry, but you're not my first boyfriend. You may not believe it, but when I was in school, I was quite famous" Ayumi said with a smile and raised her eyebrows.

Lazily Erik finally continued eating after listening to Ayumi's answer, in his heart he did not want to imagine how many men had been chasing after his lover, he said, now he has a hard time dealing with the men who are trying to attract Ayumi. The girl never realized how beautiful and attractive she was behind the simplicity she displayed. Round black eyes framed with plump eyelashes, smooth white skin, height and ideal body shape and long black hair that is slightly wavy, making her as beautiful as a Barbie doll, she said, but other than physical beauty he has a very beautiful heart and intelligence that complements his beauty. What Erik liked was that he was always modest and never boasted of his physical beauty.

"Forget about the past, tell me about your family."

"Hmmm, as you know, I had a younger sister, Cindy Ramadita, but when she was born my father was expecting a boy because that's why she was called Rama, you would love it. Rama's a lovely girl, she's very beautiful and for sure she's very crazy about Kpop culture." Ayumi smiled, her eyes glaring considering her sister.

"You mean, he likes Korean songs?"

"Yes, I even drove him to a Super Junior concert in Jakarta, of course I didn't come in, I was just waiting for him outside."

"Didn't you like Korean songs?"

Ayumi was silent for a while, "No, back then I liked western songs more, but now I like Korean dramas and variety shows."

"Wooow... So now you're watching a Korean drama?" Erik asked while smiling seductively making Ayumi's cheeks flushed red, he bowed his head pretending to be serious with his food, he said, he did not want Erik to know that he was learning Korean until later he could proudly speak fluent in the language of his lover's country.

"And your Dad?" Erik asked as he went back to enjoying his meal.

"My father was just an ordinary employee at one of the government companies. He's an amazing Dad, very strict for some things but very loving and generous for other things, we're both closer to Dad than Mom."

Ayumi was silent, her eyes were lightened as the conversation already led to her stepmother. Erik could see the change, he had finished his meal, both elbows resting on the table, his eyes focused on the girl before him.

"Well, my stepmother always thought I never existed, I was like an invisible being. That's why I can breathe with relief when I get out of the house." Ayumi looked at Erik who was looking at her seriously, she tried to smile even though she had to.

"Didn't you miss your father and sister? You have no desire to return to Indonesia?"

"Of course I miss them so much, we can still call each other and my birthday yesterday they came here." Ayumi smiled again, "My father said I just have to focus on my lecture, don't think about anything else about going home or anything, because they know if I go back to Indonesia, I'll just be depressed by Rama's mother's attitude."

They were silent for a while, Ayumi had finished her meal she was now leaning on the chair while sighing from the satiety, Erik follows Ayumi's style but she looks so elegant just by leaning on the chair while holding his arm with a slanted smile adorning her handsome face.

"Now tell me about your family?"

"My family?" Erik raised his eyebrows while pursing his lips.

"I have a younger brother, he's only three years under you."

"The affair with Rama?" Erik nodded then resumed his story.

"I'm not so close to my parents, probably because they're too busy with their own affairs, but I'm pretty close to Joonie, my sister's name is Kim Joon Seo, he is very different from me if I prefer to be alone and do not like keramayan, he is on the contrary, the brash child is very good at making problems," said Erik with a smile, Ayumi could see the look of affectionate eyes when she talked about her sister.

"I'm sure he'll like you too, but I'll beat him up if he dares to seduce you." Erik smiled. The light conversation between the two continued until they finally decided to return to the city because the day had begun to twilight.

The feel of Christmas is still felt with the still installed Christmas decorations in every building in all corners of the city and currently they are in the Harbour Center Complex precisely in the tower Vancouver look out, the first place they both enjoyed the sunset view, and now they are enjoying the night view of the glittering city of Vancouver even though it is partially covered in white snow makes the view of the city as in the painting.

Just like that time they both stood side by side accompanied by a song that flowed beautifully through the earphones attached to the ears of the two, the difference this time Erik's hand held Ayumi's shoulder possessively.

"Iris."

"Hm."

"......"

"What's wrong?" Ayumi turned her gaze from the beautiful scenery towards Erik who was still looking into the distance.

"Do you want to come with me to Korea?" Erik asked seriously, his sharp eyes looking at Ayumi who looked dumbfounded.

"Look, aren't we on college break and you can get John and the hospital a few days off, please come with me."

Ayumi was still silent, her eyes looking at Erik who was looking at her with a look of hope.

"What... are you going back to Korea?" Ayumi asked after waking up from her shock. Erik took a heavy breath and nodded.

"My mom called me, asked me to come home for a while. It's been more than three years that I haven't been home, my mother.he asked me to spend this Christmas holiday at home, but yesterday I'd rather spend this holiday with you."

"Erik, you shouldn't have done that for me" said Ayumi, feeling like an obstacle for Erik to come home and get together with his family.

"No, it's not for you, it's for me. For me, Iris, because I can't even a day not see you, hear your voice and hug you. No, I can't imagine that I would have to be separated by thousands of miles from you. But my mother called me yesterday again and begged me to come home even if it's only a few days, and I don't want to disappoint my mother a second time by refusing to go home, so I beg you to come with me, Iris."

Hearing Erik's words, Ayumi was happy because he had the same meaning for the man as Erik meant for her. Ayumi was still helplessly staring at the sharp eyes of the man who was now looking at her with hopeful eyes.

"Erik, I'm sorry, I can't." My God, Ayumi could not afford to stare at the look of disappointment in those black eyes that used to look at her lovingly.

"Had I only worked with John, I would have agreed to come with you immediately but I have signed an internship contract at the hospital, where my professionalism is tested. I beg you to understand, I can't just ask permission for leave while I'm still a new intern."

Ayumi tried to explain and expected her lover to be able to understand her current position.

"You said just a few days?" Ayumi asked as she clasped Erik's hands together, "Go home. I'll wait for you." Ayumi looked at Erik who was still silent in silence.

"Oooh, please don't look at me with those eyes. It makes me feel guilty" continued Ayumi after returning to see the look of disappointment in the eyes of her lover.

Erik tries to smile while still feeling disappointed that Ayumi cannot come with him back to Korea, slowly pulling the girl into his arms.

"I see, Iris, I'm sorry because for a while I was too selfish."

Ayumi's head shook in Erik's arms, she did not blame her lover. He really understands how much Erik wants to take him on vacation in the country of birth of the man.

"You're going to give it back?" Ayumi asked still in Erik's arms.

"Of course I'll be back, so don't fuck around, okay?"

Ayumi laughed at her lover's words, he lowered his head against Erik's chest and inhaled the fragrance of his lover's body deeply.

"When did you go?"

"Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?" Ayumi was surprised to hear the day of her lover's departure, her head looked up at Erik who was also looking at her then she nodded in response.

"Until when?" Tanya Ayumi was still staring at her lover. Erik pulls the girl back in his arms, kissing Ayumi's head before finally putting his chin on Ayumi's head.

"Only during the holidays." Erik sipped on the refreshing smell of the girl's shampoo. They were silent for a moment dissolving in each other's minds.

"It's just a minute, Erik, we'll be fine."

"Of course we'll be fine. Wait for me, ok? Don't fuckin. Don't go out with any guy. Remember any man! Especially that brash guy!"

Ayumi laughed at Erik's words and she understood exactly who Erik meant here.

"Including John?" Ayumi asked with amused eyes.

"Except her. He was not among the men," Erik replied making the two laugh. They fell silent again for a while, until finally Ayumi tightened her embrace.

"Ooh, I'm starting to miss you."

"I am too." Erik again kissed Ayumi's head gently.

They were still hugging when they heard the sound of firecrackers and colorful light dotted the dark Vancouver night sky. Ayumi turned her body against the giant glass before her, enjoying the glittering view of the fireworks light with Erik embracing her from behind.

No words were spoken, they just fell silent enjoying the present togetherness they were feeling before finally tomorrow they would be thousands of miles apart for the first time.

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