6

CHAPTER 6

EVEN WITH PHAM'S disagreement, Marcus brought him to the Sea Shore Restaurant. That restaurant is unique because it is a floating cottage and it is a few meters away from the beach.

Pham held the chair tightly as Marcus pushed the floating cottage into the deeper part of the sea with a long bamboo.

His body trembled every time he looked up at the blue water.

"That's enough. It's deep here." He stopped the young man. because he can feel his knees shaking.

Pham breathed a sigh of relief when Marcus listened and stopped paddling. He first put the bamboo aside and I carefully tied the floating cottage before returning to the seat next to him.

their bodies are just inches apart and Pham is feeling that sensation again. He tried to suppress that feeling.

"You look pale." Marcus noticed when she turned to him. "Are you alright?"

He took a deep breath. "Of course."

"You look... really pale. Scared?"

he quickly shook his head. "No."

He didn't want to relive that incident with Marcus that he knew was not good for both of them.

"Okay. So... eat." Marcus said with his hand gesturing to the table in front of them. "We didn't both have breakfast so I know you're hungry. I am famished."

When he didn't move, he put fried rice on his plate and a hot dog and bacon. In a saucer, he placed a pancake and topped it with chocolate syrup. His gesture shifted something inside of her. He didn't think he would do that.

the Marcus she knew in her mind was rude and callous.

"Eat up, Fatima." Marcus said with a hug.

From the corner of his eyes, he casually observed Marcus eating comfortably while holding hands.

"I didn't know you knew how to eat with your hands." he didn't stop commenting while starting to eat.

"Well, there are a lot of things you don't know about me." His voice had a strange tone but his face had no emotion.

"We're just the same." He said, "You don't know anything about me either."

his cold eyes stared at her. "Are you sure about what you're saying?"

He nodded. "Yes."

Marcus drank water then poured coffee into his cup and topped it with cream.

"Just plain coffee is okay with me." He said.

"Nah. I know you like your coffee with a little cream."

He raised his eyebrows. "And how did you know that?"

"Fatima, I was a person who lived in the Ancestral Home with you and Martin."

"Even." He replied, "you're the one who doesn't care about your surroundings."

"Again, Fatima, you don't know me. But I know you." every word it utters has an emphasis.

"You don't know me, Marcus. What you know about me must be wrong."

"Wanna bet?" It challenges him to look at her.

His heart skipped a beat when their eyes met. He simply shook his head.

"Do you know when my birthday is?" He tried to ask.

The answer was automatic. "Yeah. August 21."

Pham couldn't help but be surprised that Marcus knew his birthday.

"Ahm... do you know what my favorite color is?" there was doubt in his voice as he asked.

He wanted to know what she knew about him. Something in her is feeling different.

"Yes. Purple." He drank coffee.

"How did you know?" He was curious.

"Once Martin asked me if I had purple flowers because he couldn't find any. I asked why, he said because purple is your favorite color." He laughed softly and shook his head. "So I told him there were flowers in the garden that were purple and he just plucked them for your first anniversary. Damn him for that. I had a hard time planting that flower."

"You planted the flower he gave me on our anniversary?" he gasped slightly surprised.

"Yeah." He answered nonchalantly.

"Why did you let Martin take the flowers? You said you worked hard to plant them."

"Well, Martin is my brother and it's your anniversary. And besides, you look beautiful in purple, so yeah..."

He stared at the young man. its jaw moves while looking at the ocean. It's like he's holding back an emotion that doesn't want to be released. He has this faraway look in his face and Pham wonders... what is he thinking?

He didn't look down at his hand that was resting on the table. He was startled when the memory that happened this morning suddenly came to his mind. Her memories are vivid. She can still feel his finger as he caresses the lips of her womanhood. He can still feel that delicious sensation.

those memories made her body burn with desire... desire for this man beside her. Oh jesus. No!

He quickly grabbed the wedding ring and then filled his mind with memories of him and Martin. But as she filled her mind with memories of her late husband, memories of Marcus resurfaced again. the way his lips taste, the way he moves against her and the way he touches her intimately.

Good Jesus. Why does he feel this about his wife's brother?

"You, do you know my birthday?" Marcus asked him provocatively.

He blinked before answering. "No."

"I'm wounded, Fatima." It was obvious from the twinkle in his eyes that he was just joking. "What do you know about me?"

"Hmm," he acted thoughtfully as he divided the hotdog on the plate into three. "Actually, I don't know anything about you except that you have a bad attitude."

"Me, bad attitude? woman, my employees admires me!" He said exaggeratedly.

Well, that's true. When it comes to its employees, it is kind. Only he has a bad attitude.

"I was also your employee before I married Martin, but you treated me really badly." he said, "you always glared at me."

"I hated you. Because you're hopeless."

Confused, he turned to her. "What did you say?"

He stood up and turned his back on her. "Forget it. It's all in the past."

"What now." He insists.

"You're starting to be annoying again, Fatima." his voice had no emotion. "Anyway, let's swim."

Her lips parted as she began to undress with her back to him. He could freely examine his strong back and his muscular arms and thighs.

Her throat went dry. Shit! He drank water in no time.

And wearing his boxers that were almost to his seat, he jumped into the sea and the water splashed on his face.

He quickly dried the water on his face and frowned as he stood up and looked at my water where that man was.

her body started to tremble when Marcus didn't resurface.

Jesus! Maybe something bad happened here! His entire being was enveloped in fear and trepidation.

He knelt down on the side of the cottage so he could see the bottom of the sea better.

"Marcus? Marcus?" He called her name.

where is that man? He didn't want to go down in the water because he was afraid.

And out of nowhere, a hard set of arms embraced her neck and pulled her towards the water.

Panic consumed her as her body was submerged on to the water. Panic ruled over her senses. he was trying to break free from the strong arms that wanted to lock him in the water.

She kicked and she screamed. He was desperate to get out before he drowned.

"Fatima! Fatima!" Someone shook him. "Fatima! What the hell is happening to you?!"

that loud voice at the same time shaking his shoulder awakened his frightened spirit. When he opened his eyes, he and Marcus met their eyes.

Worry is written on his face. He held her arm tightly while they were still in the water.

"Fatima, what is happening to you?" He asked angrily as his eyes narrowed. "Do you know that because of your disappearance, you almost drowned?!"

Instead of answering, he sobbed and caressed his shoulders and chest. all the fear he felt earlier turned into tears and they flowed abundantly down his cheeks. The emotions he feels are mixed as he whines and punches Marcus' chest without interruption.

"Fatima, what the hell!" Marcus threw his hands angrily, when he couldn't stop him, he hugged him tightly.

"You idiot! You idiot!" He continued to cry. "You idiot!"

"Stop." He rubbed his back. "Stop it. That's it." He tried to comfort her. "Stop crying. Just stop."

she sobbed continuously as he comforted her.

"Stop crying, Fatima." There was frustration in his voice. "What is happening to you?"

"I'm afraid of the sea." He said sobbing. "I'm scared… I'm scared."

"Shhh..." he hugged her even tighter. "I'm sorry."

Pham cried harder. since Martin disappeared, he has always blamed himself for what happened. It's really his fault because he didn't listen. He said that part of the sea was deep but he still swam towards it. And he spasm. Martin saved her, and in doing so, he drowned and she wasn't able to save him. And since then he was afraid of the sea.

"It's all my fault." So he understood Martin's mom's anger towards him. "My fault. My fault."

he kept saying it was his fault like a broken plate. And Marcus just rubbed her back and stayed silent.

Pham didn't realize that Marcus had taken him out. He was laid to rest in the floating cottage made of pallets.

"There. You're out of the water." Marcus said with his arm resting on the cottage while half of his body was still in the water. "If you're afraid of the sea, why did you come here to the Island? You do know what island means right?" It blew a violent wind.

He coughed and took a deep breath.

"I came here because I want to rest at least for a while. I want my mind to be at peace even for a while. But there is still a villain even if it's just a simple request. I want peace of mind, Marcus. Then I'll see you here. I left home temporarily to avoid my husband's judgmental family, but here you are in front of me."

"Fatima..."

"Is it too much to ask for a couple of days rest?" He turned to Marcus who was looking at him, there was emotion in his eyes that he couldn't read. "I know it's my fault. Every day I blame myself. Do you think I'm happy that my husband died who was the only person who sympathized with me?" A single tear fell from his eye. "I love Martin. Very dear. I know why you all hate me, I hate myself too, but please, even if it's just for a few days, let my conscience rest. He's already beaten up. What else do you want, I die?"

he covered his face with both hands and started crying again.

She thought of relaxing in this island, escaping her pain and worries, but it turns out that this island will refresh the pain she went through for three years.

"I never blamed you for my brother's death." Marcus's language. "And I know you're having a hard time, why don't you leave the house, huh? Leave that fucking house and buy your own. use the money I'm giving you, or if you don't want to, rent until you can afford to buy a house for yourself."

"The memory of Martin and I is in that house."

"No. If that house tortures you, then leave. there is no reason why you want to stay at home because you and Martin are there. Isn't memory supposed to be stored in here," he pointed to his brain and heart, "and here."

He removed the hand that was covering his face then looked at the young man.

"You didn't say it, but I can feel it, Marcus, that you want me to leave the house. Well, I'm just a bitch. You can't even see my face. Is that why you left the house? Maybe that's the reason now too why are you making me leave the house.it's a trick you want to play so that I leave the house with my own thoughts."

"You got it all wrong." It shook. "I had my reasons, Fatima."

He snorted and looked at the sky.

Silence prevailed between them both. he could only hear the faint waves of the sea.

And Pham felt peaceful in that very moment.

"I wonder if Martin is doing okay up there. In heaven." None of his own words.

"No, he's not."

"You're a real villain no matter what." he said bitterly to Marcus while still staring at the sky.

"That's not being a villain." This is it. "Martin loves you and he wouldn't want to see you cry. But look what you're doing now, you're crying over him. You should have fun, you know. Enjoy life."

"How can I enjoy life when the person I want to enjoy it with is gone?" He had many questions for Marcus and the void.

"I'm still here."

His heart skipped a beat. Those three little words sent her mind and heart haywire. But immediately the deal between the two of them entered his mind.

if she let this happen, she will lose everything. Her dignity, her morals and the house. He was sure Marcus would get him out of there. Even now he was sending her away.

That's the goal of the whole family, for him to leave. and he was the only stubborn one who didn't want to leave.

She's still holding on to Martin's memory.

But shouldn't he not be thinking about that now?

He must be relaxing. He should be happy. He should do whatever he wants here on the Island for two weeks.

this is the escape that she was looking for.

He turned to Marcus and their eyes met. He was looking deeply into her eyes.

"Enjoy life..." he said, "fine."

What happened in this island stays in the island, right