The Secret Island
CHAPTER 41: The Phone Call

Martin told her he would be gone for a few minutes, but he had been for an hour by this point. She was worried sick. Sadness turned into a concern. She had to leave the island within hours and she didn't know where he went. She went out to look for him in the areas around the villa and she couldn't find him. She wanted to walk to the places she frequented, but she was afraid he would come back when she was gone.

She thought she had cried until there were no tears left, but that was not true. The uncertainty was the cause for concern. Especially because she didn't know the extent of his 'problems.' She didn't know if anything happened to him. All her bags, luggage, and suitcase were completely packed and laid out in front of the entrance door. She properly wrapped the book Martin bought her and put it in the suitcase. The handwritten plans we did together were also kept in a file. The caps we usually wear as a couple are on her lap. Her fingers caressing the fabric.

Where is he?

While waiting, she jumped from hearing the phone vibration. It was not her phone. Martin probably took his phone or perhaps he left it here. She walked around the room to find it. The buzzing sound was from somewhere not too far away, but it wasn't in the living room.

She found another phone she has never seen before in a drawer in a storage room. It wasn't the smartphone Martin had. This one was of an unidentified brand and there were some wires attached to it.

Skeptical and confused about her new discovery, she debated in her head whether to pick up, especially when Martin was not here. She didn't want to be disrespectful by overstepping any boundaries and meddling with his affairs. The curiosity won and Celine clicked answer.

"H-Hello...?"

"Martin! I have an urgent matter to discuss!"

The sound of a man speaking excitedly in an American accent gave her a pause. There was a sense of urgency in his tone, and she couldn't respond.

"Dude! Are you there? Hello? Can you hear me? I fixed the signal last time, it should be fine. Hello?" The man on the other end asked impatiently.

"I'm...err...I'm his...I'm his friend. He is not at home at the moment. He went out. I will tell him you called. I'm sorry." She didn't know who the man was, so she tried to be as neutral as possible.

"Oh..." The man was quiet for a while until she heard a chuckle.

"No, you are lying." This accusation made her frown. Who is this man? How rude!

Her curiosity didn't last long and so was her frown, because the man quickly added the phrase that baffled her. Celine for speechless.

"You are Martin's...girlfriend." The man who appeared to be quite self-assured and mischievous proclaimed it as if it was some great discovery.

Her heart skipped a beat once she heard it. A small hope emerged in her heart. In Martin's world, the world she had no part in, in his world, someone that that world knew she existed. Someone knew her. Martin talked about her...she existed. "A-are you Martin's friend?"

"Yes, yes, yes, I'm his best buddy, and where's Martin?"

"...I don't know. He had been gone for more than an hour. I don't know where he was. It is cruel, because...because today is our last day together." It was ludicrous that she had to speak about Martin in a trembling voice to a complete stranger. The guy was his friend, but still...

"Wait. What? Oh. Hey. Heyyy, please don't cry. Don't cry."

"He didn't tell me where he was going and where he will come back. Or...or he left me? Maybe he left without saying goodbye? Just like that? Is he going away just like that? How irresponsible..." Because she didn't know what was going on, she assumed the worse case scenario.

"Hey...hey, no, definitely not! I guarantee you. My man Martin is not the sort that leaves without saying a word. Dude is just too responsible and uptight, you know what I mean? He will come back. There is nothing to worry about at this point. He will come back. Don't think about it too much. Just have faith, alright?"

"Okay..."

"Don't cry. Please don't cry. He will come back to you. He told me he planned to go back to you. I'm sure he had told you this." The man said with confidence. Celine was certain the context he was referring to was not about Martin going missing just now, but something much bigger. Did he know?

"Huh?"

"I will make sure he could go back to you." Hmm?

She was confused, but he quickly added.

"But the time is quite uncertain. You might have to wait quite a long time, but I'm really trying hard to make it happen. Oh! I'm sorry, I really need to go. Don't tell Martin we have talked. This call never exists. To you, I don't exist. Martin is a nerd and a quiet guy, but he Is a jealous type. Dude is not chill when it comes to that. I don't want to be beaten up. Haha."

"Huh? Wait...what? Before you go, what's your name?"

"Joe. Nice to meet you, Celine." She was startled he knew her name. He quickly said goodbye and hung up.

Although Celine was confused about what just happened, she felt the warmth in her heart once more. She was much less worried about Martin after this unexpected call. This was enough. This gave her enough hope. This was another guarantee that he valued her.

She didn't know what Martin talked to his friend about, but he said he would come back. He said he would come back to her.

She was grateful for the conversation she had with Joe. She could smile again, and her worry lessened.

Before she left, Martin was definitely coming back. She trusted him.