In the morning, a signature smoothie bowl was already waiting for me by the pool.
“Good morning, Cat. Enjoy your breakfast,” Snake greeted me in his soft, caressing voice as he passed by, fully absorbed in adjusting his Leica. “What’s the plan? Heading out for some Balinese street photo art?” “Maybe,” he said, looking at me with the gaze of a cat clearly plotting something bold. “And I’m thinking of giving myself some blissful pool time—doing ab-so-lute-ly no-thing—except enjoying the ecstatic fusion of the blazing sun and cool water on my skin.” “Sounds perfect! I might join that fusion later!”
After breakfast, I slipped into my swimsuit and headed to the pool, but Snake was nowhere in sight.
“Did he leave?” I thought, a bit disappointed. “Well, we’re independent people, after all. We’re not supposed to spend entire days together. Anyway, the tantra of blazing sun and cool water is awaiting. I’ll turn on the music and enjoy it just like I planned. And not think about him. Not think. About him…”
I fired up my favorite playlist and let the music pull me forward, slipping into the pool like liquid silk, every curve answering to the hypnotic sounds of my Sensual Rhythm.
“Mmm… oooh… yesss, this is pure ec-sta-sy! My life feels like a fairytale,” I thought, closing my eyes in pleasure as I sank into the currents of coolness caressing my sun-heated body.
“I live in Bali and finally get to lounge by the pool while developing my amazing project. This is the life I’ve always dreamed of! But what’s that nagging feeling inside? Loneliness…? My inner girl craving to be held…? That sense of one missing puzzle piece to complete the perfect picture…? Knowing where it is, but not daring to even look that way…?”
Click.
“Must be my imagination… Don’t think, Cat. Just enjoy. Ovulation makes you overly sensitive. Of course you want to be held—but you already carry both the feminine and the masculine essence within you.”
I began caressing myself—slowly, sensually—my fingertips gliding over my forearms, collarbones, neck… I drifted into a trance under the cosmic tunes of my playlist. Ovulation saturated every sensation: each touch sent waves of arousal through me. Yet in the air, I distinctly felt another energy enveloping me with intense focus…
Click.
“Oh. That wasn’t my imagination… It’s Snake. He’s here.”
I opened my eyes and saw him standing right over me, the lens of his film camera aimed at my body, sparkling with sexual energy.
Click.
“Beautiful,” he said, slightly embarrassed. “I’ll need to find a place to develop the film before I head out—these shots turned out absolutely amazing.” “Oh… you’re leaving soon. Time flies… If only we could stop it.” “Yeah, I’m loving Bali. And being with you feels so right—I can’t imagine life without your ringing laughter.” “Yeah… well, I gotta run. While I was chilling here, a ton of work piled up,” I blurted out, surprising even myself. “Go for it. Come back once you’ve cleared the pile.” “See you, my mysterious photographer!”
Chaos swelled inside my head: “What is happening? WHAT is happening? WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING?! Don’t think, Cat—don’t think. It’s just ovulation. Perception is distorted. Go home and work. The project. The dream life. Everything is under control. Just don’t overthink…”