Her Secret Angel

HE SAVED ME

CHAPTER 5

DANICA

Oh god! Please save us! 

We’re falling...oh no!

Haaaaaaaaaa!

Oh no!

Haaaaaaaaaa!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The sound of the explosion almost damaged my eardrums! Followed by another one! And another one!

And we’re falling at a rate of knots!

When I opened my petrified eyes, I saw the huge body of water.

Before I could react...

Splash!

The impact made me lose my hold on the man. 

I was sinking...Drowning bit by bit…Help! Gulp!

A few seconds later…

A strong hand grabbed my arm and helped me to surface in the water. 

I found myself grabbed by the waist next and pressed to a firm chest.

Uhu! Uhu! Uhu! Huwk! Uhu! Uhu!

I repeatedly coughed while my head was on the man's shoulder. 

I coughed out the water in my throat until I could breathe freely.

Then, I heard the voice which made me open my eyes and look at him...

“Here! Grab it! Hurry!” 

He geared me to a floating piece of log, big enough to support my weight! I let go of him, and I held tightly to it.

Then I saw where we were. Everywhere I looked, there was only water!?

I quivered in extreme fear and shrieked, "Oh God!"

How do we survive in this situation?

The worried face of the man beside me aggravated my fear. 

He was wearing a lifesaver vest and he was pushing the log he asked me to hold.  I was too exhausted and too worried about our safety. 

But the man did not stop pushing us in a certain direction. He swims so well I noticed, like an expert swimmer. 

After a while, he placed the life vest on me and took off his trench coat and suit coat and tie. The trench coat he let go in the water because it was too heavy, but his suit coat he placed on the log. 

I wouldn’t know how long we stayed in the water. It was long... too long. I was aware that the man was getting tired. He rested for a brief moment, holding on to the log, stabilized his breathing then pushed us again in a certain direction.

I was terrified! But the perseverance of the man forced me to forget my worries and fears.

After a while, I moved to help and followed his instructions.

Suddenly, I understood where the man was trying to lead us. 

There was an island in front of us. 

I gathered my remaining strength to kick through the water. 

The man was tired. He had been swimming for the last two or three hours!

I looked up in the sky, the sun was going down. I heaved an exasperated sigh.

In another hour or so darkness would envelop us. We should be out of the water before sunset.

More so, the water was getting cold as we approached the island. Colder and colder.

We needed to reach the island soon before it became dark...and we were almost there. Almost there!

Suddenly...

The man grabbed my waist and my arm. He asked me to let go of the log, and he grabbed his coat before I let go of the log... 

“Let’s swim, miss, don’t let go of my hand."

 His voice has a calming effect on me. I followed him and tried to swim with him.

I couldn't stand on the sand underneath the water yet. He was taller than me, thus he could already walk in the sand. And he dragged me with him. He did not let go of my hand even if the current was strong. He continued to drag me with him until we both reached the rugged coastline. And we both reached it…together we reached it. 

We were so tired. Dead-tired. We both lay flat, head down on the sand. Our bodies were almost drained of strength and our breathing was so heavy. Minutes later, I saw the man pull his tired body up and stood straight while looking around the place. 

He’s very tall, more than 6 feet, I guess? 

In silence, he looked intently at the surroundings. He was like a wolf inspecting its territory.

I wasn't not sure what was in his mind. His eyes were like the eyes of an eagle, his glare intense!Was he terrified like me? Was it also fear hidden in those intense stares?

Minutes later, I heard him say something.

“I will look for something to start a fire. Otherwise, we will freeze to death here.” 

I looked at him sadly, knowing fully well he wasn't exaggerating.

And I uttered, “I’ll go with you. Don’t leave me here.”

He nodded and said.

“Hurry! The sun will set soon.” He walked slowly, while I tried to catch up with him.  

He was right. The gust of cold wind made me shiver. I crossed my hand in front of my chest, on top of my wet clothes. I could feel the cold entering my fragile body.

I cowered in fear. My heart pounded wildly. 

Oh god! We are not yet safe. 

I tried to hold my tears. It’s not time to think about anything that would make me feel weaker. 

We need to survive! We must survive.

I saw the man place his coat in a big rock after he compressed to let out the water...

"Take off your windbreaker," 

He ordered and I followed, I placed my windbreaker in the big rock to dry after I compressed just like what he did.

“Pick up the driftwoods and place them here!” 

He remarked while he pointed to a spot.

I did everything as I was told.

We were both left with socks on our feet. We don’t have shoes on our feet, I felt the pain as I stepped into the sharp rocks but I ignored it.

Then he knock-off a small banana tree with fruit using his bare hands and carried it to the shoreline. He asked me to wait for him while I gathered dried wood.

Minutes later, he was back. He pick-up some round fruit from the ground. It's coconut, I think, but it's brown.

It was almost dark, and the air was getting colder and colder.

He then placed all the driftwood I gathered on top of the banana leaves. And he carried it.

Then he said, “We better go back to the shoreline. It’s safer there.”

I did not utter a word but shook my head to affirm. He stepped towards the shore, and I trailed after him.

The man seems to know some survival techniques. I know nothing, so therefore I just followed his lead silently.

He got pieces of big rocks and placed the logs we got underneath it. Then he left for a few minutes. 

Fear started to set in again when I was alone. My eyes started to heat up, and shortly tears started to fall. 

I have no intention to cry and show weakness, it was uncalled for in our current situation. But I couldn't stop the tears from falling. Therefore I cried silently. Perhaps by crying, my heavy heart somewhat found relief.

The man returned with more driftwood and dried leaves.

He started rubbing the two driftwoods until it glowed, and when he blew it, smoke rose while he covered it with dried leaves. He blew it again afterward, and there's fire. He put more wood on it, and the fire got bigger.

I couldn’t help but admire his skills. In five minutes, we were enjoying the heat from the fire he made.

When the fire was stable, he looked at me intently and uttered.

“Miss, this is survival mode." he paused and then asked, "We both need to pull through this, all right?”

I nodded. He saw my tears. I know he wanted me to be stronger and braver.

I couldn’t stop the tears from falling despite what I heard from him. 

But, for some reason, I have faith that he would do his best to keep us both alive.

“What’s your name?” 

He continued to talk. His gorgeous face was illuminated by the flame of fire in our midst. He looked better in my eyes without the frown on his face.

“Da- da-Danie,” I stuttered.

“Hi Danie, you may call me Gaurav.” 

His voice was gentle, and he gave a half-smile that made him more gorgeous.

I nodded again.

“Danie, you have to be strong. We need to do our best to survive together." He said while I cried.

After a few more seconds...

"Promise me you’ll cooperate?” He asked and I nodded.

“We need to rely on each other to survive the night. Can you trust me on this?”

I nodded again. There was no one here to help us.

“The night will be frigid, and we do not have enough wood for the fire to last until dawn. Maybe tomorrow we can explore the forest, but right now it’s very dangerous. There might be snakes in there, and to be bitten by one, is the last thing we need.  We better stay here, by the shoreline. However, it's going to be bitterly cold here later, but at least we are safer.” He said, his gaze on me was deep.

I couldn’t bring myself to say anything. I would trust the man and follow whatever he tells me.

“Now, you cannot wear wet clothes. It will be more chilling if you do that. You’ll catch a cold or hypothermia." he paused, he was mincing his words I could tell.

After a while, he continued...

"Please take off your clothes to dry while there’s still fire. If you are lucky, you may use it later.” 

He said while he gazed at me, almost pleading for my cooperation.

Despite convincing myself that I would follow what he says, my jaw still dropped from what I heard.

“Hah?”

God! I will strip myself bare in front of a man I don't even know? Should I do what I am told?

I looked at him. He stood up and started to open the buttons of his shirt. My eyes opened widely when I saw that he was stripping his clothes, one garment at a time until he was left with just his boxers... 

The perfect physique of the man illuminated by the fire soon glowed in front of me. I swallowed my saliva several times to clear my throat.

Ohhh?!

In the midst of danger... 

How the hell, I appreciated the sexy body of the hunk in front of me? He was as sexy as sin. Too damn gorgeous and hot!

I scolded myself silently, "Danica, you need to survive...stop fantasizing, and strip yourself bare as well!"