Chapter 3: Stranger, My Savior

"K-KACHINA?"

My eyes narrowed down as we settled offshore. Deciphering the facial features of the stranger, I wanted to make sure it was Kachina who rescued me.

For if it indeed was her, she had come to not disappoint me. Perhaps, lying to me that she could not make it was all along part of plans. What she really meant was to surprise me, and she did.

The moonlight glowed overhead while I collapsed on the sand, catching my breath. I smiled despite the attempt of wanting to become a shipwreck myself.

I oathed to ridicule the stars, laugh at them till I shed no tears because they were wrong to have made fun of my misery.

Right in the middle of the ocean, a good soul redeemed me. Someone lifted me up from my burdens. Someone still wanted me to live.

The woman also sunk beside me. I stared at her while she gasped for air. Water dripped down her short hair, which created a gleam of light.

"Kachina..." I whispered, then fell on her left shoulder. Wrapping my arms around her and closing my eyes, I sniffed every bit of her. "You... saved me. You came..."

I was emotional. The torn part of my heart was sown back to its original piece. Having to envelop her in my embrace was priceless. No amount of heartache could break my love for her.

"Kach..." I muttered, pressing my chest against her. "This... is how I would die for you. I like you. I really do..."

Just how fast events seemed to turn, I caught off guarded of the fist that pulverized my jaw.

"What the fuck are you fucking telling me, asshole?!" she roared.

"Ugh!"

I splashed back into the water by the stranger's strong arms. My heart sank deep. The powerful waves slapped my face until I awoke.

The woman... She was not who I expected it to be. Kachina was gentler and more reserved whilst her... a beast!

"Argh!" I groaned.

The taste of iron lingered in my tongue as I bit my lower lip.

"What is the matter with you?!" I shouted, and the woman knocked the other side of my face. "Argh!"

I shut my eyes in pain and touched the part where it ached.

"There you go, unhappy boy!" she yelled. "Tell me how it feels to have said hello to my fist, hmm? Serves you right for touching me without my consent!"

"Who the hell are you?!"

I touched my bruised lip and glared at the despicable woman. Her punch jarred my brain and seemed like my fantasies faded away and I stirred back to reality.

"You don't have to know me!"

"Oh, I did not consent to you pounding me this hard!" I complained.

"Oh, shut up! Just thank me!"

"Thank you for what?!" I stood up and pointed at my injured self. "For messing up with my face?"

"To hell with that ugly face!"

"What?!"

I was not done yet when she grabbed my wrist then pulled me near the resort. Her hand felt like a candle but her strength was masculine.

"Hold on! Hey! Where are you taking me to? Kidnapper!" I shouted, drawing back my hands.

"You're too loud!" she growled.

"Help! Someone crazy here is trying to abduct me!" I stretched my arm and exerted a great force.

"Argh!" she jolted.

"Oh, shit!"

Her body landed against my chest and we both splashed on the water. Then, I accidentally squeezed her bosom.

"Pervert!" She pounded my chest until she enjoyed it and punched it multiple times. "Maniac! How dare you touch me!"

I shielded myself with my arms. "No! Argh! I didn't mean to, it was an accident!"

"Accident?!" Her eyes enlarged. "Should I totally drown you, huh?!"

I shook my head. "But you had my wrist! It was not my fault!"

"Then, whose fault is it?!" she exclaimed.

This was not going any further. I pushed her body to the side. Just when I was about to stand up, another crash of waves shoved my knee and I grabbed hold of her arm.

Holyshit.

I bumped on the sand while her chest pressed against me. No way. Coldwater dripped on my face and I thought it was the rain. It was her wet hair falling on my cheeks.

"I..."

This strange feeling, the feeling that the stranger was making me feel... was electrifying. Her eyes leveled my gaze. The wind blew strands of her hair, brushing against my face. And for a moment, I was lost for words.

It was only then that I realized that I was cupping her cheeks. She penetrated my soul like she was dominating me. But I fought and dominated her myself.

My body rose from the water, and slowly, I laid her on the sand. Her soft palm was on my shoulder while I pressed my arm on the ground. Now, I was on top of her.

"We..." I paused. "We have the same eyes."

As I scrutinized her face, the moonlight reflected from her glassy eyes. I slicked back her damp hair. She was a delicate portrait that I pictured in my mind.

"Those eyes..." I murmured. "Eyes that beg, yearn, and suffer." It was a reflection of mine. "Now, it makes me think... When will it tear with joy? Will we ever find happiness?"

I smiled.

Under the moonlight in the middle of the island... Underneath me was the woman who changed the course of my life. She was the compass that redirected me.

We laid there with white sands on our skin, our bodies being rocked by the waves and... the sea air that cooled the night. It was the picture I never imagined.

A strange joy flowed through my system. Her eyes seemed to speak to me, luring me into a paradise.

Even when half of her face was shadowed by my body, I still remained in this kind of position where I felt a momentary peace.

It was the kind of peace that I had not experienced in my whole life. Oh, if this was all a fantasy, instead, I would run away with the stranger off the real world.

The lady had not yet moved, but her shoulders were stiff. As I brought my head closer to her face, my eyes went to her pink lips. She pushed my chest, but I secured her underneath.

I could hear her breathing as I bent lower. "Oh, let's leave this island," I whispered. "Take me out of this cruel place. I'm scared. I'm hurting."

The heaviness in my heart took effect on me. I rested my forehead on her chin and closed my eyes.

I wanted her to lift me like a bride at a beach wedding. In a brief moment, I wanted to be carried, be a burden to someone. Just for once.

My head further explored her neck as it reached the underside of her ear.

"Hmm... You smell so good." Her scent was lavender, so I sniffed her more. Then, I whispered, "What's the brand of your... cologne?"

"Hello, I'm cologne! Get off!" she screamed. "You are such an elephant!"

"Please, stay in this position."

"And as for you, you smell like an odor. Your mouth reeks of alcohol!"

"But I'm not drunk!" Or was I?

I leaned harder on her shoulder. I couldn't control myself. I wrapped my arms around her waist and whispered several times in his ear.

"Hik!" I hiccuped. "It's cold, Neko. Make me hot..."

"What a perve! You're such an animal!"

And this time, she was successful at pushing me away. She then stood up but knelt down again. My eyes widened when she grabbed my collar, stretching her right arm backward, attempting to land another blow. But it was blocked by my palm.

"Hey! That's so mean! Stop it, please..." I begged. She glared at me for being failing.

"I guess you don't want my fist to inculcate the same lesson because you already learned it!"

I shook my head. "Wrong. I'm just... sick of getting hurt. So I'll just hurt myself..."

In the spur of the moment, raging waves slapped my body and I stumbled. But something rare happened. I laughed like a kid in a magic show while laying there.

"Wahahahaha!" I held my stomach and forced myself to get up.

But the strong waves attacked me again. I tripped for the second time. "Haha! Hit me more!"

Just the fun of falling on the sand as I laid and stood. I took off my clothes. The young lady's murmurings had captured my interest.

So I threw the wet shirt directly at her.

"Argh! What the fuck are you doing?!" It covered her whole face.

I giggled more when she tried to remove it like she was taking off a paper bag on her head. When the wet shirt left her face, she threw it in the water.

"I got you!" I snatched her feet underwater when I dived.

"H-hey! What the heck?! Pervert!" she squealed, struggling not to tumble but eventually toppled into the water.

Her weight was like massive boulders causing big waves to splash on my face.

"Hahahaha!" I laughed, pointing at her while still sitting. "You're scared? You're scared of water? How could you be so scared when you swam right to me? Are you a cat?!"

She sat there glaring like a sea creature. We were both wet. We're soaking wet like we bathed in the rain.

The moon laughed with me as if its light glowed my teeth. I couldn’t explain how I felt because all I knew was that I was enjoying her company.