Candy ✔ (In Editing)

-Chapter Forty

I'm one of those people who does a ton of research before going to a place unknown to me.

Before I came to New York I researched everything. By the time I blessed New York with my presence I already knew that NYU is in the middle of Manhattan. Central park, while being her large and famous was actually the fifth largest park in New York, I don't know how true that is though. I knew that the Statue of Liberty was situated on Liberty Island. And many more...

My amazing husband decided it was time for an adventure. Said adventure included me not doing research of California at all. He said I should trust him to be a good tour guide and I don't doubt him for a second. That time he gave me a tour guide around New York, it was incredible and memorable. He did not just show me the tourist attractions he showed me the most wonderful places that the internet failed to show. It was then that I saw that New York was much more than what the internet showed me or what the books said.

"So where to first?" I asked closing my purse. We had checked into the hotel a few hours ago. The first thing we did was take a nap to get rid of the jet lag, then we freshened up and got ready to explore Cali. I was getting Dora the Explorer vibes.

The weather here was much more welcoming than New York. Gone was the heaps of snow and out was the Sun in all it's shining glory.

"Don't worry your pretty mind about it. Just know that you'll love it."

• • •

"I'm not going in there." I said with a grim look on my face. Now I see why we needed to suddenly go shop for swimwear and put it on. I assumed we would be relaxing at the pool at the hotel, not going to the beach!

"Come on Candy, you love the water."

"I do but I could drown out there. It has been far too long." I said, looking out at the ocean. I'm not lying I could drown out there. Swimming and surfing is not like driving a bicycle. You don't just get used to it and never forget it, no. In the ocean if you forget you don't fall and scrape your knee, you drown and die. And no I'm not exaggerating, it's the brutal honest truth.

You could see the large waves in the near distance. They decreased in size as they came closer to the land and crashed against the seashore. The ocean with was calling out to me in small whispers but I couldn't. No, not again.

My hearts and body couldn't survive another wipeout. Yes, I do love the ocean but sometimes it's best to love things from afar. It's all you can do when it keeps rejecting you, like you both haven't won championships together. The ocean is part of mother nature, while it is helpful and giving it is unforgiving. The ocean favours no one, no matter how long your relationship with it has been, once it decides to throw you out then that's that.

"I'll be there watching in the safe distance if you need me, my love, I promise." He said, holding my hands. I couldn't resist his beautiful honey brown eyes that were hypnotizing me to do exactly what he wants me to do.

He knew that his eyes are my weakness. His honey brown eyes is what drew me to him at first before his personality or his ungodly physique. It has always been his eyes. And like now, it will always be his eyes.

"Okay fine, I'll do it. Just this once then I'm done." I told him. He nodded and handed me the surfboard.

It felt quite weird to be holding the board in my arms. A good and nervous kind of weird.

Justin walked by my side into the water. I thought I would have forgotten how to surf but it came easier to me than I imagined. Out of precaution I glanced to see if Justin was still paddling by my side, then heaved out a sigh of relief after I saw him. Yet another piece of evidence that he is my safe place, my confidant, one of the only people I trust more than anything in the world. And I, only I, get to have him as my husband. How luckier can a girl get?

We were an unsafe distance away from the beach. At least that's what it felt like when I saw a wave fast approaching me.

"Oh my God." My mouth hung open. Turning around would be useless. The wave would crush me.

"I'm right here, my love." That seemed to have done the trick. Justin's words gave me a nudge towards facing my biggest fear yet.

With my head held high, figuratively, I decided to meet the wave halfway. I paddled towards the wave and it pushed me upwards until I jumped off my stomach and stood, balanced on the surfboard.

I surfed for a mere ten seconds before I lost my balance and fell into the water.

That was my queue to leave, to give up and accept fate for what it is but I couldn't. I just couldn't. I enjoyed those ten seconds. It felt like connecting to the younger me, the champion surfer and aspiring pro surfer. Of course now that I'm older, plans have changed but there is always that younger child in me somewhere at the back of my brain. I think there is a child in everyone too.

I resurfaced from under the water and put my hands on my board. I breathed heavily from too much time spent without oxygen. Justin appeared by my side looking relieved.

"Are you okay?" Justin asked, checking my body for any harm that might have happened to me. A smile broke out as I nodded my head. I let go of the surfboard that I was holding onto and hooked my arms around his neck.

I looked adoringly into his eyes and inched closer to his lips. Justin hoisted me up and wrapped my legs around his waist. His hands rested right at the area between my thigh and my butt cheeks.

Water was dripping from my hair and even onto my face. Water flowed calmly around us. The rough waves long gone.

We stared into each other's eyes, our lips only inches away. I know I sound like a broken record but damn how did I get so lucky? To have such an amazing husband who treats me like a Queen, who never misses a chance to tell and show me that he loves me, who looks at me like I'm his entire world. Many woman dream of it but only a few are blessed with such a husband and I happen to be one of the lucky and fortunate ones.

"I love you." Justin whispered. See, what did I tell you?

"I love you too." I whispered back. I dipped my head downwards to capture his lips.

If a fairytale does exist then this must be it. No castles just an overly expensive charity ball where it all started, let's say it was the beginning of the beginning. No fairy godmothers just us, Justin and I, we both wrote and contributed to our own fate and destiny. No magic just butterflies that flutter in my stomach every time I see Justin or when he lovingly caresses me or when he kisses, especially when he kisses me. No Prince Charming, it's just Justin. My husband, my love, my pillar of strength, my human diary, my universe, my soulmate.

There is no evil villain, oh wait, does the ocean that knocked us over and interrupted our kiss count?

When Justin and I resurfaced once more we both laughed but wasted no time in meshing our lips together.

So yeah, no villain. We would always find each other. Always.

Or at least that's what I think...

*****

Hey guys.

Sorry for the late update. My time is very limited nowadays but I will try my best to keep up with my updating schedule.

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XOXO
Khanya.