Chapter 6 — The Moonlit Coast
That night, Belle guided me along a narrow path that led to the far side of the island.
We followed the sound of the waves until we reached a quiet coast.
The sand shimmered faintly under the moonlight, and the sea whispered softly, as if it was telling its own story.
Belle stretched her arms and gazed out over the water. The moon, surrounded by stars, bathed her silhouette in silver.
"It's nice, isn't it?" she said gently.
"Yeah," I replied, unable to look away from her. "The seaside in the evening is… beautiful."
She smiled faintly. "It's my first time bringing someone here."
That simple sentence made my heart skip.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
Her smile faded. "I dislike this island…"
I turned to her, surprised.
"Actually," she continued, her voice soft, "I like it—but I also dislike it. I especially love this place in the summer… but I also hate it the most in the summer."
I could tell from the way she spoke that this island meant something deep to her—something complicated.
"My friends and I come here to forget our problems for a while," I said, trying to ease the weight in her tone.
She shook her head. "I know the reason most people come here. It has nothing to do with me."
"Of course it doesn't," I replied honestly.
She turned to me, her eyes meeting mine. "Then why are you here with me?"
"I think…" I hesitated, searching for the right words. "I think it's also to flirt with you."
"Exactly!" she snorted, turning away.
"But…!" I said quickly.
She glanced back. "But?"
I cleared my throat, feeling my ears burn. "Not just any girl will do."
Her eyes softened slightly.
"My flirting with you," I added, "is like shaking your hand."
"You want to shake hands?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.
"Ah—uh, that's not what I meant…" I stammered, realizing how strange I sounded. "But what I'm trying to say is… I'm different from the others."
Belle smiled faintly. "I'm also different from the girls who come to this island just to have fun."
For a moment, we just stood there—silent, side by side, staring at the sea.
The waves rolled in quietly, breaking against the shore like whispered secrets.
I smiled. "This feels kind of strange."
She smiled back. "It does."
And then we both laughed—softly, freely—our voices carried away by the sea breeze beneath the moonlit sky.
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