I arrived safely in the Maldives, and just like the situation in the airport last time, right after I got out of the plane, Ysmael's men were already lined up while they were all waiting for me to get in the car. This is not totally necessary, but since maybe we can't trust anyone now, it's better to have all of these people guard us.
From the airport, we took a two-hour drive and arrived in a small community living just beside the seashore. I can already see the sea from where they parked the car.
"It's beautiful," I uttered as the driver told me to get inside a simple modern house. As I entered, the furniture inside was all made of wood. From the kitchen counter down to a small table display that looks like it is sculpted.
This place is quite interesting.
I went upstairs to look at the bedrooms, but I was distracted by the balcony, which offered me a better view of the small village ahead. I got out to the balcony and sat on the nearest couch beside the wooden railings. Upon looking, I noticed that there's a pathway from this house to the different small houses. It's like the house that I'm in is the endpoint of the way, while there are two lines of houses left and right from my view. The right side was just beside the small road that we took to get in here, while the left side faces the view of the sea.
"It's calming, isn't it?"
I was startled as I stood up so suddenly upon hearing a voice behind me. There I saw an old lady smiling at me, and upon seeing me, she opened her arms for a hug. I didn't know how to react at first, but then I eventually hugged her back when she was already near me.
"It's so good to see you again, dear," she said as she hugged me so tight.
"I'm not sure if I've ever met you before," I said as she let go of the hug. I bit my lips when I saw her chuckle because of what I said.
"It must be pretty hard for you to lose memories of this wonderful island," she said as she held my hand. Her smile suddenly faded, and I knew she was about to cry, but then we both heard someone clearing his throat, and we both looked in the direction of it.
I saw an old man leaning on the doorway, and I could clearly see how he and Ysmael resembled each other.
"You must be his grandparents," I suddenly uttered.
"I'm glad you can tell that," he said in a humorous manner. The old lady walked towards him, and they both sat on the long sofa, and so I sat in a single one just beside them.
"I'm sorry I couldn't introduce myself to you."
"It's fine, dear; just like I said, I already know you," the old lady said again.
"We don't want to push you," the old man said, but then he wasn't looking in my direction. He's looking at the direction of the small road, and as I look at that part, I can already see cars moving to get in here. I stood up to get downstairs to see if he was already in one of the cars that had arrived.
I was about to get out of the main door when it opened and Ysmael appeared in front of me. I stopped for a second, but then I sighed as I noticed something.
He has wounds on his neck and on his left arm. It's like a scratch; probably he scratched himself.
I walked towards him to assist him, as he appeared so tired. I held him by his right arm, but then he avoided my touch and glared at me with his fangs still out. I think the phenomena that happened to him are still in his body. I move away to let him breathe and for me not to get hurt.
"It'll be fine," his grandma told me as she walked downstairs with Ysmael's grandfather.
His grandfather helped him get upstairs while I was left with his grandma, who told me that we should cook something for him. I was a bit torn when I followed her to the kitchen since I don't know anything about cooking. I've only cooked simple food and recipes from the internet, but that's just it.
"I'm Cynthia; well, that's my second name, and I prefer that one," she said as she started to take out some vegetables from the refrigerator. I immediately helped her with it, and after that, she told me to wash all of it.
"I'm sorry if I was rude earlier," I said almost like a whisper.
"It's fine; at least you're going to help me now," she said like a bubbly girl.
She has started to cook now, but every now and then she will tell me what to do next if my hands are already free from doing something. She's cooking a creamy chicken soup that apparently was one of the foods that Ysmael liked ever since he was a little kid. After having a good time with her cooking, I noticed something.
She's not one of them.
I can already notice it because the serum is finally wearing off my system, and I can literally smell her.
Since she was a human, is it possible that Ysmael was half human and half werewolf? Is that it? Well, it's possible, but is my theory even right?
My mind is still full of questions upon sitting at the high stool after I finish cutting some ingredients when I hear her grandma chuckle again.
What is it now?
"I can tell that you're confused about my identity," she said as she turned off the stove. She walked toward me and even held my hand again.
"Am I that transparent to you?" I suddenly asked.
"No, dear," she said, shaking her head and smiling. "I just laughed it out, but then deep inside I felt really bad."
Well, that made me even more confused.
"Upon hearing what happened to you, I almost --"
"Grandma, I think Dada's calling you." Ysmael's voice startled me. I didn't know he was there already. Gosh, his reflexes are so invisible. Well, he seemed fine now since he could already look at me with his usual gaze.
His grandma just headed out of the kitchen, and that's his cue to walk towards me. He turned my seat to face him, and he hugged me. I didn't move or hit him. I just let him do it.
I was afraid to ask about what happened during his transformation back then, but I guess I'm a bit nosy now.
"So did you... you know... hmm, like -"
"Just ask away," he said shortly.
"I just want to ask how it feels when you're already at the edge of it," I finally asked.
He didn't speak at first, but then he sighed.
"It feels like all of your bones in your body started to crack, and you can even feel how they stretched little by little," he said weakly.
"Can you tell me more?" I whispered.
"It hurts so much. It feels like something's going to get out of my body, and I can feel every inch of my skin breaking out into a furry monster."
"Are you afraid?" I asked once more.
He moved away for a bit and looked me in the eye.
"What kind of fear?" he asked in his stern voice. I can tell how serious he is right now.
"I don't know, like, is there any amount in your body that you feel afraid about something?" I asked randomly. Hell, this is embarrassing.
"Of course I have," he said, like he was very hurt.
"Then what --"
"I'm afraid that if I ever change again, I might hurt you. I'm afraid every time you're not with me. I'm afraid of all of the things that keep me from telling you how much you mean to me. I'm afraid for myself and more afraid for you. I'm a wreck, but I'm even more afraid at the thought of losing you."
My lips parted as a tear escaped from my eye. I don't even know why I am crying. I don't know this guy, for God's sake, and I just let him take me to a place I'm not even familiar with. This was all impulsive and bad.
But something's telling me that this is right.
Something's telling me this is where I belong.
I looked away from him and even stood up to walk out of the kitchen, but then he swiftly grabbed me by my arm and gave me a back hug. He left small kisses on my neck, and there's only one thing he keeps saying.
"Don't leave this time."