the fire | nishimura riki

Chapter 3

Laughter filled the air as kebabs were toasted on the grill and all sorts of meats were pressed to produce clouds of smoke. The sun was high in the sky beating down on the shoreline creating tan lines of the visitors who had fallen asleep just a bit too long. I became comfortable with the others over the meal, often laughing over stupid things is the best way to form a connection quickest, so that's exactly what I did. It feels absurd that I had only met them earlier this day yet they already feel like very close friends.

Once we finished the bbq we set up a campfire singing all sorts of cringe songs which weren't particularly campfire suited, but definitely caused some whales to emerge from the vocal cords of the surrounding people. The sun was still incredibly warm but the fire was still comforting when holding my hands out. I smiled at the campfire, this moment right here made my heart fuzzy. The warm fire that I found comfort in and the sounds of giggles and cheers from my new friends, all blurred into one happy memory to be stored for the rest of my life.

The sun was starting to set, the magical rainbow of the pastel sky reflecting on the now almost motionless waves. The tide was slow and shallow, resting after a long days journey from somewhere many miles away. Seon, Haneul and Byeol (my few friends) brought out packs of marshmallows and sticks to set alight over the dimming campfire. We sang more songs with worn out voices but still radiated happiness as the sun went to sleep.

The night drew closer and the last boat time was approaching, Seon, Haneul and Byeol and I headed towards the ferry dock to return to the mainland before the ferries stopped for the night.

"What time was the ferry again?" Haneul questioned. I patted my pockets in search for my phone to check the times.

"Oh no" I sighed "I've left my phone at the hut".

"We still have 2 minutes left for ours, 12 minutes until the last ferry comes. Do you want me to come get it with you?" Byeol spoke.

"It's okay, I'll run back and get back onto the last ferry, you guys go ahead" I replied.

"Are you sure?" Seon worryingly said.

"Yeah, of course! I'll see you guys tomorrow" I said with a smile and turned to jog back to the hut.

The stars had started to become visible whilst I made my way back to the beach house. Now that the majority of visitors had left, the lights of the shore were absent, but the beach wasn't in darkness. The moon and stars had generated their own light, filling in the pitch black sky. I arrived at the beach hut and searched around the now fireless campfire, finding my phone tucked under the log. Sprinting to the dock again, my run was cut short as my body went flying thumping on the ground. I turned around and grunted at the child's toy box left on the pavement. I grabbed my phone and wiped the grains off my hands and knees and went to run again when a sharp pain sent a shock from my ankle. I fell to the ground, checking my phone. 2 minutes. I wasn't far from the dock but I wouldn't make it without running. I pulled myself up and stumbled as fast as I could towards the dock.

The boat wailed its final goodbyes as I reached the corner of the last beach hut, grabbing hold of the rusted gate which was now locked. I used the last of my energy attempting to call back the boat, which of course, didn't work.

I sighed and opened my phone to text my grandparents before the brightness faded and I was faced with that horrifying red alert of no charge. I sighed yet again. Of course, the classical movie stunt. I sat on the ground lost. Weighing my options of swimming home and walking back to the hut, I decided on the latter. I stumbled slowly towards the beach hut of my grandparents, though they now all looked the same shades of grey, straining my already pained eyes.

All was dark, but I wasn't uncomfortable, the stars made me feel safe, twinkling brightly from millions of light years away. Then one star low on the ground got closer. And closer. I stopped in my tracks and only then did the star stop in its tracks. Except it was no star. It was the flashlight from a phone.

"Hello?" I mumbled drawing closer towards the light. Why am I going closer to the light? This is how people die in horror movies. The light was instantly blasted in my direction, blinding my eyes, forcing my arm supporting my leg to shoot up to cover my eyes, making me fall to my knees.

"Ah sorry" A masculine voice mumbled "Are you okay?". The light moved back down the ground but edged closer until I was able to focus my eyes to the silhouette of a boy.

"Uh yeah" I laughed nervously, trying to balance myself on my other foot. I'm not really sure why I tried that, I've never been good at balancing. As a result, I plunged forward ready for my sand meal to fill my mouth or at least create a face mask for me. But that mask never formed. Instead I felt the warmth of an arm catch me whilst the only light source was flown a short distance away.

I slowly moved my eyes to meet the gaze of a boy. In the darkness his features weren't obvious but his eyes sparkled in the little moonlight there was. What kind of kdrama is this???? My heart was beating fast and I was frozen in time, I was embarrassed and wanted to run away but knowing my leg at the moment, that would only cause more problems. 

And at the same time, I didn't want to run away just yet. Something about those eyes was mesmerising, something so comforting... so... familiar.