Chapter2: Humiliated

Katerina took a deep breath while looking at the vast ocean. It's been three months since she left their place leaving only a piece of goodbye letter. She felt a lot of longing for her parents but she endured it rather than marrying that creepy old man. 

After leaving Manila, she ended up in Isla Dominica in the Visayas region. The place was far from the town so she felt comfortable that her parents would not learn her whereabouts. The lifestyle of the people there is also simple which she adapted immediately.

No electricity. No gadgets. No advanced technology.

It feels like the place was very far from civilization.

"Katerina?" from the view of the ocean she turned to the person calling her name.

She saw a masculine and handsome creature standing not far away from her.

"Achilles!" she called him smiling.

Achilles was a fisherman on the island. A month after she arrived at that place she found the man unconscious on the beach after a strong typhoon struck the island. When the young man woke up, he didn't remember anything from his past. Because he was wearing a necklace with an Achilles word as a pendant, an idea came into her mind to temporarily name the stranger Achilles.

Achilles also lives with her because he has nowhere else to go. In their two months of being together, she felt a strong attraction for the man that she finds hard to control. He was very handsome, smokin' hot to be exact!

Who wouldn't fall for those electric blue tantalizing eyes with a sharp jawline. He has thick brows with thin reddish lips and a grecian pointed nose. His looks are really faacinating. He was really her style.

If only this man was her fiance, she would never back out of the marriage and would demand him to marry her as soon as possible.

"I've been looking for you for a while now," he frowned as he approached her.

"Why is there a problem?"

"Nothing, I just want to see you." Achilles smiled.

Above all the fishermen, he's the only one who has a beautiful accent when speaking. After all, the man also looks like a foreigner, unlike the native people living on the island..

"What are you staring at? Have I passed your taste test already?" Achilles grinned mischievously at her.

She blinked a couple of times after realizing that she had been staring at him for a long time now. To hide the embarrassment she felt, she hit him on the arm and stormed out.

"Let's go home Achilles, I don't wanna witness your vauntness!"

Achilles is a very cheerful man. He often smiles and spreads humor everywhere. The young man was also kind and helpful which made her like him more. Well, she's not alone though, even other women on the island like him too and it's pretty annoying. 

"Katerina! Let's have breakfast here!"

She and Achilles turned around at the same time because of the voice they heard. Tasya, their elder neighbor, was standing in the distance together with other fishermen and neighbors who were about to have a banquet—like breakfast using only bare hands.

"Wow, it looks like there's free breakfast again today," Achilles said with a smile.

She just shook her head. The man is really happy when there are banquets like this on the island. People there often do this especially when there are a lot of fish caught.

They walked closer to their neighbors. Almost everyone is present and eating happily. The theme of the breakfast was boodle fight, so it became really enjoyable and zestful at the same time.

"Hello everybody! Am I late?" They turned to the newcomer who looked like she was in a beauty pageant the way she walked—Louella.

"You just arrived in time Louella, come here and join us" Norma motioned her daughter to sit next to her.

"I'll just stay here and sit next to Achilles," she declared and seductively walked towards their direction.

Louella's very vocal about her feelings for Achilles that the young man ignores. She also noticed her constantly seeking Achilles' attention, which irritated her even more.

"Stop right there Louella, you will spoil the view of our lovely Achilles and Katerina," Mira interrupted the woman.

"Mira is right, come here Louella," Norma beckoned with a threat in her voice.

Frowning, Louella obeyed and sat down next to her mother.

"You can sit here beside me, Katerina," Rico, one of their bachelor neighbors, offered her.

He's the son of Tasya and Ben. Even just her first day in the place, she noticed that the man had some feelings for her. Rico is also handsome and has a firm body figure, maybe because he was a fisherman and the redcap of the place but she doesn't feel anything special for him. Just pure friendship.

"I'll just sit next to Mira, Rico," she politely refused.

She also pulled Achilles closer to her who was now quiet and suddenly became serious. Soon they were happily eating breakfast. She looked at Achilles who was handily handling the food. She still remembered the first time he shared with them. They had already started eating when Katerina noticed that Achilles didn't move and was frowning while watching their colleagues taking a bite.

"Let's eat Achilles," she said.

"How? Is there no spoon and fork here?"  Achilles asked in confusion.

"Hmm no, and we will eat like they do. Come on or else we will run out of food." She pulled him closer to the table. "Native people in the place love to eat like this."

Achilles' first try of eating with bare hands fails because the rice falls off from his hands every time he tries to feed himself. She constantly giggled because it was fun to watch him while struggling to form the rice he was about to eat. Later on she felt pity for the man so she fed him instead. At first Achilles was reluctant to accept but eventually enjoyed it.

"Why are you smiling?" Achilles interrupted her reverie.

"I just remembered the first time you tried something like this. You were so funny back then."

Achilles shook his head with a smile.

"Ayiee! What are you two whispering about?" Mira asked loudly that made everyone turn their attention to the two of them with teasing smiles on their faces.

"You know what, you two are such a perfect match," Mira teased them.

"Mira!" She immediately called her name to make her stop. She was ashamed and her cheeks felt hot.

"Well, of course, a handsome man and a beautiful lady are really a good match," Ben added.

"I'm sure if the two of you get married, you'll have very adorable kids in the future too," Norma said.

She felt awkward especially since Achilles was also staring at her intently. Her cheeks flushed even more. 

"Hey, that's enough, you're making our Katerina feel uncomfortable," Alberto admonished them.

"Tss, what will Katerina's future be like with him? He doesn't remember anything from his past, not even his own name and Katerina's even sheltering him for he doesn't have anything on his pants," Rico suddenly snorted humiliatingly to Achilles. 

Katerina didn't like the cut of his tongue. She hates it when one looks down onto someone just because he doesn't have anything to offer. She thought this only happens in high society but she guessed all people rich or poor do these things. But before she could answer, Louella intervened.

"Katerina doesn't really have a future with Achilles  because I'm the one for him," she proudly announced.

"Stop it, Louella, what you're saying is embarrassing for Katerina," Norma scolded her daughter, but Louella just frowned.

"Why should I be shy, they're not even in a relationship, right Katerina?" Louella turned to ask  her.

She sighed. If she could just claim that Achilles was her boyfriend, she would have done it so that this woman would stop her delusions, but that seems embarrassing when they're really not dating.

"You're right, Louella, Achilles is not my boyfriend," she said with emphasis.

"Oh, you see? I still have a chance, mother." Louella turned to Norma.

The corner of Rico's lips twitched. "Katerina won't really date Achilles because he has nothing to be proud of. She just felt sorry for him, so she let him live in her house and nothing else more. Right, Katerina?"

If this man wasn't the son of Tasya and Ben, she would have reprimanded him, but because she has a lot of respect for the two elders for their kindness makes her hold back. When she turned her eyes to Achilles, the piercing of the man's jaw didn't escape her sight.

"Shut your mouth, Rico! I didn't raise you to talk like that to other people," Tasya scolded him.

Rico was about to answer but he was interrupted when the young man named Empoy came rushing to where they were. Traces of fear are visible in his  eyes. 

"U—uncle Ben! They are here—," Empoy didn't finish what he had to say when five strong men appeared from behind him…