Secret Doors

Portia’s P. O. V:

After eating we decided to walk around outside the Green House. The scenery was indeed beautiful especially the flower fields. We reached the carnations part of the field every color was aesthetically arranged from the lightest color to the darkest color. Levi took some photos of me around the carnation field. “Let’s go to the sunflower field. I have a surprise for you behind that field.” Levi invited me to go to the sunflower field.

We walked hand in hand to the field of sunflowers. There are parts where gigantic sunflowers are planted and there are some parts with dwarf sunflowers too. It’s beautiful and classic in the eye. Levi then picks one dwarf sunflower and put it on my ear. “Smile Sunshine.” He said then quickly snap a photo of me including my shocked face before I even put up a smile. “You look gorgeous, shock face included.” Levi compliments me that made me blush. “I’m pretty sure that I look like a mess in that photo.” I disagree with him when he said that my stolen shot is beautiful.

“E? But I do think it’s beautiful.” He said and I smiled at his statement. “Thank you for making me feel beautiful Levi.” I thanked him shyly. He takes another shot. “This is demure.” He complimented and I looked at him. “Hey! You took another stolen shot.” I tried stopping him but he just gave a deadly glare. “Just trust me.” He stubbornly said to me then take my hand. “Let’s go to the next field,” Levi said and walks with me.

A field of tulips welcomes us it’s so gorgeous that I wanted to perform some ballet dance in the middle. “Shall we go in the middle?” I excitedly ask Levi. “Sure, we are going to watch the tulips bloom by the way.” He said and my eyes widen at his statement. “Really?” I jumped into excitement and kiss him on the cheeks. “H-hey don’t get so excited the tulips might get shy.” He said and looks away. Is he getting shy too?

We waited for a few more minutes and slowly one by one the tulips are opening their buds it looks so elegant and the scent lingers on my nose. How extravagant. Levi wrapped his arms around me and we watch the tulips bloom like how our relationship started too. He kissed the top of my head and speaks. “I wanted the nature speaks out what I wanted to tell you that’s why I brought you here.” He stated that startled me.

“Levi let’s bloom together like those tulips” I speak while intertwining our hands. I can feel him nodding at the top of my head. We stayed for a little while until the rain joins the sun. I panicked a little but Levi held me in his arms and didn’t mind the rain. “Let’s enjoy the blessing of the rain.” He said and didn’t bother to move. “Well, then can I invite you for a dance?” I invited him to dance with me. He might be a little hesitant at first but he follows me. We dance even if it feels awkward as it kinda feels muddy on our feet.

We just laughed off the awkwardness and we continue to dance. We accidentally tripped on the slippery ground that held us into an awkward situation. We laughed and he got playful by putting mud on my face. I smacked his chest as I feel betrayed and ended up putting mud on his face too. We played chasing each other and it gets a little harder as we are trying to avoid the flowers.

Laughter filled our memories as we run back to the Green House. We shared a kiss on the front porch step while the rain is pouring. Cleaning our muddy faces and body. “You smelled like soil.” He said smiling while our lips are still connected. “Well, you stink too,” I said laughing. He gave me a deadly glare and I giggled at his reaction.

“Then let’s get cleaned before we both smell like fertilizer.” He said then carry me bridal style. “Hey.” I tried to stop him but still carries me. There is a bathroom with a tub in the down part of the tree house. The walls are clear, he closes the curtains so nobody will see us. “Let’s clean you first woman.” He said then clean my feet. “Hey! I can do this alone. You are making me shy.” I told him but he continues.

“But I can’t stand the dirt anymore.” He said rolling his eyes. In almost three days of staying with him, I knew how clean freak he is when it comes to everything so I just let him share a bath with me. Why would I complain after all we had already seen each other naked. We took a bath and got out feeling free from dirt. We got up at the tree house and he prepares some tea for us.

“Let’s cuddle.” He said after I took the last sip of my tea and carries me to the bed. He opens a cassette tape and we listen to some classical music. I leaned into his chest as he rest beside me. “Remember when I told you I’m going to share something with you?” He asked me and I nodded. “Yes, what is it?” I gave him the cue to continue. “About this place.” He started.

“Three years ago this place was already dead and for sale. My secretary told me that the one who bought this will destroy this place and turn this whole place a mall or a marketplace.” He continues and it makes me shocked because it doesn’t look like this place came from a tragic story. “Then how does this place stay in its own glory?” I asked him very interested in the story.

“I- I bought this place triple the price. I just can’t really lose this place.” He continues which makes my eyes widen. Surely this place costs very expensive and for him to triple the price, maybe this place holds on too much of a memory.

“This is the only place where I can still see memories of mom. And this is the only place I have traces of my father.” He said and I can feel the pain crawling to me. “I never saw dad. I didn’t even have a picture of him, even an old piece of cloth from him. Even a piece of single evidence to tell that I am his son.” He continues I can feel how hard it may cause him so I hugged him.

“But mom, she will always bring me here. Told me that their story started here. From the first Hello to the last vow it was made here at that gazebo. She always waits there even she’s weak on her knees, she will always hold up to my father’s promise.” He told me that makes me cry. Her mother must have been suffering a lot.

“This Green House? She will always save up to rent a boat just so we can see this from outside because this was locked before. She will always tell me that father lives here with his sister. One day mom told me before she left that, father leaves for work but he never returns with his group. No one can ever tell her what happened to him. Father’s sister ended up marrying a guy beating her up everyday and mom couldn’t just do anything.” Levi continued the story and I feel so sad for his aunt.

“Mom told me before she left that my aunt died as a battered wife and nobody stands for her. Mom said if only was father is here. She knew he can make things better. She told me not to be a coward like her. She told me to do something about life because watching life as it falls into pieces is like being dead alone.” He continues more.

“That’s why when I heard about the news I run research about the place and to my surprise my uncle told me that this place really belongs to father’s family but since my aunt doesn’t have enough money to pay for her debts to her husband she gave the rightful of this land to her husband. I did everything to fight for the rights of this place as I remember how mom really loves this place especially when someone proposes here. She will always remember father.” Levi still continues and I listen to him. Collecting the words I wanted to say.

“I promised mom that I will bring the girl I like here. Just like father when I finally get the ownership of this place.” He said and looks at me. “I told to her grave that I will rename this place next to the woman I like. Did you know Portia that this place does not have a name until I found the person I like?” He asked me and I just look at his orbs blankly. I didn’t even know what he was trying to tell.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“This place doesn’t have a name until I found you.” Levi said that left in a blank state. Is he going to name this place after me? Levi then pulled out a necklace with a slim bar-like pendant and on it a word is engraved ‘Moon Garden’ and moon-shaped sapphire blue is at the end of it. “This place belongs to us. Especially you.” He said and put the necklace on me. I touched the pendant still processing what’s happening right now. “Since your name’s meaning is the moon I have decided to name this Garden, Moon,” Levi explains so I face him.

“Levi this is too much. I don’t even deserve a place in your heart or even just a glimpse of your world will never fit mine.” I told him as I feel overwhelmed. His eyes look dead but his actions seem shocked. He held me into his arms. “Don’t freak out.” He whispered. “I just wanted to tell you that finally someone means to me and someone makes me talkative and feel mixed emotions. And it’s you.” He whispered again.

“Don’t be a wild boar. Lady I just want to share the life with you.” He confessed to me and it makes me cry. Someone finally wants to share a life with me. And it doesn’t mention mom. Someone already wants me in his life not just because of mom. I embraced him and cried so much. “Shh! Don’t cry now. Why are you even crying? I told you, You look like Rodolf when you cry.” He said and caressed my back.

“I’m crying because you are letting me in as who I am not because you owe something to mom,” I told him honestly. “Of course, I don’t even know your mom. Tsk! Such a kiddie attitude.” He said and his brows frowned at me. “But I really owe her something.” He suddenly said that made me shocked. Did he know mom?

“And it’s you. Brat.” He continued and flicked my forehead. “What were you thinking? To give me that look? You look like you met a haunting ghost.” He said and I was about to talk but he leaned in for a passionate kiss.