Another
2508 Words
“Alright, dinner is ready! Come and get it!” Gramps handed us our portions. “Can I get in on the gossip?”
“We were just whispering sweet nothings at each other,” she smiled at him.
“Careful now, Luke. Swinging will hurt your balls one day, trust me.”
“Gramps! You’re embarrassing me. Besides, I haven’t decided yet,” I muttered.
“Shy guys are always the smoothest,” Darleen winked at me.
“Take your time. You are still young,” he patted my shoulder.
“We are just friends, okay. Nothing more.”
“Ooh, I’m curious who I’m competing with. Is she someone around the area, or is she from the city?” Darleen spike her voice.
“S-she’s a nobody. Anyway, let’s eat.”
“Oh? A nobody, eh? Why are your cheeks red?”
“Gramps!”
“Alright, alright…,” he chuckled.
“Uncle Ruiz, can I take Luke tomorrow? I hope he doesn’t have plans.”
“You kids have a blast. Remember to bring him back in one piece.”
“It’s a deal.”
“Actually, I have somewhere to be tomorrow. Can we schedule this on a later date?”
“Aw, but I already made a reservation,” she pouted.
“Luke, give her a chance. I don’t want to look bad to my buddy. I might not get premium discounts, and I could barely afford my maintenance.”
“Fine, but only this one time.”
“Great! I won’t disappoint you,” her brilliant smile returned.
“You can sleep in Luke’s room for tonight. Extra bed and sheets are at the top of your closet, Luke.”
“I better clean my room,” I stood up.
“Let me do that for you. It’s the least I could do for that wonderful meal.”
“Luke, can you help me wash the dishes?” Gramps called out to me.
“Sure.”
Darleen excused herself and ran up the stairs. Gramps gathered the dishes and motioned for me to follow.
“You know, Darleen is a sweet little girl. A bit naughty, but sweet. No one her age has been around ever since they moved here ten years ago. Besides, she makes me look young.”
“Calling you uncle makes you look young? You look like a father to me.”
“Aw, thank you, Luke. For that, I leave you in charge of the dishes. I have removed the scrubs, just wash it with soap and join her upstairs. You don’t want to make a girl wait too long.”
“Are you sure you don’t want any help on the farm tomorrow?”
“We could watch the crops grow.”
“I might die before it produces any flower.”
“You’re a big guy now. I think you know what to do,” gramps leaned in before he cleared the area.
I finished the dishes and closed the lights. I brushed my teeth and went up the stairs. When I got to my room, I found Darleen staring at the open window, sitting on my hard bed. She had already prepared my resting area. I have never seen my room this sparkly clean.
“Where are my clothes?”
“Ah, I soaked them under soap. They smelled like a dying rat.”
“But I can still use them until next week!”
“Luke, do you want a girl to like you? If so, start with your clothes.”
“What about them?” I sniffed my shirt. “I think I smell fine.”
“Your nose is blind. Good thing I brought my sanitizers with me,” she scoffed.
“If you complain so much about the smell, you are more than welcome to exit my room.”
“Hey, relax, I’m not criticizing you. I’m only giving you some advice as a girl sitting next to a boy, asking him to understand her.”
“From what movie is that?”
“It’s a line from The Nodding Hill. It’s one of my favorites.”
“I have only known you for half a day. Besides, I haven’t decided yet.”
“You don’t have to choose,” she bit her lip and looked to the side, then her mood sprang up. “Anyway, it will be fun tomorrow.”
I placed my arms above my head as I laid down, “Where are you taking me?”
“Oh, you’ll see. We are going to have so much fun together.”
“Can I have a bit of a hint?”
“Ugh, fine, wear something you can take for a swim.”
“Is that all? Because I’m pretty sure you have soaked them all.”
“Tell you what, after we wash your clothes, let’s go shopping.”
“I don’t have much on me.”
“Don’t worry, I will take care of it.”
“Isn’t this a bit too much?”
“It’s okay. I accounted for everything when I planned for this trip. I think we have to extend our stay, though. Oh, well... I will see what I can do.”
She kept on blabbering until my eyes drifted to sleep. When I opened my eyes, I saw a bright summer sky reflecting on the cleanest blue water I have ever seen. The drab sands felt fine to the touch, and the inviting sea breeze washed over my face.
Darleen sat beside me, holding my hand. Her warmth extended to my arms. We locked eyes, and she loomed in closer. A thin hairline of space separated our lips when a dark shadow blocked the light. I instantly retracted from her and slumped in my seat.
A violent tug pulled me away from her. She tried to reach out for me, but I was being dragged too far from her at demonic speed. My feet lifted from the ground. A loud roar echoed around the beach. Soon, she threw my body inside a dark cave like a used toy. Then the only opening got covered completely, eating up the light.
I don’t know how much time has passed inside this darkness. I cried for help, but my voice reverberated against the walls. The sound was deafening. I felt my mind spin, and I screamed at the top of my lungs until I couldn’t breathe anymore. Next thing I knew, I was awake again.
“Luke, what’s wrong? I heard you screaming,” Darleen rushed to the room with her dripping soapy hands.
“Thank goodness it was only a dream!” I panted.
“Clean yourself and join uncle for breakfast.”
She ushered me like a toddler to my seat. She placed some bacon and eggs on my plate. I hogged it down in one fell swoop and ran to the door with her. Gramps cleared the plates and raised a hand at me. He smiled and wafted me out.
“What do you think you are doing?” I dropped her hand.
“I talked to uncle, and he said it was okay to extend our stay for a few days.”
“What did you tell him?”
She crossed her arms, “I told him I am going to borrow you for a few days.”
“You can’t do that. Why would you whisk me away for a few days?”
“I wanted to know you better,” she smiled brightly.
“Was my room not enough to know me?”
“Well, that’s true, but there are things your room could not tell.”
“Things like?”
“Your likes and dislikes, your life back in the city, those kinds of stuff.”
“I’m backing out.”
“But I already have uncle’s permission.”
“You didn’t ask mine.”
“Do I have to?” She pulled my hand. My heart pumped faster and heat ran up my arms. “You are sweating a lot. Are you alright?”
“It must be the heat. Yeah, that’s it,” I chuckled nervously.
“You are weird. Would you mind helping me?”
“What needs to be done?” My heart beats echoed up to my ears.
“After I wash your clothes, could you prepare the line for me?”
“Sure.”
As I set up the line, I felt frosty glares ahead of me. I saw dark eyes black as night stare at me behind the low bush. I looked behind me. Luckily, Darleen was facing away from me. I decided to creep towards the bush.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I promised to visit you today, but it appears that you have other plans,” she gestured towards my overstaying guest.
“I had no control over this. I swear.”
“I don’t believe you. You could have done things in your power to drive her out unless you have fallen for her tricks.”
“It’s nothing like that.”
“Prove it to me.”
“What do you want me to do? Gramps might get his heart broken.”
“I cannot stand by and watch while she manipulates you like this.”
“Please, don’t do anything stupid. I don’t want to have a battle scene here.”
“Move aside, Luke. A little girl talk won’t hurt.”
“Now is not a good time, Cyrille. Please, let me work something out.”
She stared at me for a long moment, “Okay. At least tell me where you are headed after this.”
“Why? Are you jealous?”
“Who said I was jealous?”
“Then why are you pouting?”
“I just don’t like that girl lingering in your house. Their kind’s specialty is meddling with human affairs.”
“So, you are jealous!”
“I’m not!” Her face glowed red over blue.
“Luke, why are talking to that bush?” Darleen called out to me.
“I, uh, nothing. People in the city say that, um, talking to plants makes them grow healthy,” I patted some leaves.
“You city people are weird. Anyway, I’m done. You can hang them now.”
“Right, I’ll be right over,” I waited for her to look away, then I returned my gaze at Cyrille. “Talk to you later, okay. “
“I will be watching,” she replied before dashing out unseen.
I pressed some fingers against my temples. I breathed in until air filled my lungs before breathing out forcefully. This is going to be a pain in the butt. I hope she behaves herself until this is all over.
“Hurry up, Luke! We have to reach the mall before the sun burns my skin.”
“Coming!”
After I hanged my clothes, she insisted on bathing with me by the lake. I politely refused, but she persisted. I resisted all her attempts until she finally gave up.
“Alright, but hurry back! If you don’t return by fifteen minutes, I’m going to pull you out of the water. I hope I wouldn’t have to wrestle a crocodile while ruining my dress.”
“R-right. I must be going now.”
I dipped my body in the clear lake. It was not as cool as before. Another frosty stare alerted my mind. This time, it was behind one of the trees. I ignored it and scrubbed myself fast. I quickly grabbed my clothes and covered my front and back of my lower half, then hid behind the bushes.
It’s hard to get some privacy here! How can I get out of here without exposing my Johnson? Suddenly, some light reflected behind the tree. It blinked two times. I didn’t know what it meant, but I nodded. I dressed myself before returning to Darleen.
“Eew! You are not wearing that!”
“But this is all I have left.”
“No, it isn’t. I laid some clean clothes on your bed. Change into them quickly.”
Trendy shorts and shirt presented themselves across my bed. These must have cost a fortune. I could barely afford these with my monthly allowance. I hesitated for a moment. Once I get my allowance, I have to pay her back for this.
“What took you so long? It’s not that you have any other choice in your closet.”
“Sorry. Shall we go?” I felt my face flush.
She eyed me up and down and fixed my shirt until it satisfied her, “There! We are ready to go.”
Before I left, I borrowed some money from gramps. We crossed a few mountains, then the mall came into view. The sun stood parallel to the ground.
“Please try not to get your new clothes soaked. Luckily, I have brought some perfume,” she sprayed a coughing amount all over my body. The scent was like freshly picked roses and cherries. It smelled too feminine for my taste.
At the mall, she pulled me in every clothing shop we saw. I felt that warm sensation rush to my arms again. This time, my heart ticked slowly. She made me wear sets of clothing and she shook her head every time. With her hands full of paper bags, we walked out of the mall.
“Aren’t you buying too much?”
“These are just a handful.”
“What about food?”
“Don’t worry about it. I have that covered, too.”
“What are going to do there during our stay there?”
“I don’t know. Whatever, our boat is here. Hop in, careful not to slip.”
A cruise ship anchored by the pier. B.G. Darleen was written on one side of it. The captain greeted us through the speaker and the crew wearing tuxedos followed suit. I couldn’t see anyone else walking on the deck aside from us and some crew members. Who the heck is this girl?
“Isn’t this a bit too much?”
“Nope, this is just a dent in my account.”
“For a butcher’s assistant, you are something else.”
“Am I? Gee, you flatter me,” she smiled from ear to ear. “Are you hungry? Let’s taste out the food inside the lounge.”
“Lead the way, then,” I returned the smile.
A flock of servants followed us to the dining area. Various colourful seafood dishes filled one corner of the room. The servants handed out plates to us. We approached each dish of twenty-four. I liked the sweet rich dark brown sauce poured over my food.
“So, how is the food?” She placed her chin over her hands.
“This tastes great! I have never tasted one of these before. Aren’t you going to take a bite?”
“Watching you eat makes my mouth water. Here, have some more,” she placed a fish fillet into my mouth. “Yummy, right? Have another one.”
“I think I can feed myself. Why are you doing this to me?” I raised a hand, blocking the spoon.
“I’m not quite sure,” she placed a finger on her lower lip. “But can I be honest with you?”
“That doesn’t sound good,” I swallowed the fish fillet with weight.
“Can I tell you later after you finish eating? You might choke on this.”
“A glass of this fine wine can wash it out.”
“Promise me not to choke on this one.”
“Try me.”
“I think I like you, Luke. From the moment I set my eyes on you, I knew you were the one I was looking for.”
A piece of shrimp flew from my mouth and out of the window. A small plop sounded. My face froze at her words. My body locked in place, unable to move. It was like this for a few moments. Suddenly, a servant wrapped his arms around me and pulled my stomach. The fish fillet flew inside Darleen’s mouth.
“Dear me, this is the reply I get?” She tossed the perfectly crispy fish out of the window.
“I’m sorry, you surprised me there,” I downed a glass of wine.
“You should have at least said something.”
“What do you want me to say?”
“That you like me, too?” She gently squeezed my hand.
“Can I be excused from the table?”
“Why? What did I say? Did I say something wrong?”
“I have to freshen myself up. I will be back soon.”
“Luke, wait!”
I ran to the nearest bathroom. I splashed a handful of cold water to my face and looked at the misty mirror. I am not cut out for this. Why can’t they let me decide for myself? What do I decide for myself? What do I want? Who do I want? Ah, this is driving me crazy.
A strike of lightning flashed from the window. The clouds suddenly darkened, and the ship started to rock. The metal frame of the window detached from the strong wind. Cool air circulated the room. It felt familiar somehow. Could it be?
When I looked out of the window, I saw something fly from the distance. It flew like a fish in the sea. Thunder bolts blasted closer and closer until it reached the ship.
- Writer
