"Here's our salvation," she says, then steps back to get a better look at what we've done.
Salvation? What's she looking at? It's just a pyramid of dry wood. It took us a few hours, but we managed to gather all the material we could for our signal fire. That's all.
"We're set, Tiberiu!" the girl adds cheerfully. "The next ship that passes near the island can't possibly miss us."
I look at the neatly stacked pile of wood and nod. Yeah, her pyramid could be our ticket out of here.
We spend the next two hours together, trying to rebuild one of the fish traps.
"Say something!" she blurts out.
"About what?" I ask, surprised.
"About anything! Since yesterday you've been kind of cranky. You look like you're thinking a lot, but you barely say a word, and it's driving me crazy!"
I shrug. Eva looks at me, annoyed. So I explain:
"I'm not saying anything because I'm thinking about you. About us. I mean--about you."
She starts laughing.
"Ironic, isn't it? You're avoiding talking to me so you can think about me!"
She sits down on the sand and calmly unscrews the water bottle. She takes a sip, wipes her mouth with the back of her hand, and looks at me.
"Say something, boy! What's wrong with you?"
I sigh and answer:
"Whatever you think of me... just know everything I told you yesterday was bullshit."
"But I already know that," she says, smiling. "It's fine; it doesn't bother me. But it worked, didn't it? You got what you wanted. Good for you!"
"Let me explain... You're a beautiful girl, Eva, but that means nothing to me. It's not your beauty that draws me in. Beauty is so common it doesn't mean anything anymore. And you're smart, too! Anyway, way smarter than me."
"Thanks, you're actually pretty sweet. Now we're talking. So? Keep going."
"But intelligence doesn't matter either!" I go on, looking at her sadly. "It's not your beauty that draws me in, and it's not your intelligence either."
"Then what?"
She watches me closely. All eyes and ears. Smart as she is, I don't know if she'll get what I'm trying to explain.
"I love your soul, so yeah, I do love something about you. Yesterday I was talking to you about love because I wanted to get between your legs as fast as I could. Today I'm talking to you about love again, but I don't think you'll understand me."
"Try me," she says, playing with a handful of sand. "You said I'm smarter than you. Talk."
"The two of us have been through some rough times. Things most people never see in their whole lives. And we handled it. We made it here alive. Disaster brings people together more than calm, happy moments do. Disaster shows you who people really are."
"Give me the short version."
"Alright, I'll admit it: I love that brave Eva over the radio--calm, in control--on a plane that was about to crash."
"Come on, you're exaggerating! You have no idea how terrified I was."
"I also love that Eva who went three days without water beside me, out there in the waves, without falling apart."
"Oh, please, don't remind me!"
"I can't forget. Maybe that's why I love your brave soul, you tough, damn little woman! That's what I'm trying to explain. You're better and braver than most of the men I know. Tougher than me, even!"
"You're admitting that?" she asks, laughing. "Seriously? What, you're having an honesty crisis?"
"Yes, Eva, I'm admitting it! You've got a good, pure soul and you deserve to be loved! No woman in the world has ever impressed me like this. You're pure!"
"Shut up!" she suddenly shouts.
"I can shut up if you want, but that's what I think: you've got a wonderful soul, dear Eva, and you deserve to be loved."
"Stop it already!" the girl says, her face darkened with anger. "Quit this nonsense!"
I stare at her, not getting where this anger came from.
"Don't you ever talk to me like that again!" she screams like she's out of her mind. "You have no idea who I am! So that's what you've been chewing on? Well, you're wrong. You're completely wrong about me. I don't have a good soul, and I'm not pure either. Don't you dare love my soul! I forbid it! Leave my soul alone!"
"Let me..."
"Not a word!" she snaps, raising her hand. "I've listened to you enough. You're just talking nonsense. Don't you ever talk to me about love again and--most of all--don't you ever tell me again what a good soul I have! Only I know what's in my soul, you get it?"
"No."
"You don't have to get it. We're just two strangers forced by circumstances to stick together. That's why--and only why--I tolerate you. That's the only reason. I let you sleep with me partly out of curiosity, but also because it suited me. I want us to get along, and I gave you what you wanted, but this little joke about love has been pushed too far. Don't you ever bring it up again. Remember that!"
We stare at each other. She's got me. I can't meet those pitch-black eyes for long. I say, looking down:
"I get it. Okay. But at least let me take care of you and protect you as long as we're both here. You don't need to love me. Just let me be by your side."
Eva turns her back to me and says in a flat tone:
"Do whatever you want. If that makes you happy."
Then she turns back to me, reaches out, and gently lifts my chin:
"Look at me for a second! You know something, Tiberiu? I liked you better when you were rude," she says, thoughtful. "At least then you were yourself. This lovesick role doesn't suit you."
"Fine by me," I answer. "We won't talk about it anymore."
I bow my head and kiss her palm.
"Ah," she says, irritated. "Are we doing this again? Behave yourself! Come on, let's rebuild the next trap instead. We need to eat something. You promised you'd feed me and protect me."
I follow her in silence. Who is this girl? Who is she?
I watch her walking away, and I start to realize that I have no idea who I'm sharing this island--and my food--with.
"No, no, I'm not crazy!" she tosses out casually. "You got scared, didn't you? It'll pass."
I don't even know what to say anymore.