HOT LOVE IN BALI

***Denichka***

The day rises on the beautiful Riviera.

My eyelids open slowly. The muffled sound of the waves and birds in the sky has been my alarm clock for several years now.

At the same time, my mother knocks on my bedroom door.

"Wake up, honey. You're going to be late," she says.

"Hmmm! You tell me that every morning, Mom. I'm already awake" I said between a few sighs.

I get up wearily half on my bed. I vigorously rub my eyes with my fingers and run my hands through my hair.

"That's it! The day has just dawned again," I stammer between yawns.

My name is Denichka and I am twenty-five years old. I have lived with my parents in Bali since I was a little girl. There are two of us children. I have a brother who is twenty years old. He is studying at a university several kilometers away from our home and only comes home during the vacations.

My parents work at EL DORADO, the largest and most popular hotel in Bali. My father, Fernando, is a short order cook and my mother is a housewife.

We are not especially rich but we manage to support ourselves. I am proud of my parents and all the sacrifices they make for my brother and me. Nevertheless, we are often teased. I won't deny that it hurts me but I manage to get over it.

So I am a waitress in the same hotel. My parents had a hard time accepting it but I did everything I could to convince them. We went through a very difficult period where we almost lost our house. This house is the only property we own. My parents bought it with their savings with great difficulty. I had no choice but to find a job quickly. And this is the one that came to me.

At the hotel, everything is going well, without counting the indecent proposals of some customers and the rich girls who do not miss a single opportunity to make fun of me. But I'm holding on. I have always remained straight in my boots and faithful to my principles.

I get up slowly from my bed to take a shower.

"Ow!" I exclaim.

I just stepped on a hair clip lying on the floor.

I reach down and pull it out.

Decidedly, my day is looking very good.

A few minutes are enough for me to get ready. I wear my change of clothes and go to breakfast with my parents.

"Good morning, sweetie!" says my dad.

"Good morning, Daddy," I replied.

I put my money where my mouth is and give him a peck on the cheek. He gives me a long hug. Mom joins in. Over time, this morning hug has become a sort of little ritual between us. In our family, we stay very close.

"Come on, let's have breakfast," my mom shouted.

Dad and I pretend to be offended. Mom is good at breaking up moments like this.

She serves us tea.

I have lunch while watching them bicker. They have been together for almost thirty years. Sometimes I want to live this kind of love but until now I haven't found the man who will make me want it. I haven't had many relationships but men who wanted to get serious didn't approach me. People come to Bali more for vacations. On top of that, working as a waitress in a hotel doesn't help me much. The boys I meet are mistaken about me. They only think about having fun.

I am not a saint but I have principles and values.

I finish my breakfast and say goodbye.

I get on my bike and start pedaling.

I usually ride my bike to the hotel. We live just five minutes from the hotel. A few pedals and I run into Diana, my best friend. She is also on her bike.

"Hi pretty girl!" she says

I smile at her teasing.

Diana and I work at EL DORADO. She works as a housekeeper so she interacts with my mom.

We check in with each other and continue chatting until we reach our destination.

In front of the hotel, we put our feet on the ground simultaneously.

"It's been several years since I've been here but it still gives me that feeling. The EL DORADO is just breathtaking," exclaims Diana.

Yes, Diana is right. No matter what anyone says, this hotel is worth all its prestige. In a word, it's beautiful.

"Come on, let's go to our posts before Madame Vera catches us" I said.

At the mention of her name, Diana frowns.

Madame Vera is a lady in her fifties who oversees the stations at the hotel. She is a sort of controller who is always calling the employees to order. She is particularly annoying and does not fail to put us down in front of the customers.

We enter from the back of the hotel and go up the steps of the service staircase. As soon as we parked our bikes, Mrs. Vera calls us.

"Young ladies! Have you seen what time it is?" she questions with a frown.

Diana tries to answer her:

"Madame Vera, it is only..."

She cuts him off:

"I don't care what time it is. You all need to be at your posts." she argued.

Diana was still about to answer her but I managed to beat her to it.

"Understood, ma'am," I whispered.

She stands for a moment and stares at us without saying anything. She approaches Diana, who grunts through her teeth.

"Have I made myself clear, Miss Diana!"

She pronounces his name with a certain disgust.

"Yes, very clear," Diana pronounced despite herself.

I take Diana by the arm and lead her away.

Unlike me, who manages to keep my cool, Diana has no tongue in cheek. She says everything she thinks without restraint. Of course, this character of hers often gets her into trouble, but I'm often around to catch up.

And it's the same on my side, I'm so quiet that people have a lot of fun stepping on my toes. Diana often pushes me to pound my fist on the table like with her rich girls who spend their time making fun of us and calling us poor girls.

Diana and I arrived in the spare cabin.

"I'm sick of it, Denichka, sick of being stepped on so much," she says breathlessly.

I try to comfort her.

"I am aware of it and I am going through the same thing as you but what do you want? You know more than anyone how much we need this job. And you know that we won't live this life forever," I say.

She can hardly calm down. What Mrs. Vera is doing to us is unfair. We notice how she treats the rich kids, but as far as we are concerned, she spends her time taking it out on us according to her moods.

Diana and I change our clothes for the service clothes.

A short dress for Diana and a top and skirt set for me. The color of the clothes is of night blue color for us all with inscriptions of our first names on the chest.

Diana picks up her laundry basket and gets ready to start her day.

"See you later, sweetie" she says to me as she gives me a peck on the cheek.

"See you later, honey," I replied.

I watch her walk away as I readjust my clothes.

Diana and I met four years ago. She was here a few months before me. New and naive as I was, I didn't really have a personality. She was the one who showed me how to stand up for myself and how to force people to respect me.

I still think back to the day we spoke for the first time.

"Are you Mrs. Florencia's daughter?" she asked me in amazement.

Mrs. Florencia is my mother. I answered yes to her question and she launched into a huge speech of endless praise about all the qualities my mother had.

"Honestly you are too lucky to be Mrs. Florencia's daughter. I envy you so much. She's the greatest lady I know." She said with a smile.

Then she gave me big hugs. Within minutes, we became best friends. I think the reason our friendship works so well is because of the mix of our differences. She's there to fill in my blanks and I'm there to fill in hers.

I smooth with my hands the pockets of my skirt when I see in the distance Mrs Vera. Very quickly, I leave the cabin. I especially do not want to have to undergo still its remonstrances. It is the kind of woman who ruins you your day just with her prickly words.

I walk through several floors before I get to the fifth floor. This is where the VIP box is located. As a waitress, I'm a multi-tasker but right now I'm assigned to the VIP box.

It's nine in the morning. I used to say that no one goes to the club in the morning, but since I've been in this business, I can say the opposite. People don't just drink at night. Certainly the affluence is much stronger the night but in the day, the club does not miss customers.

I head to the bar. Natalie, the one who runs the bar, is in a state. I quickly ask her what's wrong.

"Natalie, is there a problem?" I ask her.

"Oh, no honey. Everything is fine. You know how Nico puts me in a bad mood in the mornings....Here bring this to table six" she replied.

I take the tray in my hands and she hands it to me.

Nico is her husband. He makes her live hell but I don't know why she tries to stay with him. When I look at her, the saying: The heart has its reasons that reason ignores takes all its meaning.

Fortunately, not everyone in life is bad. Natalie is a lady with a heart of gold, altruistic and who means no harm to her fellow man. She welcomed me very well and for the past four years everything has been going very well. Good people exist, they are just rare. As rare as a needle in a haystack.

I sigh and hasten to hand over her order to the customer.

And so the day goes on like every other day of the week.

When I get a break, I sit in a chair at the bar in the corner thinking about my life. I don't want to spend my whole life doing this job. My dream is to become a designer, a fashion icon. I love everything that has to do with fashion. In fact, most of my clothes and Diana's clothes were made by me.

I do this job to help my parents, my brother but also to launch my projects. Even though the pay is good, it's still hard for me to really give life to my projects.

Despite all this monotony, I have faith in myself and in all that I can accomplish. I know that I will eventually achieve the goals I have set for myself. This hope that I have keeps me going.

Natalie calls out to me and I join her. She gives me some small instructions to finish the first part of the evening. I do so while Diana joins me. She too has just finished the first part of her job.

"Hey honey! Aren't you done yet?"

"Yes, just a moment!"

I drop my apron to join her. We go to take our break in the employee lounge area.

We order mojitos and sandwiches.

After several bites, Diana exhales deeply.

"How tiring is all this work!"

"You're totally right," I say between yawns.

"... And this routine, I can't stand it anymore but fortunately a new face will come to change our minds a little" she says

Surprised, I can't help but ask her who she is talking about.

"How come you don't know? Ah, Denishka! You don't have time for gossip. You only think about work."

She keeps the gossip suspense going. Between two mouthfuls, I end up asking her:

"Whose arrival are you talking about?"

"Chaz, the CEO's son!" she says in a suave voice.

***Chaz***

<>

The voice on the intercom of the private jet brings me back to myself. With my headphones on and the music at low volume, I had completely disconnected from reality.

I walk down the steps of the plane and the fresh wind caresses my face.

Bali, what a beautiful place!

This is the only reason why I agreed to come here in spite of myself.

At the same time, a car approaches me and positions itself. It is the driver. He gets out and opens the door, from which one of my favorite rap songs comes out. I already love this driver.

I get in the back and he goes around the car to take a seat.

"I hope you had a good trip! Your father is waiting for you impatiently."

"Yes, thank you!" I replied.

"Before we get started, Mr. Chaz I'm a big fan and would like a spelling"

I sigh and take the pen he hands me to sign his spelling on a t-shirt he has specially primed. What a driver!

I thought I would go unnoticed. At the first minute, I was already recognized. I can't imagine what the rest of my stay here will be like. I sigh.

"You know my first name but I don't know yours. What's your name?" I asked him.

He smiled with all his teeth.

"My name is André, sir" he answered.

"You can call me Chaz, nice to meet you."

I offer him my hand which he shakes hard.

I start to laugh.

"You, I feel like we are going to get along" I say with a smile on my face.

For any answer, he smiles at me and increases the volume to the bottom.

What puts me immediately in a good mood.

A few minutes later, we arrive at our destination.

I look at this gigantic house in the distance and I am immersed in ancient feelings.

"Sir, welcome home" the driver announces to me.

For all answer, I nod my head.

He drives on until we enter my father's house, the one where I grew up.

As soon as he parked, the employees of the house rushed to unload my belongings.

I don't see my father right away. He must be busy with his many things.

I walk with a weary step to enter the house. Once inside, I stand in awe. This house has a lot of memories, both good and bad.

I don't know how long I stood there until my father's voice brought me back:

"Welcome back son!" he says to me with a smile on his face and his arms wide open.

A smile forms itself on my lips. I walk slowly as Dad walks towards me as well. We join in an equally vigorous and strong hug. He gives me big pats on the back.

I find his warmth and I can't help but admit that it feels extremely good to have him back.

He finally releases me and holds me by the shoulders.

"You left a few months ago and it seems like years ago. How was your season?" he asks me.

"Dad, you got all the news you needed from the newspapers and paparazzi. What else do you want to know?" I say with a laugh.

"You know what I want to know" he replied with a suggestive look.

I stifle a laugh.

He looks at his watch.

"But I'm not in a hurry. You're already tired from the trip. It's already nine o'clock in the evening. You take a bath and we'll meet for dinner." he says with a smile.

I nodded my head.

He stops for a moment and stares into my eyes before adding.

"I'm proud of you, son. Come on, I'll see you later."

He turns and walks back into his office while continuing with his incessant phone calls.

My father is a man in his fifties who doesn't look his age. He is a businessman and the owner of the most popular hotel in Bali: the EL DORADO.

Since I was a child, he always wanted to involve me in business, but I was consumed by my passion for soccer. In the beginning, he wanted to force things, but in the end he accepted the truth.

So I was fifteen years old when I went to the training center. But before I went there, a great tragedy happened with Mom. I freeze at the course my thoughts take. Mom!? No, I don't want to think about it.

I open the door of my old room, the one where I spent my childhood. At my request, Dad has not made any changes.

I timidly turn on the light and the room lights up.

I walk over to the bed and sit down. I fall on my back, my hands behind my neck.

Ah this room! What good memories. I quickly take a shower before dinner.

One knocks at my door.

"Sir, your father is waiting for you for dinner".

It's a housekeeper. She must be new.

"Okay, just a moment I'll be right there" I replied.

I hear her turn around in her steps.

I put on my shirt very quickly and join the dining room.

Dad is all excited when he sees me coming.

"What took you so long? I was getting impatient." he says.

"Actually I....."

I don't have time to finish what I have to say. My gaze falls on that of a beautiful young woman, barely in her thirties.

My father begins to smile at my confusion.

"Oh, sorry I didn't let you know. We have a guest tonight. Silvia, my companion" he said with a huge smile on his face.

The equally cheerful young woman holds out her manicured hand to me with long thin nails.

"Nice to meet you, the pleasure is all mine. Your father has told me so much about you" she says in a honeyed voice.

For all answer, I wear a simple smile.

"Chaz is a little shy around people he doesn't know," my dad adds, taking his girlfriend's hands between his own.

And here I thought we were going to have some man time.

I pull out my chair and sit down.

The housekeeper, Georgina, serves us the meal. I don't eat much because as a sportsman I have to stay in perfect shape because the season will start again.

My father's girlfriend spends the whole dinner staring at me in such a way that it becomes embarrassing.

It's not nice to judge by appearance, but this young lady gives me the impression that she's a diamond cruncher. Afterwards, the reality may be just the opposite.

That's what I wish for my father because he really deserves to be happy. But she doesn't stop staring at me. On top of that, she adds grimaces with the intention of getting my attention. In spite of myself I put up with it for my father. Funny family moment!

Her gestures become so insistent that I can't stand them anymore. I wonder how my father can't see it all.

I decide to leave the table.

"Son, but...." he tries to say as he stands up.

"No, Dad, everything is fine. Enjoy the evening with your sweetheart. I've got other things to do" I retorted.

"Anything better than staying for dinner with your father after this long absence?" he said weakly.

I don't try to answer him. I walk out of the dining room. We'll have this discussion later or he'll certainly neglect it as usual.

I've just had an exhausting season and I don't want to get in over my head. Especially since I have a lot to think about.

I have just two months of vacation before the season starts again. My vacation has just started. I don't want to spoil it with an intruder.

But I can't help but wonder where my dad gets these kinds of girls. Oh, of course I know. Usually a friend of a friend introduces him. And that's the way it's always been in their circle of friends.

What offends me is the fact that he can't see that these girls are very often ill-intentioned. I mean, it's obvious.

Since mom is gone, he has a hard time finding himself. He's not sure how to find his balance anymore. But that's no reason for him to make bad choices all the time.

At the same time he is a big boy. It's just that his actions show the opposite.

Luckily I have my gym here inside the house. I decided to go do some crunches and sit-ups. Working out is the only thing that manages to relax me.

I execute and do several exercises. There is no lack of anything. The gym is very well equipped.

Suddenly my phone rings. I don't recognize the number but I pick it up anyway.

"My friend!? You came to Bali and you did n't inform me? If your father hadn't told mine, who told me, I wouldn't have known about it" he says with a sparkling voice.

I recognize this voice. It's Yuz, my best friend with whom I lost touch because of our professional careers.

"Yuz, I'm sorry, I've only just come and I wanted to put some order in...." I say with a short breath.

I don't finish my sentence. He cuts me off as usual.

"Why is your breath so short? You don't waste time apparently" he says in a suggestive voice.

I can't help but smile at his remark. He will never change.

"But no, I was doing some physical exercises at the gym" I answer him.

"If you say so. Well, what do you say we meet tonight? I'm around and I could meet up at your place in no time. " he offers.

"Give me time to get some air. Tomorrow night is better," I say.

"Blowing in Bali? That's the first time I've heard that. But it's okay. I'll see you tomorrow night. I'll pick you up, we'll go out" he said with a cheerful voice.

"It works, I...."

He cuts me off again. Holy Yuz!

"You've been away too long, buddy. I have too much to tell you. Well, see you later, buddy. I don't want to take your breath away."

He says the word "blowing" with a lot of sacarsm.

We say goodbye and he cuts the call.

I don't open up to people easily. Some find me arrogant, others shy. The reality is that I am very careful about who gets into my privacy. I don't let just anyone in.

Yuz is one of the few friends I've had in my life. He is the son of a friend of my father. Since we were kids, we were always together. We were more than close. But nowadays, friendships don't really last. Everyone breaks up at some point. We're not as close as we used to be.

I went to a training center and his father started to integrate him more and more in the business. Today I am a professional footballer and he is in real estate. His father can be proud of him because he knew how to impose himself in the real estate market and in the business world too.

Most of the blame is on me. Yuz always wanted us to keep in touch, but I kept to myself. But I still like him and I know I can trust him.

Suddenly, in the course of my thoughts, I see Silvia, my father's companion, in the gigantic mirror. She looks at me through the half-open door. She is in a nightie, almost naked and stares at me intensely.

I was about to tell her to go away when I hear a rough voice behind us.

"What are you doing here?"

It's my dad.

***Mr. Adeniyi***

I've been standing in the back watching this gloomy scene for more than five minutes now.

Silvia is spying on my son, swaying. Curiously, she had gone to fetch me something in the kitchen. And meanwhile, I was waiting for her like a cuckold in my bed.

How could I keep my cool for five minutes?

It's a natural trait I have.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

She turns around and starts stammering.

"No, honey....je"

"You what? Spy on my son while you're in your underwear and making sleazy gestures? Is that the behavior of a woman who cares about me? You want the father and son?" I asked with anger in my voice.

"I was going to the kitchen and then I...." she continued

"The kitchen is on the ground floor. We were on the second floor in my room. And you end up on the third floor? You've got the house under control. You've been here for more than five months," I said.

She walks over to me and puts her hands on my cheeks.

At the same time, Chaz stands in the doorway and stares at us. He looks like he's wondering how I can be so fooled.

"Honey, you're the only one I love and you know it," she says as if she's trying to defend herself to a jury.

I still think about all the wiggling she did during her five minutes.

I take her hands between mine and look her straight in the eyes.

"You and I are done. Pack up your stuff and get out of my house. You can keep the car and everything else if that's what you're afraid of. I really loved you but you played with my feelings. I don't want to see you anymore," I said with anger in my voice.

I rush down the stairs while she starts to cry. I hear her ask Chaz to say something to me so I can reconsider.

I sit down in the main living room with a glass of whiskey in my hand.

I'm not one to whine but this girl I really liked. Besides, I'm fifty-three years old.

I feel Chaz come and sit next to me on the couch. He doesn't speak right away. But I feel him sympathize.

Silvia goes down the stairs, pushing her suitcases angrily.

When she reaches my level, she stops and stares at me.

"So this is how you throw me away?" she asks

Faced with my silence, she gets even more angry.

"Anyway, I'm not losing anything. What was I going to do with a man as boring as you. You used to spend your time talking to me about your business from morning to night. You're just doing me a favor and I'll find a much better one than you." She adds.

I remain silent. She turns on her heels and walks out of the house, slamming the center door loudly.

I received all her words like a stab but the truth even if it is bitter is always better than living in a sweet lie.

I feel Chaz's hands on my shoulder for comfort. He who doesn't usually drink allows himself to have a drink with me.

"Your agent will kill you if he finds out you've been drinking, son," I say between sips.

"How will he know? Besides, it's only one drink," he replied.

I smiled at him.

"Dad, you're fifty-three. And she is what? Twenty-four years old?" he questions with a tone filled with dismay.

"Don't abuse Chaz, she's twenty-nine." I replied.

He sighs at the helplessness he is subject to. I know he would have liked to do more, but he is incapable. He just stares into the void and takes part in the discussion.

***Chaz***

Silvia just dumped my dad in front of me. She didn't even feel sorry for him. She said words to him that were as hurtful as they were poignant.

And yet my father really loved her. You could see it in the way he looked at her. I feel sorry for Dad. The only comfort I am able to give him is to talk to him.

We talk about my past season. My dad is a soccer fanatic so he tells me what improvements I could make. He also congratulated me on how far I have come.

These are the moments I love. These moments of frank discussion between men. I love seeing him so carefree and talkative. Usually he is too busy with his business.

Suddenly, an object falls to the floor. It's an engagement ring box.

"Wait dad, am I dreaming?"

He stoops to the floor and picks up the object and answers me between sighs.

"No son, I was going to propose to her" with a voice tinged with regret.

I didn't think he loved her that much. It is true that he has the habit of bringing home many young women. But I had no idea that he had real and strong feelings for this girl, especially since this is the first time in ten years that he has proposed to one of his girlfriends. If I hadn't seen that ring on the floor, I could have sworn he was desperately looking for love as usual.

Silvia had every chance but she decided to screw it up. Anyway, she never loved him so it's not a loss for her. Only my father suffers in this story.

"Why are you putting on that sad face? You should be happy for me. Thanks to you I avoided the worst mistake of my life." he said

"A bigger mistake than the one you made with mom?" I asked

He freezes and becomes silent. I know this is a very sensitive subject for him. Besides, we never talk about it.

"I'm sorry," I say in apology."

We never talk about Mom. She was Dad's greatest love and also his greatest disappointment. It took months for him to get over it. And even years later, this story remains a shadowy area he won't allow himself to enter.

I decide to go to sleep while Dad is still in the living room drinking.

I worry about him, but I know that no pain will ever be greater than the one Mom inflicted on him.

I walk up the stairs and before entering my room, I glance at him. I can't help but ask him:

"Dad, are you going to be okay?"

"Yes son, don't worry about me. I'm a strong guy. And don't forget that you are the child here" he said with a touch of humor.

I smile and go back to my room.

The next day

***Diana***

I just left my house to go to work and I don't see any trace of Denichka. It is not in her habit. I go back to her house to look for her.

"Hello," I say as I open the door to her house.

It is her father, Mr. Fernando, who welcomes me. As usual he is always smiling and talking.

"Diana, what brings you here?" he asks cheerfully.

"I was on my way to the hotel and I didn't see Denichka anywhere", I answered.

He explains to me that she is feeling a bit ill this morning. I go to the room. Denishka is lying down and a little pale.

"Oh, my beautiful one! What's wrong?" I ask as I sit on the edge of her bed.

"It's nothing serious. I didn't digest what I ate yesterday well. I have a bit of a stomach ache but I'll be fine" she answered.

I ask her if she will be able to come to work but she thinks she will come in the evening.

I feel sorry for her. It hurts me to see her like this. But as she said, she is already feeling much better because of the medication she has been taking.

I decide to take my leave of her.

"Come on, I'll see you later sweetie! Take care of yourself" I say as I give her a kiss on the front.

"Thank you" she answers in a small voice.

I walk out of her house with a sigh.

I can't help but think of Madame Vera. She loves this kind of situation where she spends her time reciting a long sermon.

I pedaled my bike and a few streets before the hotel, I ran into him. My heart starts to beat very fast.

"Hi beautiful, come I drop you in the car" he says

"Yuz, I'm late for work. See you later" I answered with difficulty.

I pedal my bike without looking back. I hear him yelling behind and calling me but I don't answer.

Ah Yuz! We had a one-night stand. I thought I was in control of my feelings, but I quickly became attached to him.

I was surprised by the way my feelings turned out but I had no control over it and it scared me to death.

Yuz comes from a very rich family and I am just a simple housewife. He regularly came to the hotel with his friends. I often cleaned his room and that's what happened.

Yuz didn't use me, on the contrary I let my desires run wild and I thought I was in control but I was wrong. I was attracted to him physically. We seduced each other.

Besides, what would a man as rich as him want from me? Since I knew how I felt about him, I've been pulling away from him. That's what I do best: walk away.

Of course, Denicha is my best friend, she knows everything that's going on. Well, she only knows part of the story. She knows what happened between us but I didn't tell her my feelings for him.

I am a strong person. I like to have control and power over everything. So it's new for me to feel weak and powerless in this situation.

I let my thoughts run wild until I found myself in front of the hotel. I can feel my throat getting knotted up. I can't accept it in my heart but the truth is that I am madly in love with Yuz.

I quickly wipe away a tear that escapes from my eyes. I park my bike and head to the service entrance to put on my uniform.

Madame Vera asks me about Denishka. I inform her that she is a little bit sick but that she will come in the afternoon. Strangely enough, all the jibes she threw at me did not make me hot or cold. I was scattered in my thoughts. All I could think about was him. He is the only thing that softens me, me who is usually strong and hard of character.

Madame Vera finally left me. Certainly because she noticed that contrary to the other days I do not answer her.

I finish getting ready and I start my work. Quite a day!

The evening

***Chaz***

I spent the day working out and practicing on the soccer field. My personal trainer managed to free up time for us to work for about two hours.

Then I had a chat with Yuz. He kept telling me that we should go out. I'm a homebody so he kind of forced it on me.

Lying on my bed, I follow a soccer game on TV. I hear loud horns. It's probably him. I'm already primed so I just turn off the TV and get out.

He pokes his head through the window.

"Hey buddy!" He says with a wide smile.

He's as outgoing and cheerful as ever.

And of course the music is so loud we can't even hear each other.

He starts to roll.

"Where are we going?" I ask, turning to him as I put on my seatbelt.

"To the number one hotel in all of Bali" he answered with that joy that only he has.

Oh, no, I thought inwardly. I wanted to go to a place where it wouldn't be too crowded. When you're a celebrity, it's hard to go out without meeting people who want to spend some time with you. So the only intimate time you can have is at home.

A few minutes later, we arrived. Yuz knows me well so he goes through a private entrance with fewer people.

We sit in the VIP bar to have some privacy.

"So, tell me everything. What's been going on lately?" he asks me.

"You know, nothing extraordinary..." I say between two sighs.

"Good evening, gentlemen, here are your two gin and tonics that you ordered" says the beautiful maid as she places the tray on the table.

Her voice is so cool and soothing.

I turn my gaze on her and see a girl of rare beauty.

I am immediately immersed in the depths of her eyes.

It's not just her beauty. She gives off something indescribable.

"Thank you!" I stammered.

I had just met the one who was going to be my soul mate, my better half, the mother of my children. And I know that deep down I had already known it.