You Stink

Marx calmly reached out for the gun from the side pocket of his backpack. He did not dare make any harsh movements not to startle the lion. He knew that recklessness could result in his death.

He raised his gun and aimed at the lion's head. The lion bared its fangs. He was exerting his dominance. Marx was about to pull the trigger when a pair of tigers and two white wolves jumped before him, shielding him from the approaching predator.

Amaya growled. The lion growled back before retreating with his tail tucked between his legs. It's four versus one and there is no way for him to defeat them.

"We have to get inside. It is already getting dark." Amaya pulled him inside the fence and locked the gate with a wooden barrel.

He checked his watch; it was only 5:30 p.m., but darkness had descended on the jungle too fast. He studied the fence and noticed that it had three layers of stakes. It was sturdy and meant to defend people or animals inside from forceful external attacks.

"Daddy and I built this tree house three years ago. There are two others like these. When we explored the jungle to look for raw materials, we stayed in the tree house while my friends stayed at the base guarding us." Amaya explained. "This is much safer and more comfortable than staying in caves."

She grabbed the vine and hoisted herself up the tree house. Then, she lowered a bamboo ladder.

"You can use the bamboo ladder," Amaya shouted from the top.

Marx was very athletic, and he used to climb walls and rocks. Climbing the tree house was easy for him. When he reached the top, he saw that it was very small, and the space was just enough for the two of them.

"Let's go to sleep and wake up at dawn tomorrow." Amaya handed him a rolled animal skin filled with cotton.

"Your pillow." She said.

Amaya lay down on the floor. Marx handed her a blanket before laying on the bamboo floor with his back facing her.

"Oh, this is so soft, like cotton. Thank you." Amaya gleefully covered herself with the blanket.

"Umm, Aya, how did you make the liquid soap in the toilet?" Marx asked in a casual tone.

"Oh, that one. Daddy found some plant called the bouncing bet. We simmer the roots and also the leaves and flowers in water, and the viola turns into suds. For washing my body and hair, I added aloes, some flower petals, and coconut oil."

'So that's why she smelt like the fragrance of many flowers.' Marx thought.

Amaya flipped sideward without warning, and her face faced Marx's back.

"Can you tell me something about Usturia? She said sweetly, her warm breath fanning Marx's nape. He could smell her minty breath. He felt his skin tingle.

Marx covered his mouth with his palms and breathed out. 'Ugh, why does my breath stink so much?' He remembered he hadn't brushed his teeth for a long time.

"Usturia is very different from this place. It is a jungle of skyscrapers made from concrete and glass. There are few trees and animals. Wait, I can show you the photos." Marx took out his mobile phone. There was no signal, but he had photos stored in his gallery. He unlocked the phone and passed it to her.

He shifted his body to show her the photos on his cell phone.

"Wow, your world looks so amazing. What are these shiny things here?" Amaya was pointing to the cars that traversed the roads.

"Those are cars. They can bring you to places faster."

Amaya covered her nose. "Eeww, your breath stinks. You smell like Kong." She sat down. Using the cellphone's illumination, she rummaged through the woven basket, picked out a few leaves, and handed them to Marx.

"Eat these, and it will freshen your breath, " she said innocently as if she were talking to her playmate rather than an egotistic adult male.

Marx's face turned red like a tomato. He wished a hole would appear and swallow him. He has been shamed in front of this little girl, and his self-confidence and arrogance have gone down the drain.

"Sorry about that. I haven't brushed my teeth for a long time. Thank you for this." He accepted the leaves, stuffed them in his mouth, and ate them hurriedly. True enough, he felt refreshed, and the bad odor disappeared.

Amaya's breath evened out. She was still holding her cell phone, illuminating her face with a bluish light. She looked like a sleeping ethereal fairy.

Marx's body heated up. He hasn't been this close to any woman before. He hated women because they would hinder him from achieving his ambitions.

"Get a grip of yourself, Marx. She is just an innocent little girl and your savior. Don't harbor any malicious intent on her." He scolded himself. He took the cell phone, turned it off, and stuffed it back in his pocket. He shifted so his back was facing Amaya. The jungle was now plunged into total darkness. Marx closed his eyes and listened to the symphony of the different sounds of insects and howls of nocturnal animals.

He was half asleep when he felt a warm and soft weight on his arms and thighs. He stiffened. Amaya hugged him like a body pillow. He gently pushed her away from him so she faced the other side, and only their backs touched each other.

He felt Amaya shift, and she was back hugging him.

'This little girl doesn't have any awareness at all. She is testing my patience.' He was about to push her away again when she heard her mutter something.

"Daddy…just let Aya hug you.."

"Did she just call me Daddy? Is she treating me as her father? Am I that old?" Marx was fretting. But in the end, he was too sleepy and forgot about his anger and fell asleep with Amaya hugging him like an octopus.

He never slept so soundly before.