It was already morning. The waves were calm again. The sun was rising slow and soft, painting everything in orange and yellow. Jaxon stood near the trees, sharpening his knife with a rock. He hadn't spoken since he woke up. He never really talked much, even when others were around.
Lina woke up not long after. She stretched her arms, yawned, and looked around. She saw Jaxon by himself again. He was always alone in the morning. She stood up, dusted herself off, and walked over with a quiet smile.
"Morning," she said.
Jaxon nodded without looking up.
She sat down on a nearby rock and watched him for a while. "You always do this? Every morning?"
"Yeah," he said.
"Sharpening that same knife every time?"
He nodded again.
Lina giggled and leaned forward a bit. "You know, if you ignore me any harder, I might disappear."
Jaxon didn't respond. He kept sharpening.
She pouted. "You're no fun," she said, but her voice was soft, not really angry. "I'm trying here. Most guys would blush if I even looked at them."
Still no reply.
She sighed and stood. "Alright, fine. You win. I'll go bother someone else."
She turned, walked a few steps, then stopped. After a second of standing there, she turned back and marched straight into his hut.
Jaxon blinked. He waited a moment before following.
When he stepped inside, Lina was already sitting beside his bedroll. She looked up at him and smiled. "What? It's warmer in here."
Jaxon stared at her for a second, then sat on the other side of the room.
Lina crossed her arms and leaned her head back against the hut wall. "You built this all alone, huh?"
He nodded.
"It's simple, but it feels... safe. I don't know. Maybe that's why I came in here."
Jaxon didn't say anything. He just looked at the wall in front of him.
Lina's eyes wandered over to him again. "You really never talk, huh?"
"I talk," he said.
"When?" she raised her brows.
"When I need to."
She giggled again. "You're impossible."
There was a silence after that. Just the soft rustle of wind outside and the crackle of something moving in the trees.
Then, out of nowhere, Lina scooted closer.
Jaxon noticed but didn't say anything.
She stared at his face, tilting her head. "You're serious all the time. Quiet. Strong. A little mysterious."
Still nothing from him.
"You're kinda cute too."
Jaxon blinked. "You say that too much."
"Cause it's true," she said with a grin.
She leaned in more. Jaxon didn't move.
Then she kissed him. Just a soft peck on the lips. Quick. Sudden.
Jaxon sat still, eyes wide.
Lina pulled back fast, eyes wide too, then covered her mouth. "I—"
Before he could say anything, she stood up quick and bolted out the hut. "Sorry!"
Jaxon was left there, frozen.
He didn't move for a long time. Just sat there, staring at the door where she ran out.
"…What was that?" he whispered to himself.
Outside, Lina ran until she was behind a tree near the beach. She leaned her back against it, heart pounding. Her face was red. Her hands were shaking.
"What is wrong with me?" she muttered. "Why did I do that? I kissed him. I actually kissed him."
She covered her face and laughed to herself quietly. "He didn't even kiss back. But he didn't stop me either…"
She looked back toward the hut.
"Why does my chest feel like this?" she whispered.
And far inside the hut, Jaxon finally blinked again.
He looked down at his hands.
"…That was my first kiss."