A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

A/N: In the previous two chapters, I had mentioned a staff who was an expert at identifying which vegetation is edible and which one is poisonous. I will now be putting a face on that expert staff.

Third Person POV

One by one the volunteers from the group that explored the island for possible edible vegetation went forward to the staff who was sitting on a makeshift bench made of a fallen log. He was a botanist whom Nai had referred to as an expert in identifying which of the vegetation they brought back from their exploration was edible and which was not.

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

For those who do not know him, he is the actor who plays the role of P'San in TharnType the series. His name is Pattarabut Kiennukul.

"Hello, everyone, my name is Pattarabut but I prefer to be called San," the botanist introduced himself, "first of all, please allow me to thank you all for your valued help in the search for food on this island. I am a botanist and I specialize in distinguishing which plant is poisonous and which plant is edible. When a disaster strikes, such as the one we all just experienced, a staff with my expertise will come in very handy when survival on a remote island like this one is at stake."

As San was making his little speech, he was not aware that several persons in his audience were staring at him, mesmerized by his strikingly good looks. Add to that his expertise that was certainly needed for survival in the island, and these secret admirers were swooning silently where they stood.

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

"What do you think about these fruits that I picked from the low lying branches of a tree?" Copter stepped forward, showing San his plastic bag which contained yellowish green oblong yields from a tree.

San examined the fruits carefully. He then brought one to his nose and sniffed it. Then he got a Swiss knife from his pocket and cut across the fruit.

"This is a guava," he declared, "it contains lots of Vitamin C. Good job, young man. What's your name?"

"I'm Copter," a blushing Copter replied as he took the hand that San held out to him.

San looked at Copter for a good while and then declared, "You have adorable dimples that appear when you smile."

The compliment made Copter blush all the more.

"What about these?" Plan stepped forward. Plan was someone who didn't like being outdone.

San examined the heart shaped red berries that Plan put forward to him.

Plan's face fell when he saw San shaking his head.

"It's easy to mistake these for strawberries but they are not edible berries," said San, "thank you, anyway, for your efforts. What's your name?"

"Never mind," Plan mumbled, walking away.

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

"Hey, don't let your first attempt discourage you," said Podd.

Plan continued to pout. Podd draped his arm across Plan's shoulder.

"How about, let's go to a different direction and explore the island by ourselves," Podd offered.

Plan did not say a word but allowed Podd to guide him down an opening in the thick growth of assorted plants and trees.

After some time, they were surprised to see a small stream just a little farther away. The water looked so clean and clear.

They both ran excitedly towards it.

To their disappointment, there was already someone who had discovered it ahead of them and was scooping some water in his hands and splashing it across his face.

When the stranger turned around at the sound of their footsteps ......

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

"Earth!"

Earth stood up, his eyes wide with disbelief at the sight of Podd.

In something like a slow motion, they approached each other and then hugged each other for a very long time, not wanting to let go.

"Hey!" Plan yelled at the two, "I'm still here!"

Podd and Earth were about to kiss but broke apart at the sound of Plan's agitated voice.

"Let's go back and tell everyone what we just discovered!" Podd suggested.

"I would not recommend anyone going to that stream at this time," the captain intervened when he heard several survivors excitedly asking each other to go and check out the discovery, "It's starting to get dark and I don't want anyone losing his way back here."

"Let's go early tomorrow then," Perth whispered to Saint.

"Yes, let's do that," Saint agreed, "who knows we might be able to catch some fish."

"I would rather catch some river shrimps," Perth said, "they taste sweet when freshly caught."

"That would be nice but I have a hard time peeling them," Saint said with a smile.

"Don't worry about that," Perth told Saint, "I will peel them for you."

A little farther away from Perth and Saint, AJ was looking intently at Art.

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

"Are you game to explore the side of the island where they found the river?" he asked.

"If I'm strong enough by tomorrow, yes," Art replied.

"Good," AJ declared as he helped Art to sit on the grass close to the walled area of the makeshift shelter.

An intermittent rain was starting to fall on the island again and it was being accompanied by some slow moving wind.

AJ draped his blanket across Art's back.

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

"I have my own blanket, thanks," Art removed AJ's blanket and returned it to him.

"Oh, okay," said AJ, "I'm not feeling sleepy yet. I will stay in this sitting position for now, but you can lie down already if you want."

Art did so but AJ noticed that he was having some difficulty finding a comfortable position.

"Would you like to use my lap as your pillow?" AJ offered.

Art smiled gratefully at AJ. "If it's not a great bother."

AJ patted his lap as a sign of encouragement for Art to go ahead and use it as his pillow.

Just before Art closed his eyes, he asked AJ, "By the way, how old are you?"

"Eighteen," AJ replied.

Art quickly lifted his head from AJ's lap and moved back to his original position.

"What's your problem?" AJ asked in alarm.

"Nothing," Art replied, "I just feel more comfortable laying my head on the grass."

What Art could not tell AJ was that he did not feel comfortable letting someone so much younger than him take care of him.

AJ sighed. He knew that his age bothered the older guy. But he couldn't help it. He had the tendency to get attracted to older guys. It was more fun and exciting to hang out with older guys because he learned a lot from them. So far, he did not have any luck with any of the older guys that he had met. They all ended up with guys of their own age.

In the meantime, Gulf was watching intently as Mew assisted San to transfer all the edible fruits and leaves that the volunteers had gathered, into a big plastic container.

Then Gulf had an idea. He quickly approached Mew.

"Here, let me help you," Gulf offered, "you know what they say about many hands making light work."

Mew smiled gratefully at Gulf.

When both had finished the task, Mew held out his hand to Gulf.

"My name is Mew. What's yours?"

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

"I'm Gulf," Gulf replied, and accompanied his statement with a hug instead of a handshake.