Estela by Miu

"Young master, we're here."

I woke up and found myself twenty meters above . . .

. . . the ocean?

I glanced at my brother, who was now staring at me with his unreadable face.

"B-brother . . . w-what are we doing here?"

I asked while glancing at the ocean below. My eyes then caught a lone island adorned with lush trees not far from where we were hovering.

"I'll come back for you in a month in time for your birthday."

Was all he said before he smirked and shoved me off the helicopter.

Brother!

SPLASH!

I was assaulted with panic and fear when the scary ocean swallowed me whole, unable to pull out from its grasp.

I was sinking deeper and deeper.

And like an automatic response, my body started to move, desperately saving me while my brain blanked out from the shock of what my brother did to me.

Is he trying to kill me?

GASP!

I breathed for air when my nose emerged from the water. I controlled my breathing to calm myself and swam towards the island.

I didn't think. I just let my body move.

I didn't give it much thought on how I could swim like a pro. At this moment, I only wanted to live.

*pant . . .

*pant . . .

I glanced over at the sky when I was finally on shore. The helicopter was now a speck in the sky as it flew away.

"B-brother . . . ," I whimpered. Hurt, sadness, and fear overtook me, and my tears fell.

"Estela . . ."

. . .

. . .

It was like everything stopped.

I gulped and turned around.

And there he was.

The man with amethyst eyes in all his beauty bathed under the scorching sun. The bags under his eyes were prominent, and he lost weight again, but still –– he was undeniably handsome.

I backed away when he walked towards me. His face was full of longing and happiness. His dark violet eyes were a little moist and seemed to melt. He was radiating with an intensity like any moment now –– he would devour me whole.

*sob . . .

Why did brother abandon me with him?

I was shaking when he reached out. I moved back, but my legs gave way as I fell, landing on my butt.

"Estela!"

When I recovered from my embarrassment, he was already there in front of me.

I crawled away from him as I shouted, "S-stay back!"

I grabbed some sand and threw it to his face when he inched closer.

"Agh!"

He recoiled and rubbed his eyes.

I took the opportunity and ran away from him, stumbling along the way.

I didn't know why I was so scared of him.

Like I didn't want to see him or I'll . . . I'll . . .

Disappear.

"Estela! Wait!"

He ran after me despite his reddened eyes, and I ran faster.

It felt like a serial killer was chasing me.

It was a good thing my body had this insatiable stamina and was fast, extremely fast.

"Estela! Agh––!"

I halted when I heard something fell. I turned and found the man on the sand –– unmoving.

My heart thumped, wanting to come out from my chest.

I may be scared of him, but I didn't want to kill him nor him getting killed before me.

Eventually, I was getting worried when time passes, and he was still motionless.

Did he hit his head on a rock when he fell?

The thought made my heart raced 400 km/hr, and it was hurting. I crept closer while I clasped my heart.

I was two meters away from him now as I glanced left and right to search for something to tap him with. When I didn't see anything, I kicked the sand towards him. Sands covered half of his head, yet he still laid there, motionless on the ground.

And before I knew it, I was squatting just inches from him.

With trembling hands, I poked his head.

Gyagh!

I screamed when he grabbed my arms and pressed me beneath him. He pinned my hands on top of my head, and before I could scream some more –– his lips covered mine.