Ten minutes later, Rendy returned, just as the dark clouds drifted away, and the sun broke through, casting a bright but chilly light over the field.

'Hello again!" he called out with a grin. 'Don't ask where I went—I just had a word with the rain shaman. He says we're all clear. Let's hope he's right because you're about to embark on a long journey! Now, find a partner. Each team will be a pair, which could be employees, family members, or a mix. And if anyone would prefer to sit out, please line up to my left."


Without hesitation, Amir tugged gently at Erin's sleeve, pulling her closer. Reflexively, Erin's eyes scanned the crowd, landing on Nathan across the field. He was already holding Jessica's hand, drawing a few curious glances. Even Xavier, beside him, tried to pull Jessica away, but she clung tightly to Nathan's arm instead.

'Goodness," Amir muttered, watching the scene unfold. 'Do they all have magnetic genes or something? How can people cling to each other so easily?"

Meanwhile, Erin noticed Rendy speaking quietly to Kia and her husband nearby. Kia kept holding her husband's hand, which he kept trying to brush off.


From the way they interacted, Erin noticed an awkwardness between Kia and her husband. For some reason, they seemed tense. Her husband wasn't holding back his frustration, gesturing at the baby in Kia's arms, while Kia pointed toward the five staff members who were tending to the other children.

"Stop staring," Amir gently reprimanded Erin.


"Why does it seem like they're not getting along?" she whispered back.

"Don't jump to conclusions."

"But seriously, look—"

Now Kia was trying to approach the staff member in a white shirt, but her husband held her back, visibly frustrated. Erin watched as Kia pulled away and finally walked over to the staff, determined.

"It looks like she wants to keep her child with her, but her husband doesn't want her to," Erin speculated.

"Not our business, okay?"

"Yeah, but—"

"Erin, don't ignore me," Amir interrupted, his tone unusually needy, making Erin blink at him in surprise.

"Ignore you?" Erin looked at Amir in disbelief, hearing his whiny tone for the first time.

"Yeah. You're my partner for this game, remember? Why are you so focused on them?"

Erin couldn't help but laugh, "Geez, Amir! If you keep whining like this, I'll get mad that I can't pinch your cheeks here!"

"Just you wait," Amir smirked, looking ahead.

Erin scoffed playfully and gave his arm a pinch instead, making him wince.

Just then, Rendy's voice came back over the loudspeaker, gathering everyone's attention. "Alright, let's go over the rules for this activity! We'll be sending each team off one by one to explore the villa grounds and plantation area. You'll encounter seven main posts, where each staff member will give you a word that you need to remember. Now, between each of these main posts, there will also be a hidden ‘shadow post' with an additional word for you to find. Phones and notes are off-limits, so your challenge is to memorize all the words from start to finish. Each team will receive a walkie-talkie, which you'll use to coordinate with the team ahead of and behind you. Ready?"

Raya raised her hand, "So, if we finish at one post, we need to check with the team ahead of us before moving on?"

"Exactly," Rendy nodded. "And keep in mind that shadow posts don't have staff, so you'll have to search for the hidden word yourselves. In total, there will be fourteen words to memorize."

Nathan raised his hand, "If we're a family group, are we allowed to stick together without employees?"

"Yes, that's fine," Rendy affirmed.

With that, Erin and Amir took their eighth-place position, falling in line behind Tata and Mimi and ahead of Ridwan and Aling. As they began the route alongside a small riverside path, Erin shivered slightly, rubbing her arms to fend off the cool air.

"Cold?" Amir asked, noticing her movements.

"Yeah," she nodded, hugging herself tighter. "It's strange—the sun's out, but it feels freezing."

"Welcome to Lembang. Besides, Rendy might've actually hired a rain shaman," Amir teased, pointing up at the unnaturally bright sky.

"What? That's real?" Erin asked, half-believing him.

"Yep, and you're seeing it now."

"Can't be. It's just a coincidence."

Amir laughed softly, "You'll see. They can hold it off, but usually, the rain wins eventually."

Amir and Erin continued the game, gathering words at each post. They breezed through the first few like Snail and Fly, but by post four, they were met with the word Reconciliation, which made them both hesitate and share a look of confusion.

The trail led them to a wide-open rice field, easily four times the size of the villa's. They hadn't realized how far they'd traveled until they saw two huts standing across the vast landscape, waiting in the distance.

"That's shadow post four, right in the middle of the field," Amir pointed out, speaking into his walkie-talkie. "Group nine, looks like light rain's on the way, but group seven is already en route, so we'll head to shadow post four."

"Amir, don't rush," Erin urged. "It's going to rain any second."

"That's why we're hurrying!" Amir pressed, "Come on, we'll have plenty of time to look for the hidden word if we get there fast."

With a sigh, Erin followed, glancing worriedly at the sky as rain began to fall. Halfway to the hut, the sky opened up, drenching them. The path, though asphalt, was already muddy, and Erin glanced back, realizing they were a long way from the previous post.

"Go!" Amir urged, and she ran.

Lightning flashed just as they reached the hut in the middle of the rice field. Erin gasped and darted inside, relieved to be out of the downpour. Her heart raced as she clutched the bamboo pavilion, feeling small and exposed in the little shelter.

"Rin?" Amir wiped the rain from his face as he stepped in, concern etched in his expression.

Erin trembled as she sat on the pavilion, her hands gripping the bamboo posts. She was well aware Amir was with her, yet the vast, open space around them and the constant lightning made her shiver. The open windows on either side made her feel vulnerable.

"Sir, are you safe?" Amir's walkie-talkie crackled.

"Yeah, we're safe. We'll wait here for now."

"Got it. The staff said they're bringing umbrellas from the villa."

Amir looked back at Erin, noting her pale, fearful face. "You rest here; I'll find the hidden word."

Erin nodded, watching Amir examine the hut. She spotted something first, though—a small slip of paper lodged in the bamboo beams. "Amir…" she called softly, holding up the slip of paper.

He returned to her side, reaching for the paper and, in doing so, gently brushed her cold fingers. "You're freezing," he murmured, giving her hand a light squeeze.

Erin shook her head, "Not really. I'm just scared."

"Of what?"

She glanced nervously at the windows. "The lightning, the rain, and… well, the fact that we're stuck in the middle of a rice field."

"Don't be afraid, Rin. You're safe here with me."

"Well, you're not Zeus. You can't control lightning."

"Says who? Of course, I can." Amir raised his hand toward the sky. "Dear sky, please don't bring your lightning too close to us. We're just ordinary humans trying to stay safe," he intoned solemnly.

Erin laughed, her fear momentarily forgotten as a clap of thunder sounded far off. "How is that possible?" she asked, her awe lighting up her eyes.

"Told you," Amir smirked, "I control the lightning."

"Yeah, right!" Erin laughed and poked his waist.

"Hey, violence again?" he teased.

"Just because no one's watching!"

"Careful, those hands are still cold," Amir murmured, taking her hands and rubbing them gently to warm them up.

"Now you're being romantic!" Erin teased, her cheeks warming a little.

"It's not romantic."

" I can see you're trying."

"That was not! But this one ... " Without another word, Amir lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the back of her hand. Erin stilled, her face flushing.

"Still need more proof?" he whispered, his eyes steady on hers.

Erin pulled her hand back, shaking her head with a playful glare. "Listen to me, Mr. Red Flag—don't make a girl fall for you if you're not prepared to fall just as hard."

"All it took was a kiss on the hand?" he chuckled.

"Yes, of course!"

"So, you still feel the same about me?"

"Of course I do! If I didn't, I wouldn't even be here with you."

"Good," he murmured, "because I still need more time to get to know you better."

Erin scoffed, "Time again. What am I lacking? Why is it taking so much to convince yourself that being with me is the right choice?"

Amir's brow furrowed, and he gently shook his head. "You think I'm searching for flaws in you? How could I?"

A grin tugged at the corner of Erin's mouth, her pale face warming with a hint of color. She struggled to suppress her smile. "You're officially the coolest person I know! How is it that I still love you this much?"

"Maybe because you've fallen for me?"

"Obviously!" she replied with an exaggerated sigh, prompting a soft chuckle from Amir.

"Then it's mutual," he added, flashing her a playful look.

"Wait, what?" Erin gaped at him, fighting the urge to give him a playful slap. "What are you even saying? Do you even know how to make people happy? And then you tease me? That's hardly fair!"

"Hold on, Erin. Be patient," Amir teased.

"What makes you think I'm impatient, Amir?" she asked, her voice exasperated but her expression gentle.

"That right there," he said with a small smile. "I want to explain; give me a chance."

Erin drew in a deep breath, trying to steady herself. A whirlwind of emotions stirred within her—frustration, love, impatience. She didn't know whether she wanted to throw him down in frustration or wrap him up in a tight hug.

"I don't think I can hold this back any longer…" Amir's voice trailed off, his face suddenly looking pained, as though he was struggling to catch his breath.

"What's stopping you, Amir?" Erin's voice softened, trying to catch his eyes.

"Alright, patience…" Amir began, then rubbed his nose, flustered. "Two years ago, I experienced a heartbreak that left the deepest wound of my life. It's been hard to talk about. That heartbreak became the reason I needed to heal before considering a new relationship. But lately, I've come to realize—I can't heal alone.

"Meeting you—your bold and heartfelt expressions of love—made me feel things I hadn't felt in a long time. Happy, but not completely settled. It felt like I was finally moving forward but also risking being drawn back into something fleeting.

"You've shown me that love is a serious decision, a deep part of my life. And I needed to make sure my feelings for you weren't just a temporary escape or a quick fix for old wounds. But every day, it's becoming clearer—you're different. You're someone I could see standing by my side, someone I could cherish for the rest of my life. And now, Erin, I can honestly say—half of my soul belongs to you."

The rain continued to fall in steady rhythm outside, muffling Amir's voice, but the gravity of his words settled warmly in Erin's heart. She swallowed hard, her throat dry.

"So, with everything you've just said…will you be my boyfriend, Amir?"

Amir's shoulders dropped as he ran a hand down his face. "Wait, are you asking me? I was going to ask you!"

"But you were taking too long! So, are you saying yes?" Erin pressed, her tone playful yet persistent.

He nodded, a resigned smile breaking through. "Yes, I'm saying yes."

Erin cheered, her joy cutting through the cool air. She gently shifted on her knees to face him directly. "Alright then, from now on, you're officially mine. This charming, sometimes frustrating guy belongs to me, got it?"

"And I'm still annoying?"

"Stop. Promise me you'll be loyal, Amir. You won't be looking at anyone else, especially your ex. You're mine to love forever, and that's non-negotiable."

Amir's amused smile softened as he took her hands. "I promise. I'll be loyal and love you completely. And you, Erin, promise me you'll be by my side and love me forever."

"That's easy," she said, her voice unwavering. "I promise."

Amir chuckled, reaching over to pat her head with a warmth that settled in her heart. Somehow, of all the romantic scenarios he had imagined, this one—a simple agreement sealed in a rustic hut amid a downpour in a rice field—felt absolutely perfect. The rain's rhythm softened, as if marking the quiet exclusivity of this moment.

He raised his hand to her cheek, gently brushing it, and Erin tilted her head, her eyes shining. As he caressed her cheek, he couldn't help but imagine waking up to that beautiful face every morning. With no hesitation, he let his fingers trace the curve of her cheek, finally free from any restraint.

Every ounce of Erin's charm captivated him, and in that moment, Amir could find not a single flaw. She was simply perfect.

'I love you, Amir," Erin whispered, her voice barely audible.

I know. I believe you, Amir thought, though the words stayed within him. Then he met her gaze and whispered back, 'I love you too, Erin."

Neither could say who moved first. But as if driven by the overwhelming love in their hearts, they found themselves lost in each other. In one gentle motion, Amir's hands cradled her face, drawing her closer until their lips met in a quiet, tender kiss. They both fell silent, savoring the closeness, feeling each other's breaths warm against the other's skin.

Erin moved forward, deepening their kiss, her touch soft but unrestrained, drawing Amir further into her warmth. The rain fell steadily around them, casting the small hut in a cocoon of tranquility, bearing witness to the love that had just, in the purest of ways, blossomed fully into something beautiful and real.

***