Summer Is For Falling In Love
4. Talk Casually

"How's your head, Mr Holland?" ask Esther when the two are having breakfast, no, lunch. It's eleven o'clock in the afternoon and the two have just gathered at Holland's villa's dining table for a hang over.

The night before, the two had a small party in the villa's living room. The party was hosted by Holland, Esther, Miel, and Hanah.

However, who would have thought that Holland was addicted to drinking alcohol. He drank alcohol like a normal sip of water. Made Holland finally helpless in the morning and just got his breakfast at eleven.

"I'm fine, Miss Esther. Even though my head is turning a little," Holland replied.

"That's good news, Mr. Holland. I've given Miel the hang over reliever recipe that my mom always makes. Usually it works."

"Yes, thank you, Miss Esther. I appreciate it." Holland ate his breakfast normally before he realized the awkwardness in their intonation and speech. "You ... casual talk?"

Esther ate her breakfast gracefully and in etiquette without changing her expression.

"Yes, of course. Didn't you suggest this yourself last night?"

"Yes? I don't remember."

"But I remember it very clearly, Mr. Holland. You say, 'Miss Esther, don't talk to me formally, it proves that we're very far away, I don't like it' and many others. You say sweet things, Mr. Holland."

A thin hue rose onto Holland's cheek. Did he really say those things? Well, it is true that Holland is eager to talk casually and throw formal notes in their conversational style. However, Holland believes that both take time so there should be no rush. What Holland didn't expect was that he said what was locked in his heart when he was drunk.

Salah Holland when he let himself get drunk when in front of him there was a woman he liked. Isn't that so disrespectful? Holland almost cursed himself.

"I said something like that? I'm sorry, Miss Esther. I do say strange things when I'm drunk. It's also my fault for being drunk at times like yesterday." Holland showed his regret through his highlight and tone.

"It's nothing, Mr. Holland. And I agree to that. Wouldn't it be better for us to talk casually regardless of noble etiquette? Isn't that troublesome? Isn't the rule for nobles so restrictive that you're suffocating?"

Holland glued. Thatvs right.

There are many things no noble should do, by Holland. Holland cannot be free. His freedom was taken over by the social status embedded in it. The status he was born with, which tied a gold chain around his neck so that it locked his every move.

That's torturous.

It tormented Holland when he desperately wanted to behave as usual without being concerned with etiquette.

Ah, how Esther understands Holland so much. It was as if Esther was indeed a goddess to Holland who kept looking at her at all times, making her know a lot about Holland and her wishes.

"In that case, I'll talk to you casually from now on, Miss Esther." Holland raised a smile.

Esther nodded in satisfaction. "Of course, I'd rather be like this."

And that was how the distance between them was slowly eroded back.

...***...

"Have you ever tried to do this before, Miss Esther?"

Esther nodded slowly. "Of course never. This is my first time visiting the beach."

"Same. It was also my first time visiting the beach."

Holland and Esther exchanged looks, then laughed.

The two refocused on scraping the ground to look for shells.

Esther issued an opinion that they would make a necklace out of a shell. And of course it should be a quality shell so that both do their best to look for shells in the fine sands of the beach.

Every now and then, the waves would come and rain down on them, wetting both feet, and making their clothes heavy by the absorbed water.

However, Holland enjoyed this.

Seven days only. Seven days alone, Holland did not need to behave as the Duke's successor. She can be herself without being her family-made marionette. And in that limited time, it was an opportunity for Holland to be close to Esther.

"I think it's enough, Mr. Holland," said Esther, she rubbed the sweat on her forehead, and her long hair fell apart.

In Holland's eyes, however, Esther looks very cute with a few strands of red hair stuck to her cheeks due to sweat. Well, the air is pretty hot.

"All right, Miss Esther. How about we go back?" take Holland to Esther.

"Are we going to eat these shells, Miss Esther?" ask Holland. In his hand, there was a basket of shells lined with beach sand.

"We'll make it into jewelry!" reply Esther enthusiastically.

Holland smiled slightly hearing it. To be seen from anywhere, Esther is so sweet. At least that's what Holland's red bead says that's getting squinty because it's holding a smile.

"Then, I'll call someone from the jewelry store."

"That's a good idea."

"What jewelry do you want, Miss Esther?"

"I think necklace."

Holland nodded. "Then, tonight the necklace will be finished."

"Tonight?" Esther gnashing.

It's late afternoon enough that making a necklace for tonight might be impossible.

However, seeing how Holland was so confident with his answer made Esther just a small smile.

Later that night, as Esther prepares to sleep, Hanah enters Esther's room, now in Holland's luxury villa with a box in her hand.

"What is that, Hanah?" ask Esther. Her nightgown followed Esther's movements as the woman got out of bed.

"Miss, this is a gift from Mr. Holland."

Esther received the box with a strange thumping feeling. On his lips, a smile like the beauty of the setting sun.

When Esther opened the box, how her heart actually pounded harder. Really, Esther could also feel her heated, red cheeks.

It was a necklace.

The modified necklaces of the shells they were looking for earlier.

"God, help me wear it."

"Good, Miss."

Esther half ran towards her dresser.

Hanah then helps Esther to put the necklace around her neck.

Esther smiled when she saw her reflection showing herself wearing a lacy white nightgown, but slightly colored when the necklace adorned her.

The necklace had chains made of gold and shells as well as ruby diamonds fused together. It was amazing, but at the same time made Esther keep remembering Holland's red eyes.

"You like it?" hanah asked with a faint smile on her lips.

Esther also carved a smile on her blushing red lips. That's soft. No, it's stunning.

Regarding how Esther's beautiful face looks satisfied when the necklace is connected to her neck. Or regarding how that sender of this necklace was someone who secretly took a place in his heart space.

How Esther felt her chest explode. It was as if there was a time bomb inside, which would explode violently when the time had come. The time when Esther fully realized that she liked Holland.

No, not because Holland's behavior is full of ruse. However, the feeling was purely because his intuition also said so. He said that the man was the right man.

It was summer, but Esther felt that the spring in her heart had bloomed and rivaled the time.

...***...

Writing a novel is hard enough, so I expect a little appreciation. Follow account? If you also have an account in the orange app, you can visit me with the alunamoona username to drown in my story further. There are many untold stories here, if you stop by there, I will appreciate it ⁇ ♡

July 2nd, 2023