Screaming Hearts

El Nido, Palawan 2019

I watch the sunset as it slowly kisses the calm sea. It was a peaceful afternoon when my older sister Deborah called me, "Sushmita what are you doing here? It's your birthday. We should be celebrating the whole day. Why are you all alone?" I stared blankly at her as she walked closer to me.

"I don't mind being alone. Look at the view, it's so beautiful, right?" she sat down beside me. She looked at the view and smiled and said, "Well, you're right, it's quite relaxing, let's take a picture," she said as she opened the lid of her DSLR Camera. We struck a pose and smiled as soon as we saw the countdown on the timer and looked at the pictures. We began laughing at ourselves as we saw the pictures on the camera.

"Come on now," she said and grabbed my hand to pull me back into the Villa where my family held a birthday party for me. It's my eighteenth birthday and I decided to celebrate it on the beautiful beach of El Nido, Palawan.

"But I don't wanna go back there," I said and to her shock–she let go of my hand and said, "Why? Aren't you happy with your birthday party?" I just nodded at her and said, "I am happy, I just don't feel like partying tonight," she immediately turned her back on me to grab two drinks and give the other drink to me. "Alright, just one drink and I'll set you free," she promised so I took the drink and drank it without hesitation but I almost puked as it had a bitter taste.

"What kind of drink is this? yuck!" I complained and she just laughed at me and replied, "It's a martini, little sis. Welcome to the club! You're now a lady, you should act like one and enjoy it,"

I shook my head and immediately walked around to find a way out of the Villa. I roamed around and I saw my cousins and friends enjoying the night and greeted me with a happy birthday. I'm just smiling at them while finding an exit because the Villa is spacious. I started to get dizzy from the dancing party lights and loud music coming from the big stereo so I ran off the fire exit and luckily, it was open and I was on the sea shores again. It's starting to get colder as the wind brushes my long curly bronze hair.

I'm just wearing a black two piece and a red sarong so I shivered as the cold wind passed through me. 'I should go back to my hotel room and sleep,' I said to myself.

I can smell cigarettes as I head back to the hotel, I wonder where that came from. It's getting stronger as I walk. It's dark but thanks to the light bulbs on the sidewalks, I still can see the coconut trees.

"Hey babe, going home already?" said the man holding a canned beer as he and his friends walked closer to me. They cornered me so that I couldn't escape.

"What the fuck do you want?" I said to him as I stared at them dead in the eye.

"Yeah, what the fuck do you want, dude?" said the other guy to his friend while laughing.

"Oh, I like the girl, feisty!" said the other men. They were four so I'm really scared but I just continued walking.

"Nice face and nice curves," said the fourth man in their group and immediately grabbed my hand. I got alarmed and said, "Don't touch me!" I tried to pull my hand from him but he's just so strong.

"Just get it done, man!" said the first man who approached me.

"I said don't fucking touch me!" I shouted and was immediately shocked when someone said, "Hey!" and punched the man towards me, the guy immediately let go of my hand.

The three of them got pissed and immediately punched the guy who was protecting me now. We we're outnumbered so I decided to take his hand and run away.

"Come on!" I said to him as I grabbed him with my two hands because he's too big and buff and obviously gorgeous and sexy.

As soon as we're far away from them, I let go of his hand.

"Where the hell are you taking me?" he said and I looked at him. He was really good looking.

"I'm sorry, I just don't want you to get in trouble because of me and thank you for saving my life," I sincerely said to him.

"I'm sorry, but I will not accept that, if you want to thank me then, take a walk with me," He chuckled as he said that.

"What?" I slowly smiled at him, he smiled at me too. His eyes are glowing as we walked through the shore.

"That's a very unique request," I added.

"You shouldn't wander here all alone at night wearing only that. You're a tourist here?" He asked.

"Yeah, I am. You see, I turned eighteen just now," I said to him and he slowly smiled.

"What?" I asked.

"So you're not a minor anymore, come on. I'll show you something," he said as he grabbed my hand.

I don't know why I'm with him and I don't have the strength to refuse his offer.

"Here we are," he said as he showed me the big beautiful tree house. It's full of fairy lights.

"Come on," He said as he instructed me to climb the stairs and when we reached inside, I couldn't control how amazed I was. The place is so cozy and there's a big LED TV inside along with a sofa bed. There is a small center table and there's too many pillows so that you can sit or lay down comfortably.

"It's beautiful here," I said to him and he just chuckled.