Ocean Blue Eyes

. . .

"Hi Miss Villanueva. I'm Zeirenne Lin. And if you haven't read the news yet, I'm this guy's girlfriend. It's nice meeting you too."

Miss Villanueva had to fix herself, surveyed Zeirenne from head to toe, and held her chin up. "So you're Zhi Lin. I see."

She cleared her throat, "Oh, well. Then I guess I should leave now. Bye Hans- I mean, Mr. Young."

She scampered out of the balcony and the two were left alone in awkward silence.

Zeirenne sat on her seat and continued eating like nothing happened, and Jin sat there, his eyes set on her and her alone.

"You're my girlfriend? I see. At least you know it now."

"Why? Do you want me to run after her and tell her this is all an act?"

"Don't call it that."

Zeirenne rolled her eyes, and this made him smile brighter--blinding enough to illuminate the whole beach.

"What are you looking at? Eat or I'll eat your share too."

To tease her more, he leaned one hand on the table and held his face up, bearing a dreamy look on his stares, "I think I just had my fill."

"Don't get me started with you picky tongue. If I knew you would do this, I would have kept both tickets to myself."

Jin shook his head, "That's not the kind of fill I was talking about though." he said before winking at her. She grimaced with disgust.

"By the way..." Zeirenne said while cracking a crab out for its flesh, "What's your wish?"

"Hmm," he started taking out a small box. It was that one box she saw from his car a few days ago, "Promise me you'll always wear this no matter what happens."

She opened the box an saw an intricate butterfly pattern inside. There were diamonds studding the linings.

"Do you want me to wear it for you?"

"No it's alright. I can manage." She said before lacing the necklace on her neck. It felt cold around her clavicle, and she pressed it with her hands.

"It looks good on you," he said.

"Everything looks good on me."

She was expecting he'd beg to differ, but instead, he smiled.

"What's wrong with you? Are you sick?" she asked, even standing out of her seat to reach for his forehead.

"No. Why?"

She sat back down after checking his temperature.

"You're acting drunk. Why do you sound so... cringey?"

"I'm just being nice."

"Oh is that it? Then turn back into being normal. I'm not used to you being nice."

He shook his head, "I'll be nicer to you from now on."

"Pffft," Zeirenne stifled her laughter, "Aahahahhahhahhahhaha." She formed an X with her arms, mouthing, "Doubt."

His utensils clanked on the plates as he put them down, "I'm serious."

The sincerity in his eyes, and his voice, made her stop. All of a sudden, the laughter in her throat turned into something that churned inside the pits of her stomach.

It was one of those consuming moments that engulfed them two. The seconds, everything, stopped. Their eyes windowed something incomprehensible--no words can possibly describe.

Zeirenne used to hate staring into the horizon. She didn't want to wonder how it is on the other side. Love, is very much like this. Just like how she avoided gazing into the horizon, she hated looking into his eyes too. Afraid she'll want to look deeper into his soul... or worse... heart.

But for tonight, she was held captive. Trapped in his ash gray eyes--that were originally blue. The same shade of blue as the ocean that sparkles underneath the horizon.

Feeling an odd movement in the pit of her stomach, she found things uncomfortable.

Aside from the sound of the waves crashing against sand, and the indistinct conversations from everyone in the beach, they found themselves eating in silence.

Zeirenne looked irritated, without even knowing why, and Jin was filled with amusement. He momentarily glanced at her, as if taking a pill that makes his food sweeter whenever he gazed into her presence.

When they finished eating, Zeirenne stood up to lean herself on the balcony. Aside from clearing their stomachs, she heaved the fresh air to lift the emotions she found unsettling, "Such a nice place this is," she whispered while wrapping her arms together.

Within a second, Jin's manly scent flared her nostrils as he wrapped his cardigan around her shoulders. She sneezed.

"Achu! Man, this is some strong perfume you got here!" she complained and he laughed.

He ruffled her hair before something erupted into the open. Colorful fireworks started filling up the sky. Zeirenne looked up to see all the intricate arrangement exploding above her very eyes.

"Woah there's a firework show here every night? That would be bad for the environment though."

He shook his head. "No, I think it's just for special occasions."

"What occasion then?"

"Maybe, for someone else."

They enjoyed their time on the balcony before the restaurant announced its closing time. They thanked everyone before finding some more time together.

While trudging on the shore. She found a good place to sit on the sand, with her feet getting a free rub from the flowing wave. He sat beside her.

"Do you always have girls approaching you?" she asked him, scribbling her name on the sand.

"Why? Does it bother you? Are you jealous?"

"Hmm. I guess."

He looked at her aggressively. She was admitting jealousy?

"I mean, you get to meet so many pretty girls. Man, I'm envious. I wish they can notice me as well," she said with a smirk.

Her words ticked him off.

Well, for the aromantic Zeirenne Lin, who describes most men as either regular or meh, she describes girls with more admiration, and this has always sparked some concern, especially for him. He dreads seeing men around her, but having girls as his rivals frightens him more.

Despising the conversation, he immediately dusted himself up.

"It's getting late. We should go to sleep now."

She reached out her hands and he helped her up on her feet.

About to step away from the shore, something caught her eyes. A smile crossed her face as she walked towards a man who was roasting marshmallows by a small fire.

"Good evening, Mister, " she greeted him, "I'm really sorry for bumping into you earlier."

The man looked up, "Ahhh... if you're really apologetic, would you mind roasting some s'mores for me? I think my assistant got caught up into something. Or should I say... someone?"

Somehow, his words crawled underneath her skin, but mind games are her forte. She'd never lost even once.

"My pleasure."

. . .