The twenty-fourth day on Samosir presented a view of Lake Toba that was so clear and calm in the morning. The thin fog that had enveloped the lake last night was gone, replaced by the bright blue sky of North Sumatra and the reflection of sunlight on the vast, endless lake surface. The air felt fresh and slightly cool, perfect for starting the day.
After a delicious Mie Gomak breakfast (which made Caroline ask if it was the Batak version of spaghetti) and a strong Sidikalang coffee (Jim immediately noted its flavor profile to compare with the Gayo coffee he had tried), Nisa felt a rare desire: a little alone time with Reza.
For the past three weeks of this journey, despite being very enjoyable and full of laughter with The Corrs, their private moments as a couple were almost non-existent. There was always a schedule, always an entourage, always the Presidential Guards (though keeping their distance), and of course, always Alex ready with his camera or drone.
"Dear," Nisa whispered to Reza as they were relaxing briefly on the room balcony facing the lake, while the rest of The Corrs were engrossed in trying to play Batak chess with Alex (who was mostly losing because Caroline kept distracting him). "I saw in the resort brochure they have kayak facilities. How about we try it for a bit? Just the two of us?"
Reza turned, a smile immediately spreading across his face. He knew exactly what his wife wanted. A quiet moment, far from the crowd, just the two of them in the middle of the beautiful Lake Toba. A luxury they deeply missed. "That's a great idea, Honey," he replied softly, holding Nisa's hand. "It's been so long since we did something a little... romantic like this."
They quietly (or at least tried to be discreet) asked permission from the security team and prepared two brightly colored single kayaks. Nisa ensured her phone was on silent mode and didn't bring any work files. Reza left all his business affairs in the room. This was their time.
Paddling a kayak in the calm waters of Lake Toba turned out to be easier than imagined. The water was clear, the wind was gentle. They paddled slowly away from the resort shore, heading towards a quieter part of the lake, accompanied only by the sound of water splashing from the paddles and occasional birdsong from the trees along the lake's edge. The view of the towering green Toba caldera walls in the distance looked so magnificent.
"It's so beautiful, Dear," Nisa said softly, stopping her paddling for a moment, letting her kayak float calmly. She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of the morning sun and the peace that enveloped them.
"It is very beautiful," Reza replied, also stopping his paddling near Nisa. He wasn't looking at the lake view, but at Nisa's face, which looked so peaceful and happy, free from the furrowed brow of thinking about the country. "But not as beautiful as you when you smile so freely."