The Stranded

Chapter 2: The First Day

I was disturbed by the harsh sun as I opened my eyes. I saw that my friends were also awake. How long had I been asleep?

Our condition was about the same: our clothes had dried from being in the sun too long, we were still wearing our life jackets, sand stuck to our bodies, and our hair was a mess. My body ached all over, and my throat felt incredibly dry.

I cleared my throat and scanned my friends, doing a headcount one by one. Thankfully, everyone was there. I silently thanked the heavens that no one had been left behind. I struggled to my feet to approach Daniel.

"So, what are we going to do now?" I asked, my voice hoarse.

"I have no idea. Probably look for water and food first. We haven't eaten anything," Daniel replied. I nodded in response.

"What do you think, Raf?"

"I can go back to the yacht and pick things up. The storm is gone, so it should be safer," Rafael suggested.

"But it's still dangerous to go back to the yacht with no equipment, and besides, you're not in good shape," Daniel countered.

"You should trust me. I've survived worse," Rafael insisted. "We shouldn't waste any opportunities and try not to be picky."

"Alright, but I'll go with you."

"No way, you stay here and build a shelter with the others. It'll be easier for me if I go alone."

I silently watched the debate between Daniel and Rafael, not daring to intervene, knowing that if I did, the argument would only escalate. Rafael finally stood up and clapped his hands to get our attention.

"Alright, guys, I'll head back to the yacht and bring back useful items. You guys work on building a shelter," Rafael shouted.

Rafael then swam back to the yacht. The distance between the yacht and the shore wasn't too far; we could still see it from here.

Once Rafael left, Daniel took charge of organizing everything. He divided us into teams. I was part of the shelter-building team, while the others gathered materials.

We built the shelter using large leaves, fallen branches, and vines. We constructed a makeshift shelter that offered some protection from the elements.

"We need to make sure it's sturdy," Daniel said, tying off a section of the shelter. "This will have to hold up until we find something more permanent."

Mila nodded, sweat dripping from her brow. "It's not much, but it's better than sleeping in the open. Good job, everyone."

With the shelter built and standing sturdy, we at least had a temporary place to stay. I sat on the beach, eating coconut meat. Leona had found a coconut tree with plenty of fruit while searching for shelter materials.

My thoughts were interrupted when I saw something approaching. It was Rafael, bringing a simple raft loaded with supplies. I stood up and called everyone, "Guys! Look!"

Daniel and Asher, who had been chatting nearby, quickly came over. Soon, every

one gathered on the beach. I saw relief wash over Daniel's face as he saw Rafael approach.

"Told you I'd make it," Rafael said before sitting down, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. "Pass me some water, please?"

Daniel, who was checking Rafael's supplies, quickly tossed a bottle of water to Rafael, who promptly drank it all. "There were too many things on the yacht for me to carry, but at least we have water and food now," Rafael said.

We helped carry Rafael's supplies to the shelter. Among the items were several packs of bottled water, canned food, and packets of instant noodles. I also noticed a medium-sized box and a few first-aid kits. I was amazed at how much Rafael had managed to bring.

As night fell, Tiffany cooked the instant noodles for us, and we quickly devoured them since we were all starving. We also changed into the clothes Rafael had brought from the yacht.Later, we gathered around a campfire in front of the shelter. Rafael had also brought matches and a few knives.

"Guys," Felix suddenly called out.

"I'm sorry we have to go through this. If I hadn't invited you on this trip, we wouldn't be stranded on an unknown island like this," he said softly.

"Hey, it's not your fault," Diana replied. "We all agreed to this trip, so the blame is on us too.""Right, and I know you didn't want this to happen. It's no one's fault," Daniel added.

I nodded in agreement with my friends. "Right now, we shouldn't focus on blame. We should focus on how to get home instead," I said.

That night, we spent time talking, singing, and joking together. We all understood that we were scared and exhausted, but there was nothing we could do except support each other and keep trying to find a way home.

"I think we should rest," Sara said. "We are really exhausted. Let's think about the rest tomorrow."

We all agreed, and one by one, we left the campfire and went into the shelter. Although we had tried our best, the shelter was very basic. We slept on leaves and used our life jackets as pillows.I looked up at the shelter's roof made of wood and leaves. I didn't know what fate had in store for us, but I hoped tomorrow would be a better day.

Slowly, I closed my eyes to sleep. Sara was right; we all needed rest. I didn't remember how long I had my eyes closed, but I soon fell asleep.

TO BE CONTINUED.