Man In The Island

Nothing is Free

"What?" the woman asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

The sound of rolling waves provided a slow, rhythmic backdrop to the tension hanging between Eric and the woman. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden-orange glow that contrasted with the chill between the two stranded survivors.

Eric lifted a coconut. "Everything has a price." He couldn’t stop the slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he saw the wary expression on the woman’s face.

She shifted uneasily, her eyes darting between the coconut in Eric’s hand and his face. Her throat felt like sandpaper. It had been nearly twelve hours since she last had a drink after the shipwreck. Instinctively, she licked her dry, cracked lips.

"What do you mean by- something else?" she asked softly, her voice hoarse and shaky.

Eric studied her closely. Her messy black hair was tousled by the ocean breeze, her sun-kissed skin beginning to redden from the sunburn, and her eyes held a mix of desperation and suspicion. He could see how hard she was trying to hide her fear by standing tall, though her legs were clearly trembling, whether from exhaustion or fear, he wasn’t sure.

"What exactly do you think I’m asking for?" Eric countered, his voice calm but with a hint of teasing.

The woman clenched her fists. "Don’t play games. Just say what you want."

Eric lifted the coconut higher, letting the golden sunlight reflect off its surface like an invaluable prize. "Your name," he said simply. "I want to know your name."

Her expression shifted instantly from full alertness to surprise, then to utter confusion. "My name?"

"Yeah. If we’re going to be stuck on this island for who knows how long, I don’t want to keep calling you ‘hey,’ ‘Miss No-Name,’ or ‘the moral preacher,’" Eric explained, adding the last title with a playful tone.

She blinked several times, processing the simplicity of the request. Slowly, her cheeks flushed, a mix of embarrassment and relief. She had expected him to ask for something far more … personal.

"That’s it?" she asked, disbelief in her voice.

Eric nodded, still holding the coconut. "That’s it. Say your name, and this coconut is yours."

The woman stared at him for a long moment, as if reassessing the man in front of her. Then, after what felt like an eternity, she finally answered. "Adora. My name is Adora."

"Adora." Eric repeated the name, tasting it on his tongue. "Unusual name. What does it mean?"

"You never said I had to tell you the meaning of my name too," Adora shot back quickly, now sounding more confident. "The deal was just my name in exchange for the coconut."

Eric chuckled, the warmth in his laughter contrasting the cool night air settling over the beach. "Fair enough." He tossed the coconut to Adora, who caught it with both hands, surprised by its weight.

Unexpectedly, Eric grabbed another coconut and threw it to her as well. Adora almost dropped the first one while trying to catch the second.

"I didn’t ask for two coconuts," she said, confused, now holding both in her arms.

Eric shrugged. "Consider it an unofficial apology."

"Apology? For what?"

"For making you think I’m the kind of guy who would take advantage of this situation for… other things," Eric replied, his gaze locking onto hers. There was no sarcasm or teasing in his voice this time, only honesty.

Adora felt warmth rise to her cheeks again. Maybe she had misjudged him. Perhaps Eric was pragmatic and rough around the edges, but maybe he wasn’t as bad as she initially thought.

"How do I open this?" Adora asked, looking at the coconut in her hands.

"Give me one," Eric said, extending his hand.

Adora hesitated for a moment before handing him one of the coconuts. Eric picked up a large, sharp piece of wood and skillfully began stripping away the thick fibers at the top, exposing the three "eyes" of the coconut.

"See these three dark spots? The middle one is the softest," he explained, pointing at the center. "You can pierce it with something sharp."

Eric took the Parker pen he had taken from the dead man earlier and precisely stabbed the middle eye of the coconut. The clear liquid inside started to drip out.

"Save it for later, or do you want to drink it now?" Eric asked.

Adora swallowed hard, her eyes fixed on the trickling coconut water. Her thirst suddenly felt unbearable.

"Now," she answered quickly.

Eric widened the hole with the pen’s tip before handing her the coconut. Without hesitation, Adora pressed her lips to the opening and gulped down the refreshing liquid. The sweet, cool water rushed down her throat, offering instant relief.

A few drops of coconut water trickled down the side of her lips, trailing down her neck. Eric watched in silence, his expression unreadable.

After several deep sips, Adora finally pulled away to take a breath. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "This, this really means a lot."

Eric nodded. "We’re both stranded, Adora. We may not always agree on how to handle this, but that doesn’t mean we have to let each other suffer."

Adora lowered her gaze, feeling slightly guilty for misjudging him. "I’m sorry for assuming the worst about you."

"You don’t need to apologize. In a normal situation, I’d probably be suspicious of someone looting a corpse too," Eric admitted, though his tone remained serious. "But we’re not in a normal situation, Adora. And the sooner we accept that, the better our chances of surviving."

Adora nodded slowly, starting to understand Eric’s perspective. She didn’t have to agree with everything he did, but she could at least try to understand his reasoning.

"So, your name is Eric?" Adora asked, attempting to shift the conversation.

"Yeah, Eric," he confirmed, slightly surprised by her sudden interest in talking.

"Before you got stranded here, what did you do for a living?"

"Just a programmer." Eric smirked. "And you? I’m guessing something from the entertainment world."

Adora opened her mouth to deny it but then realized he wasn’t entirely wrong. "Yeah, maybe."

They both fell silent, enjoying the rare moment of mutual understanding. The sun was almost completely set now, leaving the sky painted in deep purples and reds.

"Are you hungry?" Eric suddenly asked.

As if on cue, Adora’s stomach growled loudly. She smiled sheepishly. "Very."

"I caught some clams and sea urchins earlier," Eric said, pointing at his catch. "Not much, but enough for tonight. You want some?"

"What do you want in return?" Adora asked cautiously.

Eric laughed. "What do you even have to offer?"

"Nothing. But I promise I’ll repay you."

Eric nodded. "Come here. I need to cook another batch anyway."

Adora hesitated before stepping past the invisible boundary they had set between them.

"You wait here while I get more firewood," Eric said.

Adora nodded.

After gathering a few dry branches, Eric arranged them into a small pyramid shape. Using the Parker pen as a makeshift fire starter, he struck it against a rock, creating sparks. Within minutes, a small fire flickered to life, casting a warm glow against the darkening beach.

"See? Useful," Eric said, holding up the pen toward Adora, who was still standing on her side of the boundary. "It’s not just an expensive pen. It’s a survival tool."

Adora didn’t respond, but her eyes followed his every movement with interest.

"You ever roasted clams over an open fire before?" Eric asked as he carefully placed them on a flat stone near the flames.

"No," Adora admitted. "I usually eat at restaurants."

Eric scoffed. "Of course." He carefully arranged the clams, making sure the heat was evenly distributed. "Wild-caught clams like these taste better than the farmed ones you get in fancy restaurants," he explained.

As the aroma of roasting seafood filled the air, Adora unconsciously licked her lips.

Eric smirked. "Hungry?"

Adora straightened up, trying to maintain her composure. "A little," she lied.

Eric picked up a fully cooked clam, the shell opening perfectly to reveal the juicy meat inside. Slowly, he slurped it up and sighed in satisfaction. "Mmm, perfect. Slightly salty, slightly sweet, incredibly fresh."

Adora’s stomach growled again, louder this time.

Eric chuckled. "Come here," he said, patting the spot next to him. "This is too much food for me alone. We agreed to trade, didn’t we?"

Adora hesitated, then glanced at the food.

"But, you’re not asking for something else in return, are you?"

Eric laughed, shaking his head.

"You mean like what?"