CHAPTER 3

　　"Miss?"

　　He shook my flying spirit. As he entered my cabin, I stared blankly at the man's face. It didn't seem to absorb what was going on around me for a while.

　　"Miss, what's your real problem?" asked the man, who sat at the foot of the bed, holding my cold shovel palm. I was disoriented. His palm is warm, warming my cold hand.

　　He was the one!

　　When I was about to fall into the sea, the man rescued me.

　　"What exactly are you doing here?"

　　In an angry tone, I rubbed my lips. I had a flashback to what we had just finished arguing about on the deck. The man exhaled a sigh.

　　"I see you're in big trouble now!"

　　As he caressed my cheek, I was still trembling. "Look at you. You're a disaster, and what did you do with your possessions? Why did it explode like a tornado? Are you insane?"

　　Jesus! Is this man going to do nothing but insult me? My brain suddenly screamed.

　　"Go away!"

　　Without opening my mouth, my tongue is strong but weak.

　　"I just wanted to help, Miss, and—-"

　　"Get out!" I yelled angrily.

　　"Get out of here, or I'll catch you stealing my belongings and money." I appear to be eating people in a rage.

　　'What exactly is it? And how come I'm the—"

　　"Get the hell out!" Before I murder you! " I said,

　　And I got up and shoved him out.

　　"All right, all right! Relax. I'm going out," he said as he walked away.

　　When the man was finally outside, I shut the cabin door against him. Then there was the deafening silence that surrounded them. I sat up in bed for the second time. What happens next? I don't have any money and don't yet have Kara's?phone number. Why am I not used to carrying a phone directory of my friends' phone numbers? I didn't bother remembering their phone numbers because I was too confident that they were in my cellphone's phone book. Shit! After crying, I cursed.

　　My stomach hurt, but there was nothing I could think of to eat. I just blended in by observing the people eating in the ship's canteen. I saw a kid holding a hotdog on a stick with catsup and thought it looked delicious. I swallowed several times while smiling at the child who was not paying attention to the mother who was leading him. The kid was stunned, and he once stuck his tongue out at me while biting into the hotdog he was holding. I winced and then returned my gaze. I lingered, hoping against hope to see someone I recognized.

　　Fortunately, I believe, because a turn of my gaze to one side of the canteen brought us to the gaze of the man who saved me from almost drowning in the sea. Oh no! It was him once more! I yell in my head. She smiled as she stared at me. His eyes appear to be smiling at me. I was about to hit him when I was caught off guard. A dish and rice with a dish were placed in front of me. Another can of coke makes sweat in the cold. My stomach was getting worse. Will smiling at that man solve my hunger problem? He seemed nice when he smiled at me. Not as conceited as before.

　　But how do I approach the man who used to resemble a dog and get him to leave my cabin? What if he retaliated and humiliated me? Yes, Elijah, stay away from him. My paranoid brain screams, "It appears he may have revenge on you."

　　But I can't help myself. I'm very hungry. Why didn't I feel like eating when I had money before? I noticed the man stand up and take a step closer to me. He still had a smile on his lips.

　　"Hello!"

　　He smiled as he came to a stop in front of me.

　　"Come with me, eating alone is boring."

　　"Huh?" My lips are twisted.

　　"Common, come to the counter and select your food."

　　He immediately extended his hand to me. As I stared at his palm, I became aware that my knees were trembling with hunger and that my steps might have faltered if no one had assisted me. I accepted his palm because it seemed magical.

　　"I'm sorry for shouting at you earlier; I thought you were going to kill yourself," the man said, smiling.

　　?

　　"It's okay, it's my fault. I'm not used to riding a ship. I just stared at the rough water and got dizzy. Anyway, thank you for lunch. It's embarrassing for you. You just noticed that I'm very hungry, which I was before."

　　The man smiled once more. I'm distracted because his pearly white teeth keep shining.

　　"That's okay. Even if you didn't explain it earlier, I know your cabin was ransacked, and I know you lost your money because your wallet was ripped. Anyway, I already informed the ship's captain of this, and they will investigate to find your valuables, cellphone, and ATM card, including your credit card."

　　"Thank you, and I apologize for hitting you too hard."

　　"It's nothing; it's just someone's first reaction; anyway, we've been eating together for a while and we've been enlightened; I still don't know your name, and you're the same to me."

　　"Of course," I say.

　　I'm going to I was surprised to remember that I had been hiding.

　　"I'm Eli."

　　My name was pronounced "Eli" by him.

　　"Your name is lovely; I'm Harris, a businessman, and CEO."

　　He immediately extended his hand to me.

　　"Nice to meet you," I said as I accepted his palm.

　　His name sounds familiar, but I can't place where or with whom I heard it.

　　"My pleasure; ?friends?"

　　Then he lightly squeezed my palm.

　　"Of course," I say, reaching out my hand.