As the night grew late, Lewis bid farewell and headed home. Dax also told Bellas he felt drowsy, and after a good night’s kiss, he went upstairs to sleep.
Bella heads back to her bedroom to call Stefan and discuss the tasks she needs him to complete.
However, after she changes into her nightgown and is about to call Stefan, Tristan’s name flashes on her cell phone screen before she can dial Stefan’s number. She checks the time before picking it up. It is 10:30 pm. Her hand stops to answer Tristan’s call.
Bella decided not to pick up the phone because it was too late for her to pick it up, right?
She feels relieved when the ringtone stops, but a text from him later almost chokes her.
[Tristan] I could see your light still on, Bella (Smile Emoji)
[Tristan] May I come in? I hope we can talk in person for a bit.
Bella sighed deeply as she looked out her window and saw him waving at her.
...
She rushed down after putting on her sneakers and was surprised that the first floor was already dark. Only a few yellow lamps in the corner were still on.
No one was there, only her, as the workers who usually clean the house already finished their job, and by now, they all rested in their own room.
She felt strange. This was the first time she had come to this floor this late, and she was worried that her grandfather would catch her meeting Tristan this late.
’Gosh! Why do I feel like a teenager who will meet her boyfriend secretly?’ She feels amused.
Bella continued walking towards the main door, trying not to make any sound. However, before she opened the door, her hand stopped as she realized she was only wearing her nightgown, forgetting to wear her coat.
She was reluctant to go out but too lazy to change upstairs.
’He just wanted to talk for a moment, right?’ Bella wondered as she opened the door. She was taken aback when she saw Tristan standing right before the door.
"Hi... Tristan," Bella greeted him. When she saw his handsome face closely, her heart started to make weird sounds again.
Badam!
Badam!
Bella distracts her mind while turning her gaze to the elsewhere, trying to calm her racing heart. But she could feel her cheeks warmer by the second.
"You may speak now, Tristan. And you had better hurry because I am sleepy," she said without seeing him and acting like she felt bothered by his presence.
Tristan smiles as he sees her blushing. He removes his black coat and drapes it over her shoulders smoothly and calmly without a word or even a sound. He even breathes so calmly, as if he was doing meditation. Deep inside Tristan’s mind, that is precisely what he was doing, meditating to calm his overly exciting feeling.
When she finally returned her gaze to him, Tristan said, "Bella, the sky is clear, and the night’s breeze felt invigorating. Let’s enjoy it with a small walk..." He began walking toward his garden without giving her a chance to refuse.
Bella was left speechless as she watched him walk away. She wanted to refuse, but when she looked at his long coat, now almost buried in her body, and felt his familiar fresh mint fragrance, her mind and body defeated her vanity and prejudice.
She closed the door behind her and started walking, following Tristan. But she deliberately didn’t want to match his step, so she walked two steps behind him.
They walked in silence for several minutes. Arriving at his garden, Tristan turned onto the terrace near the swimming pool and sat on the rattan garden chair. Bella followed him; she sat opposite him.
As Bella looked around the garden, she was enchanted by its peaceful atmosphere and the charming colored lights on the roof. What made her even more stunned by this garden at night was the yellow lights on the ground created a romantic atmosphere.
"Oh, I think the temperature just dropped a few degrees since I’m coming. Are you freezing? We can talk inside my house if you—"
"I’m fine. I’m just a bit cold, but nowhere near freezing. Thanks to your warm coat, also…the walks make it even less cold…" Bella interjected. She feared her mind would betray her again and agreed to enter his house. At this time, entering his house might lead to something she would regret later.
"Are you sure?"
"Mhm. And now that we’re walking, you might want to start talking, Tristan...I can see there’s something you want to say to me…" she answered, trying to speak as calmly as possible.
Tristan smiled before apologizing, "I’m sorry if I seem to insist on taking you to walk as a way to talk to you, Bella…I…I don’t see any way else."
Bella, "...."
She gave him an annoyed look. She couldn’t believe this man had lured her outside to enjoy a night walk when what he really wanted was just to talk.
How sly!
Bella opened her mouth a few times and wanted to scold him, but somehow, no words came out from her lips. She could only take a deep sigh and turn her gaze, looking at the lonely moon in the dark sky, ignoring him.
"You know what, Bella?" Tristan’s soft voice broke the silence. "We always met in the evening almost daily for the last few days. And, suddenly, today, we couldn’t meet. Then, during my most important meeting today, I could feel something big inside me was missing when I couldn’t see you this evening. That’s why I rushed here, even though my important meeting guest asked me to stay.
I hope you can understand and not be angry with me..."
Hearing Tristan’s sincere and sad tone, Bella felt slightly wavered.
She didn’t respond, but then something else crossed her mind—something that had bugged her during dinner. She needed to talk to him about two crucial things.