SASHA ROSARIO'S POINT OF VIEW
"Sasha! I'm telling you, he's the answer to your prayers—"
"What prayers? I wasn't exactly wishing for a husband to magically appear—ouch!" I shot Andeng a glare, rubbing the spot on my head where she'd just flicked me.
"Why are you yelling? I'm standing right next to you!" she retorted, frowning.
I sighed, resisting the urge to scream again. My heart was still pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I hadn't been able to move a muscle until Andeng and Junior arrived. I'd even been shocked to see Junior in just his boxers, clearly interrupting some husband-and-wife bonding time.
Who wouldn't be rattled after letting out a scream that could rival a slaughterhouse?
Because, seriously! Who wouldn't be terrified when a bloody, yet undeniably gorgeous, man suddenly collapses in your living room?
"Who do you think he is, Sasha? Junior's taking forever. We need to clean his face to see if he's really as hot as he looks." We'd sent Junior to fetch water from the well nearby since my water drum was empty.
I groaned. "How would I know, Andeng? He just barged in and then demanded to know who I was. Maybe he's escaped from the loony bin?" My voice still trembled with lingering fear and confusion. I was struggling to process everything.
"I'm back, honey!" Andeng and I both turned toward my doorway, or rather, the gaping hole where the door used to be. Junior strolled in, carrying two buckets of water.
"You took your sweet time!" Andeng complained, playfully punching him in the side before standing up.
I couldn't help but smile at their antics. But the smile quickly faded as I remembered the unconscious man lying in front of me.
"Start cleaning him up, Sasha. Do you have any extra-large clothes lying around? Junior can lend your… future husband something to wear."
My face scrunched up at Andeng's words. I wasn't sure what bothered me more: the thought of cleaning this stranger's body or her calling him my future husband. I stared at her, my expression twisted in disbelief.
Andeng put her hands on her hips, raising an eyebrow. "Well? I can't exactly clean him up myself when I have a gorgeous husband who would get jealous."
"As if! You have a husband who gives you a taste of paradise every night. Why would you even want to touch another man?" Junior's voice dripped with mock outrage as he stomped outside.
His wife burst out laughing. "Oh, fine. You clean him up and figure out where his injuries are. Use that first-aid kit, and be careful. He might be a cobra ready to strike." She winked suggestively. "Good luck, Sasha. I need to go and comfort my super-hot husband!" She giggled as she headed out the door. "Try not to fall in love, okay?"
I sat there, stunned, staring into space, my eyes wide. I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands in frustration.
"Oh, Lord, why is this happening to me?" I muttered, desperately trying to maintain my sanity.
After a few moments, I took a deep breath and tried to calm down. I glanced at the bloody man in front of me, trying to muster the courage to move.
"Come on, Sasha. It's your fault if he dies because you're being such a drama queen." I whispered, trying to scare myself into action.
My eyes widened. "It'll be more expensive and more of a hassle if he dies! I'd have to find a place to bury him and pay for a mass. Ugh!"
I couldn't help but slap myself lightly on the cheeks. "Get moving, Sasha Rosario! You're just cleaning his body."
I took another deep breath, grabbing my old, cracked basin. I poured the water Junior had fetched into it, grateful that I'd boiled some water earlier, so it was lukewarm.
My hands trembled as I unbuttoned his blood-soaked white long-sleeved shirt. My jaw dropped at the sight revealed underneath.
"H-Heavens…" Why was my voice so weak? I couldn't tear my eyes away from the hard, sculpted abs of this man! There were plenty of shirtless fish porters outside — but this was different!
Reality crashed back when I felt something trickle down my leg. My eyes widened as I looked down.
"Oh my god, what am I doing?" I nearly slapped myself again. I'd been drooling over this man's abs!
Seriously, Lord! Please, I'm a good person. It's not my fault that this guy has an otherworldly body.
I squeezed my eyes shut and took another breath. I calmed myself as my hands began to tremble again. If I was shaking earlier because of fear, now it was because of sheer… excitement. I could feel my face burning as I wrung out a white cloth to wipe his body down.
I couldn't help but swallow hard as the cloth made contact with his skin, trying to hold my breath.
Fresh wounds and older scars became visible as I wiped away the blood. I bit my lip, examining his upper body.
I was momentarily lost in happy thoughts. Why was I experiencing this delicious moment? Was I going to die tomorrow, so God was giving me a little preview of paradise?
I shook my head, snapping myself back to reality. I treated the fresh wounds, mostly around his stomach and chest. They were deep, but I didn't think they needed stitches, so my basic first-aid skills should be enough.
Finally! My first-aid training was actually coming in handy. I was going to save someone's life.
Next, I moved to his face. I could have slapped myself for focusing on his body first. Why hadn't I cleaned his face, which was covered in blood?
Like before, I held my breath as I gently wiped his face. My hands trembled slightly less this time, but I was still struggling.
I gasped when I saw a large scar over his left eye, stretching down to the middle of his cheek. It looked fresh and swollen, so I quickly treated it.
As I tended to his injuries, I couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him and how he ended up here. Judging by his features, he wasn't Filipino. He was paler and had smoother skin than anyone I knew. I couldn't help but envy his high, sculpted nose, perfect for pinching. And his long eyelashes, which I could admire now that he was unconscious. He had thick, well-defined eyebrows.
He was incredibly handsome, even with his eyes closed. My earlier fear had blinded me to his beauty.
I couldn't help but gaze at his face. I'd never seen anyone so attractive.
Was he a gift from the heavens? Maybe God had sent him to me. Or perhaps he was an angel who'd fought demons and fallen to earth.
My mind raced with possibilities, but I knew the answers would only come when he woke up.
"Sashaaa! I brought the clothes—holy crap?!"
I jumped, startled by Andeng's sudden, loud shout. I dropped the cloth I was holding, staring at her, my eyes wide.
"W-What?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
She covered her mouth, her eyes wide as she stared at the man lying next to me.
"H-Holy hell?! Your husband is hot, Sasha!!!" she shrieked, making me cover my ears.
She flitted over to me like a hummingbird on speed. "Girl, his abs look delicious. How was your first touch? Are they hard as a rock?" She asked playfully, and I just rolled my eyes.
"Is your brain broken, Andeng? I don't have a husband—"
"Just now, when you helped him?"
I glared at her. "Stop being so imaginative. He might strangle me when he wakes up."
"Why would he strangle you?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. He has a lot of scars. Maybe he's a murderer who'll suddenly lose it when he sees me."
The woman burst into laughter. "Oh, Sasha. You're too much of an overthinker. What if he's just athletic? Maybe that's why he's so sculpted." She poked me in the forehead. "And besides, there's a chance that he has amnesia. If the waves dragged him here, he probably hit his head on the rocks."
I winced at her ridiculous ideas. "You've been reading too many of those books, Andeng. That kind of thing only happens in movies."
She raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. "What if I have the gift of prophecy?" She grinned. "What if he wakes up with no memory, Sasha?"
I paused, considering her words. I shook my head, dismissing the thought.
"Stop it, Andeng. Go back to your husband. He's probably pouting by now."
"As if! You just want to be alone with Mr. Hottie." She teased, making me roll my eyes.
"Oh, and don't forget to clean his whole body, okay?"
I frowned, so she raised her eyebrows suggestively. "Everything, Sasha. The whole body! Who knows what you might find in his briefs? There might be a fish hiding in there, right?"
My mouth fell open, unable to believe what she'd just said. She simply laughed before skipping out the door, calling out a goodbye.
My face burned at her words, and my gaze drifted to the lower half of the man's body.
I looked up, squeezing my eyes shut. "Lord, please, I don't need another black mark on my record."
There was a bulge right in the middle of his trousers. A big bulge. I wasn't born yesterday. I knew what that was.
I felt like an idiot, kneeling over him with my eyes closed. Why was I kneeling over this man in the first place?
My face flushed as I realized our position.
"Idiot! You're such an idiot, Sasha. What are you doing?" I muttered, unable to believe my own thoughts.
I calmed myself, deciding to take action. I half-opened my eyes, cautiously reaching for the zipper of his trousers. I felt like a pervert peeking through a window, only seeing half the picture. I even found myself pouting, my hands trembling as I did this.
Oh, Lord. What I'm doing isn't a sin, right? I'm just trying to help.
After a moment, I fully opened my eyes, realizing I was making things harder than they needed to be.
I resolutely tugged down his trousers, which were also stained with blood and torn. It was difficult since he was lying down, and his legs were heavy.
When I finally managed to pull them off, my gaze landed on his remaining garment. I swallowed hard, seeing how prominent his… package was.
D-Do I really need to undress him further? Even that?
I bit my lip, hesitating as I looked at his briefs. I was about to decide against it when I noticed the blood seeping through the fabric.
My eyes widened, and I found myself hovering over him again. Without another thought, I pulled down his briefs. My jaw dropped as a large, thick snake stood proudly before me.
"Merciful heavens!" I gasped, staring at his manhood, which was standing erect in front of me.
"S-So big." Wow, this was the first time I'd ever seen a man's… thing —and it was this big?!
I was still kneeling over him, completely mesmerized, forgetting why I'd even taken off his briefs.
That's when everything went crazy.
He suddenly surged up, grabbing my waist with both hands.
My heart stopped as our eyes met. His gray eyes, intense and captivating, stared straight into mine.
I only regained my senses when I felt something hard pressing against my core.
"W-What—are you awake?!" The blood drained from my face.
"Who are you?" He asked, his voice flat and devoid of emotion. His gaze seemed to threaten me, so I panicked and gave the stupidest answer possible.
"M-Me? I-I'm your wife." I stuttered.
Idiot! You're such an idiot, Sasha. Did you really think he would believe that? I wanted the earth to swallow me whole, especially since he didn't say anything, just kept staring at me.
Then, to my utter shock, he smiled, and then kissed me. It was just a peck, so I couldn't react until he spoke, grinning at me.
"Is that so? Then, will you please calm me down here… wife?"
Holy mother of God! Sasha, what have you gotten yourself into now?!