Although I hated to admit it, Qimir was right.

I did need a change of clothes.

At first, I didn't even want to touch the clothes he had put down on the bedside table. One look at it and I already knew it would be too big, and I was most probably going to look ridiculous (well, I was right about that because the sleeves were basically covering my hands, and the hem reached my thighs that it would've rather been a dress). But thankfully, I was able to put down my ego and consider what he said.

You would be surprised by how much dirt and blood I was able to wash off from my black turtleneck; how murky it turned the clear ocean water as I aggressively scrubbed it. It probably took me thirty minutes until the water finally ran clear.

After I wrung it and shook it out at least five times, I was already catching my breath as if I just did an entire workout. I patted down the sweat on my face with the sleeve of Qimir's clothes, momentarily distracted as I accidentally whiffed his scent that came along with it.

It was a deep, masculine musky scent with the smallest hint of ocean water.
I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it. In fact, it was even somewhat.... addicting.

I shook my head furiously to snap my head out of it. I proceeded to lay out my turtleneck flat against a nearby rock, hoping that it would dry out fast enough within the day. I wanted to get out of Qimir's clothes as soon as possible.

Get your shit together, Eli.

You can't go around getting distracted by a man you barely know.

I crouched down by the edge of the water to wash my face, and I hissed as the small cuts on my face stung from the salty water. I felt wounds I didn't even know existed on my face.

All of a sudden, I felt a presence not so far from me. My head whipped towards the rocky pathway to my left and saw Qimir casually leaning against a big rock, his arms crossed on his chest. He had an amused look on his face.

"How long have you been watching me?" I called out as I wiped my face dry. A small smile played on his lips as he stood upright. It was as if my irritation amused him.

"I'm going to get some food. Do you want to come?" He said, obviously avoiding my question. I was about to say 'no' just for the heck of it, but then realized that I had nothing better to do alone in that cave.

I glanced at the rising sun on the horizon and realized how fast the night was on this planet. If I were to estimate, it was only about five hours. Well, it didn't make much of a difference since I didn't sleep a wink since that nightmare anyway.

Might as well be productive early in the morning.

I returned Qimir's amused look with my dissatisfied gaze, letting him know that I didn't appreciate his staring habit one bit. Though, it didn't seem to bother him at all.

The moment I took a step towards him, Qimir took it as a yes and started to lead the way.

***

It honestly surprised me that there were even trees and plants nearby. I thought this place only consisted of ocean and rocks. Well, I was never a plant person so I didn't even know what to call the plants he was randomly picking and plucking, casually tossing them into his harvest basket.

"How long have you been in this place?" I asked, since we had been walking in silence the entire time.

"A long time," he answered vaguely. Well, I figured that much. I'd even bet he carved out those rocks by himself to make his man-cave.

"Well, have you always been alone?"

"You could say that," he shrugged his shoulder dismissively. I had to roll my eyes. Here he was with his vague answers again.

"You know, for a guy that likes staring, you seem to be so dismissive of me." I boldly called him out in my irritation. It wasn't even just the one the shore. I also caught him staring last night when I was tidying the bedsheets, and another time after that when I was cleaning my wound.

Upon hearing my comment he suddenly stopped walking. He slowly turned around to face me, his eyes glinting in amusement once again.

That face. I didn't trust that face one bit.

"Really...?" He slowly asked, his tone not really asking, but taunting. He slowly walked towards me, and the way his gaze intensified tenfold and a playful smile tugged at the corner of his lips, I just knew he was up to no good.

"Then, what would you rather I do?" He said in a deep, sultry voice, his face just a few inches close to mine. I didn't dare take a step back, despite his face being so close that I could actually feel his breath on my skin. His eyes were shamelessly shifting between my eyes and my lips.

Was he.... seducing me?

"I would rather you consider my request." I answered seriously. I refused to be distracted by his antics. "I'd rather you start training me."

And just like that, his seductive expression dissolved and was quickly replaced by a disapproving look. His jaw clenched tightly as he stepped back from me.

"I thought we were done with this conversation."

"To me, we were not." I stubbornly argued. "I'm not asking you to dedicate your entire life training me. Just teach me the bare minimum and I'll be out of your hair in no time."

"No," he growled. He started to turn around to dismiss the conversation again but I firmly grabbed his arm to keep him in place.

"Fine, then just teach me how to fight," I negotiated. "I don't care if it's with the force or not. I just need to learn how to fight so I can fend for myself."

"Eli, I'm not going to repeat myself." He warned lowly as he grabbed my wrist to remove my grip on his arm.

"Did you think I was lying when I said I was running for my life? Qimir, I know that you know what kind of people are in Collossus. If I don't learn how to fight before I get the hell out of here, I'll be good as dead. Those people will find me no matter which planet I end up on."

His lips were pressed into a thin line, his expression stern. He didn't look like he would change his mind anytime soon. "It's not about that."

"Then why?" I demanded, and I hated how my voice sounded so desperate. I had thrown away all my ego to basically beg him, but it was to no avail. "At least give me a reasonable excuse why you don't want to. Make me understand why, and I'll stop pestering you."

But of course, he didn't.

He just simply turned around and started heading back to the cave.

I stood in silence as I watched him walk away, hating how he ended the conversation on his own terms once again.

Well fuck.

I guess I really am good as dead now.

***