SOUL SNATCHERS

Chapter 12

Rose stood on the shore of Potipot Island, the scorching afternoon sun reddening her skin. She searched for a good spot to call her parents, clad in dark blue shorts and a baby pink shirt that accentuated her beautiful complexion. She attempted to send an SMS to her mom, but all her efforts were in vain. With her phone pressed against her right ear, she desperately tried to reach her mom's number.

"The number you have dialed is either unattended or out of the coverage area...." the operator's voice stated, testing her patience.

"Oh, come on!" Rose muttered, walking slowly along the shoreline. She dialed her mom's number again, hoping to finally make contact. Only a few tourists now remained on the island, as most had left that late morning after an overnight stay. Normally, the island attracted over two hundred visitors daily, but on that day, there were now only around forty-five people enjoying its beauty and the deep blue seawater. Potipot Island became a popular tourist destination among locals and foreigners, particularly after it was featured on various TV shows and news media. The local government strictly prohibited any permanent structures on the island to preserve its natural beauty. Overnight campers were advised to bring their own camping gear and supplies. And that what Rose's friends did.

As Rose walked towards the shore, a teenage boy chased his Frisbee, which unexpectedly collided with her, causing her cellphone to slip from her hand, nearly plunging into the seawater. Losing her balance, she was about to fall when a strong hand grabbed her back and pulled her toward a muscular chest. Mesmerized by the man who had caught her, time seemed to slow as she locked eyes with his handsome face and irresistible lips, making her heart race and leaving her gasping for air. The man then pulled her even closer until their noses almost touched, while Rose focused on his captivating green eyes, sensing familiarity but unable to pinpoint why. With a perfect jawline and adorable dimples on each cheek, he only grew more attractive. The man's masculine scent enveloped Rose, intoxicating her senses. Their strength eventually gave way, and they both fell to the soft ground, with Rose ending up on top. Her arms remained wrapped around his chest as her head rested against him, eyes tightly shut. The man adjusted his position, scaring off the teenage boy who had caused their collision. He smiled at Rose.

"Hello! Are you alright?" he asked, his voice deep and clear like a radio announcer. Rose still hadn't moved, maintaining her position as if she hadn't heard him. The man gently tapped her shoulder. Slowly, she lifted her head from his chest, opened her eyes, and was startled to find herself on top of a half-naked stranger. Without a second thought, she hastily stood up, dusted herself off, and picked up her cellphone from the sandy ground. The man stood before her, wearing a smile. Rose blushed, her cheeks turning red, unsure of what to say or how to approach the man who had saved her from falling. When she looked at him, she realized she was standing in front of a handsome foreigner.

"Hey!" he said. "Aren't you going to thank me for what I did?" he continued to smile at her. He then stood up, wearing his Hawaiian shirt and carrying a backpack on his back.

"Oh, I... I'm so sorry. I... I don't know what to say. I'm sorry for being so clumsy." Rose said. "Oh my gosh, he's so handsome... He's almost perfect," she thought to herself, feeling giddy in the presence of the man who slowly approached her. Standing at six feet and one inch tall, with a muscular build and chestnut curly hair, he was quite the sight.

"It's okay. I was just kidding," he said. "By the way, I'm Brenan Price." He offered his right hand to her.

"Pleased to meet you, Brenan. I'm sorry again for what happened. Thank you for catching me." Every time Rose glanced into his green eyes, butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She accepted his hand and shook it, causing Brenan to chuckle. He noticed Rose's serious expression and held back his laughter.

"Oh, I'm sorry. You don't need to thank me. Yes, I caught you to prevent you from hitting the ground, but in the end, I still let you fall. So there's no need for you to thank me, and I should be the one apologizing," he said. "By the way, are you not going to share your name with me?" Rose covered her mouth, thinking about Brenan's words. "Anyway, ma'am, Again, I am Brenan Daniel Price. You can call me Bren for short," he smiled, showing off his dimples. Once again, he extended his hand to her. Rose accepted his hand and shook it, her gaze fixed on his handsome face as she returned a beautiful smile.

"I'm Alexa Rose Sabellano. You can call me Rose," she introduced herself. Bren squeezed her hand and gently kissed it with his warm lips.

"You have a lovely name, Rose," he said.

"Thanks," Rose replied, hiding her smile behind her almost waist-length curly hair. "So, Bren," she sighed, "where are you from?"

"I'm from the state of Maine. I arrived here with my friend just two days ago," Bren answered as both of them sat on the soft ground beneath the shade of a Pandanus tree. Rose's face was covered in sweat, seeking respite from the heat. Bren sat beside her.

"You were with your friend when you arrived, right?" she questioned.

"Yeah," Bren nodded.

"Where is your friend now? Why isn't he with you?" she asked again. Bren continued to stare at her, which made Rose more self-conscious. She brushed her hair behind her ear.

"He left this morning. He said he needed to meet the parents of his future wife in Olongapo," he replied.

Rose nodded. "I see," she said.

Bren fixed his gazed at her,  his eyebrows almost touching. "I think you're not purely Filipino, am I right?" he asked.

Rose nodded in agreement.

"My mom is half Chinese and half Filipino, and my dad is half Filipino and Spanish-American," she explained.

"Really? Wow! That's why your beauty is so unique. It's different. You have a combination of the most beautiful races in your blood. You have Asian, American, and European blood. How cool!" he exclaimed.

Rose felt very shy at Bren's compliment.

Bren retrieved his backpack and camera. He took the camera and said, "Can I ask you to take a selfie with me?" he requested, preparing his camera for her.

"Sure, why not?" Rose responded, flashing her beautiful smile and posing for the camera with Bren. The camera clicked, and Bren looked at the picture and showed it to her.

"Here, take a look!" He said. Rose took the camera and viewed the picture.

"The camera doesn't lie. God, you're really beautiful," he complimented. Rose looked at him and smiled. She felt butterflies in her stomach every time Bren called her beautiful.

"I can't wait to post them on my Facebook and Instagram accounts," he mentioned, returning his camera to his backpack.

"Why did you decide to stay here by yourself?" Rose asked.

"I chose to stay here and enjoy this beauty. Where else on Earth can you find such a paradise? I never truly enjoyed my life until now," he paused, locking eyes with her. "I would never have seen your beautiful face if I had left this place with my friend this morning. I would never have had the chance to know you if I had decided to leave the island."

Rose brushed her hair away from her ear and gently touched her face. She felt a spark of electricity surge through her body. She held his hand and felt torn by her conflicting emotions. Her heartbeat quickened, and she became overwhelmed by her feelings. Her mind recognized a connection with this man, but she didn't know its true nature. Normally, she didn't entertain strangers, but with Bren, something compelled her to know him better.

"Would you mind joining me at the camp to meet some new friends?" Rose asked, with a cheerful smile.

"Really? I would love to. Where?" he replied, standing up and extending his hand to help her up.

"There, in those woods to the north of this island. You'll meet my friends, and I think they'll be thrilled to see you."

"Me too," he agreed to her. "So, shall we go?"

Rose nodded with excitement. They both smiled as they made their way toward their camp.