The Secret Island
CHAPTER 35 A Surprise

"So, where are we going today?" Martin asked again, one of the several times he asked this question. And the reply was always the same-she smiled and shook her head, refusing to tell him anything.

'Whose birthday is this? Why the surprise?' He thought.

He didn't like being clueless. She banned him from buying a birthday gift. And this morning, she even asked to help him cook instead of sitting idle and waiting.

"The sun is getting strong. Come here, stand still. I have a cap for you."

We have walked a long way from the villa. Celine insisted she wanted to walk. We held hands and walked until we passed the tourist part of town and the housing zone and reached the other side of the beach, where there was a boat docking. Martin picked up a cap, the same one that was bought in a pair that they both had. Celine stood still, waiting for him to put it on her head.

"Wow, this is unexpected. You actually brought the stuff I bought you. And you are willing to wear it at the same time I do. We are such a couple!" She adjusted the cap slightly and beamed.

"I don't know how to please you...so...I simply do everything I guess could make you happy...." He looked down, resting his hand on his neck. He was a bit embarrassed that that was all he could do. Although he violated his request and sneaked out to buy a gift, he didn't know if she would like it. So, he tried everything to make her happy.

"Of course, I like it. I like everything you did for me." A simple reply that made him smile.

"Why are you smiling?" She lifted her hand to touch his cheek and asked teasingly. He knew she knew it...that girl...

"I'm glad...."

"Glad about what? Tell me."

We had one thing alike-convincing someone to confess their feeling when we already know the answer. Such a bad habit to have.

"I'm glad you are happy."

He answered as he reached out his hand to adjust her cap.

Maybe this was all he had been looking for...maybe this was all...just this...this was all he wanted-someone that quickens his heartbeat simply because he and only he was the source of joy. The certain someone that made him smile so bright without having to do a thing.

****

"1

Martin was quiet as he saw what she had prepared.

"Do you like it? It's actually bigger than I thought." She asked excitedly while walking around to inspect 'the thing' she booked to prepare for her birthday celebration. This had been on her to-do list for a long time. "What is going on? Where are we going?" Martin was baffled. She bet he couldn't guess it before today. She arranged everything for her birthday before her belongings were stolen and her credit card was frozen. Oh, how I miss my spending power...

"I'm not telling you." Celine still held out some information. This was one of the few times Martin was speechless. She liked surprising him. "Wait...Celine...well, I think...."

"Wait for what? No matter where I want to go, and with whatever means necessary, you need to support me. I thought you told me you wanted to make me happy, didn't you?"

"Isn't it dangerous? I don't know how to navigate the direction, and I guess you are the same. Besides, where did you manage to rent out a yacht?" Martin put his hand on the small yacht, a 20-meter-long Riva Vertigo with three cabins inside. Err...how she missed partying on a yacht. And it was her birthday. She deserved to spoil herself rotten. Initially, if she hadn't met Martin, she planned to drive the yacht around the island, dock it wherever, get drunk while blasting obscenely loud music, and forget the world. But since he came into her life, things changed, and she wanted to share all her valuable time with him.

"You don't have to be so shocked, Martin. From the day I arrived, I reserved it for my birthday. At first, I thought I had to go alone. But since I have you, I keep it as a surprise. Do you like it?" After saying that, she threw herself into his arms. She really hoped he liked it.

"How can I be nonchalant about all this...I...well...what is this? Girl, you have really outdone yourself this time. And by the time, I hope you have someone to drive this magnificent thing because I can't do it."

"You don't have to worry about it. Although I look like a child to you, I can drive it. I even have a license. My family owns a few yachts back home."

Martin looked at her in disbelief. She guessed that in his eyes, she was still that helpless girl he met on the first day. And most of the time, he was right, but there was more to her life than that.

"Sure, posh girl...." He said that without any expression.

"No, I'm no longer posh. Don't judge me. Haven't I told you my boyfriend taught me to be frugal and the value of money management? He is very strict about that. So, I only spend on what's worth the life experience."

To think about it, since she was with Martin, she had no desire to spend that much. Her monthly allowance was wired, but she didn't buy anything new. Even now, the shirt she was wearing was Martin's, and her shorts were so plain that Celine from the past would cry. For someone who loved fashion, this was near cardinal sin. And she didn't care. It was comfortable, and she felt at home somewhat. It was comfortable being with him. She felt the weight of her heart was lifted. He was her comfort zone and brought her much more joy than all her luxurious items combined.

"Great, very well." He smiled at her and affectionately patted her head. She felt like a good girl, and that was new.

"Martin" She touched his hand that was still touching her hair.

"Yes?"

"I love you." While we were together, she wanted to tell him this often to compensate for the time we won't be together. She hoped he would always remember that.

"...." Martin blushed and didn't reply.

Sometimes, she secretly hoped that the reply in his head was 'I love you, too,' but perhaps no response was better. Because the word love, once spoken out, is a promise that binds people's hearts together. And she knew that Martin couldn't promise anything he was unsure if he could keep. At least he was honest in his intent.

Celine reached out to tuck away the hair that covered Martin's face. The wind was blowing stronger than any day. A turbulent wind that mirrored the trepidation within our hearts... The fear that tomorrow is our last day.