PULAU MULUKU
The flame from the lighter danced momentarily in my hand, just before I lit my cigarette. I took a long drag and expelled the fumes out into the cool night air. The croaking of frogs, the crickets’ distinct music, and the soft crashes of the ocean waves caressed my ears. I felt relieved that I was alone on the shores of the beach, albeit it being 1 am. This island was indeed a swell place for a quiet escapade. It wasn’t like those other typically commercial islands with resorts sprouting like mushrooms every other kilometer. Here, I could enjoy my clandestine smoke, without any cumbersome tourists invading my privacy or the rest of the gang hounding me to kick the habit, especially Upin.
Just as I was pondering about how my boyfriend Upin could be such a nag when it came to my habit of smoking cancer sticks, my sight of the barren beach was interrupted by a solitary figure approaching me. I suddenly felt incredibly stupid for being out alone at 1 am, in a secluded area, in a place that was foreign to me. Oh, the things people do for a quick smoke. Although my heart was attempting to leap out of my chest with anxiety, I tried to appear calm and collected to the stranger that was definitely headed my way. Luckily for me it wasn’t a serial killer or rapist, but a familiar face that greeted me.
As he approached me I hurriedly tried to stub the cigarette under my feet. “No need for that Liza, could see your smoke from the chalet itself,” he said, sarcasm dripping from his tone, a broad smirk across his face. I eyed him suspiciously. Normally the whole gang would go into a crazed frenzy if they ever so saw an innocent cigarette within my hand’s reach. “Mind if I join you?” he said, motioning to the lighter clutched in my hand. Mutely, I fished inside my purse for a fresh cig and handed it to him. I was astounded that he was smoking with me.
“So all this while you’ve been a hypocrite?” I said.
“Relax la, you’re not going to blow my cover kan?” he said.
“I’m just annoyed that you lot give me so much crap for this, when here you are coolly smoking away,” I said, and decided to light a new cigarette since he was smoking too.
We strolled the deserted beach and chatted about mindless matters. We came to a clearing of coconut trees. I was examining the coconuts, shaking them to hear for any sounds of water, when I noticed him scanning the area surreptitiously. He noticed me watching him and said, “Oh, I’m just looking for something to use to break open something. I left my tool at the chalet.”
“You mean you want to open a coconut now?”
“Something like that,” he said without looking at me, his eyes glued to the clearing.
He smirked again as he found a edged, thick piece of wood. It must have been left by people after their gathering of coconuts. The way he was holding the tool jerked me away from my absent minded thoughts. “What are you doing?” I said, I didn’t like the look on his face, he had a crazed gleam in his eyes and again he smirked at me as he approached me.
It was as though I was paralyzed. As much as I wanted to scream, run or doing anything productive my body rooted me to my spot. I was helpless as he brought the wooden tool on my head. One crack, it brought me to the ground. Second crack, I was losing my vision. Third crack, warm blood was coating my face. Fourth crack, I was losing consciousness. Fifth crack, I was dead.
Arththi Sathananthar
A129086
