Tearing Paper

Home?

This chapter covers more plot, and I hope you enjoy it. You'll get to learn the characters' back stories more deeply, and maybe finally believe that this is not just some poorly planned descriptive writing... And yeah, as I've said before, I've been really busy with school and college applications, so expect slower updates. I'm basically in a really moody condition and Tearing Paper is currently the only story I feel like writing, so... :/ 

Happy reading!

-

I’d love to write love letters to the earth,
Whisper them to the wind,
Fold them into paper boats,
And find them a stream to sail in.

“Beautiful is an understatement.”

He was sure his words didn’t really arrive at the girl’s ears, because she was busy drowning her bare feet into the coffee-brown sand, laughing as the wind played with her long hair. He looked around, realizing that the island he reached with two cheap ship tickets was beyond amazing. “No place like home, hm?”

Dianne stared at him in shock. “You…”

“It’s not that hard to figure out,” Nate shrugged. “You were literally bursting with life when you first spoke to me in the café the other day, about this island. Which makes me wonder… If you really miss this place—“

“Why haven’t I gone any sooner?” Dianne nodded, knowing exactly what Nate would ask her. She sighed as she sat back on the shore, tugging her knees close to her chest for warmth. It was eight in the morning. To Nate’s surprise, Dianne convinced him that they should leave town very early, only a few minutes after five-thirty. For what reason, Nate was left dumbfound.

“What matters now is that… we’re here, right? And I’ll take you wherever you want. You can take your pictures, write your article, and then we can leave, can’t we?” Dianne smiled.

“Okay, but—I’m not really sure I wanna explore this whole island without filling my stomach first,” Nate grinned as he rubbed his belly. That was when Dianne’s cheeks flushed in a new shade of red Nate had never seen—and he envied whatever part of this island that brought her such happiness. “Let’s go to my old house! It’s not so far from here. We can eat there and settle down for a while.”

“Hey—wait up!” Dianne was literally running ahead of Nate, who followed her steps uneasily. He grunted as his shoes felt heavy with those mischiveous sands. Dianne was different. She looked as if she… actually belonged in this place. She was no longer that mysterious, dark girl whose personality was hidden behind her endless collection of beanies and oversized sweaters. Maybe that was what coming home brought to people…

Nate closed his eyes as he felt the amber morning sun greeting him shyly behind some cherry pink clouds. This place was beautiful, but he knew he wouldn’t fit in here.

But then again…

Where was his home?

-

Crashes.

He had no idea how to break the silence that blanketed them. The smooth crashes of waves as they approached the sandy shore were gentle, and seagulls were no longer soaring above their heads with their earsplitting choir. He took a step forward and reached out to her shoulder with his hand.

“I’m so sorry.”

“I…” Dianne tried hard to hold back the tears that were collecting in her eyes. He looked at the old, crooked hut wistfully. It had obviously no sign of life. Anybody who had stayed there must have been gone for a long time. He didn’t even expect Dianne to be staying with somebody. Who was it? And why was she so devastated when she found her house empty?

“You… maybe wanna come inside first? People will think I just broke up with you,” Nate tried to soothe her with his friendly voice. Dianne giggled silently, and he took her inside the empty house.

“I’m so sorry, Nate—we should’ve booked a low-classed resort by the beach…”

“Hey, it’s completely fine. We can maybe go to the village, buy some candles and turn this place pretty for a while,” Nate kicked the spiderwebs that were blocking his way.

Dianne’s house was not even as big as a normal-sized living room in town. Everything was basically packed in one patch of land covered in wooden tiles—a small bathroom, a kitchen, a wider corner for storing necessities and another with two beds.

Two beds.

Not one, Nate thought curiously.

“I really miss this place,” Dianne slowly murmured sheerly. “Although there’s barely anything now… Ah, what am I saying. You won’t understand—“

“I hope I do,” Nate answered, placing his backpack on a clean area on the floor. He rubbed his two hands and took his jacket off. “We’re starting over, I guess. A trip to Namiri Island with its very own native, and a chance to stay in a local Namiri…an… house! That’d make a great article, don’t you think?”

Dianne watched silently as Nate began tidying the place eagerly, not forgetting to take his camera once in a while and capture the view outside the window, or inside the house itself. Soon enough, Dianne started convincing herself that maybe Nate was right.

They were on a trip to Namiri Island.

Just… a trip.

Not coming back home.

She simply lost the reason why Namiri Island was her home anyway.