"What the hell do you mean by that?" Faye demanded, shocked. The thing was, she really didn't know how to respond to that comment. Of course she was a woman! Did he really think her anything less than that? And what was with that reaction? It was as if she had suddenly grown horns and a tail and demanded him to sell his soul to her in exchange for...well, nothing.

He scratched his head as if he confused himself with his own words. "Forget it," he muttered.

"Forget it? Oh, so you think it's that easy to forget after your sexual harassment?"

"That wasn't sexual harassment."

She screamed with her mouth closed in frustration, her hands balled into fists. "You aren't just an egotistical idiot, you've become a lecher too! I should just have stuffed those flowers in your mouth and let you die!" She stood up and stomped off outside heedless of the rain. She couldn't believe he would repay her that way after she had worried all night about him.

The walk served no purpose but to let her clear her mind, but as long as she was walking, she thought it would be a good idea if she went to where the river ran and check it out for herself. There could be a way to get around it and out of the native lands to catapult her back into civilization. But as soon as the path ended, she bit her lips in frustration. The rest of the woods seemed all the same to her and she knew that if she pressed on, she was bound to get lost.

Behind her, footsteps approached her tentatively, but she didn't move. Whoever it was would only get the silent treatment from her. The footsteps stopped beside her, but she still didn't move, keeping her hands in the folds of the tapa wrapped around her chest. Partly, the reason was she was cold, and partly, because she knew that if her hands were free, she would strangle whoever it was that was beside her.

A hand touched her shoulder, which finally persuaded to look at the newcomer. The chief's wife had a worried face on her. The old woman's hand touched her chest then her lips before cupping her ear. Then she touched her forehead then her chest and made as if she were rolling them in a ball. She finished by cupping Faye's face then smiling.

Try as she might, Faye couldn't figure out what the old woman was trying to say. She looked at the woman quizzically and she responded by pointing at her, then crossed her arms just below her shoulders as it gently waved. Then she brought her hands parallel above her head going down.

That left her even more confused than the first set of gestures. Sure, she knew that cupping her ear meant listening, but that was the only thing she really got. The rest were like a series of alien charades game to her. How was she going to tell the old woman she did not understand when their gestures were different in the first place. But she had to give her some indication so she shrugged slowly with her palms up.

She didn't know if the old woman understood her, but she started laughing. The next thing she knew, she was receiving a pat on the back and the old woman was leaving. There was nothing she could do but blink after her. What had just transpired sealed in her mind that language barriers suck and that she was going to learn something from Chinook even if it killed her. It would really help if she could talk to someone other than Nathan, especially if their host was often away on one errand or another.

"So," his voice came from her other side startling her, so she could not hold back a startle "Oh sweet baby Jesus!" as she turned to him.

"What did the old woman say?" he asked as if they were in a casual conversation.

"How would I know?" she snapped at him. "Would you leave me alone?"

"Oh, come on. You didn't tell the old woman off."

"You're right. But maybe it's because I have respect for the elderly and that she isn't an annoying, egotistical pig." She noticed that he was shivering a bit under the rain, but she told herself not to bother with such things. Their earlier scuffle proved to be a good reminder on why he did not deserve kindness.

"Come on, Faye. All I meant was...well..." he hesitated and turned away from her.

"You meant what?" she demanded impatiently.

"Um..." he looked at her then scratched his head. "I wonder why the old lady stopped me from going to you earlier?"

In frustration, Faye hit him on the back of the head and stalked off shutting her ears to his voice. She didn't care if that was another score he kept on top of the slaps he received, but he deserved it. There were no regrets about it even though she knew she would pay for it later. She always did. It was only a matter of getting back at each other in worse ways than the other previously did. Pretty normal.

Everything that was happening was, in fact, no different from how they treated each other as children. Minus the poisoning and the sexuality of their encounters...

She shuddered. It was not the first time she noticed that he was no longer the fat, ungainly kid, but her reaction to being held by him a while back was something new. She definitely needed the human touch and her body confirmed it by responding to the most horrible person she had ever known in her whole life.

Footsteps that followed her made her stop and turn, her hands on her hips. "What?" She forced herself to turn a blind eye to his obvious shivering.

"Nothing." He sounded less solid than a few moments earlier and the cold that he was feeling was likely the reason why. "I just want to go back."

"Suit yourself. Walk at least 10 feet away from me, please. Thank you."

This time, his voice was breaking up. "Fay—I-I re-really need a favour."

"Hurry up so I can refuse you quickly, you—" she squeaked as he suddenly wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. She could feel his hot skin in stark contrast with the cold drops of the rain. Every shiver hammered against her guilt, breaking down her resoluteness to ignore him.

"J-just—too c-c-cold—"

She sighed and gave in to the instinct to take care of him. Her sense of compassion must have been hereditary. Even as a child, she remembered her aunt inviting in strangers into the house when her parents were not home if only to feed them and send them on their way to wherever reasoning out that people should have access to good food. Not poisonous diner food.

"Fine. Come—holy shit-" she stopped as he threw up over her shoulder and she felt dribbles of his hot vomit on the bare gap on the small of her back between the grass skirt and the tapa. She steeled herself from being grossed out and half dragged him back to the hut.

As soon as they got there, she set him beside the makeshift mattress of dried leaves and a tapa cover and told him to remove his loincloth and bundle himself under the covers. He made no objections as she found the kava root that Chinook had been preparing for him. And without anyone there, she resorted to doing it herself from what she had seen the natives did.

The pungent smell reached her nostrils as the juices flowed out. She was not sure if she ground it enough, but she didn't want to have the smell stick to her hand. Immediately, she dropped the whole thing in a bowl with a handful of rainwater and went back to him.

"That—s-stinks-" he complained despite what he felt.

"Shut up and drink it."

He tried to stand but he was obviously too weak as he groaned every step of the way. She muttered under her breath and positioned herself behind him. She lifted his head in her arm and helped him drink the thing, then set him down as soon as he finished.

She could only hope that she had done it right and that there was no overdose if she ever did put too much into his system. As she washed the items she used in making the concoction, she scolded herself for not waiting for either Chinook or his mother. Blaming him for being stubborn and getting out of his rest was the only thing she could think of if something did happen to him. She could think of no other excuse as she replaced her own wet clothing with dry ones.

As much as she didn't want to, she returned to his side and touched his forehead. He was still hot, but not as much as he had been when he almost toppled on top of her out of weakness and nausea. The blankets also helped in stopping him from shivering, which was good.

"Can't feel my mouth..." he complained to her. "I don't blame you but it's just so weird." He paused for a while and when she didn't speak, he continued. "You know, I really didn't mean my comments to be bad. I don't know why you think it's that way. I'm just really complimenting you. Truth is, I was actually happy when I thought you cared for me. I miss that, you know. My girlfriends just want the dumbest things from me. It's so sick, you know. But I give in. I don't know why, but I do."

She blinked at him, surprised that he was saying all of those things. Did she give him the wrong medicine? She bit her lip in worry, seeing that his own lips were pale. All she could do was pray that he wouldn't die from her lack of knowledge.

"Maybe I'm just desperate for it." He smiled ruefully. "To be with someone, I mean. It's really lonely being alone. Do you ever feel that? I always do. I even wake up in the middle of the night sometimes, wishing I was back home. It's not like I don't like my job. Being a technology expert for the government is really cool. I get to test and blow up stuff and have info on the latest weapons and other technology available in the world. It's just that living alone is just really sad."

In his talkative state, her mind kicked into action seeing an opportunity to learn more about his girlfriend. "Don't you live in together?" Of course, she would bring up his connection with the technology department of the government in a little while. It could be a big business opportunity.

He winced. "No way. I don't let girls into my place. Unless I'm really serious with them. Sara's just a wacky leech. As long as I'm working, she doesn't bother me so I work all the time. You know, even if she's good in bed, it doesn't feel right. Actually, I never felt it was right with any of the other girls I had. I don't get it, you know. They said it feels good but it never did for me. Like there's something missing. I'm always left wanting something more and I think because I haven't really fallen in love yet. Sure, I like them but there's just this disconnect that I can't understand." He laughed. "They're usually the ones breaking up with me since I refuse to have any contact with them afterward and I don't tell them anything about my work. Like hell I can. No one's even supposed to know what I am, right? I mean, that's sensitive information. I could be kidnapped. Which is why I learned to defend myself. Besides, if I do fall in love with someone, I have to protect her too, right?"

She couldn't believe how loose he was with his tongue! But she also noticed that he was talking a little slower. The knowledge made her forget about anything else she wanted to find out and she reached out to him.

"I really wish you don't hate me so much..." he closed his eyes.

The silence rattled Faye and she urgently checked his pulse. It was steady, but she was still worried. She shook him gently, but no response came. Whatever happened, she was going to confess what she did to Chinook and his mother and hope that she didn't kill him. After all, a deal with the government would be one of the greatest stepping stones in her goal to be a recognized and respected CEO.

Hey, guys! I'm back with a new chapter after a long time, I hope you liked it. It seems that they're getting closer and he is slowly opening up to her. 

Please don't forget to for this chapter and your views with me. I really love to read your comments. <3

I am so glad to tell you that my book 'Wicked Love' has now more than 40k reads and 5k votes. Thanks to those guys who've supported me throughout this book. May God bless you all.

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