Before Me, Him

Chapter 5

     - June? – a voice that I recognize calls me. My body froze. I was too scared to look back and see who it was. I was scared it would be Jacob, but it couldn't be, right? – Shouldn't you be home? I keep my head within my knees and don't say anything. My body doesn't want to move, my head doesn't want to look. I don't want to see who it is. "Please go away". That's what my voice wants to say but doesn't find the will to.

     - Are you ok? – I could hear his footsteps getting closer and closer to me until that presence was right behind me. – Do you mind if I sit with you? – says the voice without having received any type of response.

     Somehow I find the will within myself and I lift my face up. That's when I see him and my heart aches even more. Jacob was here. Why was he here? In this reef? Why this one? Did he recognize me? It can't be, I'm too far away from the beach for him to be able to see it was me. Then why?

     - What are you doing here? – I say with some voice cracks from the several tears that had rolled down my face a couple of minutes earlier.

     - I should be the one asking you that. It's dangerous here, especially for a girl. – part of me just wanted to tell him to go away in an extremely rude way because I mean, it is dangerous for humans, no matter what gender they are. My feminism instinct was almost coming out of me but it ended up locket in. - If you misplace your feet you might fall into the rocks and then into the ocean, you need to be careful.

     In the end, he was showing some concern about my well-being, most likely he came here because he saw a girl and wanted to see if the person was ok as well as giving her a warning. At least, that's what I assume because that's the only reason inside my head that makes sense.

     - That doesn't answer my question. – I look into his eyes while he sits down next to me.

     - I like to come here. It's good to think things through. – a gentle smile emerges from his lips – That's why I came but I'm going, to be honest, I wasn't expecting you to be here.

     - I see. – I get up – I will let you think things through then.

     - You're being kind of rude don't you think? – Jacob looks up with that incredible kind smile – I answered your question so you should answer mine, no?

     My heart is screaming in my chest, even his smile was so similar to my brother's.

     - You're right. I'm sorry Jacob. – I let out a sight – Yes I should be at home. Yes, I am okay. No, I don't mind that you sit with me. – I send out a cold smile – Goodbye!

     Jacob bursts out into laugher and I didn't know how to react. I just stare at him laughing and laughing non-stop. His dark black hair was reflecting the last rays of sunshine of the day and the warm sun was gently touching his face. He looked warm, happy, comfortable. Once he composes himself he gets up while standing by my side.

     - What? – I frown my eyebrows while I try to understand whatever he thought was so funny.

     - Well, I wasn't expecting you to answer those three questions, what I really wanted to know is what you were doing here.

     - You can keep guessing. – I start walking towards the beach and Jacob follows me.

     - So you're not going to tell me what you were doing here?

     - I answered three of your questions and you answered two of mine, what you are asking of me is a bit rude, don't you think? – a smile appears on my face with the satisfaction that I had won whatever it was that was happening between us.

     - I do think you are right. – Jacob smiles again and, as we got to the beach the sun was almost disappearing within the horizon. As I kept on walking he kept on following me.

     - What are you doing?

     - I'm just walking beside you. – he says with the biggest calm in the world.

     - No, what I mean is, why are you following me? – I stop walking and stare at him.

     - Well, it is late and it should be dark soon. You're still going to take at least 20 minutes to get home, it's dangerous. – out of a sudden a bright smile appears on his face. – I've answered four questions now, you've answered three so please tell me what you were doing there?

     He got me. I was so impatient with his presence that I completely forgot about the "questions" situation. What should I say? How should I react? I can't tell him the truth of course, that never crossed my mind.

     - I was seeing the ocean and thinking about something from a while ago. – I say while looking back into the ocean. – It's pretty isn't it? – I lay down my bag and put my jacket on. Afterward, I remove the elastic from my hair letting my long brown hair play with the wind. – They say the ocean was created to be a reflection from the sky but it ends up reflecting everything else as well. – I return my eyes to his – I wish I could be an ocean to reflect the sky.

     Jacob just stared at me and no word came from his lips after my statement. I wonder what was going on in his mind, was he troubled with something I had said? It's ok I think, there's no need to worry, in the end, we're nothing but strangers to each other so that couldn't happen. I restart walking towards the house and Jacob followed. We walked for twenty minutes but both of us were quiet the whole time however I think that, from time to time, he would look at me. I couldn't exactly see it but somehow I could feel it.

     When we arrived he waved to me and left, just like that. I got inside and went to my room. Some minutes later I listen to the front door being opened and I could understand that Emily had also arrived.