COUNTRY CLUB

THIRTY NINE

"Ever since i turned back on you, i lost all my respect to the moon."

She turned around with one swift move, making the crown between his palms and fall into the sand. It didn't crash, i still get to crown you. She thought it'd be her strawberry blonde haired prince, the angels manifested the surfing prince instead. For a moment, she felt like it was impossible for her to gasp for air. I never thought i'd see you again, she thought. 

"What are you doing here? How did you even know i am here? You shouldn't be here. Rafe's gonna be here in any minute and i don't think he would like seeing you on this island; near me." she stuttered as she backed away from JJ, who was moving towards her. Go on and scream, but no one's going to hear you.  She saw a little piece of the devil through his eyes, the same piece she chose to ignore when she looked onto Rafe's eyes. 

"I don't see Rafe, this island smells like you. Blood mixed with jasmine mixed with the ocean. You've been wishing on the stars for him to be back, you've vowed not to make eye contact with the moon unless he comes back. But where the fuck is he now? It's been a month, Unela. Did he write to you? did he send anyone to save you? He left you here, he left you to die. He disrespected you, and everything you did for him. He knows that you have so much more in store to help him; or most likely to convince yourself that if you gave him your heart he would treasure it. You called the lord of this island, but not all lords know how to manage a dynasty." 

She averted her gaze, started to fidget with her fingers and curl her toes into the sand. The soreness on her neck grew, mapping out on  her shoulders and skull. It was hard for to take a look at him after all this time. She could never forget the way he looked at her the day she took off with Rafe, the day Rafe killed Kraze, the day they thought it was the end for the Pogues. The day they die is the day we live all over again, Dune. 

"Okay.. Lord Rafe..that's enough alcohol for you."  giggled Unela as she aimed to snatch the fourth bottle of beer from Rafe. Boxes of alcohol were sent to the unknown on the daily, Unela always made sure she threw them into the lake or buried them in the forest, the last thing she wanted was to deal with  a drunk Rafe.

"I want you to keep on calling me that, it makes me feel like i matter. You're lady Dune, my Dune." he hiccuped, surrendered and gave Unela the bottle who threw it across the room; making the glass sprawl everywhere. "You certainly don't know how to rule a kingdom, but you've got a smile of  a duke." 

"I'm confused, what does that make me?"

"A duke, silly." she whispered against his lips as she looked at his eyes and inhaled his warm, alcohol-infused breaths. They were almost one step away from a kiss. 

"But what about you, where do you stand in my nonchalant kingdom?" he whispered, eyes wide and bright, waiting for her to put her lips on his; giving him the taste of death. 

"I should be asking you that, but I think I'm the Duke's Failed Secret. What do you think?" breathing out the question, he backed away from her immediately. He wasn't  ready to hear the truth coming out from her, but it showed from the way he treated her, and it showed how she wasn't afraid of confronting him about it. Unela trembles at the idea of confrontation, yet whenever she was with Rafe, confronting him was the second bravest thing she did.

"I need to brush my tongue, it's full of acid." 

She watched him disappear into the bathroom of the unknown as she cleaned the floor from the scattered glass. Throwing the bottle was a reflex reaction, a pinch on his skin for him to see that no matter how dark it gets in his mind, it could never compare to the darkness of her mind. However, what keeps her going is the light just right above her head whenever she closes her eyes and smiles, seeing him smile back. 

"If you keep looking at me like that my skin might fall." she said, still not looking into JJ's eyes, she traveled back in time forgetting all about JJ whose eyes devoured scar and bruise on her skin, and they were a lot. Let's see how well are you going to stick to the plan, JJ. She walked towards him this time, why would back away from my first ever love? she thought. He stiffened as he felt her coming nearer, warming their surroundings with the vapour coming out of her mouth. "If you keep looking at me like that, I don't think I'd be able to stay sane, J." 

Breathing in, she ran her hand under his shirt, reaching for the wired microphone, ripping it aggressively and handing it to him. "Shoupe is not as bright as he pretends to be, or are you working for Ward now?" 

"This is not what it looks like, i just came here to tell you something; Rafe was killed on that ship. We were on the same ship, we saw you two arguing. They're after you, Unela. Ward is after you."