deserted #7
Khai stays that night, and the next, and he learns to be a little more helpful…even though he spends an equal amount of time being pitiful and demanding Third’s attention.
Third puts a salve on his cut that seems to do wonders—literally. His hand is already healed, like the balm had been some kind of magic. Really though, it could’ve been normal medicine for all Khai knows about science or magic. He’s a film major, he doesn’t need to know those things.
Unless you count movie magic.
But still. There’s something about Third and what he does that makes Khai believe he’s even more ignorant than he thought or that something strange is going on.
He’d tried asking again about why Third can’t leave the island, but Third had been evasive, before reminding Khai he’s welcome to go to the shore, that rescue is probably on its way or something. Khai doesn’t quite understand it.
As they sit together eating dinner, Khai tries to think of something else to ask.
Third saves him (again), by starting the conversation. “What did you do at home?”
“I study film,” Khai replies, thankful for such an easy topic. At Third’s look of confusion, Khai says, “Movies.” Khai didn’t expect he’d have to explain what that means. Maybe Third usually speaks some other dialect with a different word for it? Khai describes them as best he can, to jog Third’s memory.
“Like a play, but you can watch it later?”
Third seems unfamiliar with the idea, but enamored with it, so Khai talks on and on about movies, all that goes into them, and some of his favorites, while Third asks follow-up questions and seems to be imagining his own version. It’s too bad Khai doesn’t have his phone—he’s surely got something downloaded on there—but he acts out certain scenes and describes the angles and the sounds as he does so and Third starts to join in.
Khai considers himself clever, though, when he decides they should act out a romantic scene, and he acts as both the male lead and the director, casting Third as the female lead.
“And so we sit very, very close,” Khai says, and they’ve moved outside, sitting next to the lagoon where the breeze comes to meet them. “Then, I put my hand on your cheek, and you put your hand”—and here Khai takes Third’s hand—“and put it on my chest.” He leans in closer to Third, who seems to be suspicious, but hasn’t yet run away, which means maybe that attraction Khai is feeling is mutual.
Khai has nearly closed the gap between them, their lips lingering a breath apart, and Khai is about to seal the deal when Third pulls away.
“Movies sound really interesting,” Third says, and Khai sees a hot flush across Third’s cheeks. “I’d love to see one.”
“Well…” Khai starts, and he’s calculating the value of his words towards getting what he wants versus how much he wants them to be taken seriously. “I guess you can’t have a movie theater here, with just us, so I guess you have to come back with me.” They’re still sitting close, Khai’s hand resting at the crux of Third’s shoulder and neck.
This time, when Khai leans in, Third doesn’t pull away.