From the way everyone talked about it, I’d expected the island to be something intense—maybe surrounded by walls or resembling a prison. Instead, to my surprise (and maybe a little disappointment), it turned out to be just an ordinary island. There were trees scattered about, white sandy beaches, and simple wooden houses.

I also noticed small boats in the distance made from bamboo—probably fishing boats.

Wait… in the second video Aunt Marie sent, as I remember, she was inside a wooden house. Could it be one of these? If so, finding her might be easier than I thought.

As far as I can see the island is completely normal. It’s almost like people went out of their way to scare me or stir up some kind of reaction. Maybe they thought it’d be funny to mess with me. Well, they succeeded—my paranoia was in full gear.

But you know what? I’m relieved it’s nothing like what I imagined. It’s a huge weight off my shoulders.

Granny Chan’s voice brought me back to reality. “Aria, why don’t you pack up your things?” she said as the boat began to slow down.

I grinned. “Okay, Granny!” I couldn’t hide the excitement in my voice. Even though my bag was already packed, I figured I’d grab it and double-check everything.

As I stood up, I noticed Granny Chan and Mr. Bill exchanging hand signs. I wondered what they meant, but I decided to file it away. With a quick peek to make sure Jim wasn’t lingering outside, I hurried off toward the girls’ room.

Inside the cabin, Casandra and Gideon were already dressed and sitting at the table, their hands resting on its surface as they waited for the boat to fully stop. Jim was likely in the boys’ room, gathering his things.

Once I reached my bunk, I tidied up the bed and straightened out any disorganized items as a small gesture of thanks to Granny Chan for making the journey so comfortable. Then I grabbed my bag and carefully rechecked that I hadn’t left anything behind. Satisfied, I smiled before shutting the door.

The boat docked just far enough from the shore to ensure our shoes and pants would get soaked during the walk to land. Bill must have timed it with the island's tides in mind, accounting for the ebb and flow.

I let out a small sigh. Even though I felt lazy after all the prep I’d already done, I decided to untie my boots, slip off my socks, and roll up my cargo pants high enough to keep them dry.

Going barefoot seemed like the best choice—I definitely didn’t want to deal with wet boots making me miserable. I tucked my socks into my boots and picked them up with my left hand. Looks like I’ll have to carry these around for a few minutes.

As soon as the boat came to a full stop, Jim was the first to disembark. With his black plastic bag slung over his shoulder, he didn’t glance back or acknowledge anyone—he simply walked off without a word.

Next, it was Casandra and Gideon’s turn.

“See you around, Aria,” Casandra said with a small wave and a warm smile, her black umbrella open in one hand to shield herself from the sun’s rays. Gideon, on the other hand, stayed silent, giving me only a brief glance before they both walked off together, moving with purpose toward wherever they were headed.

Gideon really seemed to have his guard up around me, but there wasn’t much I could do about it. I stayed where I was, waiting for Granny Chan. Soon enough, she appeared, wearing her signature raincoat and straw hat.

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“Come on, Aria. We’ve got things to do,” she said with her usual calm and steady tone, a warm smile lighting up her face.

“What about Mr. Bill?” I asked, glancing back at the direction of the control room.

“He’ll join us later,” she explained. “He needs to tend to the boat and unload the crates first.”

“Okay!” I replied cheerfully, following Granny Chan as we stepped off the boat. My feet were immediately soaked, and despite my efforts to roll up my pants, they got a little wet. The sea was the perfect temperature—neither too cold nor too hot—and the water was clear and pleasant. I could feel the soft sand beneath my feet as I sank into it.

As we reached the shore, my eyes caught sight of a boy about my age standing nearby. He had mesmerizing dark brown eyes, sun-kissed tan skin, and strikingly orange-tinged hair that seemed to glow under the sunlight. He was taller than me and wore a plain black tank top that revealed lean, defined muscles. A small mole near his right eye gave him a unique touch. His necklace caught my eye—a small red crystal at the center—which only made him seem more attractive. I couldn’t help but blush a little. I guess I’m a sucker for boys around my age with good looks. I couldn’t help but wonder how my crush, Jared, was doing.

Beside him were two little girls, dressed in what looked like oversized shirts or simple white dresses. They clung to his sides, their eyes fixed on him while he stared out at the boats on the horizon, completely unaware of us as we walked by.

He must be waiting for someone, I thought, but didn’t linger on it. Granny Chan and I had our own things to focus on.

Granny and I walked a bit further along the sandy path, my boots in hand, leaving footprints as we went. Eventually, we arrived at an inn that stood all by itself, with no other houses nearby. It was something like a traditional nipa hut made from coconut leaves and bamboo, but it was much larger than I had expected.

“This is the closest thing we have to a hotel,” Granny said, her tone carrying a hint of pride.

“It’s amazing, Granny,” I said with a grin. I was genuinely impressed. This was my first time seeing a structure like this. Back in the city, all I ever saw were concrete buildings and bright lights. This was so refreshing. I couldn’t help but think it might be what Hawaii looks like, though I’ve never been there.

“Do you own this, Granny Chan?” I asked curiously.

“Yes, my husband built this inn single-handedly,” she said, yep, her pride unmistakable.

“Single-handedly?” I repeated, raising an eyebrow, amused.

“That’s right. We islanders don’t usually venture out to places like the city, Aria. We make do with the materials we have here and build our homes and other structures ourselves.”

Wow. Everyone here builds like that? That’s incredible. But this inn—it’s huge. The idea of one person constructing it alone was both impressive and hard to wrap my head around.

“What’s wrong, young lady? You don’t believe me?” Granny asked with a teasing smile.

“Well… I mean, ‘single-handedly’ sounds like a bit of an exaggeration, don’t you think, Grandma?” I replied hesitantly.

The inn wasn’t multi-story, but it was so wide, beautifully designed, and surrounded by trees and flowers. I couldn’t help but wonder how many days—or even months—it took to put something like this together, especially if it was truly done alone. I couldn’t hide my doubts.

“Well, you’re right,” Granny Chan chuckled, her tone playful, though she didn’t bother to clarify if she was joking or serious. We started to head inside, but before we could step through the door, a fat gray cat trotted up to us. It wore a black collar with a silver tag engraved with the name Sky.

Just then, a cheerful voice called out, “Granny! Sky must have heard you, and I figured I’d follow since Sky always knows your voice. Huh?” The boy’s words trailed off as his eyes landed on me.

“Oh, Charlie, great timing,” Granny said, unfazed. “Go help your father with the crates on the shore, will you? We’ll be heading out soon.”

Charlie looked about my age. He was shirtless and wore a light knee-length shorts, his tanned skin glowing in the sunlight. His black hair had streaks of brown highlights, and his dark eyes were framed by long lashes. On his left ear, he had a small wooden earring with dangling white feathers and three light blue beads. He was barefoot, and I noticed a tattoo on his chest, right between his collarbones—a medium size compass design, its arrow pointing north with a small asterisk above it.

There was something cool about him that caught my attention, but at the same time, he was a bit intimidating. He reminded me of a pirate in some strange way. If Beth were here, I’m sure she’d be all over him. I don’t want to admit it, but this guy is definitely good-looking.

Are all the men here this gorgeous? Wait, no—definitely not, as Jim's face popped into my mind. I don't want to judge, but... I guess it's just a fact. Ugh, I'm the worst. I quickly pushed the thought aside.

He stared at me for a moment, his gaze sharp and assessing, making me feel awkward. Finally, he replied to Granny, “Alright, Grandma,” before dashing past me. The fat gray cat trailed after him, its collar jingling softly as it went.

FUDGE~!!!!!

The cat is so cute, especially the way its tail swayed and its little butt wiggled as it ran after its owner. It made me think about how much I’ve always wanted a cat or a dog. But for some reason, we never really considered getting or adopting one.

When I get back home, I’ll definitely talk to Mom and Dad about it. It’s time to make it happen!

I snapped back from mentally hugging and squeezing the adorable, chubby gray cat aggressively as I recalled the words “Alright, Grandma,” from that guy’s mouth and Granny’s order: “Help your Dad.”

Putting it together, he must be granny’s grandson. Therefore, his the one I could go for my inquiries. A sly grin spread across my face at the thought.