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The waves brought layers of white foam to the shore, erasing the intertwined footprints, sand arches and tiny seashells covering two pairs of bare feet almost touching each other. Then, as if to wash away every worry, the cold water faded, leaving behind nothing except a sense of calm and coolness, with a sense of longing for the next wave. The crimson sun glistened well below the horizon, akin to a priceless ruby gradually sinking to the ocean floor.
"Look over there. The sea is swallowing your sun!”
A long finger of his gestured forward. Your gaze followed as you smiled. He was still reminded of the narrative you told about your childhood when you thought that every night, the sun would sink into the sea and rest.
“Now the whole ocean will be warmed, in red and orange, right?” You replied. That was what he said after hearing your story. He seemed so happy and content that you could still remember it and recite every word.
“Maybe we can't paint the sea the color of the sun,” your voice continued, “But we can do this…”
All of a sudden, you hurled water high with your foot. The cool water reached him, splashing a bit on his white shirt. He rolled his eyes at you.
“So you do enjoy being playful like this?”
He bent down, gathered the entire ocean in his hands then flung it in your direction. Like a very gentle wave, seawater fell on your hair and light garment.
After the celebration was over, he and you raced outside to catch the sunset over the sea, leaving your coats and shoes behind. Both of you were drenched.
"That's not fair!" You gave a loud shout. “Did you do that on purpose?”
With a big chuckle, he answered, "That's what we refer to as the blessing of the sea." You have to accept it all.”
“You are the birthday boy. Here, take it all!”
You kept splashing him with saltwater. He persisted nonetheless. Before long, your entire bodies was soaked.
“That's enough, Rafayel. I give up!”
You surrendered by raising both hands. You felt a bit chilled by the breeze. Rafayel hauled you right up to the shore. You had no idea when he had a big towel ready there. He wrapped it around you.
“Hurry. Dry yourself.”
You obediently did as told. Then you gave him another glance. Water dripped from his dark purple curls, framing his small, flawless face. You couldn't take your eyes off the damp shirt that adhered to his body, exposing lines that made you flush. Rafayel took one look at you and immediately covered himself with both hands.
“I'm aware that my beauty can stun others. But if you keep staring at me like that, it would not be proper anymore."
You hid your embarrassed face behind the cotton towel. With a smile, Rafayel enquired:
"So? Do you want to go back inside?”
You gave him a firm shake of your head. “I want to stay here a little longer.”
Not that Rafayel objected. He accompanied you on your beach stroll. You remained quiet. You did not want to go back partly because you could not bear to see the day ended.
It was Rafayel's birthday. You had carefully prepared for an intimate party, with only a few people from his studio and family members attending. You personally made the cake for him and prepared everything yourself. But your heart was still restless as you kept carrying the feeling that this was not enough. You had yet to give him what he truly needed.
You continued to ponder. Rafayel needed what? He was wealthy and famous. He was exceptionally gifted, and he may have lived an extended lifespan. Giving something to someone who has had everything is impossible. If you could give him your heart, you would do so. In a symbolic sense.
Between you and Rafayel was a feeling without a name.
You started off as merely his reluctant bodyguard, someone to take care of his errands. You were not sure when exactly, but the image of him planted roots in your mind like the way he frequently appeared in front of you, provoking you. He was adorable and obnoxious all at once. Although he posed a threat, being around him gave you a sense of security. But you never, ever dared to speak it aloud. Perhaps you were afraid. You feared that the relationship would fizzle out like sea foam the moment you began seeking to give it a name. You made an effort to suppress that emotion, but it kept returning, much like waves finding their way back to the shore.
"What's off?" Rafayel enquired. He came to a stop. His expression was undoubtedly showing concern.
"I'm alright." You dismissed him with a shake of your head. Your heart raced whenever you were close to him. The feeling of being on cloud nine, at the same time realizing that a bottomless black hole was waiting at your feet made you about to lose your mind. You hated this feeling, yet also addicted to it. Like the way you were addicted to his very existence. Perfect like a dream.
His cool hand was placed on your forehead. He frowned and said:
“It seems your temperature is a bit high.”
You retreated a step, rejecting his touch. It was as if there was poison from his body that would seep into your heart, and you would drive yourself to a slow death if you could not touch him again.
“I'm fine.” With a resolute reply, you took a seat on the sand, a little wet from the waves. “I'm just a little tired… Let me sit here for a bit…”
Rafayel looked at you with a puzzled expression. He was curious to know what else you were planning to do. But you hid your face in the white towel. He sighed.
"I'll go fetch you some exquisite seashells then. Maybe it will make you feel better.”
You gave a little nod, glancing at Rafayel's back as it absorbed the last bit of sunlight on a peaceful day. This scene was a bit familiar, like the first time you had by chance met him on the street.
Rafayel knelt to get something that the waves had just carried. He held it tenderly in his palm, studied it for a moment, and then came over to you.
“Look what I've just found.” A fairly large shell weaved together in shades of orange-red and ivory-white was what he held out in front of you. You had never seen a shell with such a special hue like this before.
"So beautiful!" You exclaimed as Rafayel plopped down next to you on the sand. Your heart raced again as he sat so near.
“You know, the Lemurians often use shells like this to transmit messages to each other.”
He twisted it in his hand to examine it more closely before placing it in your palm.
“Do you want to give it a shot?”
You raised the shell quite a bit. Its hue was nearly identical to that of the horizon's sunset. You said:
“Show me how to do it.”
“Just tell the seashell what you want to say the most right now.”
“Is that all?”
“Yup. That's all. But what you say to it must come from the heart. It will find the person whom you want to send this to, no matter where they are.”
You looked at Rafayel. He appeared so honest, but this story was too much of a fairy tale and not very realistic. You did not know if he was just making this up to tease you. Then again, you once thought the Lemurians never existed. But here he was, sitting next to you.
You put the seashell to your lips, gave him another glance, and then murmured something to it.
Once you were done, you gave it to Rafayel.
“It's yours.”
His lips curled into a dazzling smile, as though he knew you would give it back to him.
“Hmmm.” Rafayel took the shell and leaned it close to his ear. He gestured as if he was concentrating hard to listen. Then he said with disappointment evident on his face: “I don't hear any message.”
"What? How is that possible?" You were impatient.
“Do you want to try again?”
He returned the shell to your hand. This time, you took a deep breath and looked at him while whispering your thoughts.
“Still nothing.” After listening to it for a second time, Rafayel said. “Are you sure you sent the message with all your heart?”
You replied sullenly: "Of course... Maybe since I'm not a Lemurian, I can't make it work."
Rafayel held your hand and put the shell in it. “Try it once more?”
"I doubt that anything will be different this time around." You gazed at the shell in your hand with boredom. “I was just going to… give you one more gift to make your birthday special…”
“My day is already quite special.” Rafayel's bright smile made the distant sunset dim, and suddenly you caught his warmth. “Thank you so much, for organizing a party for me. To be honest, though, I don't like partying as much as going to the sea with you like this."
Listening to his words, you found yourself smiling. You took off the towel that was wrapped around you, letting it fall freely onto the sand. You held the brilliant seashell in your hands, this time determined to let him hear your heart out.
Rafayel nodded and smiled at you as encouragement. You closed your eyes tightly, and lips slightly parted. You had a feeling that it could read my thoughts whether you said them out loud or not.
I really like, really like, really like Rafayel.
I like the way you concentrate when holding a paintbrush, as if the whole world is spread out before your eyes.
I like your terrified look when surrounded by cats.
I like it when you overdo things or act like a drama queen just to get my attention.
I like the bright colors you paint in my sky when it's gray.
I like the way you tease and then comfort me.
I like how your gentle touches are enough to keep me up at night.
I like everything about you.
Maybe, I love you, Rafayel. So much.
The shell was brought towards Rafayel, but halted midway. You wavered. Once he knew your feelings, would he still be by your side? Or would he throw this shell into the ocean along with your heart, letting it dissolve into bubbly white foam?
Rafayel looked at you and smiled. Even though he had laughed many times, you'd never seen him as happy as he was at that moment. There was an increased shine in his eyes, as if pearls were rising to the surface and ready to burst out the corners of his eyes. Happiness. You had never captured such a genuine moment of pure happiness like this.
He took the shell from your hand, but there was no need to listen to it anymore. He leaned closer to you and whispered:
“The words from your heart have been received by the person you wanted to send them to… You have no idea how long he waited just to hear those words… I love you too. So much."
When you felt soft lips touching yours, little did you know; that Lemurian man had heard what you said the first time he put his ear to the shell. He merely wanted to hear it one more time, and another. He wanted to hear you confess being able to confess to you; this day, the day after, and the day after that...
Until the ocean runs dry.
︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶⠀୨♡୧⠀︶︶︶ ⊹ ︶︶︶