Chapter 1: Stranded

"Ugh...!"

Alvaro slowly opened his eyes, clutching his aching head. His body trembled from the cold as the wind brushed against his soaked skin.

He sat up slowly, taking in his surroundings. He was lying on the shoreline, waves lapping against his body, his clothes completely drenched.

"Did I survive?" he muttered, eyes scanning the wreckage strewn across the beach. Pieces of the plane lay half-buried in the wet sand. One of the wings rested at an angle, like a fallen giant. The sea surged up to his ankles ice-cold and biting.

Suddenly, the memories hit him like an explosion violent turbulence, screams, and the final moments before darkness took over. He winced, trying to stand, but pain shot through his arm, and he collapsed back onto the sand. The gritty texture scraped his skin, and the salty scent of the ocean filled his lungs.

"I'm really alive... This isn't a dream." He stood shakily, then gently tapped his own jaw in disbelief. "Whoaa..."

Looking at the chaotic scene around him, Alvaro felt a strange wave of gratitude. This his survival was a miracle. Thanks to the cadet-75 parachute vest he'd worn, he had lived through the crash.

"Could I be... the only one who made it?" he thought, inspecting a bleeding cut on his arm. He stared out at the endless sea. No boats, no voices, no signs of life.

Alvaro rose with effort, following the trail of scattered debris that lined the beach. The cries of distant birds and the rhythm of the waves created an eerie sense of peace, but his instincts told him something was off, too quiet and too unfamiliar.

After a few more steps, he saw a figure lying near the waterline. Wet brown hair clung to the face of the unconscious body.

He stumbled forward and turned the figure over it was a woman.

She wore a white shirt beneath a safety vest and long pants that outlined her slender legs. Blood seeped from a deep gash on her leg, staining the fabric.

"Hey? Hello? Wake up!" Alvaro shook her shoulder.

No response.

He quickly removed the vest that seemed too tight on her. The moment he did, her wet shirt clung tightly to her skin completely transparent now, revealing the color and shape of her bra. Her pale skin, especially around her stomach and chest, was clearly visible.

Alvaro instantly turned away. "Get a grip, Al..." he muttered, closing his eyes, forcing himself to focus.

He tried again to wake her. Still nothing. With no other choice, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. After a few moments, she sputtered to life, coughing up water. Alvaro helped her sit up.

Her eyes fluttered open, blinking in confusion. She looked around, dazed. "Where... where am I?" she asked, her voice hoarse.

"I don't know," Alvaro replied shortly. "I just woke up too. All I know is—we survived a plane crash."

She turned to him, frowning. "I... I'm still alive," she whispered, still disoriented. Then suddenly, her tone sharpened. "Wait! What did you just do to me? Did you kiss me?" she gasped. "You pervert!" She swung a fist toward his face, but Alvaro caught her wrist mid-air.

"Hey, lady! I just saved your life! Is this how you say thank you?" he snapped.

"Did you have to kiss me?" she retorted, glaring.

"Oh, should I have slapped you instead?" Alvaro shot back, full of sarcasm. "Ungrateful much!"

He stood and walked off in frustration.

"Hey, wait!" she called after him, trying to get up but pain shot through her leg, and she winced, unable to stand.

"Hey! You pervert!" she shouted again.

Alvaro stopped in his tracks, turning back, clearly annoyed.

"Who are you calling a pervert?" he barked.

"Well, I think the label fits," she replied, limping toward him.

Alvaro rolled his eyes and kept walking. She hobbled after him slowly.

"Can't you slow down? My leg hurts," she complained.

"I didn't invite you to come with me," he muttered.

"Well... thanks for earlier, I guess," she said reluctantly. "Though I still think it was gross how you stole my first kiss like that."

Alvaro stopped and turned to her, chuckling mockingly.

"You think this is some kind of date?" he scoffed. "I saved you."

"I know," she sighed. "But can we stop walking? You clearly don't know where you're going. I'm exhausted and my leg really hurts."

"I'm looking for shelter," Alvaro replied. "If you're tired, sit over there."

"Are we the only ones here?" she asked, limping along behind him.

"I haven't seen anyone else... besides you," he answered, hiding his concern. "But maybe there are others. I'm not sure."

"Oh, I'm Laura, by the way," she said, trying to strike up a conversation.

"Alvaro," he replied curtly, walking ahead.

"Can you slow down, please? My leg hurts a lot," Laura whined, frustration in her voice.

Alvaro let out a long sigh and stopped. He turned to her with a raised brow. "Do I have to carry you so you'll stop complaining?" he asked, half-mocking.

Laura sighed in pain. "If that's an option, I won't say no," she replied, trying to stay sarcastic.

Without another word, Alvaro stepped closer, crouched down, and let her climb onto his back. "Hurry up. I don't have all day," he said flatly.

Laura hesitated, surprised by his unexpected offer. But she climbed on, awkwardly. "You're better than you look," she murmured with a faint smile.

"I was already being nice, remember? This is the second time I've helped you," he said with dry sarcasm. Laura didn't argue.

"And don't get the wrong idea. I just don't want to hear you whining the entire way."

They continued in strange silence. Laura rested against his back, trying to ease the pain in her leg. The forest around them grew eerily quiet only the wind whispered through the trees.

"Do you know where we are, exactly?" Laura finally asked.

"No."

"Then why do you act like you do?" she pressed, trying to catch a glimpse of his face from the side.

"Because I don't have any other choice but to keep moving," he replied without looking. "Now shut up. You talk too much."

"Well, better my chatter than a lion's roar," she muttered.

Right then, a deep roar echoed through the trees.

Alvaro froze. His entire body tensed. Laura clung tighter to his back, fear flashing across her face.

"You've got to be kidding me," Alvaro whispered, trying to steady his breathing. He glanced over his shoulder, scanning the trees.

"It was just a sound, right? I mean... it could've been something else," Laura stammered, though her voice quivered.

"Quiet," Alvaro snapped. His eyes narrowed as he tried to locate the source. "And don't move too much."

Laura nodded, though he couldn't see her.

Then a crack of branches to their right, followed by a low growl.

"Alvaro…" Laura whispered in panic, her hands clutching his shoulders tighter. "What do we do?"

"We go back to the beach. Now." Alvaro turned around and started moving quickly.

Both of their hearts pounded as they hurried back, terrified the owner of the roar might appear.

Laura glanced behind them several times but saw nothing.

Eventually, they made it back to the beach, gasping for air.

Alvaro set Laura down near a tree trunk. She sat in the soft white sand, stretching her legs out in front of her.

"Is it safe now?" she asked, eyes still on the dark forest.

"Maybe," Alvaro muttered. "And do yourself a favor—don't run your mouth in a place like this, Princess." He let out a long breath, staring into the jungle.

***