The Rabbit

JULY

"THANK YOU AGAIN," I said. "By the way, did you just make a bonfire?"

She turned back, looking at the bonfire.

"Yep," was her short reply.

"Wow. I never thought you could do that." There was a hint of amusement in my voice, then she laughed softly. Aww, that laugh. It was music to my ears.

"You really think I was only a spoiled brat child of the President who doesn't know anything, eh?" she asked, with one brow arched.

"N-n-n-no. Don't get me wrong. I was just really amazed."

"Really?"

"Yes and no."

"You said "yes" but there's a "no" as well?"

"Yes, because I was really amazed, and no, because you're right, I thought you were just a brat who knew nothing."

One of her eyebrows arched again, and she stared at me intently. Oh my god! Is she angry? I was suddenly alarmed. I was about to say sorry when she burst out laughing. It was as if I was starstruck staring at her and I couldn't say a thing. Damn! Her laughter is so glorious. She looks even more beautiful in my eyes.

"I wish you had seen your face," she said, still laughing.

I smiled too. "Why?"

"Priceless, Juls." My heart beat rapidly when I heard my name come out of her mouth. Dammit! I am so weak because of her smile. "You're going to apologize, right? You thought I was angry with your remarks?" I was stunned by her smile, friends!

Ugh! July? Hello? Get a grip on yourself.

"Because you... I thought you were angry." Whew! Fortunately, I was able to answer.

"No, I'm not," she said, still smiling.

Shit! The beauty of this woman is knee-jerking.

"So..." I continued to speak because if I didn't, I might think of something else to do and rape the lips of the goddess in front of me. "How about the meat? Did you catch it? What was that anyway? It was really tasty."

"Uhh yeah," she answered. And there was that expression on her face again that I couldn't understand. Something is really unsettling. "I needed some help from the twigs and trees, but I managed to catch it. And for the meat, uhh, that was a rat. " She was looking straight at me now.

When I heard and absorbed what she said, My eyes widened as my stomach twitched. That was what? Is that why I saw small four legs from the meat that I ate? It really is like a rat.

It looks like the inside of my stomach is twisting and turning, and if I could have a backflip, that would have happened too. When the brat's melodious laugh filled the silent seashore once more, I pretended to puke.

"Seriously, Juls? You bought it?" She said, laughing.

I knew my eyebrows were furrowed more than before. What is she saying? And oh, it was too late when I realized that she was just tripping. Wow. What a prankster!

"So that means, it's not... Rat?" I asked.

She shook her head, still laughing. I sighed in relief. I really thought it was a rat. Yuck!

"Eh, then what was that?" I asked.

I also enjoy watching her laugh. I had never seen her laugh like this. Not that I always see her or be with her, but the point is, we're not often together and it's only a few weeks that we meet. That's why I'm enjoying this moment with her.

"It's a rabbit," she replied, and wiped away her tears that came from laughing earlier. At least I made her laugh, right? "If it was a rat, it would still be delicious."

Is she serious? Look at her face. She looks serious. "Eww! Aren't you afraid of rats?"

She laughed again. "This is the first time I've seen you being dramatic. It doesn't suit you. I thought you were a pure, strong, independent woman type," she teased me. I playfully pouted. I was really, really enjoying this moment with her. "But just kidding, the rat in the rice field is also delicious, not the rat in the house. That's yuck!"

"Have you eaten rats yet? I mean rat meat that lives in rice fields? Seriously?" I can't believe I am asking her this question.

Natalia Aquino? The brat, the dramatic, the president's stubborn daughter, eating rat meat came from the rice field? Oh my god!

"You are exaggerating," she said with a smile. "Yeah. I didn't know it was rat meat. The seniors beat us up when we were initiated into our college society. We went to a province for that initiation. Besides, I was a top student then, so I needed points in college society to maintain my grades. They blindfolded us," she continued.

I just had fun looking at her. I understand now why Sofia and Haruka are still friends with her, because she's not really that bitch. I'm really happy that I finally met the real Natalia. I guess that it was also a blessing that we were trapped on this island, at least I got to know her thoroughly.

"Then they fed us, I just ate it too. It was delicious. We all enjoyed it. They cooked it really well, and it smelled good. When we digested the food, that's when they said it was a rat. You can probably imagine my face having nausea and being ready to puke everything that I ate from my tummy. That was a very unforgettable moment." She has dreamy flashbacks.

All I could do was stare at her gorgeous face. Maybe she noticed I was stunned, so she turned to me.

"Do you still want to puke?" Again, she was teasing me. I love this Natalia I'm with now, even though she's in bitch mode, I still love it.

"Not anymore." I smiled and shook my head. "It's really a rabbit, isn't it?" I asked once again.

"Yeah," she said, laughing.

"Rabbit? Aww, poor rabbit. You're a monster," I joked, but I got the total opposite of her reaction. Suddenly, her mood became gloomy.

"It's not my fault," she clenched her fist as she looked away.

Shit! What did I say? Argh! I forgot that this brat has mood swings. I should have been more careful with my words. I was about to speak when she continued speaking.

"I couldn't catch any animals because, honestly, I don't know how to hunt. It's just that when I went to gather food for us in the forest, it was just random fruits, then the cute rabbit suddenly came out. I wanted to hold it because of its cuteness, but it ran. I followed the rabbit till the small creature triggered a trap in the forest. After that, suddenly, another one came to save the other one, but it struggled. Then, when I'm about to help, there's another trap. They were both killed instantly." Nat's face shows agony.

"I didn't know that there was a trap in there until I saw the rabbits get killed. Of course I felt sorry for the rabbits, but I mentally thanked them because, if not for those creatures, I would probably be the one killed in that trap." She sighed and bowed her head. I felt guilty for what I said. I was just trying to tease her, but it was an epic fail. "I'm not a monster," Natalia whispered, but I clearly heard it.

I didn't know how to comfort her and I was so guilty that I was fidgety thinking about my stupid joke. I just swallowed all my reservations and scooted beside her and gave her a side hug. She was starting to sniff. God, I didn't know she was this sensitive.

"Hush, I didn't mean it like that. You're not a monster. Hush now," I said, while rubbing her other arm. We sat there for a long time again.

Honestly, I am really happy to see this side of her. For the first time, I didn't hear her complain about our situation, and take note, she knows so much about outdoor activities.

'Juls, taking advantage, huh.' Hey wolf! I am not! 'Defensive. Lol!'

"Do you think Dad is looking for us?" she asked. I was glad she didn't leave my embrace. I was even happier when she leaned on my shoulder.

"Of course," I replied, putting my head on her head, which was resting on my shoulder. I really took that opportunity. How I wish we were always like this.

"The president will not neglect his only child."

"Uhm..." I heard her say as she sighed again. "But he is taking too long to find us. It's been two days but still, no rescue team is coming."

"Two days?" I asked in surprise and was driven away by the inclination of our heads. She didn't look up, but I saw her nod. She was still leaning on my shoulder as she hugged herself. She is getting cold, I think. "So that means I was unconscious for two days?" I asked and leaned back against her head. I even hugged her tightly because I saw her tremble when the wind touched our skins. The bonfire was also dimming, and I didn't want to leave next to her to fix the fire. Anyway, I can make her as warm as the warmth from that bonfire.

She didn't answer my question, so I peeped at what was going on with her. Then, just as I thought, she was already asleep. Maybe she's really tired. Not only was he watching over me, but he was also getting food for us.Only one thing is missing, and that is where we can stay. Why did she not make us a shelter? Maybe she doesn't know or she's just really tired. Either way, whether we stay here long or not, I will make a way for us to have shelter.

I even approached the sleeping Natalia to make her feel warmer. Just to let you know, it's normal for the bodies of wolves like us to be really warm, so it's better for normal people to cuddle with us on a cold night.

When I made sure that Natalia was fast asleep, I laid her in my arms. I smiled as she squeezed herself beside me like a child. All I could do was hug her tightly. I kissed her on the forehead as I said the words, "Good night, my love." And since I'm still not fully recovered, I also dozed off easily.