The Secret Island

Summer love refers to love that occurs in a short time during a vacation or holiday. It has meaning for memories. But in the end, it will eventually be over. Celine wasn't sure whether she was experiencing some sort of summer love syndrome; she was fascinated with the tenderness of Martin's kiss and the warmth of his embrace.

Everything that happened was challenging to understand. He didn't tell her much about the incident unless he had recurring nightmares from it. No elaboration was offered, and he wasn't on the stage that could tell her more. She didn't know what to ask out of respect for his privacy.

Being a stubborn person, she insisted on staying with him, staying close to him. She loved being near him, at least until our time together was over. She vowed not to care about his past if he didn't feel comfortable sharing. And no matter how curious she was, she would keep all the questions to herself.

Yesterday, she knew a little more about him. Even if it was not a lot, but enough that she knew he needed her. Martin was not a weak person. And she wasn't strong enough to help him, but he wanted her to stay, at least as someone who was beside him when he was vulnerable.

But her worry in this instant was not symptoms of his traumatic past. It was our relationship.

He said he liked spending time with her. What about after this? Will we eventually become strangers?

She didn't know whether he would allow her to meet him after this holiday or if it all would become memories, and that is all there was to it. And what if she didn't want to remain only memories? What could she do?

She didn't care about his problems or his past. She only wants to stay with him.

She fell for him. It might not be love, but she knew it was an intense infatuation, or maybe it was more. Although it was sadly one-sided, she hoped she could change his mind.

"Martin, next month, could you go to my graduation ceremony?" She mustered up the courage to ask this question. The question implied that she wanted to meet him even after this holiday.

We were lying down, looking at the sky under the shade of a big tree. She turned to Martin, who was still staring at the clouds that had gathered in the wide sky. She couldn't predict what was on his mind; he was always difficult to predict. "Which day is it?"

Celine smiled at the hope of seeing him again. He didn't deny her invitation. But once she told him the date, her light of hope was quickly extinguished.

Martin closed his eyes and shook his head. The sea breeze blew his hair to cover some parts of his handsome face. He was like a classical painting she once saw at a museum in London-a beautiful painting, just out of reach, but a world apart and a lifetime apart.

"I won't be in Italy that day." His eyes still closed; he answered her. She couldn't guess what he was feeling from the tone of his voice. He was always unpredictable to her. She never knew how he felt.

"Where will you be?" Another question from her received no response.

"Martin..." She whispered his name. He reached out his hand and touched hers.

"I can't promise you anything after this holiday, but I could promise you that you will have the time of your life on this trip. What do you think?"

He said tiredly, as if fatigue got to him after thinking about the future.

Perhaps this was a punishment from heaven, she who always gained anything easily but had to comply to all his requests without question. But perhaps she still had time to change his mind.

"Not good enough," Celine said stubbornly.

"Hmm? What is not good enough?"

"Your promise isn't good enough." Celine was firm in her every single word. She couldn't let this be. And the change in her voice startled him.

He got up. He was sitting and turned to look at her, who was frowning. He did not understand her at all.

"And?" He raised his brows and grinned.

The man was grinning again.

"I don't know, but I have a new request." She got up as well, so now their faces were on the same level. She shouldn't negotiate the terms while lying down.

"Oh, now you want a negotiation. Alright, what do you have? Just tell me." He was looking like such a schmuck that she rolled her eyes.

Celine turned to sit cross-legged and stared at the tall man in front of her, who was now puzzled by what she was trying to say. Celine took a deep breath and exhaled a few times. She tried to choose the most appropriate words. But in the end, the beautiful words couldn't match what she truly wanted.

She told him what she truly wanted.

Who cares if it's risky? Who cares if our time is running out? Who cares if the man is full of secrets? Yes! To hell for it all!

Celine decided she didn't care. Although they had to break up one day, this was the path she chose.

"You. Need. To. Be. My. Boyfriend."

"WHAT?" He was so shocked his face turned funny, wide-eyed, and he frowned. She didn't understand his reaction. It was a simple request, just asking him to be her boyfriend. Yes, she was a straightforward person. No one should have a problem with her since she didn't have any problem with her.

"I want you to be my boyfriend. I want us to be a real couple, at least before I go back." She elaborated, so he could understand. But no amount of elaboration seemed sufficient.

"...."

"I'm serious." She added a little more seriousness to her tone, so he listened to her more and understood more. But his answer made her frown deepen. Did he see her as a child who asks random things? She was serious about this request; she was sincere and serious.

"Have you really thought this through?"

"I'm serious."

"Well..." The man still acted like a schmuck and grinned.

She couldn't take it anymore. Celine reached out her hand and pinched his cheek.

"Ouch! What are you doing?" He stroked his cheek and looked at her in distress.

"I don't care. You can't do this to me. You can't make me like you this much and run away. I demand more responsibility. Be my boyfriend before I have to leave the island."

"Are you sure?" He said it as if he thought she didn't know what she was doing or what she was playing with. That part was true. But at least she hoped that the time we spent together could persuade him to welcome her to his world a little more.

"I'm sure. More certain than ever. What's your answer? Do I really need to sit here all day and ask you to be my boyfriend over and over again? Do you know how much ego I sacrificed saying all this? Can't you just empathize with me on this? Since I was born, I never have had to do anything like this. But you are such a dull, unresponsive, and uninitiated man when it comes to a relationship. If I don't take the first step, you won't do anything, and what will I be? Just laying alone looking at the sky? Boring!" Celine finished her mini speech with so much passion and anger.

Martin laid down again, his two hands covered his face, and he laughed softly.

"Who on earth asked someone to be in a relationship in this manner? Celine, are you sure you are not threatening me?"

"Just answer me."

"I have so many problems of my own. Are you sure you want to be in a relationship with someone like me?"

"I could take the risk. I don't care."

"But we only have six days together."

"I know."

"We have to break up on the day you leave, do you know that?"

"I'm well aware."

"Can't we just stay as we are? This kind of relationship is not bad, no?"

"No, I want more clarity in what relationship I'm in, not just this vague dating that goes nowhere."

"But why are we doing that? What is it for?"

"Sigh..." Our negotiation was tiring, and she was tired of him evading her advances. But because he was avoiding answering, she needed to be more tactful and straightforward.

"Martin, do you like me?" She asked him frankly. He looked at her for a long time. His gaze lowered, and he slowly shook his head. He smiled to himself as if immersing in memories. She could only hope he thought of our memories together. She touched his hand and looked at both of our hands. Someday, she needed to let go of his hand. Our six days together might not change his mind, but we had six more days together. Six days that she could do anything she wanted. "This is probably the hundredth time I told you this. Saying it makes me so un-ladylike, but whatever, I'm falling for you. I really like you. I don't care if it's only six days left. Just forget all your problems and agree with me, be my lover, leave all your worries and be my lower for six days. Can you do that?"

She turned away and waited for his answer.

He took his hand off from her gasp. Her heart sank. Is he really rejecting her?

She closed her eyes and prepared to walk away. But she felt the touch of his hand on her cheek. Celine immediately opened her eyes.

The first image she saw was Martin smiling at her.

"Sure, we can try."