Time After Time 🌹 Daniel LaRusso [1]

Chapter 22: That Was Kind of Hot

Kumiko drops the couple off by a bridge and drives away. "Uh, we're having our date on a bridge?" Daniel asks confused. Rosalía giggles at this. "No, you dumbass. Come on," she voices, pulling him with her. They climb down some steep rocks and the girl warns him to be careful. "Reminds me of the Palisades," the boy comments. "Is that in New Jersey?" Rosalía questions. "Yeah," he answers as they continue to cautiously climb down. "Is it pretty?" the girl asks again. Daniel takes a moment to think about it and replies, "some of it." Rosalía glances up at him for a second. "Only some? Well, good thing we're not in New Jersey then, huh?"

The boy laughs and they finally make it down. "Look! Over there!" the girl thrillingly shouts out, taking Daniel's hand. "It's the ruins of King Sho Hashi's castle," she describes, pointing in the distance. Kumiko told her about it and she read about it in the book about Okinawa. "Oh, the Peace King," Daniel adds, making his girlfriend look at him. "Ah, someone's been doing his reading," she comments. Daniel shrugs and cheekily grins. "I'm not just a pretty face, you know," he jokes. Rosalía laughs, "oh, I know, that's why I like you." The boy laughs at this, masking his concern. Just like? He wonders.

"O-Bon dances used to be held here but Kumiko said that Sato owns it now. He sells it piece by piece to museums," the girl conveys, frowning. This makes Daniel frown too. "Sounds like him," he deadpans. Rosalía realizes that she brought the mood down so she quickly tries to lighten it up. "You know what else she said?" she asks. The boy turns to her and smiles softly. "What?" he returns. "According to legend, if you race to the castle and win, your wish will come true," the girl quotes.

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yup."

"I'll give you a head start," Daniel teases, making the girl scoff. "What makes you think I need one?" she sasses. Daniel makes a face, pretending to be taken aback. "I mean, I could easily beat you..." he trails off. Rosalía gasps, "oh, okay, Flash, let's go then. Let's race." Daniel lifts his eyebrows, entertained by his girlfriend's competitiveness. "Okay, let's do it," he agrees. The two get in position next to each other, ready to run. "Ready? Set... go!" the girl yells, taking off in a full-on sprint. Rosalía is in the lead, then Daniel takes the lead. They end up running side by side until the girl picks up the pace last minute and wins. She stops at the edge of the cliff and Daniel arrives two seconds after.

"I win!" she victoriously shouts, shooting her arms up and slightly bouncing up and down while laughing. She looks at her boyfriend and points a mocking finger at him. "What was that you were saying about easily beating me? Because I just whooped your ass," she teases. "Ha. Ha. Okay, fine, you wanna make fun of me?" he says, picking her up and spinning her around before he starts tickling her. He knows how ticklish she is and how much she hates being tickled. "No! Daniel, stop!" she shrieks through her laughter. She tries to run away but he grabs her and pulls her back to him as he continues to tickle her. When he finally stops, he just holds her as they both laugh.