Chasing The Broken CEO

I woke up when I felt that the car we were using has already stopped. I opened my eyes slowly and smelled the salted air immediately. I stretched my body as I can feel my back aching because of my long sleep. I looked at the view on my side and finally realized that we arrived in Panglao.

My forehead started creasing. Confused as to why we were here, I glanced at the man sitting beside me. My eyes narrowed at him curiously. I can't help but to ask myself why he brought me here.

"You had a long sleep," he commented when he felt my stare on him. He was actually doing something on his mobile phone and can't look away from it.

"Basically, you kidnapped me just to visit the beach?" I asked him curiously as my hands began to remove the seat belt from my body.

After removing the seat belt, I checked my wrist watch and found out that it was already four o'clock in the afternoon. I glanced back at Evan. I am still curious as why he brought me here. I mean... there are lots of places here in Bohol. This beach was way too common.

"Yes, Risha. I want to spend some time with you before I return in Manila," he stated and then he met my gaze.

"Oh, you're going back to Manila, I see..."

He nodded in response to my statement. He licked his lower lip and began to remove his seat belt too, then he opened the door beside him. He went out of the car and I just watched him as he made his way towards the door right beside me. I just breathed heavily. So, I guess he would really fly back to Manila. Just like Chandria and Sei who left this province a while ago... and just the same with all his other friends. I sighed in defeat. I didn't understand why I felt a sudden sadness within me. All I could do was to smile bitterly.

Of course, Nathalie. They have to go back. Their lives were all situated in Manila. As for me, I already made a decision and chose to live here in Bohol. Their visit as well as their presence here were all just temporary. Sooner or later, you would see yourself stuck and alone in this province, just like how it was before. Just like how you were living before they started bugging you here.

I was startled when the door beside me suddenly opened. My eyes automatically gazed up at Evan who was also staring at me intently. He looked more dazzling despite the simple clothes he was wearing. His brown colored hair looked very long this time compared to how it was back then. I remembered his clean cut which made his face a little bit cocky at times. However, his long hair suited him more. It literally complimented the perfect shape of his face.

My heart started beating in unusual rhythm because our eyes were still locked at each other. I swallowed hard as I can't barely breathe because of his intense gaze.

"What are you thinking?" he asked me curiously.

Even the tone of his voice seemed electrifying. It sent shivers up to my spine and I admit that it made me lose myself for a moment. I didn't get why he has this kind of effect on me despite everything that happened a year ago. I was expecting myself to give him a cold treatment but something within me can't even do that to him. In fact, those unfamiliar feelings he made me feel before were all nothing compared to the emotions I felt when we met again after all the mess we've been through separately. This emotion he made me feel now was way powerful and uncontrollable... a kind of emotion that can't be named... It sucks, I know.

My pressed my lips together as our gaze at each other continued. So he started wondering what whirls through my head. Why? Why did he get more curious about what I think?

So what if I were thinking of being alone all over again once he returns in Manila?

I should be used to it by now. I managed to survive a year or so without the presence of anyone of them... I survived alone and I think I can do it all over again.

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"Risha..." he called my name that sent shivers up to my spine.

I would like to whine and yell at him just like how I treated him before... just like the old days... but damn it! The thought of being alone has eaten up all my remaining energy. No matter how I tried to shove it away, I could feel the loneliness that suddenly became evident inside my chest. That kind of loneliness I wish I could understand but no, I didn't get why I was feeling this way.

"Why do you want to spend some time with me?" I managed to ask him without even looking away or blinking an eye. Pretending I was brave enough just like how I acted before, I eyed him intently. But in reality... deep within my heart, I knew that I was only hiding my true self behind a transparent wall.

"I just want to be with you, Risha. I want to watch the sunset with you," he answered straightly at me.

I wanted to talk back but I could not utter another word when I saw in his piercing eyes that he was damn serious about watching the sunset with me. In the end, I just nodded slowly and maybe spending some time with him would not hurt that much.

It was kind of strange though. Why would he want to watch a sunset? I mean, this guy used to be focused on his company. He was determined to make it bigger up to the point that he was willing to marry me to expand their empire. A business tycoon like him shouldn't have the time to watch a sunset. Or has he changed?

He offered his hand to me. I looked at it and was quite hesitant if I would let him touch me or not. After a few seconds and a heavy sigh, I accepted his hand and held onto it. He held my hand as I went out of his car and he didn't let me go even when he closed its door behind me.

I thought he would let me go after a minutes but it did not happen. He was still holding my hand as we walked together on a white sand, slowly getting near the beach. My heart could not even calm down a bit. It was like having a race because I felt the warm of his hand on mine. I kept breathing heavily in order to compose myself, as me being stupid was the last thing I want him to see. Or I'd rather die...

There were lots of tourist when we finally arrived in the front beach. There were some people enjoying the sun as they were sun bathing, some were playing volleyball, there were tourists who were busy roaming around and taking some pictures, and there were few people having their dips and doing parasailing.

"Is this your first time to visit here in Panglao?" I asked him as I continued to stare at the blue sea.

"Nope, I've been here once..." he replied that made me turn to him. He gazed down at me. "And I saw you here that day."

I understood what he was trying to say that made me look away. Yeah, I realized that he'd been here once. He was here reason why he saw me crying in a far corner of the beach. And then he ordered a child to give me a letter so he could tell me his thoughts....

He walked slowly and since I was letting him hold my hand, I followed him. Honestly, I have no strength to pull my hand off him so even if my heart was pounding so fast, I didn't do anything that would cause awkwardness between us. I could not even complain as I want to enjoy this place.

I swallowed hard and tried to look at him carefully. He was only watching the sea peacefully, as if he really was admiring its beauty.

We continued walking despite the heat the sun was giving. It was like we were stepping forward in rhythm and we're both breathing in the same manner at this very moment.

This... this thing... It was sending warmth to my heart. Why did it feel so right? I knew and accepted that what we had in the past had gone already but why do I feel like we still have this familiar connection even though we already parted ways? Why are we together?