Stephan and I still aren't in speaking terms since morning and now it's evening and he seems like he is avoiding me. I tried to talk to him but he was only giving me this nod, shook his head or he will simply pretend that he didn't hear me. He is really making me uncomfortable. The same process since morning.

Why does he has to be so immature? 

Now that we are gonna have dinner, he already made what we are gonna eat and I don't know what should I do when we sit down on our table. Yes, on our first day in the island we are ignoring each other but I don't feel so comfortable right now especially I feel like we're making progress.

Actually I keep on seeing him with Papaya outside, sitting on the sand and watching the sea while I was just here inside the house, staring at a thin air. This is so boring.

He is so hard to read.

"Hey, Stephan..." I called. "Let's eat?"

Like before, he didn't look at me. He just stood up from the sand then Papaya ran off back to the woods. He is gonna go home.

We walk inside the kitchen which is the first place that you will enter if you got inside the house.

"Still gonna pretend that you didn't hear me?" I asked, sarcastically.

Then he did it again and that causes me to exhale deeply.

"Okay then..." I mumbled. "I guess we're playing the quiet game, huh?' "

"What do you want me to say then?" Thank God, he finally talk!

"Anything! I'm not used to this..." I thought of saying the right words as I point at the both of us. "...um...not talking thing but you please just tell me what's wrong with you for making you to behave like this?"

"What's wrong with me? You had me worried sick about you." He spoke but his eyes still were not looking at me. "There could be wild animals in the area and you are there playing like Sleeping Beauty picking up some fruits in the woods and have animals assist you." He harshly said.

"Wait up, sailor...are you mad at me for going to the woods alone and without your permission or because you got worried  about me?"

Then he didn't respond after I asked that. He just took a spoonful bite of our meal. There is no more point of talking to him. He didn't talk anymore after that and we eat in silence.

He's worried about me? Is that the reason why he is acting like this?

"You're worried, aren't you?" I teased him just trying to make him smile a bit.

"Shut up." He muttered,  through clenched teeth.

"Just admit it. You're worried." I smirked and laughed while I poke his cheeks.

But he was still not responding and just maintain that emotionless face. His eyebrows were furrowed, he was biting his lip and just stare at his plate.

Jeez,  I'm only wasting my time here.

When I was about to put my finger down, his hand grabbed mine then squeezed it gently. "S-Stephan..."

His eyes locked with mine and they hold something inside. Darn it, his stare is so different from his others. And add the complete silence of the place, only our  breathing can be  heard.

I was pulling my hand back but he held it tightly. "Stephan, my hand..."

"Yes, I was worried." He finally said what he was feeling. "I was worried that something bad will happen to you while I was not there with you."

"You're worrying too much, Stephan. Nothing will surely happen to me." I said, and I already took back my hand that he was holding. Not really comfortable with that but I have to admit, I kinda like it.  "Besides, I'm not alone. Papaya is there with me."

Stephan suddenly hissed under his breath "You wanna know why I don't trust that monkey when it comes  to times like that?"

"You told me that Papaya was your pet" I paused  "When was it again?"

Stephan didn't  reply quickly, I guess he looks like he was holding back something again. C'mon, Stephan, don't be unfair this time. "You can trust me, you know." I just blurt out, without thinking. Yes, I actually want him to lean on me more because God knows how much I want to know him.

Stephan looked at me and it feels like he was shock to hear my question. "I don't easily trust people, Ariana. Its the way I am."

That's a little disappointing. I was expecting the positive way. 

Then he sigh, "Papaya was not my pet..." he started, and I sat back to listen to his words. "He was Christina's pet,"

Ohhh....my face immediately drops hearing her name.

"Papaya was Christina's pet?"

"Yes, and i think that's the reason why Papaya was so nice towards you." He said after a long pause. "Because you look exactly like her."

Me?

"I look like Christine?" I asked, really surprised.

"Yes..you look like her which is I think the reason why Papaya loves you that much and became so familiar with you immediately on the first time he saw you." He explained as I am still on the state of processing.

"And not only that...this place supposed to be my present for Christine on our anniversary. But unfortunately,  before the day could come, she already passed away on that car with my brother." He said, while looking down. "Then I took Papaya with me and set him free here in this island so he can be with his fellow monkeys. I don't want anything that will remind me of her."

I can't help but feel very sad for him. This place reminds of his wife. He is in pain the whole time we are here and I didn't help him feel any better. I keep on worrying him and let him do everything. He is suffering so bad and now, even me. I remind him of his ex wife and that must have really hurt him.

"I'm sorry." That is all I can say.

I don't know but I feel kinda bit down that I look like his ex wife.

The woman who caused all of his pain and for sure, he is thinking of his Christine as he looks at me. That must be one of the reasons why he doesn't want to marry me because of that.

I crossed my arms and I don't know what to say. Tell him that I am stuck in his ex wife's shadow?

"Ariana," he called. "Ariana?"

"Is that the reason why you don't want to me marry me?" I just asked. "Because I reminded you your former wife who looks exactly like me?"

Great, I know Christine but I never saw a picture of her so I don't know what she looks like and so I can compare myself to her.

"What? No!" He quickly respond. "No, that's not the reason why I don't want to marry you!"

"Then what?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You know why! I already told you before!" He snapped. "You know about this and I don't want to be my parents' puppet once again." He stood up from his chair and ran his hands through his messy hair. "God, we are fighting about this again?"

"No." I murmured, trying hard not to cry. "So I will just let my parents be disappointed  because of your selfish reason."

"Selfish reason?" His expression changes suddenly. "I only want the thing that is best for me unlike you, a puppet of her own parents."

"Back to that topic again." I muttered, finally angry at him.

"Yes, because you keep on reminding us about our stupid arrangement!" He snapped.

"Stephan, we can't ignore that! We are stuck in this island because of some reasons! The only way out is to agree on marrying."

Stephan groaned and messed his hair. "Then it is like telling our parents that we gave up and let them control us." He hissed "Fuck, Ariana! You're old enough to make a decision on your own! So why let them control you?! You're better than this! Don't let them tie you down to a person they want for you but instead tell them that you will be tied down to a person you choose...you LOVE!"

I exhaled and somehow his words got to me. A huge silence enveloped the place between us.

"I will never marry anyone for the second time again, Ariana. So please...deal with me on this one." His voice seems like he was begging. "I'm sorry. You're a very wonderful girl and any guy would be lucky to have you as their wife. And I'm not that guy." He just murmured before leaving me sitting on the dining table as he walk outside to the beach.

A tear started to fall down my eyes. It must have been really difficult for him and here I am, forcing him to agree to our parents and that was so selfish of me.

I've been doing everything that my parents want me to do since I was a child and put all that I want to be on the side. I just wanted them to be happy for me and for them to be proud of me. They don't want me to end up like my brother who is now unsure of his life.

I keep on telling myself that my parents know what is best for me but now I realized what is wrong.They're not the best for me but all of them only made me even worse.

Made me weak...

Made me hide myself in their shadows...

Made me afraid of them...

But this is not me.

I'm strong...no stronger.

I will prove that to my parents. Stephan was right since the beginning. Yes, his life could be a little mess right now but if you look beyond that, he is happy for that he had achieved. Because he did the things that he wanted to.

He didn't listened to his parents and did what he want.

Well, I really am an adult now. Not a child who always follows every  detail her parents told you to do. I'm a grown up and I even studied in Paris and be responsible on my own. Well, I admit, my times in Paris was also the best times of my life.

I am free...

My parents we're not there with me...

I'm living with my friends...

I dated guys that my parents didn't even know...

Fooled around a little...

Party life.. 

Those are me.

Not this puppet Ariana.  God, I've been stupid.

How I wished that I realized this sooner...

STEPHAN'S POV

The next morning, I woke up with my back aching painfully. Well, this is partly my fault for sleeping on the woven resin couch in the living room. I groaned as I sit up and put both of my feet down on the ground and yawned. I remember that this is where I head straight after I had that long walk at the beach to cool my head down.

Honestly, my conversation with Ariana last night really snapped me out. I had already explained to her that I will never do what our parents wish. She can't just get that in her mind. That was the real Stephan would really do, is to stick into my plan...do not marry Ariana.

But as much I don't want to admit it, I feel like I have fallen for Ariana these past weeks that I've spend with her in this island.

Not fallen in love but I just fall to her because of the different vibe she had shown me. She had a warm heart and a wonderful personality that can easily make men drawn to her. It is just hidden in her.

She is just a simple woman that is too scared to explore things that she loves because of her love to her parents. Actually, she is not really my type of girl but being alone with her in this island, I got along with her. And I think this relationship will just turn out being friends. Being in a relationship is not really in my mind right now.

But our conversation didn't go well last night. I better go and talk to her and tell her that I'm sorry for my rude words. I wasn't thinking straight when she started bringing up about our marriage.

I walk upstairs to the room. The door was opened.

I look inside and there are so sigh of Ariana. Even inside the bathroom. She's not here.

I went back down and left the house to go to the beach. Maybe she gathered some fruits again?

Then I turn my head to the sea and damn, my jaw just dropped and my mouth watered at the beautiful sight that I'm seeing right now. I just stood there and froze on my spot. My feet just moved on his own closer as I felt the rough sand below.

Ariana is in her swimsuit and her body is wet. She was swimming in the beach and she looks so radiant and happy. What a joyful thing to watch.

I just sat there and don't know what to do right now. Well, I don't want to leave yet and jus enjoy the show.

God, she's a goddess!

Look at that body. She is always shy of her body and so conservative but damn, she should show off that hot figure or her. I can't even take my eyes off her. I lean on the huge rock beside me with my arms crossed.

Fuck, look at that ass.

Then suddenly, Papaya made a loud noise and it seems like he was telling Ariana that he sense that I am watching her.

Oh that stinking monkey. I am gonna roast him alive tonight! He was just sitting there on the sand and looking around.

Ariana got alerted and turn her head towards me. I flinched and wanted to hide behind the rock because I surely don't want the show to stop.

Shit, my hot is getting hot.

I'm freaking blushing! What am I, in high school?!
"Stephan?" I heard her calling for me.

"Um...s-sorry." Now I'm stuttering! This is the first I turn to hide from a woman! Mostly when I saw girls that are half naked in front of me, they will invite me to join them or they will let me watch them but this one is different.

I respect this woman.

"Hey, it's okay. It's not like I'm naked." I heard her soft angelic voice.

Whoa, this is a miracle. She was not shouting at me.

I slowly come out of the rock, and I quickly saw her as she walks toward me, her body is dripping wet because she just got off the salty water. And boy, every steps she made towards me feels like she was matching the beat of my heart. Corny, I know.

"Hey." I remained my usual tone and gave her a smile. "You woke up early today."

Ariana chuckled and squeezed her hair "I couldn't sleep well last night so I just got up and made some breakfast."

I grinned as I roamed my eyes across her body. "You're beautiful."

"What?" She turns to me, questioningly.

Oh damn, stupid mouth! I didn't mean to say it out loud! "I-I mean, the sight is beautiful —You're beautiful! I mean."

Great, what am  I saying?

I was expecting that Ariana will shout at me or slap me when I said that but in my surprise, she laughed. Like I was joking around with her. But I am honestly speaking.

"Thank you, Stephan." She just said while laughing. "I guess your sleep on the couch took away all of your frustration last night." She grab the towel that was on the side and started wiping her legs.

Those long smooth legssss....

Shit.

"Yeah, yeah..." I rubbed the back of my head and still a little distracted of her body in front of me. "About last night, I want to apologize, Doll. I promise that I will never go mad like that again when I'm talking to you. I promise."

Ariana raised her head, meeting my eyes with a bitter smile. "No. Its my fault, Stephan. I'm sorry. I will never bring that topic once again. " she stated, calmly. "And I want to thank you."

"What?" Thank me for what?

"Because of last night, you made me realize that all your words are true. I should not let them control me and I should follow what I truly desire." Ariana said with a smile on her face. "So thank you, Stephan. I promise that I will never force you again about marrying me. Starting now,  I will support you for not agreeing to this marriage." She spoke like it was really serious that she already made up her mind.

This is what I really wanted. For her to get my point.

But why the heck do I feel sad now that she realized it?!