HOPELESS ROMANTIC

Chapter 5

"Hun, you'll be okay." Riley came to just randomly hug me.

The lady was smiling more brightly to me as she put the helmet on. She nodded at me intendedly. This situation left me unsure as to where to look at: to this assistant and her smirky face or to few inch to the left where Riley has been standing staring at me.

"Why so pouty, my darling?" Connor played with his never-well-executed British accent.

"Look who's asking." I sighed. "You're done, boy. I'll pay you double times when we land in LA."

"Which as I recall, we won't be flying home together, school girl."

"Which gives me huge advantages to put traps on every step you're taking next." I pinched his nose and walked away.

I left Connor and his undeniable laugh behind. Now to focus on the most important thing in life; hope I wouldn't fall to the ground. Oh mother.

"Remember to run! The faster, the better!" The instructor yelled against the strong wind as we were in positions.

"We got this!" Riley spoke to me.

"This tandem thing doesn't make me feel better-"

Too late. The instructor has told us to start running - fast. Riley, who clearly has much power and speed for running, literally brought me off my feet. Next thing I knew we were already flying. World was below our feet. There was nothing else better to describe how I felt except I really, really wanted to vomit. But the farer we flew, the more I enjoyed it.

"See? You stop screaming." Riley whispered to my ear because he was behind me.

"Only because I don't want you to cut me loose for being too noisy."

"Admit it. Fly with me is fun, huh?"

"Have Starbucks with you is fun. At least it doesn't require dying."

He laughed, very closely to my ears. Almost too beautiful to hear. He made me forget that I was literally flying with only this parachutte thing as a life saver. He made heights look fine in my eyes.

The comfort he gave me by only doing nothing.

"You guys! Ain't it fun?" Toby still screamed around.

"Next time no more paragliding." I shook my head.

"But you look okay." Connor teased. "You two enjoy flying, yeah?"

"I am." Riley replied fast and winked at me. Ha.

"Dinner sounds great. I want seafood." Toby walked out of the building and we followed him.

"Yeah I want that too." Connor added.

"Let's go back to the resort and have a dinner by the beach! I saw a seafood truck when we first arrived."

Both Connor and Toby didn't answer to my excitement, as if my seafood truck idea was never spoken out. I turned my glimpse at Riley. He smiled softly, suspiciously.

We took a taxi back to our resort. This time, thanks to paragliding, I told them I would join them pact back at dinner time. Gosh, I was mentally and physically tired. Enough for today interesting adventure.

Guess I fell asleep right away, and woke up about two hours later. It's almost sunset. Of course, I didn't want to lose that for the world. The giant orange ball was perfectly fit the pink sky, as the reflection's drawn in the calm sea water. I took a solo walk by the beach side.

"Why didn't knock our door?" Riley surprised me.

"Hey, thought you guys still sleeping."

"They still are." He took a seat next to me. "That's very big."

"Very beautiful." I nodded.

"Just like you."

That last whisper was so soft, too slowly, I barely could hear. He tilted his head almost too innocently as if he didn't say the word. Me? I tried so hard not to blush because that would be super odd. This guy was still that Riley I helped some school projects for. The one I brought some chocolate bar for. No, I wouldn't fall for him...right?

"Slow people." I broke the silence with a heavy sigh. "Tell them I'm hungry."

"Hmm?" Riley put his phone back into his pocket. "I guess we're having our own."

"Our own what? Dinner? Why?"

"Toby suddenly changes his mind and asks for burger instead."

"I'm okay with burger. Where are they?" I looked around.

"And Connor too, he wants to buy new sunglasses-"

"Hey, I'm okay with that too. We haven't explored Hawaii at-"

"Catherine." Riley gripped my hand tight. "We're alone tonight. Just you and me. Please?"

I was taken aback. Heart's beating fast. He meant us to just be alone tonight.