Jones Island

"How can I go if you are hugging me as if I am going to die tomorrow?" Tinanaw niya ang walang katapusang karagatan. "I am nowhere in the middle of an Island. Ocean in front of me and woods at the back." She sighed, frustratingly.

Slowly, the side of his lips rose up but he immediately hid it. Trying really hard to be serious, but it's difficult. He is completely smiling now. "Alright. I miss your—" He tried to figure out the right words but they disappeared. He groaned. "Well, a desperate monkey will do anything to get his banana, right?"

Pinawalan siya nito. Their eyes locked. Those eyes battered with amazing sunshine. Did someone say to him that he had a beautiful pair of a brown eye? They were very expressive. She can literally read what's his feeling or inner emotions.

"That's why you cage me here?" she probe.

He closed their distance. A manly expensive scent immediately attacked her nostrils. So it was him, she didn't recognize those. Ilang araw din silang hindi nagkasama at ipinagtatabuyan niya. She missed him.

"You know my reasons, J. That's why never ask me to let you go," he said. His eyes suddenly looked down.

Napatingin din siya roon. Crap! Inayos niya ang kanyang roba at tumalikod dito. Why would he let me wear a nightgown? I don't have even a brassier, my nipples are waving at him.

"You're going to love the waves here," he said.

Tinanaw niya ang tinutukoy nito. "I saw them before I got here. Do you have a surfing board?" Hindi ito sumagot kaya nilingon niya.

Nakataas ang mga kilay, mayabang na tinuro ng mga mata ang gawi kung saan naroroon marahil ang surfing board. He pressed something on his keys then the metal that covers the whole parking rolled up.

The first thing she saw is the bigger Jet Ski, on its side a properly arranged bicycle. She counted them five. On the walls properly pinned surfing board, roller blades, skateboard and longboard with different shades. There is a self-balancing scooter and a Segway PT.

"You'll never get bored here. I promised."

Hmm. Did he planned this all? Napahinto siya sa pagsunod dito nang maalala ang pinainom sa kanya ni Lawrence. Kaya pala ang lasa noon ay maasim, hindi mapait. Kasabwat ng unggoy na ito si Lawrence?

"J, let's eat first. I cook you a delicious food."

He can cook?

He stopped from walking to massage her knotted brows. "My cooking skill is superb, J. You'll see." He left her there dumbfounded.

Inayos niya ulit ang kanyang suot na roba. May naglalarong ngisi sa mga labi noong tahimik na sumunod dito. The whole house is simply made of hardwoods and colored white. Probinsiya ang dating, ngunit moderno. Lalo sa kusina. There are a separate table and bar corner. He had a complete equipment, plus the modern stove and a ventilator.

When he is not here, who attend this house?

From the door, she watched him took the casserole and put whatever inside it on the white plate. He looked tidy and chef on his gesture. A handsome chef.

She wanted to take him a photo, but where could be her phone? "Do you have my phone?"

"I don't have one, J."

She panicked. Lumapit siya rito. "Why?"

She smelled the delicious aroma of the chicken curry, then she noticed the side dish on the plate. There are a caviar and a petal of a red rose? While doing his chef presentation, he meticulously glanced at her. "So that no one can disturb us."

What?

Dropped jaw, she stabbed him through her eyes. What just the hell and his brain always work together?

"I need my phone. I needed to know what happened with Ana's case, to my Dad's will, and my schedules."

He left what he is doing and faced her. "Hey! I know this sound so weird but, I literally chicknapped you, so don't bother me about that phone because I want you to forget everything behind. Just you and me, the ocean and the woods. Okay?"

Hindi niya alam kung matutuwa o magagalit. Pero mas nananaig ang kagustuhan niyang mahawakan ang kanyang cellphone. The cellphone is her life, without it, she'll be dead. She will starve even if he fed her. She'll be drain even if he charged her.

"Hindi ko kakainin 'yang niluto mo kapag hindi mo binigay ang cellphone ko."

His eyes spoke for him saying she is really difficult. "Kapag hindi ka kumain, hahalikan kita. Seryoso ako, J."

He exactly knew where to spot her, so she can bend her knees for him. A true king.

Gritting her teeth she kicked his left leg before she proceeded on his refrigerator. She heard him groaned.

"You don't have a choice, baby. You will eat this all or I will eat you. Choose, J."

She rummaged his refrigerator, took the plastic of lemon and the mint leaves. She almost thanked the person maintain this house for putting those leaves on his damn fridge.

"I will eat, just throw away that caviar." She took a knife and started to squeeze the lemon on an empty glass. "I need a hot water."

He is busy making the presentation for their pancakes and hot rice. Without looking at her he said, "It's near the oven. Feel at home, J."

She looked everywhere for his goddamn oven. And she almost spanked her forehead that it was just on the fridge side. "Do you want a lemonade?"

"Sure, thanks." He winked at her before he placed the three plates on his arms.

She never knew that he can be a passable waiter.

They ate silently on the veranda with a crashing wave as their background music. The place there is very peaceful, refreshing, and simple. Back then when she was in Cebu, she dreamt to live in their mansion alone. Without anyone's guidelines or restrictions. She can do anything. Everything. Eat organic fruits and vegetables. She had a farm for a dairy and green plants.

Just a simple life like this. No worries. No hassle. No meeting deadlines. You had your time. The time for your loved ones.

Her attention stayed with him. How his mouth accommodated those big chunks of pancake. His cheek looked waving mountains. She smiled when he choked and urgently took his lemonade.

"Hey, that's mine," she complained.

"Kaya pala matamis."

She snorted. "It should be sour."

"It tasted strawberry." His eyes smiled, but his mouth wore that pestering grin when his eyes glided on her body. "I miss your taste."

She fake a scoffed and looked away, pretending those words are not registering her vocabulary. But surely her cheeks flushed red. Can she just kick him again on his legs? He is getting aggressive again. Takot niyang nilingon ang kamang hinigaan niya kanina. Mayroon pa kayang bukod na kuwarto sa bahay na ito? Kung wala ay sa sala nalang siya sa susunod na matutulog.

But we are locked in here. Just the two of us!

"Finish your food. I will take our surfing board." He munched the last spoonful of rice with a yummy sauce of curry before he drank water and left her.

Gusto niyang matawa. Puwede namang tulungan niya ito, kaso mukhang gusto talaga ni Paulite na marami siyang kainin. Kung tutuusin ay wala yata siyang matinong kain nitong nagdaang araw. At hindi niya maikakailang masarap nga ang luto nito.

Napalingon siya rito na hinihila na ang gagamitin nilang surfing board. He found it difficult so he carried the two. His arms flexed from the effort and force. He looked so strong. Hot and strong.

Lumingon ito sa kanya. "Are you done?"

"Almost. Uh, Lite, nagdala ka ba ng damit ko?"

"Marami sa kuwarto natin."

She can't believe that. But then she had no choice. She was trapped. Mabigat ang bawat yabag niya nang buksan ang cabinet. Maraming damit at lahat ay puro bago. Pumili siya ng rush guard at leggings. Sa loob noon ay gym bra. Tirik na ang araw. Kahit walang tao sa paligid, gusto niya lang protektahan ang kanyang balat, pero dipende pa rin. Sadyang pinagpala ang lugar na ito, nakakaakit at nakakaengganyo. Baka tanggalin din niya mamaya ang rush guard.

She rummaged on the other cabinet and found SPF and different woman hygiene and toiletries. She put sunscreen on her face then SPF. She even applied for her hands and feet. By the next two more hours she found herself screaming at the top of her lungs. Paulite is driving the Jet Ski at full speed. They are breaking the ocean into two with their roaring yells.

"This is amazing!"

Paulite maneuvered the Jet Ski going back on their house beach front. Her both hands curled around his waist tighter. Sometimes, her right hands flew up for a loud cheer and tease. When they reached the shore, Paulite glanced at her. "Sanay ka bang mag-skateboard?"

"Oo naman, pero mas sanay ako sa tubig."

"I will teach you then."

Bitbit ang kanya-kanya nilang skateboard ay binagtas nila ang kagubatan. She thought the woods is abandoned. It was actually watched by Paulite's worker. This whole exotic Island was owned by him. Unbelievable but she is flesh walking in there as a trespasser together with the handsome owner.

Na-excite siya sa nakitang maliit na batis. Ang himig nito na hinaluan ng huni ng ibon ay nakakagaan ng pakiramdam. Bigla ay naalala niya ang Mansion nila sa Cebu. Ang dagat at mga halaman sa hardin nila.

"We are near," Paulite said. His hand reached out for her to jump on the huge root of the tall tree. It's just a few more steps then the road.

"What's the name of this place, Lite?"

"I named it after you, J. Jones Island."