Chapter 57: Island Ride

"I told you you wouldn't believe me."

"No, no, it's not that I don't believe you, it's just, I... I wasn't expecting that at all," Sebastian clarified.

"Then, what were you expecting me to say? That I'm already in love with someone else, but he's married, and I still want to be with him even if it meant he could lose his family, and I'll be regarded by everyone as a home-wrecker," Sharon said sarcastically.

"To be honest, that seems the most likely of both situations," Sebastian had to say.

"Well, it's true and if you value your life, then you'll stay away from me," Sharon told him and began to walk away.

"Sharon, wait," Sebastian called out and ran in front of her.

"Look, whoever this '**madman**' is that is chasing after you, I'm not afraid of him," he told her.

"You should be. He's merciless and if he finds me and finds out that I'm friends with you, he'll hurt you. That's what he does," Sharon said.

"So, you're just going to chase away everybody that begins to care about you and spend the rest of your life alone because of this man?" He asked, bemused.

"Do you think that's what I want? I don't have a choice," she snapped at him.

"You can choose not to let this person control your life," Seb said.

"Don't you understand? I don't have a **choice.**"

"Who the hell is this man anyway and why is he so hellbent on catching you that he would hurt others to do it?" Sebastian had to know.

"It's a long story," was all she said to him and then, silence took over.

Sebastian stared at her, unwilling to let her fear of him getting hurt stand in the way of whatever it was that had sparked between them.

"Look, Sharon," he said and took her hands in his, "I've been in Puntarenas all my life, and I've never met anyone like you. You really make me feel like I have a lot more to live for, because you bring out the best in me. I want to be your friend. I'd be lying if I said that being your friend was all I wanted, but I'm willing to start small and work my way up," he said with a chuckle that Sharon returned.

***God, she looked so beautiful when she smiled!*** Sebastian thought to himself.

"I don't know who this person is, but I'm not afraid of him, and you shouldn't be either. I like you and I won't let anything or anyone stand in the way of this," he said with conviction.

*A man ready to fight for what he wanted.*

He didn't understand how serious this was. How could she convince him of the danger that she posed to him? She wondered.

She was already in too deep. She had shown too much interest and now, she would have to be brutal and direct if she wanted Sebastian to stay away from her but couldn't bring herself to hurt him like that. She reluctantly chose to let fate decide what happens next, a choice she hoped she would not regret.

"Fine! But don't say I didn't warn you," Sharon said with a frown.

"Well, it's a risk I'm willing to take."

They continued walking to the undisclosed location with Sharon's mood slowly getting lighter. Sebastian just knew how to make her feel happy. Everything he said was always right and everything he did always made him more attractive to her.

"We're here!" Sebastian announced.

Sharon looked around her but wasn't impressed. They were at a dock filled with boats by the edge of the ocean.

"Where are we, Seb?"

"Welcome to the Bay of Puntarenas. One of the biggest boating docks in all of Costa Rica," he said dramatically.

Sebastian couldn't help but notice that she didn't seem excited to be there as he had anticipated she would. She probably thought he was taking her to a garden or a meadow or something.

"You don't seem impressed."

"It's not that I'm not impressed. It's just... when you said we were going to one of your favourite places in all of Puntarenas, I wasn't expecting a dock. I mean, it's nice, but I've seen boats before," Sharon explained that there just wasn't anything special about the bay.

"You fail to see what is right in front of you, dear Sharon. We're not here for the boats but for the water," Sebastian said, jumped into a boat and started loosening the noose that tied it to the post.

"We're going for a sail around Puntarenas. You're going to see firsthand the beauty of these waters. We're going to go around the peninsula and then, around those islands," he told her and pointed at the horizon.

"I take it this is your boat?" She asked and he nodded affirmatively.

"Yes. This is **"Lolita"**. My pride and joy. She may be small, but she's very reliable."

He detached the rope but held on to the post, keeping the boat in place, and stretched out his other hand for Sharon to take.

"Shall we?" He asked with a smile on his face.

Sharon took his hand, and they set sail with the winds pushing the boat further into the ocean. The boat had gotten to a far distance, away from the docks and Sharon stared back at it. She could see Puntarenas from a wider point of view and it was truly beautiful.

The sun's rays fell on the ocean and the water glistened like crystals. The water was so clean and clear that Sharon could see underneath it. She could see the coral reefs and the beautiful sea creatures that swam in them. The colours were incredible, and the beauty was purely natural.

They sailed past the islands and Sharon stared at them, thinking that maybe instead of moving from city to city, she could move to one of these islands. She'd be hidden and in a secluded environment where she could live her life with little to no fear of Addicus.

Yes, this was the way! The best chance she had at being safe and happy.

"These islands are wonderful. Do people live on them?" She asked Sebastian.

"Not all of them. Some of them are just for wildlife while others serve as a home to a handful of people," he answered.

"What about that one?" Sharon asked and pointed at an island on the horizon.

"That's Cocos. It's one of the best islands in the bay. It's really beautiful and very peaceful. It's one of the few islands around that is inhabited by both people and animals. Tourists visit there a lot as well, and it has a lot of beautiful sights,"

Sebastian spoke about the island with much admiration and Sharon was intrigued.

"Like what?"

"Well, there are several reserves for the animals, which are a pair of beautiful landscapes on their own. There are also creeks within the mountains, filled with water so clear you can see your reflection in them. There are hot springs, gardens, meadows, and all sorts of beautiful, colourful, and exotic birds. It truly is a paradise," Sebastian told her.

"Let's go there," Sharon said from out of nowhere.

"Sure, we can," he replied.

"Alright, let's go."

"What, now?" Seb asked.

"Yes. I want to see the island up close,"

"Why?"

"You've just described paradise to me. Why would I not want to see it?" Sharon asked with a smile.