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lokisprettygirl · 1 year ago

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Utopia (Modern! Daemon Targaryen x female reader) (Non Canon AU) (18+)

Read chapter 2 here // Series Masterlist

Chapter 3

Summary: Survival on your own becomes difficult but at least you're not alone.

Warning: 18+ death and destruction that comes from a ship wreckage, smut, sex, menstrual sex, unprotected sex. Some inconsistency with ship sinking, i researched as much as I could

Three weeks, it has been three weeks since you had been stranded on that forsaken island with Daemon and no rescue has come looking for you two. You were marking everyday by scribbling the numbers with stones. Each morning you awoke with a deep sense of dread, hoping with all your heart that this nightmare would finally end.

Looking after yourselves on the island wasn't easy, as you were constantly fighting for survival. Both of you were barely surviving on eating fruits in the day and occasional fish that Daemon managed to catch, which was never enough to fulfill your hunger for the night.

Things seemed to just get worse everyday. On the 4th day Daemon had suggested that you two needed to take care of personal hygiene, like brushing your teeths and bathing. This wasn't the type of conversation you wanted to have with the guy you had a huge crush on but you were both emptying your bowels in the woods while the other one remained a few feet away to safeguard so the shame was the first thing to get swept up in the waters.

Your hair was starting to get matted and you feared you'd have to cut it all off if by chance you'd end up getting rescued. If you'd end up getting rescued.

However you had watched a nature documentary where the man suggested using mango tree barks as dental twigs, sure it didn't do the best job but it did something to keep your teeth and mouths clean.

All of those things were terrifying of course but none of it seemed as horrible as what you were about to go through soon. You were close to the beginning of your menstrual cycle, it was one less thing Daemon didn't have to worry about you thought.

Within the first two days on the island, you and Daemon made the difficult decision to remove the clothing of the people who had perished, it felt disrespectful sure but you both needed it, you washed those clothes in the sea water to get rid of blood as much as you could and you were saving some of it for the hell week, bleeding wasn't your concern though, it was the deathly cramps you were about to suffer.

“Here..eat it” Daemon handed you a banana before he sat down next to you. They had ripened. You looked at the blue shirt he was wearing today as it was from one of the bodies. His hair was all messed up, same as yours, and he had grown a thick stubble which actually made him look really rugged. As your eyes met, you realized that despite the grueling circumstances, you had somehow maintained a sense of normalcy, a familiar comfort in the midst of chaos.

On the 12th day he got one of his migraine attacks and there was nothing to soothe him from the pain and sensory overload.

Well that was one thing you thought you didn't have to worry about.

At night while he was wailing in pain you took him near the sea and soaked a piece of cloth in the cold water to put it over his head order to bring him some relief, then you caressed his head until he had fallen asleep, once he was asleep you stepped a few feet away from him but stayed close enough where you could see him. And then you cried, you cried and cried until you weren't able to cry anymore, you were beginning to lose hope everyday, the tears were streaming down your face as you acknowledged the bleakness of your situation. The realization of the harsh reality of the island and the possibility that rescue will never come weighed heavily on your heart.

Despite continuously scanning the skies for the past three weeks, neither of you had spotted even the slightest hint of a helicopter. In a desperate attempt to attract attention, you had gathered large rocks to form the word “HELP” on the beach. However, the days passed by without a single rescue mission. You had a feeling that they weren't even looking for you. Perhaps they thought both of you had succumbed to death like the other passengers.

“Oh god it's happening” you grabbed your stomach as you felt the first churn and you felt the blood dribbling down so you quickly got up and ran towards the shack to get the cloth. Daemon sighed as he realized you were going to be in additional pain today, this hasn't been easy for you two. After all, nobody truly prepares you for a situation like this where you are at the mercy of nature on a remote island, stripped of all your comforts and basic necessities.

When you came back after a few minutes, it was turning dark already so Daemon had got the fire ready and also prepared the bed of leaves for you so you immediately laid down on it.

“What can I do darling” he asked you softly as he caressed your head so you groaned in response.

“Take my uterus” he couldn't help but chuckle in amusement. In an attempt to alleviate your suffering, he heated a coconut shell over the fire and wrapped it in a piece of cloth before placing it gently on your belly. The gesture would have made you bawl your eyes out if you weren't already crying from the pain. You always felt as if your pain was on the number ten but you knew most women felt that way.

“God i wanna die..I wanna die daemon..i am done..i can't ..I can't..just kill me I'm done” you began to cry profusely so he laid down next to you and wrapped his arms around you.

“You're not going to die my brave girl..I'll get you through this alright” his tone was gentle and reassuring.

“It hurts so bad ..”

“I know..i know” he really wished he could have eased your pain somehow and then he remembered something.

“Ummmm may I offer a suggestion?” he pulled away to look at you, your cheek was soaked with tears.

“Don't suggest sex, we can't have sex” you mumbled between your cries so he smiled.

“I almost forgot you are off pills”

You hummed in agreement as he said that. You didn't want to have sex with him to prevent yourself from falling in love with him, the thought of the pills hadn't even crossed your mind “I can still do something” he mumbled as he scooted closer to you so you scooted away.

“What are you doing?” You asked him so he wrapped his arm around your waist, his fingers gently caressed circles on your skin.

“Just trying to help” he mumbled softly as he kissed your forehead, even though his mind was racing and he really wanted to kiss you, he went with his better judgment and refrained.

In the last three weeks both of you had seen each other be at your worsts, physically and mentally, and the old Daemon that had never suffered through such a turmoil, for him perhaps seeing a woman stripped down to her primal nature in every possible way might not have evoked such emotions but this new Daemon that had suffered and was lucky enough to have this gorgeous brave woman by his side on this journey, he only found himself being more drawn towards you every passing day.

Lily still crossed his mind every damn day, he was still in love with her but a part of him resented her as well because he couldn't get over that part where their lives were in imminent danger and she didn't look for him.

“Daemon” you whispered as he unbuttoned your pants and his hand slipped inside, at first he slowly rubbed his fingers over your clothed mound and the gesture was enough to make you feel aroused.

Even amidst the excruciating pain you couldn't deny how attracted you were to him, the beard was awakening something in you and you weren't ready for it. You clenched your thighs around his hand to feel the pressure because the underwear and the cloth you were using as a pad was hindering the sensation from building.

Tears rolled down your eyes as you still felt the pain but he was definitely distracting you as well as he could, you weren't even sure if the orgasm was going to help but you really needed the distraction.

He leaned down to kiss your cheek and it made your breath hitch in your chest.

“Can I touch you without the barrier?” He whispered in your ear so you nodded, at this point you were done being civil about it, it's not as if he hadn't fucked you once already during your periods.

He brought his other hand over your head and caressed your scalp while his fingers slipped into your underwear, you gasped as he used his index and middle fingers to rub across the insides of your labia, thumb played with your clit simultaneously, your breath quickened and fingers clenched around his biceps as the sensation began to build slowly.

"Have you done this before?’ you asked him but your voice came out in breathless whispers which immediately rushed the blood to his cock, it's been three weeks of no release for him as we. He didn't remember going this long without a sexual release ever since he had turned thirteen.

“Mmmm i have pleasured women before darling” he mumbled softly and you gasped as his middle finger slipped inside you. Curling his digit inside he looked for your sweet spot, his long slender fingers were one of the reasons he was so good at pleasing women using just his hands.

“No I mean like this” you murmured softly so he shook his head,

“No..i had sex with lily while she bled but she never allowed me to touch her with my fingers”

“Ohhh okay” you whispered and your nails dug into his skin as his digit brushed over that spot that made you see millions of stars on a very clear night.

“Is it weird?” you asked him as you moaned so he leaned down to kiss your neck,

“Mmmhm but I like it.. I like weird, i like touching you like this when you're going through something so natural”

His thumb played with your clit while he pumped two fingers in and out, didn't take you long enough to cum around him, it has been three weeks since you had touched yourself..

He had left you gasping and shaking with that orgasm. Much to your shock and relief the cramp had subsided, it was still there but the pain had gone down from ten to five almost immediately.

“Thank you..thank you so much” you mumbled softly as you caressed his cheek so he leaned down to kiss your forehead and pulled his hand out of you to go wash them off the blood. When he came back you noticed the clear bulge in his pants, you were hoping things won't get weird between you two now, he was still hung up on Lily and you had learned that important lesson the last time.

You really had learned your lesson but he had done something nice for you, something sweet and thoughtful and–

“Do you want me to touch you?” You whispered in his ear as he laid down next to you so he turned his head to look at you. You had helped him go through the migraine attack he has suffered so he really just wanted to help you the same.

“Didn't do it for the exchange” he turned his body towards you as he propped himself on his elbow so you wrapped hand around his neck to caress his nap, you both had been cuddling each other for warmth since you got here so the position didn't really seem foreign.

“I know…I just..you must need it too”

He sucked in a breath as your hand slipped down and you didn't waste a second before you pulled him out of the confinement of his pants, he was hard and leaking as you had assumed.

You brought your hand up and looked at him confidently,

“Spit”

The way you said the word made him feel weak in the knees, there was no room for argument or discussion anymore nor did he want it. He grabbed your palm and brought it closer to his mouth to dribble down his spit which you used as a lube to stroke him slowly.

Perhaps you'd have never done this in your normal life, you never would have felt so bold and confident but here on this island, far away from the civilization, there were no rules for any of you. In nature you found yourself to be an extension of it.

“That feel okay?” You mumbled softly as you pumped his cock up and down slowly and all he could respond with was a moan and the clenching of his jaw. It felt more than okay, it felt amazing. His mouth kept opening as the pleasure built slowly, he looked like a fish out of water as you increased the pace ever so slowly.

Shallow breaths heated up quickly as he was driven to the edge just from a few strokes of your skilled hand, he never imagined you had it in you, when he met you for the first time for some reason he thought of you as a sweet, shy prudish girl but you kept surprising him with your actions.

Loud grunt spilled from his throat as he came, his cum splattered all between you two but you didn't mind it at all, you didn't care.

He panted heavily as he tried to recover from the mind numbing orgasm, for a moment he had forgotten where he was, for a moment he just felt as if he was on a beach fooling around with a beautiful girl, you had made him escape his mind and he was afraid he'd get addicted to that feeling.

No words were spoken as you cleaned yourselves with the sea water but there was no awkwardness whatsoever between you two either, once you both returned you took your usual spot on the leaves.

“Can I ask you a personal question?” You mumbled so he hummed in response.

“Why did you and Lily break up?” he sighed as he heard her name.

“Long story short, we had been together for a long time, we were eighteen when we first met, a few years into the relationship we broke up a few times when it got difficult but found our way back to each other every time..this time around was going to be the same”

Doesn't this negate the whole purpose of a relationship you wondered, aren't you supposed to ride through the hard times together?

“Doesn't it bother you? Letting go of the girl you love?” confusion was visible in your voice, you didn't want to judge their relationship but it just didn't feel right.

“It does but I figured it would be better than losing her completely”

“Hmmmmmm”

“Are you feeling better?” He asked you so you nodded before you turned on your side and closed your eyes.

That night you woke up to a huge spider crawling on your body which immediately made you jump and scream from the top of your lungs, Daemon had no idea whether the spider was poisonous or not so he just grabbed a huge block of rock to end it's life which you weren't really proud of, the island was their home and you two were the ones intruding.

There was a spider bite on your leg which made him worry, he asked you if you were feeling okay and you just nodded in response, the bit mark stung but you felt fine. However Daemon didn't go to sleep that night, he was watching you like a hawk, fearing that you'd die and leave him all alone here.

The next morning when you woke up he hugged you as warmly as he could before you two got on with your day.

The mornings somehow seemed shorter than the nights and everyday when you woke up, daemon took you into the woods to grab freshwater from the river, in four weeks you had encountered snakes, countless of bugs and spiders, he had suggested to eat snakes when he wasn't able to catch a fish but you preferred to starve and die than put a snake in your mouth.

His will to survive was stronger than yours, he had people he wanted to go back to and you had family as well but everyday was making you more and more hopeless, you weren't as strong as him. You kept thinking about your next menstrual cycle arriving and the thought made you shudder, something would eventually kill you and you knew that.

“Why are you so quiet?” He asked you as he sat down next to you, you were halfway into the sea water so he joined you.

“I am losing hope daemon, i know you don't want to hear that but I am losing hope and my sanity everyday”

You hadn't seen any helicopter flying over you yet and you didn't think you were going to either.

“You're not alone in feeling this way okay?” He mumbled as he wrapped his arms around you, both of you had lost a considerable amount of weight in the past two months which was given as you were somehow surviving on fruits and occasional fish but your appetite had decreased as well.

“What will we do if they never come?” your eyes welled up as you questioned him.

“Then we will be here, just like this, we will make a home here and survive as long as we can.. I'll build a house for you from the scratch if I have to”

The moment he said that you broke down and hugged him as tightly as you could. That's when he cupped your cheeks between his palms and kissed you briefly before he pulled away to look at you, then he leaned into you to kiss you deeply this time, the last time you had kissed him was when you had sex on that drunken night.

However you didn't have time to even relish the kiss or think about what it meant to any of you because you heard it, you heard the loud sound of a helicopter whirling in the sky. Daemon jumped up, frantically waving his arms about, trying to signal the helicopter. His actions were desperate and urgent. You wished you had stayed awake for the moment where they came to rescue you both but the relief and shock pushed your already weak body over the edge and you passed out immediately.

However when your eyes flutter open next you were all alone on the beach and Daemon wasn't there. He was gone.

👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

Taglist

@mcufan72 @123forgottherest @shuichiakainx

#daemon targeryan #daemon targaryen x female reader #daemon targaryen x reader fluff #daemon targaryen x reader smut #daemon targaryen x reader amgst #non canon au #modern day au

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creatingnikki · 3 months ago

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Seasonal

This time, I didn’t eat as many oranges as I spoke about loving them with you. It’s November already, and though I didn’t get my fill of oranges this season, I find myself waiting for strawberries already.

The first time we spoke, we spoke of our favourite fruit, about the pandemic, mental health, brunch places in Mumbai, writing workshops, and the gold prices after the Budget.

A white night, filled with so much—such connection, calm, and laughter that felt like it would lead to forever.

That night we ranked my favourite fruit from one to seven; you had only one favourite—mangoes. And yet, somehow, we won’t make it to the summer to eat them together.

In the time we shared, we did eat plenty of fruit—apples and muskmelon, papaya and watermelon, pineapple and sweet lime. But not once did we have an orange together. And now we won’t get to have mangoes either. It’s strange, isn’t it? All the little pieces of life we tasted but never quite got the chance to savour the ones we most desired fully.

Despite the bookstore date and the strawberry shower gel, the literature lessons, and the books given as gifts. Despite the morning cuddles and the verification of heights in the full-length mirror. Despite it all, there was no taste of our favourite seasonal fruits—no mangoes in your summer, no oranges in my autumn.

No serving of our favourite seasonal fruit in our seasonal love’s destiny.

And so, our love, like the fruit that never quite ripened in time, remains out of reach—just a seasonal sweetness, here briefly and then gone.

#spilled ink #writerscreed #poeticstories #twc poetry #poets on tumblr #writers on tumblr #spilled thoughts #seasonal #fruits #oranges #brief #almost lover #creatingnikki

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genderfluid-insomniac · 2 years ago

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Hi! i’d like to ask for Wukong and Macaque (separate) with a short, chubby, gardener reader if you haven’t done that already! Like maybe reader could be growing a peach or plum tree and the boys come by for some!

Hi anon! I love this idea and I hope you like it!!

Wukong and Macaque (separate) with a short, chubby, gardener reader

Sun Wukong

The moment he hears that not only is his crush a gardener and very in tune with nature but loves growing peach trees and is a close friend of MKs…yeah he’s already on his way over there. He tries his best not to overwhelm you with his energy and politely asks for a peach, unable to hide the way his tail excitedly wagged and the genuine grin that crept up on his face when you said for him to take his pick.

You weren’t that far from the harbor or the city so it wasn’t out of his way and found himself visiting you every day, getting more familiar with you and eventually getting the invite from you to come and go as he pleased (as long as he didn’t do anything stupid which you did further clarify when he asked you to be specific due to past….events). Assuring him that he’d have to screw up pretty bad you to ban him from your life and offering to have lunch with him which he happily accepted, talking about your daily life and how different his was on Flower Fruit Mountain.

One day you woke up late to knocking on your door as thunder roared outside your house, thinking nothing of it as you covered your head with the comforter before hearing your front door open as rain pelted on your wood floors and shot up with a bat you always kept beside you in your hands. In front of you, you saw the Great Sage Equal to Heaven dripping wet from the storm holding an armful of peaches with a concerned expression quickly replaced with one of relief and humor.

Wukong explained that on his way over here it started thundering quite badly and swept up some of the peaches that had fallen on the ground (still edible but just shaken off from the wind), concerned about how you were holding up since the weather was more equivalent to a hurricane than a storm and figured he’d spend the time at your place until the storm was over. You of course were now concerned for his family back on the mountain to which his reply was they were all safely in Water Curtain Cave and that he figured spending some time baking with the peaches he’d gathered would be fun, secretly very touched when you’d expressed concern for his brothers and sisters and also how adorable you looked shocked awake with your hair scattered everywhere.

Six-Eared Macaque

He was just walking around one day and smelled something good, stumbling upon your orchard and seeing a variety of fruit trees; his eye spotted a couple of plum and mango trees in the corner of the field. As he was making his way over, he saw you in another row of trees picking fruit to put in your basket and paid you no mind, you were just some simple human.

He jumped onto a branch upon seeing a ripe-looking plum and going to take a bite after rubbing it on his sleeve when he heard you yell at him, looking down to see you looking both confused and annoyed at him. Hearing you reasonably get mad at him for eating the stuff you use to make a living and he sassily responds that one plum missing won’t ruin your life to which you flip him and yell at him to fuck himself…To which he could go away but where’s the fun in that when he found someone so interesting?

You see him every. single. day. after that first interaction and every time you interact, it’s the same old song and dance with him giving you a sassy remark and you telling him to fuck off. But each time you both get closer and become more friends than the tolerable asshole I interact with, eventually you both get to look forward to your meetings and ask how the other’s day was (learning the actual names of one another). One day though is different from the rest.

It was nearing sunset and you were at the back of your orchard, picking ripened fruit for the market tomorrow and putting broken or torn fruit in a bin for compost (definitely not picking some savory fruits for the shadow demon basically living with you) when you heard a branch snap in the thick forest nearby with growling not shortly after.

You nearly dropped the basket you were holding and backed away from the mother bear with her cubs moving closer to you, the small furred cubs eating scarred apples and mangos that had already gone to insects, and nearly jumped at you before someone got in front of you. Macaque now stood in front of you with a pointed bo staff made of a swirling black shadow-like material and eyes glowing violet as he bared his teeth, a low growl building in the back of his throat and poison dripping from his words. “Go.”

That was all it took for them to run, scurrying back into the forest and leaving the two of you alone with adrenaline still coursing through you. Both of you made it back to your house with some fruit, the shadow demon lightly joked about how he might as well just start living with you if these things keep happening, and you said he was more than welcome to.

Yeah, that was all it took for both of you to become roommates with more mornings filled with tangled limbs (Macaque seeking you out for both warmth and comfort) and you both playfully flirt with each other, baking and keeping each other company at the marker when you have to leave.

#lmk x reader #lmk macaque x reader #lmk sun wukong #lmk sun wukong x reader #lego monkie kid x reader #sun wukong x reader #six eared macaque x reader #lmk macaque

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panakinthedisco · 7 months ago

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MISTY ━━ Joel Miller

summary: it all started at a station stop, a conversation about your beloved country, and somehow, in that moment, joel miller became utterly captivated by you.

author's note: i specifically made this one-shot for my SEA and filipina girlies rahhhhhh🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅 🇵🇭 🇵🇭 🇵🇭 🇵🇭 🇵🇭 🇵🇭!!! we need more representation in this fandom so i had to do it <3 but i hope y'all enjoy this because this is just FLUFF :))

word count: 3k

“The Philippines must be very beautiful.” Joel Miller says to you when you tell him where you’re from. You trembled at the way he said your name — revealing much more of his Southern accent and also his undeniable charm. Even though no one calls your birth name, folks in your country called you by your nickname except your dear Lola back home in Manila.

It makes you feel beautiful, or perhaps it’s just the lulling motion of this train to New York, the luxury of having nothing to do -– the way you feel on a holiday, you think, though you haven’t been on one since before you left for the United States five years ago. You’re not entirely sure. And now, you’re overwhelmed by the sensations you're experiencing with Joel Miller — thrilling and intense. Yet, in an instant, your Catholic guilt takes over, making you feel ashamed for enjoying his attention.

Religion has always been a central part of your life, ingrained in you by your overbearing mother, who is almost a fanatic. She vigorously enforced her beliefs, and you obeyed dutifully, attending Mass, saying your prayers, and adhering to the teachings of the Church. Your mother’s strict adherence to Catholicism shaped your upbringing, leaving little room for deviation.

But as you reflect, you admit to yourself that you secretly rebelled when you were younger. Those small acts of defiance, hidden from your mother's watchful eyes, were your way of reclaiming some sense of freedom. Now, as you sit on this train, the memories of those rebellions mix with the current thrill, leaving you in a whirlwind of emotions.

“It is beautiful,” You said softly, a little like a sigh. The sound of that small exhalation hangs in the dry air between you and Joel like a gauzy mosquito net that you and your cousins slept beneath when you were children while you’re staying over at your grandmother’s house. This was before Lola had air conditioners installed and they could shut out the mosquitoes. You had an urge to tell him that. And then, almost as if he hears your thoughts, Joel asks you what your home is like.

Smiling, you begin to share your memories. "My grandmother owned a piece of land a few miles away from the city. We had a small family farm there. When I was younger, I used to play around the chicken pens and even feed the goats with my cousins. We'd pick pale yellow mangoes from the trees on the farm and line them up in rows on the grass to ripen in the sunshine."

Joel listens intently, his eyes reflecting a genuine interest. Encouraged, you continue, "We used to walk barefoot through the muddy rice fields and catch field snails, which we’d eat in the evening. I remember how we’d have competitions to see who could collect the most snails. I was quite competitive about it," you say with a laugh.

You describe how you would go fishing in the rice field ponds and in the swampy shallow waters, reaching down with your bare hands to catch mudfish. "It was always such a thrill to feel the slippery fish wriggle in your grasp," you add.

Your mind drifts back to those carefree days. "We'd also climb the trees and pick guavas and tamarinds, sometimes sneaking a few bites before bringing them back to Lola's kitchen. The smell of her cooking would fill the air, blending with the earthy scent of the countryside. In the evenings, we'd sit outside, listening to the cicadas and telling stories under the stars."

Joel's expression softens as he imagines the scenes you paint with your words. "It sounds like a paradise," he says, his voice low and thoughtful.

"It was," you reply, a touch of wistfulness in your tone. "Those memories are some of the happiest of my life."

Then Joel asks you, “Isn’t it a country of islands? What are the beaches like?” His hazel brown eyes pierce beneath the reading light of the train, filled with curiosity.

You smile, your mind immediately drifting to the many beautiful beaches you’ve visited. "Yes, it is a country of islands," you begin. "The beaches are incredible, each one unique. I've been to quite a few, but my favorite memories are from my mother's hometown on an island in Palawan called Cuyo."

Joel leans in closer, captivated by your words. "Cuyo is a small, quiet place, but it's absolutely stunning. The beaches there are like something out of a postcard—white sand, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant coral reefs just offshore. I always loved going to the beach there. The water is so clear that you can see the fish swimming around your feet."

You pause, reminiscing about the warmth of the sun and the gentle sound of the waves. "When I was a child, I would often go with the fishermen. They’d take their boats out early in the morning, and sometimes I’d tag along. The sea would be calm, and we’d glide over the water, watching the sunrise paint the sky in shades of pink and orange. They'd teach me how to cast nets and catch fish. It was an amazing experience, being so close to nature and learning from people who had lived off the sea for generations."

Joel's eyes remain fixed on you, his expression soft and engaged. You continue, "During the afternoons, we'd play on the beach, building sandcastles and collecting seashells. The island is surrounded by reefs, so snorkeling was a favorite activity. The underwater world is so colorful and full of life—it's like a hidden paradise."

You share more about the island's charm, the simple yet fulfilling life there. "We'd have picnics on the beach, with freshly caught seafood and tropical fruits. My mother would tell us stories about her own childhood, and we'd sit there, listening as the sun set over the horizon."

The memories flood back, each one more vivid than the last. "I also remember walking along the shore at night, the moonlight reflecting on the water. Sometimes, we'd see bioluminescent plankton, making the waves glow. It felt like magic."

Joel smiles, clearly enchanted by your stories. "It sounds like an incredible place," he says softly.

"It really is," you reply, a warm glow in your heart. "Cuyo and its beaches hold a special place in my memories. It's a place where time seems to slow down, and you can truly appreciate the beauty of nature."

You met Joel at the station stop in Chicago. He smiled at you, and you smiled back. That was all. He found the empty seat beside you.

And it began with your name. It must have been foreign for Joel to hear a name that is not Americanized. He repeats your name – not like a question, but as though he likes the sound. Joel reaches for your hand, and shakes it, “I’m pleased to meet you.”

The Amtrak 49 train moves from the Midwest to the East Coast, specifically New York. You opted to take the train to save on airfare, but the truth is, you also wanted a little extra time to unwind during the sixteen-hour journey. You are grateful to have met Joel Miller from Texas, who is also on his way to New York for a visit. It feels like an unexpected windfall, and you are giddy and thrilled to have him to intrigue and engage, just as he intrigues and engages you.

Joel Miller is an enchanting distraction, precisely because he seems equally captivated by you. You savor the minutes like sweets in your mouth. It's been so long since someone has paid you this much attention, and you feel flushed and drunk with it.

You listen to Joel talk, struggling not to be wide-eyed and open-mouthed, though it’s hard to avoid his hazel brown eyes that make butterflies in your stomach flutter. He listens to you in that same way, as though every word that drops from your lips is candy-coated delicious. Thinking this, you pop a breath mint into your mouth when he isn’t looking. You feel absolutely silly about what you’re doing.

He is older than her. He must be in his mid-thirties while you’re in the middle of the twenties, quite new to the corporate world and still struggling to keep up with the inflation. He didn’t mention whether he’s married or not but he might have a wife in Texas or in New York. Those thoughts flood into your head and you steal a glance — surprisingly, he’s looking at you too.

What is he thinking, you think, don’t let him be thinking of you. And then just as quickly, please let him be thinking of me.

You cannot help allowing yourself this quick sweet rush of happiness like having a man come to call at your house, bringing flowers or candy. Like a date on a weekday evening. Like that certain knowledge that someone yearns to kiss you.

You are wanted. You are beautiful in the eyes of Joel Miller.

As the train continues its journey, the conversation with Joel deepens. He suddenly asks, “Wasn’t there a big revolution in the Philippines in the 80s? The EDSA Revolution? I remember hearing about it on the news. It seemed to captivate the world.”

You nod, your expression turning serious. "Yes, the EDSA Revolution in 1986 was a pivotal moment in our history. My parents were both involved in it. My mother and father fought against the dictatorship. My father was a student activist at a prestigious university, and it was incredibly difficult for him."

Joel's eyes widened with interest, and you continue, "There were times when my father had to hide because of his controversial writings against the president and the government. He told us stories about how he hid in the countryside, constantly looking over his shoulder. It was terrifying for him."

You pause, your thoughts drifting back to the stories your father shared. "But he fought back by writing and eventually took part in the EDSA Revolution. I remember the tears in his eyes when he talked about tasting freedom for the first time. He always said he was doing it for us, for me and my siblings."

Joel is silent for a moment, clearly moved by your story. "Your father is incredibly brave," he says softly. "To stand up against such a regime and fight for what he believed in... that's remarkable."

You smile, a mix of pride and sadness in your eyes. "He is brave. He risked everything for a cause he believed in, for a future he wanted for his children. The EDSA Revolution was a peaceful protest, but it was filled with so much emotion and hope. My father's involvement in it shaped who he is and, in turn, who I am."

Late at night, Joel asks you if you want to get something to eat. The dining car is open. You agreed to his invitation and made way down the aisle. The car is dark and most of the passengers are slumped in sleep, their shapes suggest they are in the most comfortable position possible, given the uncomfortable circumstances. Their heads are buried under coats and sweaters. Every now and then, a snore emitted from an old man. Or a faint cry from a hungry baby in the back of the car. When you stumbled from your step, losing your balance, Joel grabs you and clasps your hand in his to steady you.

They order cups of coffee and eat crumbly stale chocolate chip cookies out of small carton boxes. You did not remember when you had talked so long or laughed so much. And it is exciting to know that as you both talk, towns and cities rush past in a midnight blur. Both of you are far away from everything.

Close to four in the morning, you both stumbled down the aisle, back to your seats. You are already sleepy in a warm, comfortable way. Your eyelids are heavy, like they have been smeared with thick honey, and sure enough, they close stickily. You let your head drop and fall lightly to rest upon his shoulder.

When Joel reaches over to flick your reading light, you sighed, inhaling his scent. For an instant, you open your eyes but it is completely dark and quiet except for the sound of the train on its tracks. As you exhaled you fell asleep, but not before hearing Joel’s hoarse whisper as he fixed the unruly hair that is covering your face and tucked it behind your ear.

“Goodnight, sweetheart.”

Joel calls you on your phone, his voice urgent. It’s been a week since your last meeting and he asked for your number — in which you gave it to him. You were not expecting anything in return and your long conservation is enough for you but at the back of your mind — you wish he’ll call you.

Hearing his voice almost made you stunned. You missed him and his presence.

“Have lunch with me today?” he says.

"I..I don't know." You said. It is indeed a bad time because you have a lot of things to do which is babysitting your aunt’s daughter but you looked over to the living room where your aunt is already busy taking care of your niece.

He speaks once again, "I have to see you. I have to show you something."

You looked at your wristwatch. You calculate the number of hours and you realize you can get away. You do have the time. You are heartbeat quickens. You want to see what he has to show you. But even more than that, you want to see him.

You clear your throat. In a low voice, you said, "Where should I meet you, Joel?"

Both of you meet in Central Park. Winter is on its last legs, and the air has a bit of warmth to it. Still, you wished that you were indoors. Your raincoat is very fluffy and lined but it is just warm enough for you.

"It's not raining," Joel says when he sees you.

"But it might." You said. "It might get colder. It might rain. I cannot take any chances."

"Okay."Joel smiles tenderly at you. You let yourself smile back, thinking, how dare he be. How sweet he is. He tells you,"Come on, I have a surprise for you."

You both walked briskly through the park, through the tree-lined paths, until they came to the gates of the Central Park Zoo.

"Here?" You asked him, Joel nods. "I was here yesterday. That's when I saw it."

You’re confused what he meant, "What?"

But Joel shakes his head, "You'll love it." He says. And he will not say anything anymore.

Both of you walked in the wet puddles that were once ice and snow. Although the leaves have still to emerge, people in the park are out with their books, perched on benches and big rocks by the pond, their faces to the sun as though they are tanning on a summer day.

You shivered, you cannot help it. Because it is cold, yes, but also because of now.

Joel takes your hand. Maybe because he saw you shiver. You glance at him uncertainly, and once more, catch him looking at you.

"Tell me."

He squeezes your hand. "Be patient." He says, as if to a child.

At the ticket gate, the attendant warns that because of the cold, not all the animals may be out and about. Joel laughs, and says,

"That's perfectly alright."

Once inside the zoo's gates, Joel walks with more speed. You had to trot to keep up because he would not slow down. He squeezes your hand again and tells you to close your eyes.

You did, and you are not afraid to fall with him leading you. You feel the cool air on your face, the gravel beneath your feet. You hear the seals barking, splashing in their pool.

His grip on your hand is stronger. Although you cannot see, you take steps with confidence.

Both of you stopped. You realized that you are both entering a building.

"Step up, sweetheart," Joel tells you. You hope that you didn’t blush.

All at once, a heat washes over, a fantastic wet, green heat so heavy, you are forced to draw a breath. You opened your eyes. You are in a jungle of thick ripe foliage. There is nobody else around. You can hear the cries of birds, the thick rustle of leaves and from somewhere, the sound of rain and trickling water. You can see trees, of deep green and black and brown, as you take your steps, you feel the soft ground beneath your feet.

You have never seen anything like this before.

You climb the wooden walkway through this tropical rain forest in the Central Park Zoo. The bridge is overlooking a small waterfall and beside it, there is steam rising from what you know is some hidden vent. Tiny beads of perspiration spring to your skin. You blow the bangs off your forehead.

At the other end of the bridge, Joel is still standing at the other side of the bridge and he is staring at you. As he wants to take everything about you. And then, your heart fluttered by his soft gaze.

And then, he went to you while your eyes never left his. He takes both of your hands in his, leans in and whispers in your ear, warm breath against your neck. “This is how it is in the Philippines, right? Isn’t this the way it is?”

You nodded and you know what is coming next. You feel that heat and stop thinking. You closed your eyes as Joel went closer to kiss you.

Moments later, you answered him, “Yes, this is the way it is.”

You thought if you haven't met Joel Miller on a train or maybe someday, against all the laws of probability, both of you met in another place or time but it doesn't matter right now. Meeting Joel Miller is a prelude to something wonderful and you felt it at the very beginning.

That swift, surprising transition from nothing to everything.

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