Amir remembered getting ready for bed, yet now he found himself standing before a crowd of strangers, all dressed in formal attire as if attending a wedding. The men wore black suits, the women light blue dresses. He looked down and realized he was also wearing a black suit—one he had no memory of putting on.

He was elevated on a small stage, standing about a meter above the crowd, in a garden adorned with white roses. The scene seemed oddly familiar. Amir turned to look behind him, where a bespectacled priest stood, rigid and unmoving, seemingly unaware of Amir's presence.


Oh… he must be dreaming about getting married.

He'd heard that if you realize you're in a dream, you should never tell anyone there; the reason wasn't clear, but Amir had no desire to test it. So, he clasped his hands together, trying to appear relaxed even though the dream felt eerily real. He could smell the faint scent of wet leaves and roses, and a cold breeze sent shivers down his spine.

Then, from what had been an empty path, a woman in a white dress appeared abruptly, like a jump-scare in a horror movie. It was Erin. Yet, something was wrong. Her mermaid-cut dress, which hugged her figure beautifully, was marred by dark, ink-like stains. Her hair, which was usually straight, was now slightly curly and reddish. And unlike a joyful bride, Erin stared at him with an expression he couldn't decipher. There was no smile, only a piercing gaze that seemed to see straight through him. She clutched her dress with both hands, as if ready to run, and her lips trembled as though holding back tears.


Her silence drew the attention of all the guests, who turned to look at her.

'Erin, what's wrong?" Amir asked himself, though she remained unresponsive.


Instead, Erin abruptly turned and ran, barefoot, away from him.

Erin left him? Erin didn't want to marry him?

The thought crushed him. It felt as though every bone in his body had shattered. His muscles cramped, and he could barely hold himself up. In seconds, his body gave way, and he collapsed, face-first, onto the cold ground.

Then, his phone's ringtone screamed into the silence.

Amir's eyes snapped open. He was back in his dark room, lying facedown on the floor.

'Damn…" he muttered, propping himself up and rubbing his sore eyes. The pain he felt just now had been real—he'd actually fallen out of bed.

But something about the dream lingered. What if Erin suddenly decided to pull away from him? For months, her cheerful presence had brightened his life, filling it with her sweet nature. Could he go back to normal if Erin were to leave him?

Why would she leave, though? Amir was certain she loved him… but then again, nothing was impossible, right?

The insistent ringing of his phone snapped him back. Groaning, he glanced at the screen. It was 2:30 in the morning. A call from Erin.

Without hesitation, he answered.

'Babeeee? Hello, honey! Are you awake?" Erin's voice was bright and bubbly. She sounded way too awake for this hour.

'Did you really have to call this late?" Amir croaked, his voice hoarse. He yawned, rubbing his tired eyes.

'Yes, honey! I had to tell you before you leave for work. It's Saturday, so we're only working a half day. And this afternoon, I want to take you to Bali, so make sure to pack a change of clothes, okay?"

'Wait, WHAT?" Amir's eyes widened.

'OH, WHY ARE YOU SHOUTING? MY EARS HURT!" Erin yelped.

'Bali?" Amir sat up, still in shock.

'Yes! I got an invitation to my bestie's birthday party there. Just pack beach clothes—that's the dress code for the guys. And everything's been taken care of, from the villa to the transportation…"

'No, this is way too sudden! I'm not ready!" he protested.

'Honey, I told you, just bring clothes—nothing complicated!"

'It's not that simple! I don't like spontaneous trips, especially not somewhere far like Bali. I need time to mentally prepare, and I prefer having an itinerary."

'Oh, come on, you're the king of spontaneous plans! You always spring last-minute outings on me."

'Yeah, but not to Bali," Amir muttered. 'Did your dad agree to this?"

'My dad's out of the country with Mom, so it's all good. We're going with Nathan, but he's heading to Ubud to ‘heal' or whatever. So we'll get some alone time!"

Erin definitely didn't understand his discomfort. Going on a whim like this? She'd never understand that his 'sudden" invitations were always planned well in advance, even if he made it look like a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Amir had always planned for everything. Plan A, B, and sometimes even C. But now, with this spontaneous invitation, he felt cornered and completely unprepared. The anxiety gnawed at him.

'Honey? Hello? You're not mad, right?" Erin's voice softened on the other end of the line.

Amir took a deep breath, leaning back against his bed. "It's just… this is all so sudden, honey. I'm really not ready for something like this. I don't like it when there's no plan."

'What kind of preparation do you need?" Erin replied. 'I've thought of everything for you! I even booked a villa with twin beds so you'd feel comfortable."

Wow. Erin had actually thought about that. She knew him well enough to respect his boundaries.

'My bestie is married to a foreigner," Erin explained. "They move between Australia and Switzerland, so they're hardly ever here. I just really want you to meet them. I want you to be part of my world."

When Amir heard that, his heart softened. In relationships, he knew they'd each need to adapt to the other's life, friends, and routines. Her desire to introduce him to her friends made him feel something new—a sense of belonging in her life.

"Are you still mad, honey?" Erin's voice took on a pleading tone. "Do you not want to go? If you're uncomfortable, just tell me. I just don't want you to be upset, my love."

Amir sighed deeply, but finally surrendered. "Alright. I'll come. Are you sure your friend's covering all the costs? I can pitch in. It's only right."

'Yes! Thank you, honey!" Erin squealed. "No need to worry about expenses; my friend's paying because she promised. You just need to bring beach clothes. Okay?"

"Okay, honey," Amir replied, smiling despite himself. 'Now, you go back to sleep."

'Got it! Love you, honey!" she whispered excitedly.

"Love you, too." Amir waited for her sweet giggle before the line disconnected. Just like that, he was deeply, undeniably captivated by Erin.

Amir glanced at his long-sleeved, slightly wrinkled blue shirt. He'd been monitoring an office renovation earlier and hadn't even had time to change. Erin, also still in her work clothes, had sprinted to the airport bathroom to freshen up, leaving Amir with her younger brother, Nathan.

Awkward didn't begin to describe the atmosphere. Nathan, clearly in a bad mood, kept shifting in his seat and frowning. The younger man clutched his backpack tightly, casting sidelong glances at Amir, as if trying to decide whether or not to speak.

Amir noticed Nathan's shoes—white Pumas with a playful Spongebob and Patrick doodle. "Nice shoes, Nat. Where'd you get them?"

Nathan, finally turning to face Amir, shrugged. 'My dad got them for me in the States."

Amir nodded, trying to break the ice. 'I bought a pair for a friend once. They're supposed to be really comfortable."

Nathan looked down, fidgeting with his feet. 'They're fine. Just shoes."

And with that, their conversation stalled. Amir chuckled to himself. How had someone as bubbly as Erin ended up with a brother so reserved?

But then Nathan finally spoke up, his voice soft but firm. "Listen… Erin not going to be with me during this trip, but could you please look out for her? She tends to stay up late, and I'm worried. She forgets sometimes… that she's not as young as she thinks. And with her low blood pressure, it's risky."

Nathan's tone was polite, but there was a hint of warning behind it, as though he was entrusting Amir with his most precious person.

Amir nodded seriously. 'Of course, Nat. I'll look out for her. You don't need to worry."

Nathan let out a long sigh, visibly relaxing. "Look, it might be early to say this, sir, but... you seem like the most decent guy Erin's ever cared for. Please, treat her well. She's wild, sure, but she's a good person. She's blunt, but all she really wants is to be understood."

For a moment, Amir felt as though he was standing on a stage, being given an honorary plaque by this young man. Nathan's words felt like a blessing—a warning and a wish all wrapped in one.

It was too soon to be thinking about forever, but Amir felt an undeniable weight in his chest. Erin meant something to him. And this weekend would only bring them closer.

Amir knew there was one more thing he had to tell Erin before they could even talk about marriage—a truth that filled him with anxiety and the fear of rejection. He just didn't know when he'd find the right time to open up.

But for now, he decided not to think about it. Nathan was carrying his own burdens, and Erin was looking forward to this trip. He wasn't going to let his anxieties weigh down their plans.

'I'll do my best for her, Nat," Amir promised sincerely.

Nathan simply nodded, though his brows remained furrowed.

Two minutes later, Erin returned, now in a pink tank top paired with her black pencil skirt, sunglasses perched on her head, and pulling along a pink suitcase. Both Amir and Nathan couldn't help but feel their backpacks would have sufficed, but she seemed pleased with her choice.

The rest of the afternoon passed without drama, and soon they landed safely at the airport. Amid the hustle of people moving in every direction, they found themselves momentarily delayed as Nathan argued with the driver who had come to pick him up. Apparently, Nathan hadn't received any update from the travel agency about a change in drivers, and neither Amir nor Erin could contact the person in charge to confirm.

As night fell and the airport lights flickered on, it was finally settled—the driver was indeed the right one.

'Finally!" Nathan huffed, slipping his backpack onto his chest for easier carrying. 'Well, I'll take my leave."

'Take care, okay?" Erin said with a warm smile, giving his cheek a gentle rub.

'Acting all sweet just because Amir's here, huh?" Nathan teased with a hint of humor.

'Go on, get out of here!" Erin laughed, shooing him playfully.

'Be safe, Nat." Amir gave him a small wave as the young man got into the waiting white Avanza.

With Nathan on his way, Erin turned to Amir. 'Alright, I'll call our driver, and then we'll head to the villa, okay?"

'Sounds good." Amir took her small suitcase and held it close as she made the call.

Their destination was a villa in Canggu, roughly an hour away, with a beach club nearby for Erin's friend's birthday party. Initially, Amir had his suspicions—wondering if this 'birthday party" was just an excuse for Erin to bring him along. But when a driver arrived and greeted Erin with the name 'Prita," Amir's doubts faded. Her friend really had taken care of everything.

It was past seven by the time they left the airport. This wasn't Amir's first trip to Bali; he'd spent plenty of time in the beach clubs here back in his wilder days, avoiding responsibilities back in Jakarta. Bali had once felt like a second home, a place to escape. The streets, buzzing with motorbikes and the sight of carefree tourists, were as familiar to him as the back of his hand.

Erin, on the other hand, was like a child seeing the world for the first time. She gazed at everything with wide-eyed enthusiasm. Amir understood—she'd always been under her father's close watch. There was a special thrill for her in being here, on her own, with him.

Did Erin really enjoy spending this time with him? Did she genuinely like going on vacation with him? He already knew the answer, but he couldn't help wondering.

He reached for her hand, and she looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. 'Are you happy, beautiful?" he asked softly.

'Happy!" she exclaimed, giving his hand a kiss before pressing it to her cheek. 'Thank you for coming with me."

'My pleasure." Amir held her hand again, planting a gentle kiss on the back of it.

To make sure she'd be rested for the party, Erin promised she'd sleep during the drive. Amir sat perfectly still, letting her lean against his arm, which meant he couldn't even reach his water bottle in his backpack. He didn't mind, though.

Opening his phone's front camera, he took a quick video of her peaceful, sleeping face. In this position, her cheeks puffed up adorably, like a baby's. Amir couldn't resist recording the moment, gently leaning his head against hers and inhaling the fresh scent of her hair. Silently, he mouthed, 'I love you," savoring the quiet intimacy of the moment.

He turned off the camera, shook his head with a soft smile, and closed his eyes to try and catch some sleep himself.

When they finally reached the lobby of The Hime Town Villa, Amir noticed a new side of Erin. She was busy talking to the receptionist, sorting out the details with a level of confidence and poise that he found both surprising and admirable. He stood quietly, holding her suitcase and feeling as though he were seeing a part of her he hadn't fully appreciated until now.

There shouldn't have been any check-in

Unfortunately, the barcode Prita sent had been cut off at the bottom, and somehow, the booking number couldn't be found in the system. It was already eight o'clock at night. With Prita likely busy receiving guests, Erin had to resort to calling Prita's husband on Instagram, leading to arrangements that eventually required the hotel staff to locate a temporary room.

Until now, Amir had always seen Erin as playful and a bit spoiled. Understandably so—her father had always provided her with anything she wanted. But seeing her now, speaking seriously with the hotel staff, navigating her phone with focus, and firmly shaking her head at options she didn't like, Amir began to see a new side of her. She looked like a woman who carried herself with a poise and independence befitting her age.

Then Erin walked over to him. 'Are you tired, honey? Why don't you sit down? What would you like to drink? I'll ask them for you."

Her offer left Amir momentarily stunned. She was actually offering to take care of him. Normally, he treated Erin like a princess, catering to her every need, but this side of her—this caring, independent Erin—set his heart racing. Erin in 'travel mode" was somehow more mature…and, dare he say, sexy.

'Hey! What are you daydreaming about?" Erin snapped her fingers in front of his face, breaking him out of his thoughts. Just then, a staff member approached to let them know their room was ready.

'Let's head up, honey." Erin said, tugging him along.

From the lobby, they were escorted in a golf-cart-style vehicle, even though their villa was only a two-minute ride away. Passing villas on either side, hidden behind high walls and intricately carved Balinese doors, they finally arrived at Villa Number Eight.

Amir walked behind Erin, letting her lead. She paused, confused, at a high black gate in front of their villa. Inside the main entrance, it seemed there were several smaller villas, and theirs was specifically 8B. Amir could see what made her hesitate; the villa's front looked surprisingly plain. It had a single door and a small window—nothing at all like the photos Prita had shown her.

'If this doesn't look like the pictures inside, I'll be furious," Erin muttered with a pout. Before Amir could finish admiring her new attitude, she surprised him again by pulling the heavy iron gate open with determination, despite the loud creak of metal.

Shaking his head, Amir followed her to their villa door.

The villa's first impression was indeed similar to a simple boarding house. The moment they entered, they were greeted by a compact kitchen complete with an induction stove, water dispenser, fridge, and microwave.

'Look at this! Did she think we were staying here for a month?" Erin complained, glancing at the plain glass plates lined up in the cupboard.

'At least we have free drinking water," Amir said, gesturing to the full water dispenser.

Still pouting, Erin crossed her arms and walked down the narrow hallway. She felt around for a light switch, and when she finally flicked on the lights, her mouth dropped open in surprise.

The space wasn't large, but it was well-designed. In front of them stood a three-part wooden wardrobe, a small desk with a chair, and two single beds separated by a dressing table. Beyond a glass door, they could see a small garden and a private swimming pool.

'It's nice," Amir commented, settling onto the right bed as he looked out at the blue pool glistening under dim garden lights.

'Yes, it is! How can it look so plain from the outside?" Erin said, her disappointment melting as she ran around the room, taking it all in. She soon noticed a frosted glass door on the side and opened it, discovering that the bathroom was outside.

'Oh my, I'm scared…" she said, eyeing the vines covering the shower wall.

'Scared of ghosts?" Amir teased.

'Scared of being spied on by you."

He rolled his eyes. 'In your dreams."

'What? Mad that I caught onto your plan first?" She laughed, grabbing his hand and leading him over to the sink. 'Come on, honey, listen up. We don't have much time. We need to get ready in an hour; Prita's driver will be back to pick us up. Got it?"

'Got it. You go first. I only need ten minutes."

'Perfect!"

Erin was all business now, hurrying to get ready. Meanwhile, Amir half-reclined on his bed, texting Nathan to let him know they'd arrived safely and updating his mother.

Her response came almost instantly: 'Don't drink, son. Someone has to stay sober."

His mother had endured all the rebellious antics of his teenage years with unending patience, though his father wasn't quite the same. If they did speak, it was only when they shared a common topic. His father was now at an age where he barely kept tabs on him, not even minding if he came home or not.

'Dear Amir, do my clothes look okay?" Erin's voice floated from the direction of the bathroom.

Amir glanced up, and—

Her body suddenly sat upright on the bed. Amir's eyes widened in disbelief; this was indeed Erin. But this version of Erin was the one he had seen on Instagram, the idol of men in the office.

Her tall frame and long legs were accentuated by a black, thigh-length mini dress adorned with sequins. The sequins made her fair skin glow even brighter. A choker necklace, matching the color of her dress, elegantly adorned her slender neck. She hadn't even put on makeup yet, but her beauty was undeniably captivating!

Amir swallowed hard. How could he have a woman this beautiful?

'Honey, blink! I'm embarrassed to be stared at like that! Do you like me? I'm beautiful, right?" Erin twirled playfully. Even without shoes, she looked incredibly attractive; wearing black heels, she would surely resemble a supermodel.

'Beautiful. But didn't you say the theme was beachwear? Is this beachwear?" Amir asked.

'That's the theme for guys, honey. For girls, we have to wear party clothes. So this is suitable, right? I can just wear this, right?"

'Yes, of course. You're the one wearing it."

'Aren't you afraid that other guys will look at me? That they'll flirt with me?"

'Why would I be afraid? Your heart belongs to me." Erin's eyes widened in surprise. Amir was taken aback himself; he hadn't meant to let that slip.

'My dear, you're so sweet!" Erin approached him, cupping his face in her hands. 'You still love me, right?"

If Amir could count, that was probably Erin's thousandth question. 'Gosh…"

'Just answer me!"

'I'm tired of answering, honey…"

'So, you're tired of me? Are you tired of loving me?"

'Honey, you're beautiful," Amir said, wrapping his arms around her waist, which felt sharp from the sequins. 'I love you. Why do I have to keep answering?"

'Because I want you to love me every day and not lessen at all." Erin smiled at him.

'Well…"

'Hurry up and get ready, honey!" Erin quickly moved to the front of the dressing table and started applying skincare to her face.

Amir's preparation didn't take long. In the bathroom mirror, he surveyed his reflection in a blue beach shirt featuring a floral and coconut tree motif, paired with knee-length cream chinos. These pants struck a perfect balance between semi-formal and respectful.

Amir never felt insecure about his appearance; he believed his self-worth went beyond looks. But when he stepped out of the bathroom and saw Erin in her long earrings, he felt a pang of doubt. Maybe he shouldn't have attended the party after all. With Erin in her sexy dress and natural makeup, she looked like a shining star, while Amir worried they would appear strikingly different.

How could a woman this beautiful exist?

On her seven-inch pointed heels, Erin walked gracefully, grabbing her mini clutch. She spritzed Miss Dior perfume, a fresh floral scent that accentuated her femininity, on her neck and wrists. Noticing Amir's gaze, she turned to him.

'Are you ready, honey? Do you want me to do your makeup too?" Erin joked.

'If your makeup can make me worthy of walking beside you, then I'll gladly accept."

'What's that supposed to mean?" Erin approached him, their heights now nearly equal. 'I'll do a little styling, honey." She combed her fingers through Amir's hair, tidying it up, then adjusted his shirt. After considering for a moment, she unbuttoned the top button, then another.

'Uh, this is sexy."

'Are you sure you want to ask me out? Aren't you afraid I'll be mistaken for your father's bodyguard or something?"

'What's wrong with you, honey? You're so handsome! Let's go."

'Are you really serious? I wouldn't mind waiting at the villa."

'No! I want to be with you! Come on!" Erin tugged at Amir's hand, urging him to move.

'Rin, are you sure you're not embarrassed to bring me?"

'Oh, honey! Why should I be embarrassed?"

Erin pulled Amir toward the glass door leading to the swimming pool, where their reflections stared back at them. 'Look! You're so handsome," she exclaimed, pinching his cheek. 'You're so sexy." She then rubbed his broad shoulders. 'And most importantly, you are mine!"

With that, Erin wrapped her arms around Amir, finally making him grin.

'Seriously?" Amir asked, looking at her.

'Seriously, honey!"

'Kiss me first, then."

'Eh?" Erin gasped. 'You always have surprises! How can I not love you more?" She pulled Amir's face to hers and kissed him, sending waves of invisible love that reignited Amir's confidence.

And Erin had chosen him; he had already won.

***