Chapter Sixteen

He took me to a local market. It was everything like what you see in the movies. So many tourists, arguing in English and trying to speak the language the people here were speaking, to lower the price of whatever they were buying.

We were walking down the market, not walking, evading kids running around and people on their bikes.

"So, I'm guessing this is your summer job?"

"Yeah, I'm trying to save money to go to the college I want to."

"Which one?"

"Law school."

That took me by surprise, which he noticed, "What, a gay guy can't go to law school."

"No, it's just…. You're right. Sorry for reacting like that. It's a stereotype, I try to fight every day. That's great. I can count on you to get me out of jail, then?"

"It's fine. I get that reaction, all the time," then he laughed, "Sure, but are you planning on going to jail any time soon?"

"Not planning, but you never know."

I spotted one store with great bags, "Oh, let's go here, I need a new bag."

I spent good 15 minutes picking out a bag. I just couldn't choose. They were all amazing, and unique.

"Women," he sighed.

"Hey, stereotypes remember."

He mouthed 'Sorry'.

"Ok, do you speak…?"

"Yeah, yeah, what do you need?"

After he managed to lower the price for me, and I bought couple of more souvenirs, in the next three or four, or maybe five stores, he called a friend to pick us up.

"Where are we going?" I asked him, excitingly.

We were standing, at what seemed like a bus station.

"A friend is going to pick us up, and we're going to go somewhere…," he paused, "you'll see. I have an hour left till my shift, so let's use it the best way we can."

His friend picked us in a van, and we spent the next 15 minutes jumping around in the vain. Well, the jumping wasn't conceptual. The road was bumpy. One moment I was in one place, and the next I was almost going over to the passenger's seat. I tried to find the seatbelt, but soon realized he didn't have one. Well, another couple of bruises, coming soon. So, I held onto whatever I could find. Hold on, Jessica, you're not leaving this world like this. Hold on.

He dropped us off to a little boat, who was, I found out, our transportation to the bigger one. I told Dan, I wasn't dressed for swimming, thinking that's what we will be doing, but he kept assuring me that I was fine, and we weren't going swimming. We boarded the bigger boat, and Dan, introduced me to the man, waiting for us.

"This is my friend from back home, Stenly. With an e. We came here together. I bartend and he does this. We are both trying to earn some money for school. He also wants to study law. So, we are sort of in this together."

I shook Sten's hand, "That's great. Partners in crime, pun intended. So… um, what exactly is this? I mean what are we doing here, and what are we going to do?"

"Ocean walking." Stenley answered my question and started to explain the procedure.

"You walk down this little path, right over there, " he pointed at some metal thing, and continued, "and when the water level is up to your neck, I'll put this helmet on," he pointed at the weird looking helmet.

"How futuristic," I remarked, and did what he said. When the water lever reached my neck, he carefully placed the helmet on me.

"How will I breathe, Stenly with an e?"

"See this yellow cable?" he laughed at my comment and pointed at the cable.

I nodded and he continued, "That your connection to this air thank. So, you'll be fine."

I spotted the air tank. Ok, good.

"I'll join you in a minute," I heard Dan.

Once he attached the helmet somehow, and notified me that I had 15 to 30 minutes to spend under water, depending on my mood, I walked further down and was soon completely underwater.

The sand melted underneath my feet. Soon, enough the first fish swam past me. The fish was blue with a yellow top. Soon enough, other colorful fish surrounded me and swam around me.

I started walking slowly. I mean, there's no speed underwater. I walked over to some corals and touched them. The fish that swam around me was touching my skin and started laughing. The feeling was weird and ticklish. Dan was right behind me.

It was beautiful. Again. Everything, about this place was incredible. I wonder if the fish knew what was going on. I wondered if they were scared. If they felt like we were some giants intruding their habitat. I hope they weren't scared and knew we were just, Sort of sightseeing, or waterseeing. I tried to memorize every fish that swam past me. Their colors, their shapes. Even the corals, they were all shaped and colored differently. Then, I noticed a small group of fish, swimming so close together. It looked like a family. It was so adorable.

Those 30 minutes flew by, so fast and, we were told to come to surface. I climbed back, holding onto a big metal pipe, that served as a fence.

"This was incredible!" I said, taking off my helmet.

Dan smiled at me, "I know, I do this once a week. There's a whole life down there, that we aren't aware of."

"Or don't appreciate it enough," I turned to Stenly with an e, "How much?"

"No, no, this is on me," Dan protested.

"No, people need to stop paying for me. I have money."

"And you paid your bags with it, now leave this to me. End of discussion. The amusement I get from your love life, is enough of a payment to me."

"Funny," I stated.

We got back to the hotel, just in time for his shift.

"Bye Dan, see you later," and he waved back.

On the way back, our wet clothes dried off, from how hot the air was, but I still wanted to take a shower, and change into different clothes.

My stomach growled, notifying me that I was hungry, and it was time for lunch.

"Ok, I hear you, I hear you."

Looking and talking to my stomach, as any sane person does, I almost collided with a person in front of me.

���Oh, I'm so sorry," I looked up and saw Tom smiling, "Tom."

"Hi, Jessica."

" Tom, hi. What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you."

"Me? Why?"

"I want to talk to you about something. Do you have time?"

"Um, yeah, I was just going to have lunch and…"

"We can have lunch together."

"Ok," I had no idea why he was insisting, but I had nothing better to do, "Sure, can you wait while I change into different clothes?"

"Yeah, I'll get us a table."

He was sitting at the table and talking to a waiter. I recognized that waiter. It's Pedro. I walked over to them, in my t-shirt and sweats, "Hi Pedro."

"Hello, miss. What would you like to order?"

"Oh, I'll get…," I picked up a menu, but gave up, "You know what, give me whatever you think is best."

Pedro smiled, and left us.

"So, what did you want to talk to me about? If it's about what happened yesterday I'm so sorry…or ,was it the day before that, everything seems to blend, and I don't know which day it is, heck, I don't even know where I am," I said laughing awkwardly.

"Bali," he stated, like I was crazy. It's not my fault his best friend didn't want to tell me where we were. And now I know why. It was my idea, Bali. Indirectly, of course.

"That's why he didn't want to tell me…," I trailed off.

"You need to end it," his tone of voice was profoundly serious, and left me confused.

"End what?"

"Whatever you have with Zach?"

I sighed, remembering how I felt about him, "The only relationship he and I have is a doctor-patient relationship."

"Are you sure about that?" He kept pressing the matter, "I see how you look at him."

I diverted my gaze from him and folded my arms. Oh, look a plant.

"What exactly is this doctor-patient relationship you have? You're his patient?"

I looked back at him, "Yes, you didn't know?"

"No," he shook his head, "He just told me, you were a family friend."

"No, I'm not. I'm his patient, and he is doing me a favor."

"I mean only the best, when I tell you this, he's going to hurt you. I'm one of his best friends and know him too long. It might be rainbows and flowers now, but in the long run…"

"Maybe, I don't have a long run?" I interrupted him.

I could see how his face changed. Pity. Exactly, what I keep talking about.

"Besides, we really don't have anything going on, regardless of how I look at him, and what I feel for him."

"Or how he looks at you."

I didn't need this. I didn't need anyone to lie to me.

"Stop it, please. You really shouldn't waste your words. He's out there with Lydia, doing… whatever he's doing."

"He's with Lydia?" He sounded surprised.

"Yup."

He shook his head in disapproval, "That woman…"

"Is a bitch I know." I continued.

"…broke his heart."

I looked at him. Wasn't expecting that kind of end to a sentence.

Our food arrived, and he decided it was story time.

"They dated for years, back at med school. They were crazy for each other. It didn't come as a surprise to anyone, who has seen them in a room together, or work together. They were the same. Both smart and independent, and crazy skilled at their job. After med school finished, they decided to get married. I remember him talking to me about how, even though he wanted to marry her, he still felt like it was early. She was also a free spirit but wanted to marry him as soon as possible. Who knows why, she must have had her reasons. Their relationship was strong, because both gave each other space and freedom to follow their dreams. No one was holding, no one down. We all envied their relationship. It was perfect."

"There's no such thing as a perfect relationship."

"Exactly. So fast forward, about two years ago, to his stag night, when he got so drunk, and we drove him of to her place, cause suddenly he had the urge to see her. And fast forward to him, catching Lydia in bed with his brother."

"NO?" I think my eyes popped, and I stopped chewing my food. Soap opera style.

"Yup, broke his heart. She tried to talk to him, but he cut all his contact with her. Then a couple of months later, he came to visit me here, and we bumped into her, and her friend. She was on vacation here. They had a one-night stand, or a five night stands. He told me needed it, to get her out of his system. After that, she tried to contact him again, but he didn't react."

I continued eating, "Gina was right," I said, more to myself.

"Who?"

"My friend. She said rich people carry baggage."

"Everyone has baggage."

"True, but you have means to make it go your way, and without consequences," he looked at me quizzically, "Oh, I mean generally, not in this case."

"He's not like that." Leave it to him, to defend his best friend.

"Sure. Still, I don't see how this has got anything to do with him. I'm not going to break his heart. If anyone's doing the breaking, it's him, and to my heart."

"I've never seen him look at anyone, the way he looks at you. Not even Lydia."

I didn't believe what he was saying.

"He feels something, but whether he's not acting on it, because you are young, or you're his patient, I don't know…"

"Ok, so you see, he's not going to act on it, so why…"

"He's control is slipping. And if he's with Lydia, then…"

I stood up. I have had enough of this. I came here to have fun, not be involved in some soap opera. I'm the main character of my story, and don't want to be a side character to Zach's. I wanted to be his main one, his love.

Oh my god.

Having this inner monologue, made me realize, that I was in love with him. That can't happen. That wasn't the plan.

"Ok," I told him, standing up, "When's the first flight from here?"

"What?" He was taken aback, "I didn't mean you need to leave."

"I want to leave. I'm done with this."

"Done with what?" I heard Zach's voice behind me. He was alone.

I turned to him, "I want to go home."

"What? Why?" He approached me, in panic.

"I've done already all the things I wanted, so I want to go home."

"But, I have just booked us a ziplining for tomorrow morning. You can't go home yet."

His beautiful eyes looked so sad. I thought about it.

"Fine. But, after that, you're booking me a flight back. You should stay and enjoy the rest of your vacation; I've had my fun."

I turned to Tom, "I'm not hungry anymore, and I feel a bit tired, so I'll be in my room if anyone needs me."

I didn't go to my room. I went to Dan. He was my male Gina, now. I sat at the only chair that was free at the bar and began telling him everything that happened after we parted. He was shaking a martini and listening like his life depended on what I was going to say. I need to take his number. We need to continue this friendship back home. Gina's going to love him.

"He did not say that?"

He was talking about Tom's warning.

"Yes, he did."

I was swirling a green straw in my mouth. Dan made me that mocktail, again. The Paloma one.

The place was crowded. Since the night was falling.

"There's a party tonight. I mean, there is a party every night, but tonight it's some big party. I didn't get all the info, but it's someone's birthday, and they are throwing a big party. Everyone's welcomed."

"Maybe, it's someone famous."

He shrugged. "You're coming right?"

Now, it was my turn to shrug, "I don't know. I don't think I'm in the mood."

"What are you talking about? Party is the best thing for you now. Mingle a little, find someone to make out. Maybe, you'll find a boyfriend."

That reminded me of someone, "Have I told you about Michael?"

"No, who's that," he was pouring the martini.

"Well, that was my boyfriend of, I don���t even know how long, but he was my boyfriend before I went into a coma, and not my boyfriend when I got out of it."

"You were in a coma?!" He exclaimed a bit louder, than he should have.

I forgot I didn't tell him that part. The whole time we spent at the market, we talked about him. Well, I wanted to know more about him, so I asked a lot of questions.

"Ok, Michael was…."