Chapter 001: Wandering on a desert island
914 Words
“Ah!”
A sudden, sharp pain in my left big toe jolted me awake. I cried out and jumped up.
A large crab, which had apparently caused the agony, tumbled to the sand in front of me and began to scuttle away.
“Damn it, it drew blood!” I cursed, c*****g my right leg back and delivering a swift, powerful kick.
The crab sailed through the air along with a cloud of sand, then landed with a thud.
Wait…
Sand?
Crab?
I looked up sharply, taking in the gently undulating golden beach stretching before me.
“Whoosh…whoosh…”
The sound of waves washing against the shore filled my ears.
“The plane…the plane crashed!”
I cried out, the memory of the disaster flooding back.
Inside the shaking aircraft, the cabin ceiling vibrated violently, the overhead lights flickering wildly. The glamorous flight attendant had fallen to the floor, the service cart she’d been pushing now empty, its contents scattered and bouncing across the aisle.
Everyone was screaming. The plane, completely out of control, was plummeting downwards.
I looked at my pale sister-in-law beside me, but before I could say anything…
*CRASH!!!*
*BANG!*
The deafening roar seemed to rupture my eardrums. An irresistible force slammed into my seat. The world spun, then faded to black.
If it hadn’t been for that crab clamping down on my toe, I don’t know how long I would have lain unconscious on this beach…
“Sister-in-law…sister-in-law, where are you?”
I shouted desperately towards the ocean, but only the waves answered.
It’s over, it’s over. What am I going to do?
Panic seized me, and regret gnawed at my insides.
My foster brother had been on his way to pick up his bride when a sudden car accident left his new wife a widow before she even unveiled her face. She was inconsolable, weeping day and night. Though we weren't blood-related, my foster brother and I were closer than most brothers. Unable to bear her grief, I decided to take her on a trip abroad to help her cope. I never imagined the plane would crash, leaving me stranded on this deserted beach.
“Hello…is anyone there?” A frantic cry in the distance made me turn my head with a surge of hope.
A graceful figure appeared on the distant sands. She seemed to spot me at the same moment and began running towards me in a panic.
As she drew closer, the first thing I noticed was her blue skirt, which fell just past her knees. Below her white socks, she wore simple white canvas shoes, now stained with dirt and grime. Even the bows were mud-splattered, swaying as she ran. She wore a blue short-sleeved t-shirt, and her raven hair cascaded in natural waves over her shoulders.
So…she survived too…
I recognized her. Before boarding the plane, hordes of adoring fans had seen her off, their chants echoing through the terminal. Even someone like me, who wasn't particularly interested in the entertainment industry, knew who she was.
Su Ya, one of the four most popular young actresses in the country, a stunning beauty.
Her wavy bangs just grazed her eyebrows, accentuating her delicate features. Her smooth, porcelain skin and elegant features, combined with her tall, slender frame, made her the ideal woman for countless men. No wonder her films were box office hits!
Uh…
Watching her gasp for breath before me, her exquisite face flushed from exertion, I found myself at a loss for words.
Good heavens!
Trying to appear composed, I asked with feigned concern, “Are you alright?”
Standing so close to her, I couldn’t bear to look directly at her after speaking, only stealing occasional glances.
“The plane…it crashed. I’ve been searching this beach for ages…Finally found you! Where are the others? Where are we?” Su Ya asked between breaths. Despite her breathlessness, her voice was melodious, like a nightingale’s song.
“Uh…I just regained consciousness…and you’re the only one I’ve seen. I’m afraid…many people may have died,” I said, swallowing nervously.
Holy cow! A glamorous celebrity like her, someone I’d normally only see on screen, was standing right in front of me. The dream girl of millions of men. I was so flustered I could barely speak.
“Died…died? *Sob…*” Su Ya’s dirty face crumpled, and she sank to her knees on the sand, weeping softly.
She’s quite fragile, I thought. Even a big star is still a delicate woman, easily overwhelmed by a situation like this.
I bent down to comfort her, but the sight of her delicate collarbones as she lowered her head made me fidget. I quickly averted my gaze.
“What are you doing?” Sensing my unease, the beautiful actress looked up and caught my wandering eyes. She stood abruptly, wiping her tears away with her delicate hands, and glared at me, a mixture of embarrassment and anger in her expression.
“Nothing!” Though caught red-handed, I couldn’t help but steal another glance.
Well, she *is* a big star!
“Hmph! I can see it in your eyes. You’re the type who ogles any pretty woman you see. But I bet you wouldn’t dare *do* anything!” Su Ya, noticing my continued glances despite my denial, felt her privacy violated. She was already distressed by the crash, and my behavior only added to her frustration. She wanted to provoke me, to make me feel as uncomfortable as she did.
- Writer
