Harry lounged comfortably on the hammock swing, its gentle swaying matching the rhythm of the waves crashing on the nearby shore. The morning sun cast a warm glow over the resort, highlighting the lush greenery and pristine beaches.
He glanced at his watch. Nearly half an hour past their planned departure time but Jade was still busy getting ready.
He peered into the suite, and shook his head in amusement when he saw her meticulously applying makeup after she had spent almost an hour agonizing over the perfect outfit for their sightseeing adventure.
They had agreed to spend the day sightseeing outside the resort. The anticipation of exploring new places should have excited him, but a nagging worry lingered in his mind.
He was supposed to be excited about this trip and proposing to Jade, but a gnawing uncertainty had taken root in his chest since his last episode with Jade.
Needing a distraction, he took a deep breath, savoring the salty air, before pulling out his phone from the pocket of his shorts to call Tom.
The line rang twice before Tom answered, "Whats up, Buddy?" Tom's voice came through, cheerful and relaxed. "Missing me?"
Harry chuckled, as he rose and walked away from the suite. "You know I can't breathe without you," Harry said and Tom chuckled.
"Yeah. I've always known that. You love me so much you just had to be with someone that shares same blood with me. You're obsessed," Tom said and Harry laughed despite the knot of unease in his stomach.
"How's everything going over there?" Harry asked curiously.
Tom's tone shifted, becoming more serious. "Everything is good. What's up? Everything going smoothly?" Tom asked, detecting a hint of something in Harry's voice despite the joke.
"Yeah. Everything is great. Just soaking up the sun while waiting for Jade. I wanted to check if Jeff arrived at Husla as planned. Is he at Henry's now?"
"Yeah. I talked to him yesterday," Tom replied. "He's in the house now and has seen Mia. Everything's going according to plan."
Relief washed over Harry. "That's good to hear. How did Mia seem?"
"Jeff said she looks like she's holding up. He's only worried about the other lady in the house. He is worried she might cause problems for him," Tom explained.
"She wouldn't dare..."
"Yeah. That's what I told him too. I asked him to act like she doesn't exist and keep an eye on things as planned," Tom said and Harry nodded, glad that things were going smoothly.
He was very invested in this since he had been the one who offered to help Mia, and she had directly asked for him help.
"How is the proposal plan coming along?" Tom asked, a hint of excitement in his voice as he shifted the conversation.
Harry hesitated, staring out at the shimmering ocean as he contemplated whether to tell Tom or not since Jade was his sister. After a moment he decided to just confide in Tom, since Tom was his best friend and also Jade's elder brother, so he was sure that Tom would give him his honest opinion without any form of bias.
"Actually, I've been having second thoughts about it," Harry admitted.
There was a pause on the other end, then Tom asked, "Second thoughts? Why? What's going on? I thought you were excited about proposing to Jade."
Harry rubbed his forehead, feeling the weight of his thoughts, "I was," Harry admitted. "Don't get me wrong, I still very much want her to be my wife. I love her with every fiber of my being..."
"But?"
Harry sighed, "But I'm worried that getting married to her right now might not be the right step. She's not ready for it and I don't think that's what she needs."
"What do you mean?" Tom's voice took on a concerned tone.
"She's still dealing with the insecurities and trust issues from her last relationship. She's not over the hurt yet and some times it just crops up," Harry explained and went on to tell him about her reaction when she saw him having coffee with the event planner.
Tom frowned, "Do you think those insecurities won't improve after you're engaged or even married? I mean, by then she should feel more secured in your relationship, right?"
"They're with me," he assured her as he opened the bag and took out their matching straw hats and sunglasses.
"You're too perfect for me Jonas," she said, slipping on her hat and adjusting her sunglasses, and Harry did the same.
A playful glint returned to her eyes. "Now, let's capture some memories for social media, shall we?" She leaned in close, phone poised, and snapped a picture.
The flash momentarily captured the joy sparkling in her eyes and the love in Harry's gaze as he smiled at her.
"Let's make a funny face," Jade suggested and Harry raised a brow.
"For social media?" He asked and when she nodded he shook his head, "No, thanks."
"Why not?" She asked with a frown.
"How will the staff at the company take me seriously if they see photos of my funny face online?" He asked and Jade giggled.
"For crying out loud, Jonas!" She hissed playfully.
"I'd rather make a serious face," he said, pulling his brows together like an angry bird, and Jade laughed as she captured that.
"Let's get going else we are going to spend all day snapping pictures of ourselves," Harry said as he took her hand.
"Just one more. One more," she pleaded, but Harry ignored her as he pulled her along until she broke into a giggle and followed him.
Instead of taking the resort's private car, they decided on a more immersive experience by boarding a tourist bus with an open roof.
They settled into their seats, the excitement of the day's exploration evident in their smiles. As the bus rumbled through the city, Harry wrapped an arm around Jade, pointing out various landmarks and sharing the little trivia he knew had read about them.
They shared laughs over street performers' antics and marveled at the intricate architecture of old cathedrals as the bus wove through bustling markets, historic buildings, and serene parks, each stop revealing a new facet of the city's charm.
Harry did his best to capture as many pictures as he could, some times taking snapshots of Jade when she wasn't looking.
At one stop, they disembarked to explore a vibrant market. The air was filled with the scent of exotic spices and the sound of vendors calling out their wares.
Jade's eyes lit up as she browsed through colorful stalls, picking up handcrafted jewelry and sampling local delicacies.
Harry watched her, feeling a surge of love for her despite his worries about her feelings of insecurity.
"You should have a taste of this. It's divine," she said, raising a local delicacy to his lips.
Although Harry wasn't exactly interested in eating something he didn't know, seeing how she was bubbling with childlike enthusiasm, he took a bite.
"Isn't that the best thing you've tasted?" She asked and Harry shook is head.
"Not at all. That would be you," he said and chuckled when Jade gasped and looked at the vendor with a blush on her face to see if she had heard Harry.
"Harry Jonas!" Jade scolded, making him laugh even more. Moments like these reminded him why he loved her.
"You asked a question, and I answered," he said simply and then pulled her close, "Having fun?"
Jade nodded, her cheeks flushed with excitement. "This is place is so beautiful."
They continued their tour, the bus taking them to a picturesque viewpoint overlooking the city. They stood together, taking in the breathtaking view of of rooftops and winding streets below. Jade rested her head on Harry's shoulder, a contented sigh escaping her lips.
As they boarded the bus again for the final leg of the tour, Harry's mind returned to his conversation with Tom. He knew that their journey together wouldn't always be easy, but moments like these gave him hope.
He resolved to go on with the engagement and to talk to Jade about his concerns, to be open and honest about their future and to find a good therapist that would counsel them as a couple so he could know the best ways to help Jade.