Tides of Destiny

Part Six: The Captain

Part Six

The Captain

Alfina Guerrero

After the kiss that we shared, Matt's relationship and I became different. I know that we've been more open with each other.

Matt says I'm no longer that cold and secure. It's like I've put my walls down for him. I've also been feeling a bit better about myself.

Although fragments of my memories have returned, I still can't remember my real name and where I lived. I can recall faces but overall, there's no progress.

It's been ten days since I was rescued by this handsome man. Here I was, in his front yard, helping him out with the house. It's the least I could do for him after all the trouble he's been through. Besides, he's letting me stay for free.

We were repairing and repainting some of the furniture that he had in his home. Our plan was to repaint the fence next, after this project of ours.

"Should I get Wifi or television?" Matt asked.

"What for? You do own a phone but to be honest, you don't really need it. At least you live a quiet life," I said.

"You're right, social media alone is toxic. I do have some social media accounts but I never use them, just only when my sister decides to call out of the blue," Matt answered as he continued painting the dresser with baby blue paint.

"I see, so you're more of someone who likes being away from the toxicity online,"

"Yeah, never really liked it,"

"But would you like this?" I quickly smeared my paintbrush on his nose, leaving a streak of paint.

I laughed at how silly he looked. He looked adorable when he had a pouty look on his face.

"So childish," he retorted and then painted my left cheek.

We were laughing and chasing one another while smearing each others' faces with paint.

After a few minutes of chasing each other, he grabbed me by the waist and embraced me tightly. We were both soiled with paint on our faces and clothes.

We were about to kiss until a cough interrupted our moment together.

"What the hell are you doing?" a stern voice asked, which made us quickly pull away from each other.

"Captain Jonah, what brings you here?" Matt greeted.

The captain was a well-built man who was around the age of fifties. He had a long beard with white streaks that complemented his dirty blonde hair. He was about five-foot-eleven in height. Matt was a bit taller than him so he's probably six-foot-two or something.

"You missed the morning mass lad, which you never fail to attend until now," the captain emphasized as he narrowed his eyes in my direction.

This man clearly hates me.

"I'm sorry Captain I was–"

"Distracted?" the captain emphasized, cutting Matt off.

Matt grew silent.

"I told everyone in the crew to report to me at the six-hundredth hour for the mass before we set sail and the start of the season. You were not there Stoltenberg," this man was starting to get on my nerves.

I saw Matt clench his fists.

"I expect to see you later aboard my ship. Those whales aren't going to catch themselves. Remember what you owe me, kid," the captain said before leaving Matt's residence.

Matt was clearly not in a good mood.

He went inside the house and slammed the door on his way in.

"Matt!" I called out and followed him inside.

Matt was packing his things. He was just shoving everything inside the bag.

"Matt."

Still no answer.

"Matt!"

Matt was completely ignoring me.

He finished packing up and then he zipped up his bag. He then grabbed his rope and harpoon.

Matt grabbed his backpack and made his way to the kitchen.

"Matt, talk to me!" I pleaded.

Matt stopped in his tracks and faced me.

He was starting to walk towards me.

He had an angry expression on his face which I admit made me feel a bit scared.

Matt put down his things and continued walking towards me. I was scared so I moved backward.

"Say something, Mathias! I don't like it when you're like this" I pleaded with my trembling voice.

Tears were starting to form from the corner of my eyes.

Matt had me against the wall.

He just looked so lost and angry at the same time.

I closed my eyes and prepared for the worst.

To my surprise, Matt placed his head on my shoulder and started sobbing. He wrapped his arms around me and continued to cry.

"I hate it so much! I hate killing those creatures, they make sad sounds whenever we hurt them, they don't deserve that kind of treatment!" he said between sobs.

I gently stroked his hair to make him calm down.

"You can just stay here with me," I said.

"I can't!" he yelled.

"Captain has done so much for me and brought me up as his own. I can't turn my back on someone who raised me!" he exclaimed.

I cupped his cheeks with my hands. He was still handsome even though his nose was runny and his eyes were swollen from crying.

"You always have a choice. You can be with me, here on the land or you can be on the seas, killing those poor creatures," I said to him.

"Your guilt would make you feel like a prisoner, you don't have to follow that man just because he raised you. You can do the things you want, heck, you're even capable of making decisions by yourself," I added.

Matt was finally starting to calm down.

He just continued to hug me without saying anything. I patted his back and drew circles on it using my fingers to make sure that he was okay.

"Thank you, Evy,"

Igave his forehead a gentle kiss. I didn't know what happened next but I foundmyself leading him towards his bed.