Tearing Paper

Arms

“Hmm! What’s this meal called again?”

Dianne couldn’t help but laugh as she saw Nate’s red face as he savored his dish excitedly. “Slow down, the spices are kind of crazy,” Dianne wiped her mouth. “It’s just seafood tagine. But the recipe is quite native to Namiri Island—and the fish is literally fresh from the ocean, so it’s much more enjoyable than it is in other places.”

“This is great,” Nate nodded as he hydrated his throat with half a glass of water. “Any other dishes you’d recommend?”

Dianne looked through the menu and mentioned some meals which Nate swiftly took note of. She then raised her hand and called a waitress. “One classic for two please?”

Nate didn’t understand what she meant, but a few minutes later, the waitress returned and nodded. “Everything is set, Miss.”

“What are you planning?” Nate stood up and followed Dianne as she walked out of the seaside restaurant. Dianne stared back at him with twinkling eyes as she smiled. “Something your readers would kill for.”

-

The seawater was glistening like crystals under the bright moon. A middle-aged villager pulled a boat near them as Dianne stepped in cheerily, as if her body was almost floating weightlessly in glee. It was like the easiest thing to do in her life. “It’s gonna be fun. Come on. Scared?”

Nate laughed uneasily, and soon enough Dianne realized he needed help from the boatman to step inside with her. Nate sat back and exhaled in relief as the waters were calm.

“Ready?” Dianne smiled as the man walked away.

“Wait—isn’t he here to help us?”

“No, silly. We’re on our own. Tourists enjoy this kind of boat ride so much. We usually fish, and then do a DIY barbeque afterwards. That is, if we catch some fish.”

“That’s amazing,” Nate watched as Dianne rowed the boat with all her might. He helped her, but the boat turned back to the shore and started shaking.

“Let me do it! Sit back and take as many photos and notes as you want. It’s been long enough that I didn’t get to do this,” Dianne laughed as some water splashed onto her face. The wind was pleasing, but sometimes it blew harder than it intended, messing with Dianne’s blond waves and long floral skirt. Nate didn’t know why, but Dianne had evolved into a much prettier, livelier lady when she was on this island. She was no longer that closeted, silent girl in the café.

He liked this new kind of Dianne.

“So we just… wait here?” Nate stared into the layers of deep blue below him. He felt so far away from land, but Dianne showed no signs of fear. She shrugged. “Net’s over there. We wait for it to feel heavy, and then we can go back. Rowing makes me so hungry—well, I know you won’t feel the same, because all this time you were…”

“Sorry!” Nate laughed as he moved forward, tickling Dianne. “Hope this will relax you a—“

“Stop it!” Dianne’s laugh bursted as she pushed Nate away. But he came back stronger, tickling her all over until she was panting in sweet pain. “Nate—I—“

“Okay,” Nate grinned as he spared her. But his arms were still around her waist, without him realizing, or feeling that he should pull away. “We’re drowning, aren’t we?”

“That would be fun—skinny dipping in the oceans,” Dianne replied with her smooth voice. She smiled, letting herself lost in Nate’s boundless green eyes as he pulled her closer to him. “This sure is a cold night.”

“I’m fine…” Dianne felt their bodies touching each other closer every second, heat spreading all over her skin like lightning. Just before their faces touch, she held back. “What is it?” Nate placed his finger on her chin.

“Last time I was here,” Dianne looked away, “I was with Devon. He took me on my first boat ride. He taught me how to row and fish…”

Nate felt his heart stopping for a while before hitting on his ribs hard, but then Dianne’s eyes were filled with tears as she continued, “We were always together, all our lives here. He-he was my twin.”

Dianne.

Devon.

Dianne and Devon.

Two beds, one hut.

One with a dream—one without.

One decided to leave—one stayed.

And stayed long enough to make him sick of waiting for her return...

All Nate’s suspicion and curiosity tumbled—he felt as if a veil had been torn away now, letting him see everything about the girl in his arms, the reason for all her gloom, her fears and her longing to visit Namiri Island.

And how her heart broke when her hut was empty.

He should’ve known a mere boyfriend would not cause her that much agony.

“I left him, Nate. I left him for a stupid, unreachable, empty ambition—to be a stupid poet… I can’t even write! Nobody appreciates what I have to say—I’ve given him up for all of that… and now… I can’t find him—“

Dianne lost herself. All Nate knew was that night, that few minutes which felt like eternity to him, he spent the whole time holding a girl in his arms, letting her mess his shirt up with her tears, after swearing to himself that he could not see a girl cry again.