Chapter 3. Meeting His First Love (2)

“Mom, please! I just wanted to spend my time relaxing before my nineteenth birthday,” Lia begged her mother.

“Alright, but on one condition. I will appoint bodyguards and helpers that will join your vacation. And you also need to meet Farrah, my friend in Barcelona,” Sandra, her mother, said firmly.

“Yes, I will. But Mom, I’m not a kid anymore. I am fine by myself,” she tried to oppose her mother.

“If you don’t want it, then you can’t go,” her mother stated, and you could tell the power she held.

“Fine! But only one lady guard and helper only. I don’t want to get other people’s attention because of that,” Lia said but sounded unwilling.

Lia understood that she would never be allowed to go out without a bodyguard. But she still wanted to try her luck, and she didn’t have any for today.

So technically, she was okay with it because she knew how dangerous it was to be away from her mother.

But still, she was always dreaming of the day when she could be anywhere without a bodyguard on her side, and she wouldn’t be anxious that someone might stab her in the back.

Lia flew to Macotta City, and her mother gave her a twenty-day vacation, so she wouldn’t waste time staying in the hotel.

It was already her third day, and she decided to walk to the nearest park from the hotel where she stayed.

Lia sat down on a bench and started to read her favorite book. She preferred to relax today instead of roaming around because her feet were swollen, and she couldn’t even walk for more than an hour.

When her eyes got tired from reading, she stood up as she, put down the book on the bench, and walked around the park.

Lia spotted the fountain at the center and captured a photo of it. She captured the sky, the kids playing, and the family on a picnic.

But when her phone suddenly stopped at the bench she was sitting on earlier, she immediately marched towards the man.

When Lia got there, she saw the man held her book and planner.

She became furious all of a sudden and nervous at the same time because her guard was not with her at the moment. She asked him what he was doing, and the man explained himself.

‘The man seemed to have a similar accent to hers,’ Lia thought.

She felt more nervous and thought the man was related to the Kennedy clan. It was her relative who wanted to harm her in any way. She had already thought of leaving because she felt uneasy, but she didn’t.

She wanted to confirm first if he was a henchman or not, so she would know who to avoid.

Lia felt more uncomfortable because the man didn’t look away for once. But when she glanced at him, she noticed that his clothes were dirty because of the melted gelato.

“Thank you for this. I am Edward, by the way,” the man introduced himself and extended his hand.

“I’m Lia, nice to meet you,” Lia said as she shook their hand.

“Are you from here? I was wondering where you came from because your accent seems similar to mine,” she added.

She wanted to know if she needed to be cautious of this man or not.

“No, I’m just here for the vacation. My hometown was in New Zealand. How about you?” he answered her.

Her suspicions grew wider, but Lia thought thoroughly.

‘If he were a henchman, he wouldn’t give his information easily, or he might be faking it,’ that was on her mind.

“We are almost the same. I lived in New Zealand and went here for a vacation,” Lia said excitedly to hide what she was aiming for.

“Actually, I was studying here in Barcelona. I should be in New Zealand right now, but I chose to explore the cities because I didn’t have time while I was studying,” Edward started talking.

Lia was surprised that he was this talkative. She didn’t think that Edward would talk about himself without thinking twice. So she realized that the man had no ill intent on her.

A bit by bit, she was getting comfortable talking with him because he would always be the one who initiated their talk.

Little did Lia know, Edward talked about himself because he wanted Lia to know him better, and he wanted to know the woman as well.

He took this opportunity to be close to her. He had already admitted that he had feelings for her.

It was unusual for him to fall in love at first sight because he had met beautiful women before, and he didn’t feel this foreign affection he had.

They talked endlessly as if it couldn’t be done tomorrow.

“I actually have a twin sister, her name is Mila, and she was older than me by thirty minutes,” Lia suddenly blurted out.

“Really? Do you look alike?” he asked.

“No, we’re not identical, but people mistake us as if we are one, and I don’t have a problem with that. She was bright as the sun and brave as a man. She was my protector because I was a fragile child back then and was really weak. She was the best sister I could wish for,” she said, who was being sentimental.

“I could tell that you really love your sister because the eyes always speak the truth,” Edward said because he saw that Lia was happy while saying it, and he noticed her sadness too.

Edward was worried about her, but he didn’t ask further questions. He thought that they would always have time for that. He would definitely make time for that to happen if there wasn’t.

The sunset had already come to view, so they decided to leave and return to their respective places.

“Thanks for today, I had fun talking to you,” she said as she smiled genuinely.

“No worries, I also enjoyed my time with you. What way will you go?” he asked and pointed to the two sides of the road.

“My hotel is this way, I will just walk because it is near, and I don’t need to take a cab,” Lia answered as she pointed the way where she was going ahead.

“Oh, that’s nice, I’m going the same way. So, let’s go?” Edward said, and she only nodded.

The two of them were strangely quiet as they walked. No one wanted to break the silence, and both of them felt that it was comfortable and there was nothing to be awkward about.

After ten minutes of walking, they were both surprised that they had stayed in the same hotel.

“Are you staying here as well?” Edward asked unbelievably.

“Yes, and you mean that you are staying here too?” she asked with astonishment.

By that incident, Edward thought that they were fated to meet each other. So he didn’t want to lose this chance to get to know Lia better.

“Alright, I’ll head on to my room now,” Lia bid her goodbye, but Edward grabbed her arms.

“Lia, wait a minute. I didn’t know when we would be able to meet again or if we would have a chance to meet again, so I wanted you to know what I was feeling. Would you like to go out with me tomorrow and visit the cities together?”

Edward thought that there was no room for hesitation. If he wanted her for himself, he should really make a move.

Lia was stunned by what she heard, but it also made her heart flutter, so all she could do was nod her head as she agreed with him.

As soon as Edward loosened his grip on her, she quickly went to her room and screamed on her pillows.

On the other hand, Edward entered his room and felt lost. He couldn’t believe he had asked a girl to go out with him.

He couldn’t move an inch from the shock, and when he recovered, he clutched his chest when he felt his heart beating so fast.

‘I thought she wouldn’t accept my invitation.’ He thought.

When his phone rang, he answered immediately, and it was his Aunt Perla.

“What happened? You looked happy. Did you enjoy your tour there,” his aunt said when Edward was grinning on the phone.

“Is it too obvious?” he chuckled.

“I’m doing well here, and I’m having a pleasant time roaming around. And guess what, Auntie?” he said in a boastful tone.

“What is it?” his aunt asked.

“I just asked the girl I like on a date,” he said, feeling proud.

“Oh, I thought you were too focused on your studies that you didn’t have an interest in finding a girlfriend,” she commented.

“Well, because I also thought the same, but the first time I stared at her eyes. I didn’t know that I was captivated by her,” Edward said as he remembered their encounter earlier.

“I’m glad that you feel that way towards her. I won’t forbid you not to date her because you’re old enough to make your own decision. I just hope for your happiness,” she said.

“Thanks for your concern, Auntie. Don’t tell anybody about this, especially my brother. I wanted to be the one who will break the news when she is officially mine,” Edward replied.

“Alright, I’ll be going now. Take care of yourself,” his aunt bid goodbye and hung up the phone.

‘I really like her. I just hope that she feels the same way?’ he thought.

Edward laid on his bed, and his mind started to wonder about her. He wanted to know what was running to Lia’s head.

He was thinking of what she was feeling towards him, even if she didn’t feel the same way. He was determined to do everything so Lia would learn to like him.

'Maybe what I feel right now was what they call, 'love at first sight?’