CHAPTER 4

Her body felt light, floating in the midst. Chill air brushed against her skin, courtesy of humidity from the sparkling waterfall. The musty odor from moist earth lingered around her. Toes curled, she tried her best to avoid kicking into the soft bedding beneath her–swinging back and forth to her heart content. White chiffon dress, long flowing hair, and a heart-stealing smile on her face as she gazes at the waterfall. The same man stood behind her, pushing her swing. The same soft and soothing flute, interlude into swirling wind. It lasted for a long time. The swing stopped and a pair of hands sneaked from behind to cup her chin, lifting her head up. A soft lip planted a kiss on her forehead.

“Mine…” Selena chuckled with the repeated word. She stood up from the swing, walked around to him, and laid her head on his chest–which felt normal by the way. As a reflex, he hugged her over her arms, fiddling with lumps of hair, curling around his fingers. 

“Are you going to say that every night to me?” She sounded low and pitiful

“Hmm mmm” he nodded

“When are you going to show me yourself?” Selena looked up to his eye, a chocolate eye that is not too dark or too light, somewhere like bronze. Bedazzled by the eye, she lost herself into it, casting away self-awareness, submitting herself completely to it.

“When the time comes, my love…” he held her chin to kiss but Selena jerked back, biting her lower lip with a smirk at the corner. 

She parted from him and walked towards the waterfall. There, she looked back to him while unzipping her dress from behind. She stripped into two-piece and slowlystepped into the cold water. When she was settled, she ran a palmful of water over her face. A pair of large handheld her shoulders from behind. She turned around to face him, awkwardly blushing as he leaned forward to kiss her by the lips. The familiar warmth spread, blinding her. He playfully bites her lower lips making her gasp. She could feel a smirk against her skin, revealing the trick to make her open her lips. Taking the opportunity, he charged into the now slightly ajar mouth. His tongue explored every inch of her mouth, making her shrug her shoulder to withhold the tickling sensation it created. She never had been kissed before and so, she remained motionless for most of the time while he expertly stroked her tongue and indulged himself with quick-bites. His fingers traced the curves of her hips, slowly trailing off to forbidden zones.

  She woke up again to birds chipping but this time it was a bit late. Around 8.30 am. The eye from the dream popped into her mental image. Is he revealing bits and pieces of himself? Is he real and bound to show up sometime soon? Or is it some sort of subconscious memory resurfacing to torture her? She had no definite answer but one thing for sure, she is having her first crush on a man, from her dreams. She covered her face with her palm and smiled at the thought.

 Selena and Jewel left their room. They could only find Bohemian-themed dresses at the mountain foot. Selena was wearing a spaghetti strap, colorful full-length dress and her hair flowed down free. They were busy chatting when she looked up to see Orion leaning against wall, a hint of admiration in his chocolate eyes with a gentle smile on his lips. Wait, chocolate eyes? Selena just noticed that Orion also has chocolate eyes. Her facial expression changed to a deadpan –eyes kept darting between his in doubt. Until he waved his palm in front of her face, making her snap from daze.

“Let’s go for breakfast” he guided them further behind the house where an opening with a thick wooden frame led them to a vast dining hall. An elegant woman with straight silver hair sat on the furthest end of the long stretched wooden dining table. Rows of tall windows cast ample sunlight, that part of her glowed. Orion walked straight to her. 

“Selena, I would like to meet Mrs. Ruth Black, Zaden’s beloved mother”. She stood up as she stretches her hand to shake Selena’s. Straight back, leveled chin, and soft flowing shapeless dress with a well manicure appearance– she emits the aura of a queen and anyone would feel small next to her.

“Nice to meet you, mam. I’m Selena and this is my friend Jewel” she pointed at the thin figure next to her

“Please, just Ruth. Zaden briefed me about you and your friends but I didn’t expect such a dazzling beauty. Please have a seat” she said with absolute politeness. Orion pulled a chair on her left to sit while Selena pulled the next one beside him

“Orion, darling. Would you mind moving to the other chairs? I would like for Selena to sit here” Orion scowled at her as he moved behind Selena and Selena moved forward with much hesitation. Ruth slowly blinked at her as encouragement, and she sat down there.

“Is he angry?” Selena whispered to Ruth

“Oh, dear. Ignore him. He is just too jealous to share his seat but will completely forget it once the blueberry muffin is served” her comment made Selena chuckle and Ruth joined her. 

A low thud resonates. Zaden walked from the doorway opening into the room, heads down while scratching his eyebrow with his thumbnail. He froze for a moment, seeing the coziness between Selena and his mother, Ruth.

“There is my handsome prince charming” Ruth acknowledged his presence, earning a head turn from Selena to his direction. He focused on Selena with a cold expression as he walked to sit opposite her or to the right of Ruth. The breakfast was served, and Selena ate, shuffling in her seat all the while as she felt uncomfortable from the buzzing warmth on her cheeks, usually caused by her sharp gaze. 

‘Is he really looking at me or am I imagining it? Only one way to find out'

After consulting her inner voice, she looked up from her plate to see Zaden’s chocolate eyes staring directly at her and didn’t wince even after being caught by Selena. Wait, what? Another chocolate eyes. It must be a common eye color around here or she is just being obsessed with mid-tone, bronzy chocolate eye. She brushed it off. A cocked eyebrow questioned him and he jerked back with narrow eyes.

 Orion, Jewel, and Selena walked side by side with Orion in the middle towards outside

“Orion, can you bring us to the lake, the one that anyone can go fishing for dinner?” before Orion could answer, Jeffry grabbed their shoulders, 1 hand on Selena and another on Orion’s shoulder, peeping through them

“And some fishing supplies?” he said with excitement. Oliver peeped on Orion’s other shoulder, nodding excitedly. That settles it, they are going fishing.

Oliver whipped his fishing rod, throwing the cord to the water. It landed quite far away, and he seems to know what he is doing. Selena decided to cook some fish the way she knows, to dinner today, since she felt really bad not contributing yesterday. 

The girls took a net and went into the water, missing their balance and falling once in a while but getting back up to their feet, laughing at their failure and helplessness as they throw their net into the water, again. Orion and Sultan sat on the bank, observing them. Noah decided to sit back and enjoy the view behind Oliver and Jeffry. Orion’s eye focused on Selena more than it should, tracing every curve that is visible due to wet dress now.

“You like her, don’t you?” Sultan’s gravelly voice shook him a little as he snapped his head to him. When he realizes he had been admiring her all this time, he scrunched his nose as he rubbed his hand behind his neck, turning his face to the opposite side.

“You know it’s going to be complicated, right? I mean, she is from city and probably doesn’t want to stay here” Orion just nodded as he pursed his lips. After a pause, he let out a sigh of frustration

“I can’t help it. She is exceptionally beautiful from any other girls I have dated before” Orion said. 

“Maybe if you get her to like you enough, she will stay” scrutinizing Sultan for a moment, the depth of his words settled in and he gave him a fist bump. 

A spark of idea came with the urge to be put into action. He pushed himself up and walked into the water to teach the girls how it’s actually done. Back bent down, he opened his palm ready, right above the surface of the water. A white mass flexed right and left, waving its way towards Orion. 

He remained as still as possible, affecting the girls to freeze as well. When it was the right time, he grabbed the fish and pulled it out of the water, wrestling to keep it contained. Muscles on his arm tightened in strain but he still managed to catch one with bare hands and threw it to the bank.

“Now, your turn” Selena bent down in front of Orion. His eyes darted indecently at her perfectly rounded back. Jewel, Oliver, and Jeffry caught his act too, glancing over each other with million questions. 

A rather large fish came along to Selena’s feet. She grabbed it and pulled it out of the water, mimicking Orion. Only, she underestimated the power of nature. Losing grip on her hold, the fish started slipping. Orion intervein and tried to grab the fish but as last resort, she hugged the fish to her body. The fish, with all its strength, still threaten to jump out. Knocking Selena out of her balance. Orion stretched his arms around her and pulled her to his chest with the fish in between. Her focus was on the fish that she didn’t notice the force around her. With such close proximity, Orion’s eye darted at her lips, smiling at the struggling fish and the squint in her eyes when the fish sprinkled water. Restless, her friends exchanged confused and rather alarmed expressions.

 Back at the brick house, her priority was to scrub the fishy smell out of her body before heading to the kitchen. On the way, she came across Zaden and nodded at him with a smile.

“Hi” she motioned to the ladies in the kitchen.

“I need to cook some fish. Can I know where the spices are?” they all pointed simultaneously towards a cabinet. 

Victim of the day was already cleaned and ready as Selena begin cooking. Soon, one by one, the ladies cleared the space, moving to the table setting. Selena carefully arranged the fish slices onto a grill pan, turning them once in a while. The pinkish flesh slowly faded into white under her watchful eyes. 

She turned away for a moment to slice lemons when Zaden’s voice and a fish splatter came coherently, making her jump out of scare, cutting herself in the process. Zaden quickly moved from rear to grab her hand in panic. Gentle warmth under his grip masked her pain, stirring something fairly new in her tummy. 

Her soft index finger oozed with crimson thick blood. He looked around for tissue or a rag but none found. Returning to her finger back, he sees no other option to stop the dripping blood. He bent his head slightly to grab the finger between his teeth and sucked at it hard. It hurt so much that Selena started hopping low at her spot, wringing the other hand. Zaden let go for a minute to observe the wound

“Hold still for a minute” he ordered making her stiff at her spot. 

He inspected her wound with his finger and it started bleeding again. He bends down again to suck the finger. She shut tight her eyes and sucked in air, notching her throat as she placed her other hands against his chest, ready to push him away if it gets unbearable. The sensation of his lips on her skin amplified a thousand times with the closed eyes, awakening all her senses. Soothing warmth with a slight swirl of his tongue once in a while. He seemed to be concentrated on her cut and nothing else. When he let go, her heart dropped at the loss of contact, and she blinked open her eyes to see him blowing gently on the cut

“Ok, the bleeding stopped. Come” he instructed as he pulled her by her injured hand. Selena managed to switch off the stove before being dragged away.

“Sit” his voice was low and calm but the dominance clawed through her, forcing her to obey. She climbed up a bar stool, raising her level more than she is. Zaden grabbed a first aid box from under the sink and dabbed some alcohol on the sponge before cleaning her cut, earning a hiss from her. He glared at her face

“Do you always scare that easily?”

“Not always. Only when someone sneaks up to me” sensing the sarcasm in her tone, he pressed on the cut a little bit harder, making her pull her hand away with a ‘arghhh’ and started blowing onto her cut. His gut clenched with guilt. He held her hand softly, pulled it towards him again as he continued his treatment, applying antibiotic and wrapping it with bandage

“Now what?” he thrust his hands into his pocket before questioning her.

“What?” Selena asked in confusion. He nudged his head towards the stove for her to gasp in realization. She left the cooking midway. Sliding off the stool, she uttered her gratitude. “Thanks,” she said as she walked back to the stove.

“Do you need any help?” the dark hair, the masculine figure now in a black V-neck t-shirt and light blue jeans followed her slowly from behind, hands still thrust into pockets. 

“It’s ok. The cut is not that bad” Selena switched on the stove.

 Zaden came to stand next to her, earning a confused look as she scanned him from top to bottom back to top. A knife in his vein sprawling hand, slicing lemons. She chooses to keep quiet and continue with her chore.

“Have you cooked before?” Zaden asked not moving his eye from the cutting board

“Occasionally” She replied simply. A moment of silence followed before Selena decide to ask a question that has been tumbling in her for a while now

“Can I ask you something?” he nodded

“Aren’t you guys afraid of wo…” she paused and decided to use a different word “Wildlife around here?” he frowned

“We have never been attacked before. Plus, wildlife tends to keep away from a spot that has signs of frequent movements” he answered casually as he finished slicing lemons.

“What’s next?” understanding he wanted to cut more, she pointed at a basket of asparagus by her other side as her eyes remained on the fish. 

He reached for the basket, hands crossing her back as his nose came close to her neck. The sweet scent she is emitting undone his senses, tranquilizing for a second. He somehow managed to grab the basket and return to his original position.

“Nice perfume,” he said in a low and husky voice. Her eye looked up to his face and then back to the fish

“Thanks…” and with that, a conversation started rolling. Basic information exchanged. It seems like he did study Business Management, he likes sports and asparagus doesn’t appeal to him.

“You should try some, you know, being open to possibilities,” she said as she was pan-frying asparagus with some olive oil, garlic ginger, oregano, and salt. He scrunched his face in disgust, making her let out a low sigh. 

“Sit” she pointed her spatula to the kitchen counter, as she picked up a small plate and placed a few asparagus on it. 

He did as told with his arms crossed his chest. She handed him the plate and he picked the asparagus, ate it, and looked up, glaring at her. She rolled her eye and picked up a piece of fish with cooking tongs and placed it on his plate. He broke a piece with his finger and was about to eat it when she stopped him

“What are you doing?” she shook her head irritated. Dropping her spatula to the counter, she squeezed some lemon on top of the fish and placed a green, creamy sauce on the side of fish, took a fork, forked the asparagus and then a small piece of fish, then slightly dipping the fish in the sauce, before bringing it near his mouth– feeding him. He chewed a few bites before closing his eye and moaning softly, throwing his head up.

“Good huh?” she wiggled her eyebrow at him sarcastically with a smile. Her hands clutched the counter next to his thigh, placing him between her arms. He suddenly dropped his head, nose to nose with her

“Better than sex,” he said low making her laugh.

“And that’s how, chief, you eat asparagus” she moved away from him while he diligently cut into the fish.

“Anyway, from what I have heard, nothing is better than sex,” she said while flipping the fish. Zaden frowned in confusion

“Wait…what? From what you HEARD?” he exaggerated the word heard. She nodded not paying attention to him or possibly to what she is saying.

“Selena are you a virgin?” she froze for a moment, thinking carefully about her next reaction. She shrugged

“Oh my god….” He exclaimed with a peal of laughter. 

“Ofhh shut up” she threw a glare at him and proceed to boil water in a small pan. 

Zaden’s laughter slowly faded. They resumed conversing, while she kept serving asparagus or fried potato wedges, or bacon on his plate. He didn’t stop her either and kept talking while eating. His face cringed when she spooned something white from the boiling water, strained for a few seconds,s and placed it on his plate, seasoning it with some salt and pepper

“What is this?” Zaden

“Poached egg” Selena. He cut into the egg and took a bite with a good amount of yolk and enjoyed every bit of it, finishing with a finger lick.

“Can I get another one of this?” Selena obliged and made him another one. 

By the time he was done, her friends came along, mentioning that the tables are all set and so did Selena, with her fish. They carried all the trays she prepared to the buffet table before each took a plate and proceed to eat, except for Zaden. He excused himself to check on his villagers. 

Selena was the last one to leave the buffet when she was stopped by Orion and Makeala. A wailing baby girl, prominent from the pink bow on her head writhed in Makeala’s hand. Selena soon learned that the baby was her own and Orion and Makeala are siblings. When the baby became uncomfortable, she excused herself to feed her, leaving behind Orion and Selena alone. 

“So…love the fish” Selena smiled at his comment and before she could thank him, they heard Jeffry’s voice from far. Waving his hand, he motioned Selena to come to them at an almost dark corner. 

Without thinking much, Selena excused herself to them

“Can you keep your distance from him, please” Jeffry whispered in her ears once she was close enough. She rolled her eye

“What? I don’t like his vibe and the way he looks at you” the others looked at her with concern as if they agree too. Selena just shook her head with a smile

“Come on Selena...We don’t want our Bambi to be broken when we return” he said that out a bit loud

“Who is Bambi?” It was Zaden, standing behind Jeffry and Selena.

“Hmm… that’s Selena’s nickname back home. Ouch!!!” Jeffry just got kicked in the foot by Selena.

“Why Bambi?” Sitka joined him from god knows where

“Because she can melt any animal with her eye. She will tame them, make them do what she wants just via her eye” Noah explained

“Any animal?” Now it was Xavier. Curious about who else was there, Selena turned her head to see the whole ‘Zaden team’ behind her, flabbergasting her for a moment

“I don’t see you eating, Chief,” Noah asked with concern

“Hmm…I’m full. By the way, I don’t see any poached eggs at the buffet. You forgot them or they finished up too fast?” Selena and her friends exchanged a confused look

“I didn’t make any for the villagers, only two for you,” Selena said. 

A tingle crept up his neck, for no reason, blissed that she cooked personally for him. The bacon wasn’t on the table, so she must have cooked that for him too. A tiny smile bloomed on his lips 

“That’s too bad. Zaden told us it was great, we were hoping to get a bite” Sultan finally spoke

“I can make some in the morning, for breakfast” she answered with hesitation and they all agreed