The summer sun was setting down the orange horizon as the cold ocean breeze brushed against my skin. The smell of the sea permeated my nose as I approached the wooden docks.
The sounds of the crowd faded and were replaced with crashing waves. By the edge of the dock, sitting there and swinging her dangling feet, was Aylin.
She turned her head and saw me standing there, looking at her.
"Now where have you been for the past 10 minutes?"
I sat down next to her, and my hands reached into my pocket, clutching the earrings. We both dangled our feet above the waves. Aylin breathed in the scent of the ocean and leaned back.
We watched as ships sailed away into the horizon and loaded onto the wharf. Aylin watched intently at the sailors carrying out their tasks before shaking her head slightly. She raised her head and our eyes met. A warm, gentle smile formed on her face before she averted her gaze back toward the ocean.
The metal in my hand started to get warm. I was about to pull them out when Aylin said something.
"I think I have yet to tell you this."
My hand stopped in its tracks.
"When I was still at the brothel, I never thought tomorrow would be something to look forward to. Maybe it was because of how I lived my life that I almost forgot there was even such a thing as tomorrow. But now…"
Her gemlike eyes pierced into my soul, switching a gear inside of me that made me completely forget about the earrings and the gift. All I could think about was that indescribable expression on her face and how my own feelings started to crumble into pieces.
"I can look forward to what fate has in store for me tomorrow," she said with a smile so genuine that it melted away all the discomfort I had.
Her face was blushing as she stared out at the ocean again. Her ears were red, and she was swinging her legs like a child. Then she stopped, and as she admired the setting sun, she thanked me. She thanked me for coming in that day. She thanked me for sitting alongside her on the rooftop all those nights. She thanked me for staying with her even when she had nothing to say. She thanked me for not leaving her when she rejected my presence. She thanked me for coming with her to the academy. Then finally, she stood up by the docks and reached out her hand. She thanked me for tomorrow.
This was unfair. How could she say all these things when I myself had not even expressed a single bit of gratitude to her? I reached out my hand, but it did not touch hers until she grabbed it herself and pulled me up. She ran down the docks and down the stairs, dragging me along. On the beach, she let go of my hand and looked at the waves washing up on the shore.
"Vivshi."
Her long, pink, luscious hair swayed in the breeze as her back faced me.
"Yes?"
"Could you close your eyes for a moment?"
I closed my eyes and waited a few seconds. I could hear Aylin's breathing and the waves beside me. I felt something light being placed onto my wrist.
"You can open them now."
I looked down at my hand and saw that it was a pearl bracelet. Aylin giggled before turning her back again and slowly walking down the beach with her arms behind her back.
Trails of footsteps were washed away by the constant waves. I followed closely behind Aylin but never seemed to catch up to her, no matter how much I increased my pace. She skipped happily along the sandy beach before I called out her name.
She stopped in her tracks, her back still turned toward me. The pink sky shone brightly behind her as she turned around to face me.
"Yes?"
"I actually have something for you as well."
I dug through my pocket and grabbed the earrings tightly. The steps toward her felt like clawing out of quicksand, but I marched forward and reached out my hand.
It was the look I had been searching for this entire time. That shocked expression on her face. That glimmer in her eyes. That redness on her cheeks.
She reached out and grabbed them. They were probably warm and sweaty from how long I had been holding onto them, but Aylin put them on anyway.
"Your eyes were the same color as them, so…" I tried to say, but it came out awkward.
"This shimmers like the deep depths of the ocean, exactly like the color of my eyes. Thank you for this gift, Vivshi."
She held them close to her eyes and thanked me again. A feeling deep inside my body, one that had been dormant for so long, came welling up. I felt warm inside, a feeling I could never imagine or explain with words.
This feeling reminded me of my mother and the sense of security I felt. But this time, it felt different. This time, I did not only want to be coddled or pampered. I also wished to be the one who comforted. Seeing Aylin gave me a sudden urge to run up behind her and hug her.
"Aylin."
Her eyes locked with mine as my hand found its way to her head. I rubbed her head, stroking her pink hair. It was better than I could have ever imagined. The warmth, the silky touch, and the redness of her face.
It felt unbelievably good as my hand moved further down the side of her head. Her ears were warm, flushed, and soft to the touch. I realized I was overstepping as my hand ventured further down, wanting to feel her cheeks. I pulled my hand away, but Aylin caught it before I could. She gently guided it toward her cheek and placed it against her skin. She leaned her head into my hand and rubbed it slightly.
She was not the one flustered now. I was. I could hear my own heartbeat in the places where she touched my hand. Her skin was smooth and soft, almost swallowing me in an ocean of comfort. After a while, she let go of my hand and said it would be best if we went home now.
On our way home, we did not say anything to each other. Nor did she come into my room this time. When she reached her dorm, she waved at me and told me goodnight.
I collapsed onto my bed and stared up at the ceiling, raising my arm into the air and trying to catch something that could not be caught. The pearl bracelet rattled as I lifted my arm, and I could not help but smile as I looked at it.