They somehow ended up at the beach, they had rode here in his car it was the third time she had been in his car and she wondered why he doesn't drive that often, she looked down at their entwined hand as they walked along the sand beating their shoes against it, they looked odd.....in a beach where people dressed in their lightest and skimpiest clothes and there they looked...too casual, the salty air immediately hit their nostrils, the sounds of waves crashing against each other, this was the first time seeing te sea up close like this, the sunlight glistening against the ocean body , people stared at them probably wondering why they were wearing something so casual but it was clear that they didn't care, Rhea wanted to ask questions but....right now she loved this.
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They had done random things ,they tried a variety of cocktails , drinks and seafood, played games and won some gifts, it was the first time for the both of them so everything they did was rather impulsive but.....thy both liked it, time seemed to run slow when they were together , how long was it?, how did time fly so fast . It felt beautiful.
Just like that people began to leave and the sun was already setting, how did time pass by so fast . They both sat down at the shore, not too close to the moving waves , that irritable touch their sandy feet getting slightly touched by water but yet...it was pleasant, they both stared at the deep blue sea...things that Rhea never really looked at now seemed pretty to her but.....the sea had ways been beautiful, why was he just noticing it?.
" why don't you drive your car often ...?, she asked as she ticked her knees to her chest, tilting her head and looking at him, " hmm....." Denver placed his hand on the sand as if playing with it, and a teasing smile on his face, " to save gas.....ouch..." , he recoiled immediately as he felt a sting on his arm , Rhea had pinched him...a mild frown settled on her face which he found amusing then....he abruptly leaned in closer to an unfazed Rhea who seemed to have been expecting it with his playful smirk , " then if we are asking questions...I should ask mine too....", " hey....that is not....", which part of me do you find attractive?, he asked boldly but to Rhea he sounded cocktails, her eyes slowly scrolled over to an eager Denver who was waiting for her response , every partof him was attractive , what did he want her to...then her eyes met his , a distinct part of him that seemed to always trap her in his warmth," your eyes....", she said confidently, " hmm?", Denver responded rather rather curiously, she had seen other parts of him..... he though he had heard people say his eyes were pretty but...for some reason he had wantedher to say something more...unnoticeable, " why though....?", he was rather curious , he had gone to the mirror a lot of times to look at his eyes anytime someone said it was pretty, to him it was pretty, but...don't people have pretty parts of hem too?, " your gaze....feels safe" , safe...his gaze?. The waves coming near their feet but sparingly touching , their feet and the sun setting , a beautiful golden hue escaping through the clouds and it looked like a painting.
" Your gaze holds the colour of autumn leaves kissed by evening sunlight.....", she leaned closer almost startling Denver , he could feel his heart beating uncontrollably fast, then....she smiled, a smile that reached her eyes , a smile that showed those hidden dimples she had hidden under the weight of her burdens , " and...autumn happens to be my favourite season ...", tgat did it, his face became flushed and he didn't even try to hide it, it was the first time someone had said that and just like that.....she pulled away , her cheeks were already flushed as she looked away , that sudden confidence she had seconds agai quietly dissipated.
Rhea cleared her throat, " though....then it's my turn...", she bit her lips, hesitant to ask questions , Denver looked over at her , was it something she felt comfortable with?, then there was no need for her to ask him anything, he should tell her that, " Rhea....", " why do you like me?" , a question that had suddenly broken out from her lips, she dug her toe nails into the sand as she bent her head low, somewhat shy....it felt like a teenage girl asking her crush why he liked her but the difference here was that...that we're grown adults, " a.....and don't you dare say it's because I'm Rhea..." she quickly added as if threatening him and all Denver could do was chuckle as he lazily rolled his head backward, then....I guess I have no choice but to say it" , Rhea was both curious and somewhat eager , she just knew there was another reason behind him liking her, " mmhh....at first I was just curious...you were pretty and popular but despite the attention you got,....you never showed any interest ..., you did what you wanted to do and you knew what you wanted to do .....I was good or I would say people assumed I was good at everything so I was always given option.....it was exhausting", he sighed helplessly.
Rhea rolled her eyes as she rested her chin on her ticked up knees and hands, " it sounds like you are just bragging here", she muttered loud enough for him to hear, Denver couldn't help but smile, " let me finish first.....",he said softly as he scooted closer to Rhea untill their shoulders made contact and for some reason Rhea could feel her body tense up but instead a good way,and that tingling sensation that spread through her whole body , " it made me anxious....", Rhea slowly turned her head to his direction , " sometimes I usually had to think before speaking to them, I would usually wonder if I could say the right thing in front of them ", the wind blew through messing up their hair, that nauseating sea air seemed less irritating . She had always thought he had things easy for him and here.....he said things that he seemed to have tried to convince himself that it was wrong , he probably thought all those while that he was overthinking it, or he was just a wrong person in the right group, he was someone that was somewhat dragged along in everything because he seemed to have potential.
" With you....I felt like I could even spurt out nonsense and you will still listen to me, with you I never had to choose , never had to pretend.....it was nice , I guess that is when it started from ", then he smiled , that sheepish charming smile of his somewhat tugged at his heartstrings . How had she come to like him this much?, it almost made her feel guilty, she knew he was too good for her. What if she was taking a potential life for him, a happy one , she sighed, it wasn't hard to overthink it but..., " Denver....", she called out his name , her breath somehow shaky, hesitant of what she was going to say , Denver noticed the slight change in her voice and his eyes softened , that tone was the same tone she used when she was having doubts, " if...if I choose not to become a better person and you choose to leave...I will gladly let you go, I won't hold that against you...I will...." , " then...let's not be better people.....", Rhea looked at him shocked at his unbelievable words, what was he...", he stood up disting the back of his jeans , then he turned over and stared at Rhea who was still on the sand and staring up at him, his eyes held that of his warmth and usual assurance , " why must we be better people when we have gone through a lot.....there are plenty of people who can play up that role, must it be you, me , us?, did anyone ask us not to be better....", his voice held no resentment , just calm , soft and....hopeful, he always had a way of changing the tone to that of assurance and embedding it in hope, that was how Denver spoke.
Denver stretched out his hand and it felt like time had stopped . It was getting dark but somehow the sea still glimmer, and the wind became more chilly , she looked at his outstretched arm, the gorgeous yet sincere smile on his lips , " do you want to know the reason I like you Rhea ...", he came closer , " then...take my hand".
At that moment Rhea had that thought she normally hate people but...Denver was the only one she will forever like , eventhough one day.....Denver may end up realising how his life would have nmbeen better without her in it and may end up resenting her for indulging him in her misery, she will still like him. And with that , through a moment of patience , she finally placed her hand on Denvers palm and Denver gently held it in.