Chapter 9

Max

"Cool." She waited till I had prepared another for myself. "I'm so nervous," she squealed before she put the shell to her mouth and threw her head back, letting the oyster slide into her mouth. As did I.

It was cold and had a texture I had never felt in my mouth before. A little reluctantly, I chewed on the soft flesh, because it was just not in my nature to swallow something without chewing it first. It tasted like the rock pools I played in as a child, but then in a good way. I think?

"So... that was pretty disgusting," Ziya said.

"It's not really my new favorite food, but it wasn't too bad."

"Well, I'm craving pizza now."

"Oh, fuck. Me too. So, so badly," I agreed.

Why did she have to bring up that word? Fat, dripping, extra cheesy pizza with salami, ham, and mushrooms, and a brown-backed crust. Ugh! I so fucking needed that!

"Let's eat another one," she suggested. "They might be gross, but we need some other food than bananas and coconuts. I'm sure these are packed with vitamins we could use."

She picked up the other ones and washed them in the ocean.

After I'd carved one open again and had given it to her, I saw her fumbling with her dinner while I was busy trying to open mine. "What are you doing?" I asked.

"I'm just—Oh my God!" she yelled. "Oh my fucking God, a pearl! There's a pearl inside this one! Can you believe that?"

"What! Really?"

"Yeah!" Ziya slipped her fingers out of the rocky shell and held a tiny pinkish pearl between her wet fingers. "Haha, will you look at that!" she said, laughing.

"That's so amazing."

"I think I once read that finding a natural pearl is very rare, that's why pearl jewelry was so expensive before they cultured the pearls on pearl farms," she said, looking at the little round globe with much admiration. "I can't believe you found one during your first oyster hunt."

Looking at her in admiration, I think I have found an even bigger treasure than that rare little pearl.

~

We walked along the shore until we completed an entire round around the island. It must have taken us hours because the sun was about to set. It felt like time was so much faster around Ziya. We talked and laughed.

"Let's watch the sunset together." I proposed.

"You're reading my mind."

We sat down and watched the sky turn. From blue to purple, then orange and red and pink and yellow. I had never seen such a beautiful sunset in my whole life. It felt like such a magical moment. I wished I could snap a picture, but at the same time it felt like that would have only ruined the moment. It was just us and nature at its finest.

"This is almost like a fairytale," Ziya said, looking at the sky while my attention was on her now. The light on her face made her skin shine brightly I could count new freckles on her nose every day.

She looked at me. "What are you looking at?"

"Uh-I just noticed you're getting these little freckles on your nose."

"I am?" She looked at me with wide eyes. "Must be from all that sun and no protector."

"Yeah... But it looks... cute."

"Cute?"

"Yeah, I dunno. Just... cute, you know?"

My heart started to race again.

"Nobody has ever called me cute before."

"Nobody?"

"Nope. People call me pretty, bitchy, or sexy. Never cute."

"You're pretty as well. And... sexy too." I said, hoping it didn't sound wrong.

"Not bitchy?" she asked.

"I haven't met bitchy Ziya, no, but maybe she has yet to come out."

"Oh, she's in there for sure." She laughed. "But I could never be a bitch to such a sweetheart like you."

"..."

She bit her lip, making me swallow. I couldn't help but keep looking at those lips, wondering how they would feel pressed against mine.

"Max?"

"Hm?" I looked into her eyes.

"Do you want to kiss me?"

Ziya

"Max?"

"Hm?" He looked into my eyes.

"Do you want to kiss me?" I asked, looking at him while the light shone upon us in many colors while the sun set. It was so romantic.

Max's mouth fell open at my sudden question, but I just couldn't help myself to ask him. The way he had been staring at my lips, I could just feel his need to kiss me as badly as I wanted to kiss him.

He had been nothing but sweet with me these past few days. In all other relationships I've had, no man had ever even thought of bringing me breakfast in bed. But Max, a guy I didn't even know before half a week ago, did.

The way he took the time to make that decorated tray with fruits, especially for me, made me melt inside.

Plus, we could talk about everything. Maybe it was because we have no other place to go. Maybe I was just making all of this more romantic than it should be. But this was how I felt. I couldn't stop my feelings.

It felt as if I knew him for years already. Like we were living together, here on this island. I had never felt so at ease with someone as I felt being with him.

I even farted in front of him today. I'd never released even the smallest amount of air with any of my exes because I think I never felt completely at ease with them. But with Max, I did.

And I wanted him too, wanted to kiss and touch him. I was pretty sure he wanted me back, but maybe it was only physical for him. I wasn't sure about his feelings, but I knew I really started to like him. Especially after this morning.

"Don't you want to kiss me?" I asked, suddenly a little anxious because he still hadn't answered me back.

My heart started to beat faster. What if he didn't want it at all? Then I would look like such a fool right now.

"I want to kiss you," he said before he swallowed and nervously bit on his lips. "Believe me, I do."

"Good. Because I want that too." He let out an anxious smile. I leaned in and smiled back. "Normally the kiss comes before we get naked..."

He closed the gap a little more. "W-we've faced stranger circumstances this week, I suppose."

"That's true," I replied, laying my hands on his bare shoulders, caressing the light brown skin. They felt so round and hard. So muscular. And he was always warm.

~~~~~~~~~~