The Islandress

5: The Day It All Began

At the moment, Theodore had no idea what time it is—nor is he so keen on finding out. Despite being used to being woken up by loud alarms, and blaring calls, it still wasn’t enough to break him out of not being a morning person.

One would think that by numerous times he’s experienced that sort of thing, it would have been enough to make him love mornings just a bit more. 

It didn’t.

Somehow, it only made things worse. He became more cranky and sluggish as months passed, and he always, always, always leaves for work not feeling up to par. Thankfully though, his mood is instantly turned around whenever he gets his daily dose of coffee—or hot chocolate, depending on what his tongue feels like tasting that day.

Theodore opened one eye as he lifted his head from the pillow slightly so he could let his half-open eyes settle on his bedside table, the bold, red numbers flooding his sight more than he wanted it to. He let his eyes adjust to it for a few seconds before he finally saw the time that was plastered on his alarm clock.

5:45 A.M.

Letting out a groan, he rested his head on his pillow once again as he closed his eyes, silently thinking about why in the world he’s still waking up this early when he doesn’t even have work. It was certainly not an easy task asking his superior for such a long leave, but he’s just thankful that his number of leaves was approved--albeit with a lot of reasoning, and questioning in the process. 

While he wouldn’t have been all that bummed out if it was actually denied, he knows that it would have been a lot more of a bother to deal with Colin and Evan’s combined efforts of telling him off and annoying him about overworking himself.

He let out a sigh. “What the f**k am I even doing?”

“Going on a vacation.”

That certainly made him feel more alert than he ever had been these past few weeks. He stiffened slightly in his place, feeling his heart beat more loudly against his chest. Opening his eyes slowly, he let his gaze wander to where he heard the voice from, still not quite sure whether the voice he heard was just a figment of his imagination, or it was really real. 

But how could someone have entered his apartment in the first place? Breaking in would have been a hard thing to do if you don’t have the key, and glass windows are the kind that’s hard to break no matter how hard you try.

Theodore let himself be filled with courage as he decided to just go for it, deciding how to deal with it when that certain problem is already smacked on his face. His eyes settled on the chair near the window, seeing a figure occupying the said seat, a second figure occupying the chair situated opposite of it.

He heard a sigh. “Wake up already, you sleepy idiot.”

This time, the voice seemed more familiar; more awake. It registered in Theodore’s mind faster than he reacted a moment ago, shifting in his bed so he could get a better look at the two people looking at him. He squinted his eyes, trying to figure out who it could possibly be, the sleepiness he still felt starting to cloud his mind once more.

“Who the f**k are these people?” He mumbled, ignoring the other round of sighs he heard right after.

“Yeah, he’s definitely still asleep.” He heard one of them say.

“Should I get a bucket of cold water?”

“Okay, woah, stop!” Theodore instantly sat up after that, feeling himself getting dizzy right after that certain happening. “Fuck.” He muttered as he clutched his head, waiting for the dizziness he felt to subside. When it finally did, he let his gaze settle on the two figures, seeing them look at him with smirks on their faces.

“I knew you were an i***t, but not that much of an idiot.”

One of them scoffed. “Like you’re one to talk. You're the biggest i***t of us all.”

Upon finally figuring out who those two were, Theodore couldn’t help the groan that escaped his mouth as he massaged his temples. “What in all things holy are the both of you doing here at five in the f*****g morning?”

Colin furrowed his eyebrows as he crossed his arms. “Don’t tell me you forgot.”

It was Theodore’s turn to furrow his eyebrows as he looked at his friend with confusion. “Forgot what?”

Hearing that, his two friends instantly shared a look before rolling their eyes, silently telling him that they were mocking him about something. That definitely didn’t sit well with him, but he knows that it would have been better had they said it outright than just making it known through actions (even though he already knows what those actions meant).

“Do you seriously not remember?” Evan asked, raising an eyebrow at him in the process. “Where the hell is on your mind today?”

Evan’s words only made Theodore feel more confused about everything. “What the hell are you on about?”

Colin released a sigh that almost made it seem like he’s disappointed or something. “How could you not remember?”

Theodore let out a groan as he tried to keep his flaring annoyance in check. “Again, I have no idea what the both of you are talking about. Just tell me already before I end up punching both of you on the face.”

He immediately saw understanding pass through his friends’ faces, the both of them letting out chuckles right after. “I forgot you weren’t a morning person to begin with.”

“Early mornings aren’t exactly the best way to deal with the day.” Theodore replied as he released a yawn. “How any of you could deal with that, I have no idea.”

“It’s pretty easy, but it’s not like you would know.” Evan chuckled, ignoring the eye roll he received from his friend. “But anyway, do you seriously not remember what today is?”

“Well I wouldn’t have asked if I did, right?” Theodore replied, fully aware that he’s being unnecessarily sassy at five in the morning--not that he particularly cared since his friends barged on inside his house. Remembering that, his eyebrows furrowed as he asked, “How did the both of you get in anyway?”

“We know where your spare keys are.” Colin replied in a nonchalant manner, as he shrugged his shoulders, ignoring the way Theodore narrowed his eyes at him and Evan.

“Don’t look at us like that.” Evan chorused. “Of course we would know where your spare keys are. Knowing you for so long does have its perks.”

Theodore sighed, his mind now conjuring up another furtive place where he could hide his keys. He doesn’t really mind all that much that his friends have access to his apartment any time they like (since he does trust them with all of his heart), but it’s at times like these (where they barge in on him still sleeping) that he doesn’t want to happen over and over again.

He has actually told them off about that, but no matter how many times he says it, it just never happens.

Yes, his friends are insanely clingy and stubborn like that.

“Looks like I’ll have to move it--again.”

Colin grinned. “There’s really no need to. We would only end up finding it again anyway, so you’ll only be wasting your time and energy doing such a trivial matter.”

“He’s right.” Evan said, sporting a similar grin that’s plastered on Colin’s face. “Did you know that it didn’t even take us five minutes to find your new hiding place?” He chuckled at Theodore’s bewildered face. “It’s true! It was almost like you wanted us to find it.”

Another groan erupted from Theodore’s lips as he rubbed his face, feeling exasperation creep up his entire system. “The both of you are insane.”

“We’ll take that as a compliment.” Colin replied. “Meanwhile, have you still not figured out the significance of today?”

“Do I really have to answer that again?” He queried as he looked at his friends yet again. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again--I don’t!”

“You’re really hopeless.” Evan sighed as he stood up from his seat, the grin on his face making its appearance once again. He smacked Theodore on the back of his head when he stood near where his friend is currently wrapped up in his duvet. “We’re leaving for our cruise today, dummy.”

Understanding and realization immediately covered Theodore’s senses. That’s why he had his alarm set so early even though he doesn’t have work today. He had been wondering about that ever since he woke up, and it looks like he didn’t need to wonder anymore.

If his friends’ sudden appearance didn’t count as proof, then he doesn’t know what is.

As Theodore let his gaze flitter towards his packed luggage near his closet, along with his planned out outfit for today, it only made everything seem more real to Theodore at that very moment. 

How could he have missed that when he woke up? Well, he was still feeling sleepy, so it wasn’t really that much of a surprise. Still, he really should take his surroundings into account more often.

“I totally forgot that that was today.” Theodore sighed, now unbothered by the sudden attack he just received from Evan a moment ago.

Smirking smugly at his friend, Colin stood up from his seat as well and made his way to where his two friends currently are. “Like we’ve said before Landon, you’re hopeless.”

Theodore rolled his eyes as he finally pushed the duvet off of him. “You’re saying that now, but watch me steal the spotlight from the both of you once again.” He said, climbing out of his bed right after.

“Now that’s just not fair.” Evan pouted.

“How is that not fair?” Theodore replied as he picked up his clothes from on top of his suitcase before facing his friends with a smirk plastered on his face. “I was merely saying what’s true.”

“Somehow, that pisses me off more than it’s meant to.” Colin commented, a slight scowl now slowly making its way onto his lips.

“That’s because we all know that what I was saying was true.”

While Theodore isn’t that much of a narcissistic prick like his friends are, he still likes to use that card against them just to poke fun on them. He knows that his friends regard him highly (most especially in the physical appearance department), but he never uses that unless he wants to mess with them. It made him feel a bit shy whenever they brought it up that he always ends up shooting them down every time they do, and that’s not really changing any time soon.

Except for right now.

“Cocky bastard.” Evan crossed his arms. “We know you’re all princely and all that, but come on.”

Colin waved him off. “Just let him be. It’s not like he gets a lot of dates despite his appearance.”

At that, Theodore couldn’t help but scowl. “That’s because I choose not to.”

“Yeah, yeah, we’ve heard that before.” His friend replied while plopping down his bed. “We can lie down here, right? It isn’t dirty or anything?”

“Of course not.” Evan chorused, mimicking Colin’s actions soon after. “It’s not like it’s ever going to get dirty.”

As the two friends laughed at their shared onslaught of their now highly annoyed friend, the guy in question merely growled at them. “f**k off.”

“Something you can’t do.”

Theodore sighed, ignoring his friends’ another round of laughter as he started to walk towards his bathroom. “The both of you better be out of my room by the time I’m done getting ready, or so help me, I’ll make sure you won’t be able to make it out of here alive.”

Despite the clear threat that was laced in his words, Colin and Evan, being used to all of that by now, merely grinned at him as they told him simultaneously. “Ooh, kinky.”

Colin and Evan shared a look right after that moment before bursting out in loud laughter, no doubt amused about the fact that they just ended up saying the same thing.

“That was too good!” Colin said in between laughter.

“I know!” Evan exclaimed. “And we didn’t even plan for things to end up like that!”

That only seemed to have made Colin laugh harder. “God, what an epic coincidence.”

Evan nodded his head, a big grin still plastered on his lips. “Teasing Theo is too fun.”

Theodore, on the other hand, merely released a sigh before opening his bathroom door. “Idiots. I’m friends with idiots.”

— • — • —

“So,” Colin started as he put an arm around Theodore, who looked positively nervous and excited about the whole thing. Honestly, the guy looked like he was about to hurl. “Today’s the day, Theo.”

“I know.” Theodore replied, his thoughts all jumbled and his whole body as stiff as a board. Colin and Evan merely looked at him with mirth. “I know, I was just… taking it in.”

Evan laughed at that. “Theo, you’ve got to relax, man. You’re going on a vacation; not your impending doom.”

Theodore turned to glare at his friend. “Gee Evan, thanks for that very helpful insight.”

“No problem.” Came Evan’s reply.

Despite knowing that this is his friends’ way of showing him support and making him feel better, Theodore still can’t help but be slightly annoyed by their antics. More than a decade together with them and he would think their actions wouldn’t bother him anymore in the slightest but Theodore knew better. Especially since this is Evan and Colin.

Hearing all of their words made Theodore feel even more anxious than he was. Instead of being comforted by his friends’ presence and teasing, it just seemed to have the opposite effect. He also thought that being away from work could be one of the reasons for his current behavior but deep down he knows it’s just because he’s nervous about how this whole trip would end—or start.

With a seemingly permanent grin etched on Colin’s face, he said, “You sure you’re fine coming on this trip, Theo? You might end up fainting on us.”

If a glare could kill, Theodore is pretty confident that Colin and Evan would already be six feet underground. Not that he would wish that since he would be losing the only two people he actually likes.

“You’re asking me that now?” Theodore asked, disbelief laced in his tone of voice. “You couldn’t have thought of that before you decided to drag me here?”

“Nope.” Came Colin’s immediate reply.

“Why not?” Theodore queried, a slight frown marring his lips.

“Because you i***t,” Colin started. “Do you really think we’re going to let you have the choice to either stay and come with us or leave you be with your miserable life?”

Theodore stayed quiet in his place because he knows that what Colin said is true. No matter how much he would beg, even to the point where he would already be crying—which still hadn’t happened, by the way—they still wouldn’t let him go. When Evan and Colin want something, they do everything they can to get it, especially when what they want is for Theodore to go on a trip with them.

Theodore knows this little fact, of course, that’s why he does as little as possible because he knows that any escape would be futile.

“You know us better than that, Theo.” Evan gave Theodore a wink. “You’re coming with us, pal. It’s all or never.”

With not much choice left, Theodore released a big sigh before saying, “It was worth a shot anyway.”

The trio continued to walk towards the port, their eyes scanning the area. All they could see for the moment were people everywhere. Theodore could tell that Evan was getting kind of impatient judging by the way he pushed the people away from him as subtly as he can, not to mention the irate look currently plastered on his face.

Theodore couldn’t help but laugh at that. He missed seeing this impatient side of his friend, who is usually so composed when it comes to almost everything—despite him acting like a kid most of the time. It seemed like Colin didn’t fail to notice what Theodore also saw and the duo shared a look before bursting into a laughter that was enough to make Evan look at them in curiosity.

Grinning from ear to ear, Theodore said, “You seem awfully excited.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? I managed to drag you all the way here.” Theodore’s grin dropped. “And I’m also excited about all the pretty women I’ll be able to meet during the whole trip.”

“Ah yes, your true desire.” Theodore replied blandly.

“It sure is.” Evan is grinning now. “Pretty women everywhere.”

Colin sighed. “Sometimes I forget that you’re such a ladies man.”

Knowing what would definitely come next, Theodore released a sigh and tried to think of something that they could talk about and forget about Colin’s comment. He really doesn’t want to hear Evan’s adventures with every woman he’s been with, especially since he’s heard this story almost a million times, even when he’s repeatedly declined his offer to do so.

Evan is proud like that.

Theodore tried looking at Colin for help, but it seemed hopeless to try and get his attention. The man in question looked really deep in thought. Now that is something that Theodore doesn’t want to interrupt. Colin would have his head if he did such a thing. He really wanted to go on this trip with everything still intact.

Quickly averting his gaze from the guy beside him, ideas started to form inside Theodore’s head. There were definitely choices that he could use and there were some that were completely useless. 

Is this honestly the best his mind could conjure?

Giving up hope and just letting Evan carry on seemed like the wisest choice to him now. As much as he wants to stop the dabble of the ongoing talk about long-legged, fit women, he honestly can’t think of anything—aside from telling him stories about some of his experience in the hospital, which he doubts is something Evan would want to hear.

The guy is insanely sensitive to stuff like that.

Overhearing the people beside him talking about how excited they are and gushing about the cruise ship became Theodore’s silent saving grace.

With that thought deeply embedded into his mind, he said, “The two of you never did tell me something.”

As expected, it got Evan’s attention and stopped him from talking about all of his women. Colin also turned to look at him, seemingly now out of the reverie he was in. 

“And that would be?” Colin raised an eyebrow at him.

“Our destination.”

Evan and Colin became silent for a while, no doubt trying to process what Theodore just said. Not a moment longer, Evan replied, “That’s because you never asked.”

Evan did have a point. Why did he never ask his friends about their destination? But then again, Theodore’s still glad he didn’t. It would have only made things more real, and he doubts that would have helped his growing anxiety as the days passed on.

“It kind of slipped my mind.” Theodore said. “So where are we going?”

The ship was in plain sight by then and that was what flooded Theodore’s vision at the moment. It was definitely larger than he expected. He has absolutely no words; he was left speechless by the ship’s magnificent build.

It took a moment for either of his friends to reply, also captivated by the sight in front of them. Theodore didn’t really mind because he needed this silence to appreciate this moment.

“New York to San Juan.” Colin replied after a few minutes.

“Puerto Rico?” Theodore asked in bewilderment.

“Uh-huh.” Colin gave him a grin. “Nice, isn’t it?”

Nice was putting it lightly. Knowing where their destination would be made Theodore slightly excited about the whole thing. Maybe this vacation would be better than he expected.

“And our cruise ship?” Theodore asked.

Colin’s grin widened while Evan just chuckled in his place. “Haven’t you figured it out yet?” Colin outstretched his arm and gestured to the cruise ship in front of them. “It’s the Viking Star, of course!”

All Theodore felt at that moment was amusement. His friends really went all out on this trip. It’s amazing how they really bet as much as this that he would be going with them. Well, he would still have gone with them either way, but still—it’s pretty impressive.

“Glad you came now, aren’t you?” Evan queried, the mirth in his voice too palpable to ignore.

Theodore gave them a noncommittal shrug. “Just a bit.”

His friends knew better than to believe the answer he gave but the both of them said nothing to challenge what he just said. Still, he’s grateful they said nothing.

As they continued their walk towards the ship, all Theodore could do was marvel at his surroundings and how many people could possibly be joining them on this trip. If Theodore was right, it seemed like the ship would most probably be hosting almost five hundred guests—or more.

It didn’t take them long to pass security and when they finally set foot in the cruise ship, they were definitely awed by the sight in front of them. Theodore never imagined this is what he would see when he set foot in here. It’s absolutely far from what he had seen in the pictures—what he’s seeing now with his own eyes is way better.

“Still having doubts, Landon?”

“No.”

“Great.” Colin looked at Theodore with a grin. “Because you’re going to have the time of your life for the next fourteen days.”