They sat down on the bench looking at absolutely nothing, while the clouds begun to clear.
"What kind of things do you like?" She started for the first time, since they sat down after dancing.
He smiled, rested his back on the bench and put his hand across her shoulders.
She looked at him when he didn't answer for a moment. "I am just asking, you seem like the kind of guy who loves to explore, go out, do new things….."
He smiled and turned to look at her. "Well, I am the kind of guy who likes to go out, see new things, meet new people." He extend his hand to her for a handshake, she was confused at first until he looked at her hand with a smile. She took his, they shook and dropped their hands.
"Hello."
She laughed. "Hello."
"Everytime I get the chance, I want to go out. If this wasn't free, honestly, I would be at home right now, drinking a bottle of beer and watching my favorite action movies but…." He smiled as he rested and put his other hand on the bench.
"I am having the best time in my life having a good time with a beautiful woman like you." He looked at her before he finished his statement.
She nodded. This wasn't actually her best time but strangely she was having fun.
"And for what kind of things I like." He continued.
"I don't have a particular preference but I am ready to try out a lot of things but there are certain things I hate." He said.
She nod as she turned facing him. "Do you only go on free vacation like this?" She asked.
She watched him seat up and face her too. Normally, Bella would push her hand to tell her, probably she was being too forward, rude. She thought so as soon as she realized what came out of her mouth but before she had the time to apologise.
"No, I fund some myself, sometimes, the school does but when I want to see something, I just go, I don't care about the price, I board a plane, sometimes a bus and embark on my journey."
She nod her head with a smile on her lips as she imagined that kind of life. "You live an adventurous life."
"Don't you want some of that life, I can show you." He offered, wholeheartedly and harmlessly.
She smiled, glad for the invite but…..she shook her head. "I don't think I am cut out for that kind of life, the traveling, the people….."
"Kristine…." He started adjusting on the bench.
She paused, looked at him with the way he called her name. Not everyone called her like that with such authority and patience.
He continued. "You don't have to see the people personally, you don't have to meet them; the greatest things about travellers is that they observe from afar, you can experience all of it. You don't need to talk to them."
She shook her head and looked at the rain. "I don't think so."
He paused for a second with a sigh. "Alright, I can see you are pretty hard to convince."
She smiled and looked away.
He relaxed back on the bench and folded his hands on his chest. Still intrigued. "Let's change the topic. Have you ever see an ocean before?"
She looked at him, chuckled and rolled her eyes before getting up. Was he really asking her that? Of course she have seen an ocean before.
He followed. "Come on, Kristine. I can show you really nice places here."
She looked at the raindrops, at nothing in particular. For her, Bell said sometimes she was just too sentimental but that was her way of being her. With a complete stranger, she didn't usually spend more than five minutes but here she was still with him and it looked like the sun was setting, it would be dark soon.
"Another time, Lewis. When are we leaving here?" She asked lightly.
He smiled, walked to where she stood and touched her hand gently. He knew she didn't want to leave a bad impression but he was pushing her, what if he let her see how much fun she could have in just 10 days. She was like a difficult one but she wasn't that difficult, she just needed patience and time and he would give her that. What his past girlfriend always commend him for was his patience in the relationship. But would he really want something with Kristine? She was working in an office, she had no interest for outdoor activities, maybe she doesn't even swim. She was like a perfect child, with a perfect schooling but ignorant about the beauty of nature and her environment. He was going to give her the best 10 days whether she wanted to or not.
That was just his problem. He could not leave things as they were.
Kristine looked at him and at his hand on her arm but he was only smiling and not saying anything.
"Alright. Right now." He said like he woke up from a trance.
He smiled, reduced his voice and continued. "Let's leave now. I have no food, we need to find food and shelter before it gets dark."
She agreed with him by nodding her head.
He removed his hand from hers and moved to take his phone and bagpack, she picked hers.
The rain had stopped leaving the ground wet. When she climbed down from the shade, the dirt splashed on her, she frowned, stamped her feet on the solid ground to remove the dirt before she continued towards Lewis who was waiting for her with a smile on his face.
"I love nature, it is just that, the dirt part. I can't stand." She said with a frown when she reached him.
"Nature comes with dirt and all. The fun part is bathing, you feel refreshed."
She sighed. "I can't wait until we get to the hotel….for a good bath and some palatable meal."
He laughed.

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