Chapter Text
My eyes were directed to the sea. Nothing else mattered, just the sea, the fresh air and me. The smooth breeze hit my face making my eyes close a little and my hair dance to the rhythm of it, I loved the sensation.
The color blue of the sea attracted me in a way that nobody could understand. While growing up, we were told that blue was for boys and pink was for girls. I always hated pink, since I got memory, and loved blue instead.
I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. I never woke up this early but today I wanted to, because it was the start of the summer and my vacation in this city, which means that I got two months to live in this fabulous place, on a house just in front of the sea. It was 7:00 am, nobody was awake because of the tired ride in the car to get here. But, again, I wanted to watch the sun over the sea. The sun rays in the morning were perfect and I could watch them always if is not because I’m a sleepyhead and sleep till too late. I missed the view so much that I wanted to enjoy it.
I watched the horizon and couldn’t believe that beyond could be more than what we expect. What I mean is, you never know what is beyond the unknown. I know there be countries there, but what if, in reality, the world is much bigger than we thought? I mean, I know too that with science we can know that the world is just like we represent in maps… But are we all sure that in those water, in those oceans, not can be more to explore?
I always questioned the existence of everything. Like ‘aliens’. Why in the name of the Lord we think that with all the planets that the galaxy we know, that is a little bit, we are the only survivors, the only people alive? I believe that there’s more in this world and in the galaxy that we know, because is impossible that we are the only ones that goes around there. Maybe in this world there are none vampires, but what if in Saturn are? What if in this world there are none werewolf but in Mars are? See? That’s what I mean, you never know what can be beyond everything. Maybe we can’t see it, but it is there, hidden, suspicious.
A sigh escaped from my mouth and I stopped thinking about those things, people looked at me strange, weirded out, when I talked about it. But I know why, it’s because they want to ignore the fact that someone, some things, are out there and that scare them. But I let it be.
“There is a problem?” I heard a voice next to me and I didn’t notice that someone was sitting beside me. How long have he’s been there? “I’m Jimin.” I smiled and he sat down beside me.
The guy didn’t seem like he was a lot tanned, his hair was black and had brown eyes, I could barely see them because when he smiled, his cute cheeks covered them a little. He was wearing a white shirt and a red swimsuit. His black hair was wet, probably he was recently in the water.
“I’m Lisa, you can call me… Lisa.” The boy, Alex, chuckled. “And no, there is no problem, don’t worry. I was just… thinking.”
“Can I know what?”
I looked at him. Nobody never was interested to know what I think, because I was weird, philosophical and talked about it with too much passion.
“I don’t think you want to hear it.”
“what if I do?”
I looked at the sea again.
“What do you see?” The boy kept quiet for a moment.
“The sea.”
“That what I was thinking about.”
“The sea?”
“No, how people ignore the things.”
“But if is only sea.”
“No, there’s more than sea. There is a world beyond it. There is so much more that we can’t see but at the same time we could see.”
“How we can see what we cannot see?”
I looked at him and smiled.
“Just seeing them. You have to believe they are there, and they will be there.” The boy looked confused at me and I chuckled. “Let me show you… See those fishes there?” I indicated with my finger and the boy looked at the direction.
“What fishes?”
“You have to see it better. See beyond it, you have to see it.”
The boy concentrated still looking at the direction I was pointing and widened his eyes when he saw them. Golden fishes swimming on the sea.
“I can’t believe it.”
“You see them? See those beautiful golden fishes? I know, amazing, right?” I proudly smiled and the boy looked at me with surprise in his face while I still looked at the sea, I could feel the stare. “You -at first- saw the sea, but when you look beyond it, when you look through it, you can see much more. Even in things you don’t believe. There is life in the ocean too, and we can easily see it.”
The boy stayed looking at me, so I turned around with a smile on my face to see the surprise of the boy.
“You…”
“Me…?”
He whispered something but I couldn’t hear it.
“Excuse me, what did you say?” I asked wanting to know.
“Um, nothing. I got to go.” He got up.
“Uh, okay. Bye.” I waved at him and he returned the gesture. “That was weird.” I said to myself.
I kept watching the sea with the golden fishes. Why there were golden fishes there? I didn’t know, but was okay with it.
I stayed for a long time on the beach before getting up and walk to the house where I was staying those two months of vacations. My feet on the sand felt like heaven.
Never knew why I liked the sea this much, maybe it was the color, maybe it was the peace that emerged every time I was there, or maybe it was something hidden, like the other things, but that I couldn’t see. At least yet.
“Lisa!” I heard a voice from afar that shouted my name.
Sometimes you see the summer here like a routine; wake up, have breakfast, go to the beach, have lunch by the sea, play with water and sand, come back to the house, shower, have dinner and go to sleep. But no, not for me. Not for me when I have my best friend in the same city as me, and the fact that we were neighbors was just great.
“Bianca!” I yelled too when I spotted her running towards me. I waited for her with me arms open and when she got to be by my side, she hugged me. “I messed you so much!”
“We have not seen each other for like a year!” We separated.
“It was a month really, but felt like a year. I’m so happy to see you! How are you?”
“I’m good, thanks. You? How you doing? Why are you so awake this early?”
I turned around and watched the waves that crashed into the rocks on the shore. I shrugged, my mouth breaking into a smile.
“Just to see the sea. You know I adore so much this view and that I think there can be more out there.”
“Yes, but is just sea. Thing impossible to be more out there that we don’t know. The explorers did all his work and they discovered everything we now know.” I looked back at her, my eyes closing a little because of the sun.
“Yeah, I know.”
“And you still believe there is more?”
“Everyone believes what they want to believe.”
“So, you still think that.”
“Why don’t we go to a store and have breakfast? Must be the hour by now because I’m hungry.” I decided to ignore the subject, I knew we didn’t think the same.
“Yes, I was thinking the same.” She did it too.
I decided to ignore the fact that we had different opinions on the subject. She was structured, believed in what the science said, and if is not told for a scientist or seen with her eyes, she didn’t believe it.
I was totally the opposite, I believed in everything. Not that when someone told me something I believed in it without doubting, but I knew everything was possible. I didn’t believe in lies, of course. I could see -like I always say, that you can see beyond if you want to- the lies on the person’s eyes. You couldn’t lie to me that easily. I’ve been fooled too much to know who lies to me and who don’t.
As I was saying, I believed that nothing could be impossible. Cows that fly? Maybe not in real life, maybe not in this world. They can’t fly because we didn’t see them. If is not possible on real life, why not editing a video? Maybe the video is not real, but the cows are flying; you don’t believe is real, but at least -on video- they are doing what is impossible to you.
To be honest, people thinks I’m crazy and out of mind. I think that too. But, if we are not curious about what is life, if we limit ourselves to see the life other people put in front of us, what is the point? What are you living?
We lead a monotonous life, the majority of us. Those who take risks are the ones who are really living.
But that’s what nobody wanted to know, that was what nobody wanted to hear, what everyone avoided. Living a life with big fears of do something, living a life that is worth living.
But I couldn’t say that to Bianca. She would say that she’s living her life, with her boyfriend, with her mom; she would say that she’s happy and, except for some moments that we all normally have, she wouldn’t change her life.
For me, I would change it. I would put a little bit of emotion to it, I wanted to be trying of be fearless and ending up being it. I wanted to explore those places that I wanted to discover. I wouldn’t stay like I was. But I couldn’t tell Bianca neither. I know her enough to know that she would say that my life is good how it was, why change it if I was happy?
That is a good question, though. A very good one. I run the risk that I ruin my life by changing it, but what if I don’t? Even for a second, if my life was different I would be happier, because I knew that something changed, and every change is for good.
We talked a lot, like we always do when it comes to get together after a long time. My friendship with her was unbreakable, we have been together for so long that we didn’t even argue, not even for the least thing; we knew when to stop.
When we were eating breakfast at our favorite place in town, the same guy from today -Alex, from the beach- passed beside us and waved at me, which I retuned the gesture.
“Hmm, who’s that?” I rolled my eyes at my friend.
“Jimin.”
“And how I come to know him today and not before?”
“Because I met him today, on the beach. It was earlier than when you came. Don’t ask me where does he come from, what he likes, how is he like, because all I know from him is that his name is Jimin.”
“But you like him?” I rolled my eyes again.
“I repeat: I. Met. Him. Today. I can’t like someone I met today.”
“Fine.” She shrugged, happy with the information I gave her and knowing that I would not talk more.
After paying, we went to Bianca’s vacation house for her to get changed into her swimsuit. I didn’t like at all being in swimsuit, so I was wearing a cute blue dress. She complained about me not wanting to change, but didn’t last long.
We were at the sea playing with the cold water -well, after a while it wasn’t cold anymore- when something touched my right foot.
“Hey! I think a fish just touched me!” I said.
“It’s impossible, Lisa. There are no fishes here, in this zone.”
“Then what was it?”
“A seaweed?”
“No, it can’t be. It didn’t feel like it.”
“Then, I don’t know, is your imagination. It can’t be, Lisa.”
I shrugged and continued swimming and playing.
Oh, the beautiful, beautiful sea. What would we do without it? I was happy and had the feeling that it was going to be the best vacations of my life. I had my best friend with me and I was on the beach, enjoying the sea.
I didn’t like the summer that much, but when it came with a vacation and a place like this I enjoyed it so much. I preferred winter, which is rare considering I loved the sea. But nothing has to do with the other thing, they were different and I liked different.
I felt eyes on me and Bianca, so I started to look everywhere but I found nothing.
“Hey, don’t you feel observed?” I asked without fearing that my friend looked at me weirded out.
“A little bit, but is a beach, I wouldn’t be too worried about it. People comes here, you know?”
“Yeah, yeah.”
I tried to not give importance, but I had a strange feeling. Didn’t know what it was, honestly, but I didn’t trust it. It was like our movements were observed every time we made a little move. What if it was a serial killer? It could be, you really never know.
But the feeling disappeared faster than what I thought. ‘That is weird’ I thought. Did the person who was staring at us disappeared because we knew what that person was doing? I didn’t know and didn’t give it the attention. My concern went out with it.
After another long time on the water, we decided it was time to leave, at least to the shore. We were sitting on our towels looking at the sea -me with my wet dress and Bianca with her swimsuit, sunbathing- when a figure covered the sun that was helping Bianca to have a nice tan.
“Hey!” She complained and took out her sunglasses to show her brown eyes. I did the same and looked at the boy in front of us.
It was Jimin, the same boy from earlier. Why was he there? I didn’t know. It was at that moment when I thought about it and wow, I didn’t know a lot of things. There was so much for me to know.
“I just came here to say hi and see if there is any problem, sorry if I bother you.”
“You not bother us” I said before Bianca could speak. “But you always think there is a problem when a person is on the beach? Are you a police officer who thinks we’re on drugs or…?” I asked, not in a bad way, just because of interest. I was right, the time before he too asked if there was a problem.
He chuckled.
“No, no. I was just curious.”
“Wait” said Bianca. Oh, no. “You were the one spying on us?”
“What? Spy? Why would I spy?”
“I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?” He rolled his eyes.
“Girls, I wasn’t the one spying on you. In reality, I didn’t know there was someone spying on you. You want me to go and take a look if there is someone around who could have been?”
Bianca looked at me and then looked to Jimin again, so I decided to speak.
“I believe you. I can be wrong, but I don’t see you like the type of people who spy on others.” My best friend sighed.
“If she believes you, I believe you.”
He cracked a smile.
“Want to sit?” I asked tapping the arena on my left side. He wasn’t wet because of the water of the sea, so I thought he didn’t need a space on our towels. Maybe was disrespectful, but he said nothing so I thought it was okay.
“Sure.”
And he did. But instantly, Bianca started to shot questions.
“So, Jimin, right?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you from?” He smiled looking down.
“You’ll never believe.” he whispered. Bianca didn’t hear it, but I did. And I looked at him but he looked like he didn’t realize I heard him.
“Excuse me, what?” He looked at Bianca.
“From too far. And is a little town, I don’t know if you, girls, know it.”
“Try me.” Said Bianca. I told her with a gesture to calm down.
“Is not necessary, really.” I said to Jimin, to quit a little of pressure.
‘Where the hell are you from and why wouldn’t us believe you?’ I asked in my mind.
“It’s okay. The place is called Youthul”
“Youthul? What the hell is that?” He laughed at the questions Bianca asked.
“Is the town where I come from.”
“You’re joking.”
“No, I’m not. Why would I?”
“That is a ridiculous name.”
“Is not my fault.” We laughed.
“Fine, whatever. What time is it, Lisa?”
I looked at the time on my watch and saw that it was 3pm, I told her and she started to get up.
“It was nice to talk to you, Jimin” she said and we got up too. “If you need something or simply want to spend time, call me or Lisa.” I nodded indicating that I was okay with it.
“Yeah, I don’t have a problem.”
“Thank you, girls. Nice to talk to you too.” He said waving at us and walking away.
Bianca and I started to walk to her house. First of all, she had to get changed. Second, I didn’t want to be in my house that much.
When we got there, I said hi to her mother and walked directly to her room, following her.
“Youthul? Is he serious?” She asked after she got out of the room’s bathroom, already changed.
“Maybe, I don’t know. We don’t know all the cities in the world, so it can be.”
“But it sounds so weird. Like they wanted to write ‘Youthful’ but didn’t know how to write it.” I laughed at her statement, she was right.
“It doesn’t matter, Bianca. Let it be.”
“Yeah, I better.”
We stayed in there for what seemed hours, until I went to my house with her. Bianca had changed her clothes to go eat dinner and I was going to do the same. We said hi to my mother that, knowing Bianca was here, didn’t question where have I’ve been. After I choose black jeans and a light-blue shirt with buttons. Of course, I couldn’t go out without my favorite shoes. My best friend was dressed in a long black dress.
“It is early yet.” Said my friend.
I looked at the clock and she was right.
“You know what that means?” I say to her. She widened her eyes and muttered a ‘no’. “Yes! Let’s go!”
I took her hand and walked out of the house running to reach the beach. I stopped before the water can reach us and sat on the sand, she sighed and did the same.
I was looking at the sun disappearing. It was a beautiful sight to see. The sun goes away to another place, he leaves us with the moon shining over our heads.
The night was beautiful, just like the sea. A beautiful time where everyone starts to think. I always wished to explain what it means to me the night, but it doesn’t matter because nobody was with me at night in a time where I can explain my point of view. I could now to Bianca, but… no, it doesn’t make sense.
“I love this view.” I said even if I told myself to shut up.
“Yeah, it’s pretty.” She sighed. “When are you going to find someone to be with?”
I shrugged.
“I don’t care. Why would you ask?”
“I see you always wanting to share things with someone but you don’t do it. You can share them with me but I know is not what you want.”
“Don’t take it from the bad way, please. I share things with you, I love our friendship but yes, there are some things I want to share with other people. But when it comes the time, I’ll do it. Is not necessary to have someone right now.”
And with that, nothing else was said. Just watching the moon over us.
Later, approximately at nine, we got up and walked to the city.
We went eat dinner to a place that is very pretty. Bricks walls and plants everywhere. The illumination was little and round lights scattered everywhere. The tables and chairs were black and you could saw the sea from afar.
I was tired because all we did all day. Go to the beach is tiring, and being the most part of the day there got me exhausted.
When the food was brought to the table, I looked at the waiter to thank him but couldn’t believe my eyes.
“Jimin?” He looked at me.
“Oh, hi, Lisa. Hi, Bianca”
“What are you doing here? Thank you for bringing the food, by the way.”
“You’re welcome. And is just a summer job.”
“Oh, that’s great! And this place is beautiful, good they took you here.”
“Yes! Well, I better get going because I have to take other orders to their tables. So, excuse me and enjoy the food.”
Bianca and I thanked him and looked at each other after he went away.
“That guy is weird. I already told you and I’m telling you now.” I shrugged.
“Yeah, but what can I do about it?”
“Is suspicious.” She said tapping her chin like thinking about it. I laughed.
“You’re stupid, let him be.”
“You right, I don’t want to bother anyone.”
I chuckled and she did it with me.
When we were walking back to our homes, we talked about memories from we were children. It was funny because -like every child- we were crazy and argued because of everything.
“I miss those times.”
“You miss fighting with me?” She said rising an eyebrow. I chuckled.
“No, not that. I miss being a child, where we were innocent little persons.”
“Oh, yeah. But it is okay. It happens to everyone.”
A silence fell and I sighed, I needed to ask her this question.
“You think I’m weird?”
She looked at me frowning.
“You’re not weird. You just think different.”
“Sometimes I feel like I belong to somewhere else.” She rolled her eyes.
“Where else? In one of your invented worlds? Well, yes. You invented them for a reason!”
“So, you think I am weird.” She widened her eyes, realizing what she just said.
“No, no. That’s not what I meant.”
“Drop it, it doesn’t matter” We reached my vacation house. “I better go to sleep. I’m tired. See you tomorrow.”
She sighed and sent me a goodnight with a wave that I returned while entering my house.
So yes, I was weird even to my best friend. But I didn’t believe I was weird, I just believed I thought different from others… and maybe thought a lot more than normal people.
I didn’t want to think about it, just sleep. It was early but I knew it would be difficult for me to sleep, so when I entered the house I passed through everyone and walked directly to my room until I heard my sister voice.
“Lisa!” I turned around and saw her sitting on the ground with a book on her hands.
“Yes?”
“Want to play the piano a little bit?” I smiled at her.
“I wish, but I’m tired.”
“Lisa” said my mother. “She’s asking it in a good way. Please. I want to listen too.”
Internally, I rolled my eyes. Is not I didn’t love my sister and mother, but I just wanted to sleep until the other day.
“Fine, one song.” My sister smiled big and ran besides the piano that was on a corner of the room.
Honestly, thank God, she asked me that now that I thought about it. I wanted my mind to be clear and a little bit of playing the piano was not going to be that bad, it helped me a lot. Playing the piano and reading cleared my mind, I traveled to new places, to places that only I imagine.
“Which song do you want me to play?”
“A whole new world!” I smiled, I loved that song too.
I got comfortable on the seat in front of the piano and started to play it. I felt my fingers over the keys like they were floating. I loved the feeling, I honestly loved it.
When I finished playing the song I smiled to my sister next to me.
“Happy?”
“Yes!”
“Well, I’m glad to hear that. If you excuse me, I’m going to sleep. I’m tired.”
My mom and my sister wished me sweet dreams while I walked to the bedroom.
I had a lot on mind, but I pushed it out and -after brushing my teeth and changing into pajamas- I lied down in bed. The moment I put my head on the pillow, I fell asleep.