His Island Girl

Chapter Four

Dave has not been his real self ever since his return from the trip. He knew within himself that something has changed in him.

That night, he could not fall asleep. Just a short encounter in the woods with a spectacular display of art in form of a damsel kept replaying in his mind. He couldn't get that beautiful face off his mind. Those eyes, those lips, that angelic voice. He would do anything to relive the moment again. He would give anything to hear that voice just one more time.

The sweet melody of her voice which sounded just two words of 'I'm sorry' never left his brain for a second.

In all honesty, he knew he was going crazy but too sad to accept the fact that the source of his craziness was mysterious, coming from a mysterious angel he had met briefly in the woods of a small and not so popular island.

The worst of it all is that he didn't even get her name. He didn't know where she lived and was not sure if he would ever get to see her again.

His abated concentration in work, conversations or meetings began to be obvious to people around him. His mind was mostly on the mysterious girl and the little encounter in the woods back on the island.

As days went by, he found himself declining in his personality. He was yearning so badly to see her again, that mysterious girl that had effortlessly succeeded in trapping him in her charms. He was yearning for her, to hear her voice.

Never in his lifetime had he believed in fairytale or that something like this would ever happen to him. Now he sees himself a victim of what he didn't believe in. Once when he was a teenager, he had come across a saying that If you can't get someone off your mind, it only means that you are also there on that person's mind. He had shoved it off as a teenager because he thought it was a lame thing to believe in. But only recently, as hard as he tried not to believe in that, he found himself believing in it, even more especially when he remembered how they both stared into each other's eyes for long and how she reacted when his hand touched her face.

He thought that perhaps he was being naive and sentimental due to the fact that he has never felt such feeling before. Not even with Lisa. The more he tried to get her off his vmind, the more he yearned for her.

"Dude". He was nudged out of his strange new delusion.

"Dude are you okay? You know I've been observing you for days now. You always seem to be lost in thoughts" Barry stated.

Dave had quite rightly seen him entered the office and sat down. They were having a conversation and immediately he brought up the topic of the new island project, Dave's mind drifted away.

He sighed and rubbed his temple with two fingers before rubbing his palms together. Barry was still having that inquiring look plastered on his face.

"You're right bro, something is really wrong with me" he breathed.

"Do you mind sharing it with me or care to talk it over a drink? I mean, this is not the real you. Whatever it is that's eating you up has to be a heavy one. You're diminishing" he ended with a smirk.

Dave checked his wrist watch and it was almost closing hour. Thank God it's Friday. He packed up and called his driver to take the car home while he and Barry drove in Barry's car.

Some minutes later, they were seated in the VIP spot of their usual hangout. Barry took off his suits and hung it on an empty chair. He looked dashing in his new haircut and his grey shirt velvet trousers complimented his looks. Dave on the other hand did not come along with his suit but he looked even more stunning in his white shirt and black trousers. His two top buttons were loosed as usual, exposing his chest with his folded sleeves making his bisceps evident. He was drawing almost every woman's attention at the bar.

"So. What is that thing that has been bothering my buddy these days? You look miserable Davie" Barry returned his attention after making orders on their behalf.

Dave waited for the drinks to be served before taking a deep breath. He gulped down a half full glass of vodka and poured some more into the empty glass as Barry kept watching in amazement.

"Something unusual is happening to me bro" he said and took another gulp of the drink.

"Hey! Easy on that drink Dude. I will not have the energy to carry you out of here when we both get drunk" Barry warned teasingly.

"You remembered Saturday right? When we went to the-"

"Yeah. So what happened?" he said, saving Dave the explanations.

One thing Dave loved about his friend was how they cohabitated and the mutual intelligence they shared. Many times during their school days, the two of them were referred to as the two geniuses even though Barry handled personal situations way better than Dave.

"Well my friend, something happened on that day and its still affecting me now. After I left you guys and strolled into the woods, I came across an angel. I must confess, she is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." He paused to read the emotions on his friend's face before he continued.

"We collided with each other. There was something about her that gave out so much essence. Her eyes had such a peaceful aura that made me want to drown in them. Her hair, her lip, everything about her was so charming and angelic" he whispered as he imagined it.

He was brought back to the present as Barry bursted out with laughter.

"Yeah! Yeah!" He gestured with his arms trying not to be sarcastic.

"Laugh all you want. Its hilarious isn't it?" Dave interjected.

But Barry couldn't stop laughing so hard. He nearly choked out. He barely paused to drink some water before continuing. Dave only stared intently at him as he waited for him to get back his senses. On normal days, he knew that he too would have been infected with Barry's laughter and they would have many rounds of laughter over silly conversations as they got drunk.

"I-I'm sorry dude. Forgive me but... this is just too hilarious" he said amidst laughter.

"Yeah? What's funny about it?" Dave asked with one eyebrow raised. If Barry didn't stop laughing in few minutes, his anger would erupt. He was slowly about to loose it.

"I thought it was something serious not knowing it was something unusual. Almost a miracle" Barry chuckled again.

"Trust me bro. I'm going crazy over this strange mysterious girl. I mean, I've only seen her once but her memory still lives with me. Its been almost a week now"

"Honestly, I would love to meet this mysterious girl that has reduced the almighty Dave Orman to this, almost making you look miserable. She is obviously doing a great job. Now my friend is going crazy over a girl and may probably be thinking of dating again. This is a great miracle" he teased as he went into another round of laughter. His words somehow amused Dave and his spirit was lifted up even though he tried not to show it.

"So when do I meet her" he sipped his drink after recovering from his laughter.

"That's the case bro. I don't know her, I don't know where she lives. I don't even know her name" Dave stated.

Barry began to chuckle again and he knew another round of laughter was coming up.

"This isn't funny. I'm being serious here" Dave interjected squarly and Barry's amusement went down.

"I'm sorry bro don't mind me" he teased. "So what you gonna do now?"

"I don't know. All I know is that I'm dying to meet her again. I know she's an inhabitant of that island cos her actions shows that she seemed to be well familiar with the place"

"All I can say is that whoever this mysterious girl is, is really doing a great job I must confess. She has gotten deep into you. Your demeanor has totally changed over the week" Barry smiled, he was loving the effect of the situation on his friend who has literally refused to move on because of events that happened in the past.

"Why don't you revisit the place. We will be going there tomorrow Saturday won't we? I suggest you use that opportunity to look for the answers you need" he added.

As Dave gave a thought to it, he concluded that Barry was totally right. In fact, his suggestion made a lot of sense. Why hadn't he thought about it? He could really get all the answers to his questions when he visits the island again.

"I think you're right bro. But I have a board meeting tomorrow. Remember I'm not supposed to go with you guys this time around" Dave reminded him.

"Well in that case, I think you don't know what you want. Just stay back and enjoy the meeting" Barry said and finished his drink.

"Come on man. You know how important my presence will be at that meeting. Besides there will be important issues that I can't risk-"

"But you just said you are going crazy about her, you are dying to see her one more time. Why can't you risk just a day for that? What if you are sick or on leave, who will sit in meetings for you? My grandpa used to say that all work and no play makes jack a dull boy. Do what will make you happy for once. Just a day off will do you no harm" he finalized.

* * * *

At night Dave kept pondering on what Barry said and decided that he was totally right. Why don't he do something more crazy and more adventurous for once? He had been seeing through the running of all activities of the company for four years now and its been long he did anything for his personal pleasure, and at the moment, all he needed was an adventure.

He was willing to take the risk and couldn't wait for tomorrow to come. He would have to cancel or postpone all his schedules and appointments.

He was up and ready by 6am. He spoke with Barry and they'll be off by 7. Dressed in all black, he walked gracefully round the pool with both arms in his pockets as he waited patiently for his companions.

He looked exceptionally good in dark sunglasses and black polo on black jeans.

His phone rang and as he checked the caller ID, it was his PA. He had given clear instructions to her about how his day would be. He had instructed that his schedules and appointments be postponed yet here she was calling him. Could it be that she wasn't able to read them on time because he sent it in the early hours of the day? He hoped it was not an emergency as he picked up and placed the phone on his ear but didn't speak a word.

She: "Hello Dave"

Him: "What happened to Sir?"

She: "I'm sorry Sir"

Him: "What is it?"

She: "I just called to remind you of the meeting today"

Him: "What happened to the instructions I've sent to you. Have they not been delivered or are you being unserious with your work?"

She: "I'm sorry I didn't go through my messages"

Him: "Check your emails. I'm taking the day off".

She: "Day off? But some appointments were rescheduled from last Saturday and-"

Him: "Well in that case just reschedule them again or do anything you can"

She: "But Sir-"

Him: "I gotta go".

He hung up.

He knew that he is about to take a huge risk which could put the company's future at stake but his happiness is more at stake and right now, his happiness is way more important than work.

The ride from the mainland to the coastline and then to the seashore of the island took roughly two hours.

While the team members did their jobs, Dave spent time exploring the beach in hopes of seeing the mysterious girl.

The team members were glad that he had showed up kept pouring out their opinions, meanwhile was there only for one reason. None of them knew the reason he had followed them except Barry.

He went as far as the woods searching for her and hoping to collide with her again even by accident, but he didn't see her. Evening came and it was time to leave. He wasn't happy and he felt so miserable, not because he was unable to meet her but because his yearning for her only seemed to increase.

The next day being Sunday, Barry took them on a cruise to the island. He had suggested that just for Dave's sake, perhaps that cruise would help his friend one more time. Together they combed the entire beach in search of pleasure and the mysterious girl. When they could not find her, they resulted to asking around for her. He tried to describe her to the best of his ability but without a name, no one uttered a positive response.