Chapter 13

                                    

                                          


                          
        
                          
I had not really paid attention to where we were before he got me back on the boat. We were in a small bay, on the coast of an island, which he told me was an ancient volcano covered in a forest and surrounded by a beach. It was a deserted island, so we were all alone, miles away from the main island. 
                          
I hoped he knew what he was doing... So alone... it seemed to have some effect on my stomach. I wasn't sure if it was excitement or fright. 
                          
I looked up at K. He was taking down the sails, but when he saw me, he stared back with a curious expression. I got up. His eyes were intense, glued to my face. And I could see his chest moving as he took in deep breaths. His voice was huskier than usual when he spoke. "Are we going in or what?"
                          
"S-sure," was my answer. I took off my lifejacket so I could strip down to my bathing suit. I unbuttoned the pink blouse, and as soon as I was done with the last button, his hands were on my waist, where a part of my skin was uncovered. He slowly pulled me towards him. I didn't know how to react, so I didn't, I just let him pull me closer. He whispered my name as he put his hands each side of my neck, and let them glide down, on my shoulders, down my arms, until my blouse fell off. 
                          
I had no idea what to think, or what to do, actually I couldn't really think. I didn't know if it felt right or wrong. All I knew what that I felt all kinds of new emotions boiling inside. My body felt limp, and my head was spinning. Without thinking, I put my hands on his chest, meaning to push him away. I was terrified deep down—terrified this was wrong, terrified of what it would mean—and I didn't want this to go any further. If I hadn't been able to stop him before, now I really had too.
                          
But the fact that I feebly pressed my hands on his chest seemed to have the opposite effect on him. His breath came in raging gasps, and he leaned in. I couldn't do anything to stop him now. 
                          
Gift from nature, or extremely strange coincidence, I couldn't choose, but another whirl of wind came from the opposite side of the boat just in time, swinging the boom—K hadn't had the time to tie it up—fiercely at us again. The hit didn't hurt as much as the first one. K had absorbed most of the shock. But I still lost my balance and fell into the water—luckily catching my lifejacket by mistake as I went. K barely moved. I felt a surge of relief invade me, as we were separated now, and I looked up at him, awkwardly putting my vest back on. 
                          
He was still frozen in place. His face was a firm mask of frustration. I didn't want this to ruin our day. But I didn't want to say anything, afraid of making it worse. I decided to take my shorts off, first of all; I didn't want to go back in the boat. I shimmied them down to my ankles, and caught them underwater with one hand. I threw them towards the boat, counting on my average aiming skills. They were well on their way to falling right next to K, but the wind caught them and K got them directly in the face. 
                          
"Oops!" For a moment, I was scared of what would his reaction be. But after a split second, he started laughing, so I relaxed and sighed. 
                          
It seemed to have woken him up; he took the time to tie the boom, took off his clothes, and threw me a pair of big goggles. I put them on; he snickered under his breath at my sight, and put his on too. K looked clumsy with his mask on, his eyes looked as big as golf balls and his lips looked a tad inflated. I laughed while he dove under water. After a moment however, I started getting anxious; he wasn't coming up. I started paddling crazily, and he automatically came back up. 
                          
"What's the problem, are you alright?" 
                          
"I thought you had drowned!" I pushed the water towards his face.  
                          
"I'm sorry, sweetie. I was just exploring the coral reef. You know, that's why you have your mask on. Take a look!" I sighed, but I did was he said.