【Novel】To be continued～Chapter 7 — If I Were to Call This Restlessness Love～

The following Tuesday.

Today was my last Pilates lesson with Coach Theo.

Just thinking about it made something stir quietly in my chest.

I had my usual breakfast—toast, a boiled egg, and fruit.

“So this is my last day at this villa…”

As I gazed at the blue of the empty pool, the events of the past few days surfaced and disappeared in my mind, like sunlight shimmering beneath the water.

Today’s lesson was at ten.

I had the gift for Theo with me.

And in my little travel notebook was the note I had written in Indonesian the night before.

I checked my bag one last time, zipped it up, and headed for the studio.

“Good morning!”

An Australian couple, probably in their seventies, were sitting on the sofa.

It seemed they were taking the same class. We exchanged a brief greeting.

I stepped inside the studio and waited for the coach.

Click.

“Good morning!”

He appeared as effortlessly as ever.

After he walked past me, a soft, androgynous, almost exotic scent lingered in the air.

As always, he began by checking our physical condition and confirming our names.

“Rio-san!”

“Y-yes!”

Wait… what?

He had certainly started calling me by my real name yesterday, but…

“Rio-san”?

I was happy.

But I couldn't hide how flustered I was.

My mind was already in a panic when the lesson began.

The Australian couple moved slowly, using support equipment. The husband seemed to be doing the exercises partly as rehabilitation.

There was one reformer between the couple and me.

Theo sat down in the space between us.

“Good.”

In a quiet voice, he encouraged them again and again as he watched their movements.

A calm, gentle atmosphere seemed to settle over the entire studio.

Theo wasn't really looking my way.

Of course not.

The couple needed his help.

I knew that.

I really did.

And yet, I felt a little lonely.

I tried my best to concentrate, but somehow I kept glancing at the clock.

Half the lesson had already passed.

And then—

Theo's cool hands gently rested on both of my shoulders.

A tiny current ran through the center of my body.

“Inhale through your nose, and exhale deeply.”

And just like that, the end of the lesson arrived.

Everyone began gathering their belongings.

The Australian couple headed toward the door first.

The husband smiled and gestured for me to go ahead.

I quickly shook my head.

“No, please.”

I gestured toward the door, letting them go first.

They left the studio.

The door closed behind them.

And before I realized it, only Theo and I remained inside.

My heart was suddenly much too loud.

If I'm ever going to do it, it has to be now.

Gathering every bit of courage I had, I reached into my bag and took out a small package.

I handed it to him.

A protein bar and a bar of soap.

The soap was one of my favorites.

“Thank you!! Is this soap for the face?”

I looked from one side of his face to the other and pointed at his skin.

“This! This!”

I pointed at the little spots where he seemed to have a few pimples.

Theo broke into a huge, boyish grin.

He said he didn't even know why they were there.

I explained that I wanted him to use the soap to wash his face.

“The almonds were delicious! Thank you so much.”

Thank goodness.

So he really did eat them.

I was glad I'd chosen the almonds.

Thinking back, they had tasted pretty good when I'd tried them at the supermarket.

Knowing that he had actually eaten them made me strangely happy.

“Today is my last day of lessons.
I'm moving to Seminyak tomorrow.
If you have some time, would you like to have lunch?”

“Today!?!?”

Theo looked genuinely surprised.

Well, of course he did.

I had suddenly invited him for lunch that very day.

If I were in his position, I'd be surprised too.

So I quickly added,

“If lunch is difficult, I'm also free for dinner.”

“Of course!”

What?!

Of course?

Did he really just say of course?

My English suddenly disappeared.

My mind couldn't keep up with what was happening.

Then I remembered.

I searched through my bag and opened the page where I'd tucked my pen.

There it was:

Hari ini aku yang traktir ya, Theo!

And then—

we both burst out laughing.

Oh, no.

What on earth had I written?

“Theo, I'm treating you today!”

I'd accidentally opened the very page I'd written the night before.

And just like that—

we decided to have dinner instead.

I was… very happy.

But was I actually going to be okay?

I was about to exchange contact information with him when I suddenly realized—

I'd left my phone at the villa.

“I forgot my phone!”

“Phone?”

He didn't understand.

How on earth was I supposed to explain smartphone?

One panic piled on top of another.

I resorted to gestures.

Theo laughed, then pointed at the note and said,

“Theo, hari ini aku yang traktir ya!”

Right beneath those words, he wrote down his contact information.

“Actually, I came here in March too.”

“Really?”

“But another teacher's class.”

“Ah!”

My feelings hadn't even caught up with what was happening.

Somehow, the space between us had quietly changed.

It was no longer just a Pilates lesson.

It was something that made my heart race.

Theo smiled and told me to contact the studio later so we could decide the details for that evening.

I waved goodbye and left the studio.

Outside, the sunlight was intense.

I got on my bicycle and headed back to the villa, but I still couldn't quite face reality.

It was so hot I felt like I was melting.

And then I remembered—

I'd forgotten to buy lunch.

So I turned around and rode back the way I'd come.

Just how flustered was I?

At my usual little warung, I chose my favorite side dishes from the display case.

And, of course, I added my beloved sambal matah to go with the nasi campur.

I placed the paper box in my bicycle basket and finally made my way back to the villa.

I took off my sun-protective hoodie and sent a message on WhatsApp.

Whew… I ate too much.

I wasn't sure whether it was because I'd chosen the wrong dishes, or simply because of the unfamiliar heat day after day, but for some reason, my stomach was upset that day.

Hmm…

My stomach was full.

And so was my heart.

There was still no reply to my message.

I had my usual spa appointment later that afternoon.

I sent another message.

I'll message you again after the spa.

Then I headed out.

As always, the two therapists welcomed me with warm smiles.

I let myself relax completely, surrendering both body and mind to their care.

So this is my last day at this spa, too…

After our usual girls' talk, we said our goodbyes.

“See you again!”

I returned to the villa.

Still no message.

Maybe he didn't get it?

No.

Or was “Of course!” just something I'd imagined?

So… should I just have nasi campur for dinner again?

I knew he was probably still working.

I knew that.

And yet, I kept checking my phone.

Then I suddenly remembered.

Oh, no.

Today was my last day in Sanur.

I had to return the bicycle.

I hurried to the little laundry shop.

Every time I passed through the narrow street where the shop was located, the people there had gradually become familiar faces.

We had gotten into the habit of waving at each other.

Here in Bali, it wasn't unusual to find a laundry shop sharing the same space with a bicycle rental shop.

“Suksama.”

“Thank you.”

I smiled as I said goodbye.

I walked back to the villa.

And then—

a message from Theo was waiting for me.

Thank goodness.

Relief washed over me.

But somehow, my stomach and my heart were both still completely full.

There was still plenty of time.

So, as part of my usual routine, I changed into my swimsuit and decided to get into the pool.

Under a sky that was beginning to grow dim, I slipped into the water alone.

Even though the heat had already worn me out, the cool water felt wonderfully refreshing against my skin.

Then, as if appearing from nowhere, one of the regular guests showed up.

“No, no. The pool is very chemical today.”

She spoke fluent English and kindly motioned for me to get out.

“Thank you!”

I had thought the water looked a little cloudy.

I quickly climbed out, rinsed myself off in the shower, and warmed up.

After hanging my swimsuit out to dry, I glanced at my phone beside the bed.

There it was.

A message from Theo.

He had sent me a suggestion for a restaurant.

Yes.

The atmosphere looked nice.

No problem.

And yet, I couldn't settle down.

I put my phone down and walked back down the villa's stairs.

The damp evening air brushed against my skin as I walked, trying to calm myself.

I walked around the pool once.

Then again.

And again.

After a while, I lost count.

I wanted to work up an appetite, but I wasn't hungry at all.

It was only my chest that felt tight.

Back in the cool room, I turned on my tablet.

Anri's piano music began to play.

Almost absentmindedly, I opened a new tab.

Then, without really thinking about it, I searched his name.

The studio's website appeared first.

Then I found what seemed to be his personal profile.

So, he had graduated from university.

That was about all I learned.

I closed the screen.

It was almost time.

The restaurant was within walking distance.

It was still a little early, but I decided to leave.

I had come on this trip alone, expecting not to meet anyone.

And yet, I slipped into the only long dress I'd brought with me—a single emerald-green dress.

I fixed my hair.

Then I stepped outside.

I made my way through the narrow streets and onto the main road.

Sanur at night was just as lively as ever.

The warm glow of restaurant lights.

Motorbikes coming and going.

A breeze carrying the scent of the sea.

The anxiety that had filled me only moments before slowly began to loosen its grip.

With a small flutter of excitement in my chest, I walked down the orange-lit street.

With every step, my pace became a little lighter.

The restaurant was somewhere ahead.

The familiar scenery of Sanur looked the same as always.

And yet, tonight, it somehow felt like a completely different place.

Rio quietly drew in a breath.

The night was about to begin.

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