Mark 2.

The day pass with nothing interesting to happen.

I meet next morning in better condition. I feel well rested and full of energy. Last evening I decided not to share my simple diner with Soph. I know, it isn’t so kind, but I really needed it if I want to save my potency.

Ehm… I’ll better say effectiveness.

Anyway, I meet the dawn near the statue.

This time I don’t talk too much with the Stone Sophie, just say “Hello” and cut the writing. I’ll better do the fishing.

I go to the fishing place, humming a simple tune. That never happened to me before. I wonder if it is because of Sophie.

So, here I am, ready for fishing. Sea is quiet and peaceful. Good. I walk along the shore, looking for crabs.

Gotha! Here you are, little rascal! Auch! My finger! I’ll feed you to the fishes, you, bastard!

I throw crabmeat into a water. Let’s wait until fish will eat my bait.

I lie on the sand during quarter of hour. My mind is black. I just enjoy the moment.

It’s time to fish!

I take off my clothes, take my spear and stand on the rock near the deep water. I carefully take aim and jump upside down, carrying my spear in stretched hands.

Miss.

No worries, I never catch a fish in one jump.

I go out, stand on the rock again. Take aim. Jump!

Yes!

Carrying my prey, I quickly go out the water and critically look at caught fish. It’s a filefish. Big, edible and tasty. What a luck!

I kill it and put in my bag. It’s only beginning of the day, I can catch some more.

/only if you are on Hiding way /

But, on the other hand, this place is close enough to Sophie’s camp. I can bump into her. It’s risky.

Maybe I should go back…

Choice 4.0:

a) Go back home.

b) Continue fishing.

Choice 4.0-a (Hiding way):

I quickly put on my clothes and head into the forest. I have some business to do.

/to the Mark 3 /

Choice 4.0-b:

I return on the rock and repeat the fishing procedure one more time. And another time. And another.

After sixth or seventh jump, I speared one more filefish. Completely pleased, I come up, and suddenly…

Sophie: Hi, cuz!

My cousin stands on the rock and looks down at me with friendly smile.

Me: Yep… Morning, Soph!

Sophie: What is the water like?

Me: Excellent.

I’m little nervous cause of one simple reason. I took off ALL my clothes. And now water is all that protects my honor.

Sophie: Fine! Don’t mind if I join you?

Uuuuuuhhh…

I need to make a decision. Quickly.

Choice 4:

a) Ask Sophie to pass you your trousers.

b) Joke about you are naked.

Choice 4-a:

Me: Uuuuh… yes, but… Could you pass me my trousers? I’m… kind of naked.

Sophie: Kind of, huh? How could you be a kind of naked? It’s even interesting! I am going to check it right now!

Me: Oh, Soph, come on! Fine, I’m completely naked! Please, give me my trousers.

Sophie: OK, don’t be so scared ass.

She smiles to me and disappears from the rock. Half a minute later, I see my trousers flying into the water. I try to catch them, but occasional wind takes them and lands directly on my face.

Ugh! I should do my laundry more often!

Sophie: Bull’s-eye!

Me: Hey, that’s not funny!

Somehow, I managed to put on my pants.

Sophie: Yes, it is. Are you ready?

I nod.

Sophie: Weeeee!

She takes a short run and jumps into the water in meter to me.

Sophie: Ah, the water is nice.

Me: Yep, I told so. I’ll put the fish in my bag and come back.

We swim together during twenty minutes or so, and then go out on the beach.

Choice 4-b:

Me: Of course, but I should warn you. This fishing spear is my only cloth in the moment.

Sophie: The only cloth, huh? That sounds interesting. So, naked swimming?

Me: … WHAT?!...

Sophie: Relax, I’m just kidding. I will be wearing my bikini.

Sophie: Weeeee!

She takes a short run and jumps into the water in meter to me.

Me: Hey! That’s… That’s nasty! And not honest!

Sophie: Relax; I can’t see anything under the water. See?

She plunges, looking at me, with her eyes still open under water.

Choice 4.1:

a) Take it ill.

b) Stay serious.

c) Turn it into a joke

Choice 4.1-a (-1 Innocence):

That is going too far.

Not saying a single word, I turn around and swim to the shore.

Sophie: Cuz, wait! I’m sorry, that was just a stupid joke! I’m sorry!

Sophie: Cuz!

Thanks God, she doesn’t follow me, so I can go to the shore and dress up.

After a short hesitation, I shout.

Me: Goodbye, Soph. This fish is for you. You are fucking welcome!

I leave speared fish on the shore and go home.

Jesus! What, the hell, is up with her?

I… I just can’t believe it! It couldn’t be Soph!

I mean… I remember, I said her a weird thing once. She exploded and called me perv. And now…

Was it just a stupid joke or…

Phew! I just don’t want to think about it.

I feel so… dirty…

/end of conversation/

Choice 4.1-b (+0 Innocence):

I wait until she comes up.

Sophie: Do you see? I can’t see it anyway!

Me: Yes, but please, never do it again. It’s wrong and weird. Especially for me. After… after what I did to you… I… I’m sorry…

She suddenly becomes serious.

Sophie: O, cuz… I’m sorry. You’re right. That will never happen again. I don’t know what happens to me. Sorry for that.

Me: That’s OK… I’ll better go to the shore and put on my trousers. Then we could swim together a bit.

Sophie: Yep, sounds fine.

We swim together during twenty minutes or so, and then go out on the beach.

Choice 4.1-c (+0 Innocence):

I wait until she comes up.

Sophie: Do you see? I can’t see it anyway!

Me: Well-well, back to the question who of us is a perv…

Sophie: You perfectly know you are!

Me: And you still consider you are not…

Sophie: Of course, I’m not a perv!

Me: You wish!

Sophie: I’m not!

Me: OK, than I still be undressed until you say you are perv!

Sophie: Hey, man!

Me: You shouldn’t tease me, cuz!

I enjoy her awkwardness during twenty minutes or so, while swimming together. Then I decide to show some mercy and go on the shore to dress up.

Sophie: Ha! I didn’t say I’m a perv! You lose!

Me: Your eyes told it for you, Soph!

Sophie: Ah! No way!

…

Sophie: Hey, are you ready?

Me: Yes, you can come here.

She leaves the water and sits near me.

We sit together and look into the ocean.

Silence… After all these months, I can accept it and enjoy it. However, I can see, that Soph can’t. She tries to say something, but she can’t.

I decide to help her and break the silence.

I take one of the filefishes and give it to her.

Me: This is for you.

Sophie: Ah, thanks, cuz. And what about you? You are not in good condition.

Me: Don’t worry about me. I have another one. I’m not going to starve.

Sophie: Good to hear it. After what happened yesterday, I was worrying about you.

Me: I’m fine as I could be.

Sophie: Well…

I see she wants to say something.

Sophie: Cuz… you…

Me: What?

Sophie: Never mind…

Me: No, tell me you wanted to tell.

Sophie: You changed.

Of course I did. I had simple choice – change yourself or die. I’m alive, so…

She left here a nerd, but now I’m bronzed muscular guy, covered with several scrams. My hair is short – I cut it with my knife. Vest and shorts, made of boar skin, as well as my bow, complete the impression of stern Robinson.

Me: Yep. Three years of this kind of life can change anyone. And you are almost the same.

Sophie: Thanks…

Sophie: Honestly… You are the new person. So romantic… That statue… is amazing…

Sophie: You are so strong. You shared with me all your food. I guess it was really hard. But you starved in order to help me…

Sophie: You are so kind… And so hot…

Me: WHAT?

Sophie: No… no… I mean…

Sophie: If it was any other girl instead of me, she will fuck you just here.

Choice 5:

a) Trust her and relax. It’s just a compliment.

b) It’s going too far. Warn Sophie not to say it again.

Choice 5-a (+0 Innocence):

Me: Eh… Thank you… That was unexpected, but… pleasant.

Sophie smiles to me.

Sophie: I was afraid you wouldn’t understand me.

We sit another minute in comfortable silence.

Me: I think it’s time to go… business doesn’t wait.

Sophie: Bye, cuz. I was glad to see you.

Me: Me too. See you.

I stand up and go into the jungle.

What a beautiful morning! I was glad to see Soph. And it seems she was too.

Did she forgive me? Or she just was in a good mood?

I think, first is more likely.

But it doesn’t mean I can forgive myself. Time hadn’t come yet. Time hadn’t come.

Choice 5-b (-1 Innocence):

I don’t say anything during a minute or so.

Me: Soph… Little advice. As friend to a friend. Never think your cousin is hot. Never. It never ends well.

Sophie: But I…

Me: It doesn’t matter. I think both of us have a perfect example. I don’t want to repeat it. I bet you don’t too.

Me: I’ll better go… Goodbye, cuz.

Sophie: Bye…

I stand up and go into the jungle.

Soph sad I’m hot. I made just the same mistake once.

Jesus, now I see how horrible it is. Shit, that is the thing you shouldn’t say your cousin.

I feel guilty again.

Oh my God… Soph, I’m so sorry…