The Wisely Christ and Five Pretties

Make a Deal

"Can't you think positively about me for once, Ms. Clarissa? Because if you insult me again, I won't want to help you next time."

Christ released his grip, leaving Clarissa, who was almost off balance on a tree trunk large enough to lie down comfortably. He looked around at the locations where the wreckage had fallen while calculating many things.

"What are you thinking?"

Christ looked over anxiously. There were more things to consider before finally making a big decision to save himself and someone who was injured. His burly, dirty hands fumbled with the pockets of his pants, checking and reaching for his phone to confirm the location and the help center.

"So far, did anyone else? You must know something. I mean, you woke up first and had time to look around the area. Didn't you find any residential areas to call for help?"

Surprisingly, there was nothing to be done. The smartphone in Christ's hand had no signal. Not even a 2G network.

"It's useless. I've tried over and again. But there's no signal I can get. Our point isn't even on the map."

Out of curiosity, Christ tried opening the map feature. And Clarissa's statement was correct. The point was nowhere to be found.

"I think it's just a network error. No problem. We'll go to a much higher place to contact someone."

"That's what you think?"

Christ's confident nod did not make Clarissa any less anxious. After all, as far as the eye could see as she climbed up the tree, she found no network and not even a plateau to hope for.

"There are more than forty passengers on our flight. Of the many passengers, there will be those who are anxious and report having lost contact. The air traffic controllers will also report that our plane has lost track. After all, an airplane moving unnaturally will also attract the attention of many people, right? Eventually, they'll find us."

Clarissa smiled sympathetically at Christ's words, even though they couldn't put her at ease. But seeing Christ's attitude that seemed to be observant of the situation without panic, she was quite satisfied if she had to fight together.

"I can't believe I'm saying this."

Christ, who had moved on to map out the remaining debris for inspection, turned his head in surprise, waiting for Clarissa's deliberately paused sentence.

"You're too meticulous to just be a janitor, Christ. Next time, try working in another field."

"Stop talking as if you were my boss now. Because this time, we are not at work."

Christ's aggressive warning as he left the area made Clarissa furious. Like it or not, she could not stay there just because her leg was injured. Her self-esteem would be lowered if she remained silent when others were working much harder than her.

Christ pushed through the tall weeds and lush trees to reach the tail of the plane in the distance. Occasionally, he would also shake some of the passengers' bodies to make sure the chance of life could not be wasted. But to no avail. He found no one else.

"Where are you going? You don't intend to leave me here alone, do you?"

Clarissa's question did not stop Christ's wide strides. Without hesitation, he made a small run to save more time and energy, and then he climbed up the trunk of a large tree to enter the tail section of the plane that was still supported by the trees. Then tried to get a network on his phone. Unfortunately, there was still no network that could be obtained.

"Don't come any closer. I might drop it again. So, stay as far away as possible or I'll no longer help you treat new wounds."

Clarissa stopped walking. Sweat was already pouring down her face as she sat on a rock some distance away from the remaining tail of the plane.

"You are even more aggressive than other people when you are angry."

Who would have thought Christ, who was trying to open the luggage door, chuckled softly without looking back? "Hey, I heard you from here!"

It was a stroke of luck that the trunk door opened easily. Christ looked around the lower area, making sure his footing was secure and wouldn't trigger any shocks.

Christ entered the luggage section, which was still full of neatly organized suitcases. Slowly and carefully, he tries to check one by one the suitcases that might have more snacks or extra shirts to cover Clarissa's chest.

But as Christ pulled the suitcase, the fuselage suddenly creaked. Christ's movements came to a screeching halt. He returned the suitcase to its original position with a lot of thought.

"I forgot the part where luggage is the best source of stability for the fuselage."

For a moment, Christ tried to open the suitcase without pulling it out of its previous arrangement. He took out a few pieces of clothing, then found a few packets of snacks even though he had to get them out the hard way.

Although he wasn't hungry yet, he would still need to eat later to survive. Once again, Christ searched through some suitcases by unzipping them slightly and feeling around inside, looking for more food that she might carry for supplies.

All the suitcases in the first setup had been searched, and Christ had only found a few extra sweet snacks that might give him a boost. He wrapped the few food items he found in a T-shirt tied around his neck. Then he carried them out like a thief with the assorted loot.

On the other side, Clarissa covered her face as her stomach rumbled quite loudly. "Damn it! What's Christ doing up there?"

Unexpectedly, Christ arrived with a bag of snacks. He also got another bottle of mineral water from some of the passengers' luggage stored in the cabin.

Christ sat quite close, but without sound or movement. Although his hands were busy unwrapping the chocolates, his piercing gaze was fixed on Clarissa's chest. Two small circles that made his world diverted.

"Put this on!"

Looking away, Christ threw the shirt right at Clarissa's chest. He broke off a small bar of chocolate to chew on, and then gave a chocolate bar of the same size to the manager of the Fayriott Hotels where he worked.

Clarissa got up quickly after lying alone for a long time. She put on the shirt Christ had tossed her and accepted the small bar of delicious almond chocolate.

"So you lingered there because you finished the chocolate? And I only got a small piece that went down in one bite?"

Christ's hands went up without speaking. He drank more water until it was almost gone. "Give it back if you don't want it."

Clarissa chewed the small piece of chocolate Christ handed her in short bursts. Although it didn't fill her up, at least she had some sugar to use as calories to survive.

Christ paused as he checked the surroundings. He couldn't believe that out of all the passengers, only he and Clarissa had survived.

"What if we make a deal?"

"Why? We're not in a favorable situation to make a deal in here."

Clarissa pulled out some snacks at an above-average speed. The eyes that usually only looked at Christ sharply were now pleading with an incomparably sweet smile.

"Lemme keep all this food and we will move according to my instructions. How about it?"

Christ got up quickly and took back all the snacks that Clarissa had secured. His wide strides immediately gave him a respectful distance as he waved his hand.

"Then lead yourself! You know very well where I get the food, don't you? Go up and get your own food from the same place!"

Clarissa panicked. She got up, then chased after Christ with faltering steps.

"You can't just leave me, Christ! Hey! Can't I bargain a little? It's just the two of us and help will be here soon!"

Christ stopped walking, but refused to look back. His eyes noticed something suspicious. His voice softly answered as Clarissa arrived behind his back.

"What else is the offer this time?"

"I can give you money! I'll increase your position! And recommend you to someone I know well to an important person in Fayriott. How's that?"

Christ didn't answer. His index finger was pointed and raised slowly to his shoulders. Signaling Clarissa to remain silent, while his other hand was busy unlocking the belt.

"W-what are you doing?" asked Clarissa, stammering. But Christ's index finger remained pointed with the other hand pulling at the belt. "Damn it! Unbelievable! You're the most obscene man I've ever met! Don't turn around and get out of my sight or I'll kill you here, you pervert!"