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nWhile waiting for her husband to come home from work, Lisa was busy packing all the clothes and other items for tomorrow's vacation. She really couldn't wait to have a vacation abroad with Oscar. She had never had a surprise vacation like this in her life!

nWhat kind of clothes should she pack? Would her husband take her to a cold and serene place? Or a warm and cheerful beach? She wasn't sure. Lisa grabbed her cell phone from the nightstand and sent a message to her husband.

n'Oscar, by the way are we going to a cold place or the beach?'

nLisa hit the send button. A few seconds later, an incoming message sounded from her cell phone.

n'Pack as needed. Don't forget to bring sunscreen and a hat!'

nFrom this sentence, Lisa guessed that Oscar would take her to a beach or a very hot location. Lisa put all her summer clothes in a suitcase. She didn't forget to also pack her favorite sunscreen, umbrella, and beach hat.

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"Hmm, beach huh? Is Oscar taking me to Hawaii?

" She thought as she packed her stuff.

nThe woman walked back and forth in the room. Asking herself if Oscar couldn't wait to take a vacation as she was. Reaching her third month pregnancy made Lisa's thoughts even more mixed. Sometimes she had cravings, some other times she was anxious about the future. Being pregnant turned out to be a lot more challenging than she ever thought.

nIt was 12 o'clock in the evening but Oscar still hadn't come home. Lisa was worried. What if Oscar didn't come home today and they were forced to cancel their vacation because of a sudden meeting or other office activities?

nLisa sent another message for Oscar.

n'Oscar, why aren't you home yet?'

nThe woman threw her cellphone on the bed. She laid down her sore back and took a deep breath. Lisa couldn't wait to go on vacation and worried that her husband wouldn't come home either.

nMinutes passed, and Oscar still had not replied to her message. The woman was increasingly worried that Oscar would cancel their vacation. While waiting for her husband to come home, Lisa laid on the edge of the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling of her room.

nHer eyes were getting heavy. Not long after that, Lisa fell asleep.

n***

nThe next day, Lisa woke up and turned to her bedside. Her husband's figure wasn't next to her. It looked like the man didn't come home at all. Lisa grabbed her cellphone and checked if her husband had replied to her messages. There were no notifications at all. Oscar hadn't replied to the last message sent last night. The woman was suddenly worried.

nKnock knock knock...

nSomeone knocked on the door of her room. Was that Oscar?

nLisa rushed to open the door and saw a middle-aged woman dressed as a household assistant.

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"Good morning, Miss Lisa, Mr. Oscar told me to wake you up. Breakfast is ready, please come,

" Mrs. Rusminah entered the room and took Lisa's suitcase and belongings that were packed last night.

nLisa was confused, her husband did not reply to her messages last night but Mrs. Rusminah carried all the suitcases and other luggage that she had packed. She thought that their vacation abroad didn't get cancelled.

nLisa went downstairs and stepped into the dining room. On the large table, there was a special breakfast served for her since she was pregnant.

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"Please eat, Miss Lisa, your husband is coming soon!

" Mrs. Rusminah kindly said.

nLisa ate her breakfast heartily. This morning, she was like a hungry elephant. Being pregnant turned out to make her appetite fluctuate lately!

nA few minutes later, the man she had been waiting for finally arrived. He joined Lisa at the table, grabbed a loaf of bread and sipped hot coffee.

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"Oscar! Why did you just come home this morning!? Why didn't you reply to my message last night?!

" Lisa asked, worried.

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"Sorry dear, but I was very busy last night, I didn't even have the time to reply to your message!

"

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"But we're still going on a vacation, right?

"

nOscar only nodded. He took another sip of coffee.

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"Where do you want to take me?

" Lisa asked, she seemed so curious.

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"You will see for yourself later! Now hurry up and finish your breakfast and we are leaving in ten minutes!

"

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"Wow! Please relax, I also just woke up!

"

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"There's no time Lisa, the plane leaves at 10 am.

"

nHearing her husband say that, Lisa quickly chewed her breakfast, leaving nothing on the plate.

"Okay I'm finished!

"

nOscar's black Alphard arrived at the entrance. Dani helped Lisa put the suitcase into the trunk and opened the door for her.

nInside, Lisa was still curious about where her husband would take her on this vacation. Yesterday Oscar said beach, but what beach? Hawaii? Or the Maldives?

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"Oscar, where are you actually taking me?

"

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"Syracuse,

" Oscar replied curtly and dryly.

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"Syracuse?

"

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"You know Italy? Syracuse is the southernmost island in Italy. The beach is very beautiful there. I'm sure you will like it,

"

nLisa didn't know anything about Syracuse. The only beaches she knows were beaches in Bali, Hawaii and the Maldives. She really couldn't wait to see the beach she had never been to!

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"Why did you take me there? Why not Hawaii or the Maldives?

"

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"Hawaii and the Maldives are too ordinary and too crowded, Lisa. For a pregnant woman like you, Syracuse is the right choice! Not too many people know about the beach there!

"

nOscar had a point. Lisa had just heard the name Syracuse today. All she knew about Italy was Milan, Pizza and Pasta.

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"Luckily I didn't bring a winter jacket!

" Lisa said spontaneously.

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"I hope you still have one jacket. Syracuse is quite windy!

" Oscar explained shortly.

n***

nThe next day after they made a long journey from Indonesia to Italy by plane, they arrived at Syracuse. Oscar had booked a luxury hotel near the beach, so Lisa didn't have to walk all the way to the beach. Public transportation in Syracuse was not that great for pregnant women.

nThe couple put all their belongings and changed clothes to go to the beach. It was a happy day for Lisa after she was bullied by her mother-in-law the day before yesterday.

nLisa and Oscar walked to the beach together like a couple. Arriving at the beach, they took off their footwear and felt the warmth and softness of the glittering sands. A gentle breeze blew past her, waving Lisa's black shiny hair that was let loose. The sea water occasionally splashed Lisa's face as she walked along the beach.

nLisa stopped her steps in the middle of the beach and looked at the sea water so clear and blue. As blue as the eyes of her husband who was basking in the hot sun. Lisa had never been this happy. That day was truly the most romantic and memorable date, she thought.

nLisa still remembered when she was dating Aditya and that man never took her on vacation inside the country, let alone abroad like now!

nAll she ever remembered was, she and Aditya promised to get married and buy their own house and make savings as an investment for their future. But the promise turned out to be false. The irresponsible man took Lisa's money away and married another woman.

nLisa suddenly bursted into tears. She did not know why those thoughts from her past returned to her in happy times like this. No, she shouldn't cry. But it got worse when Aditya's figure suddenly appeared in her mind.

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"Lisa, are you okay?

" Oscar watched Lisa who was silent in the middle of the beach.

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"It's okay, I think I have sand in my eyes,

" Lisa wiped her wet eyes with her arm.. Then, her arm was caught by the gentle grip of a man standing behind her.

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