➳☓♡ II ao'nung x oc

ᅳ➳8♡ᅳ

ᅳ∘༉♡∘ᅳ

"Can.. we just.. talk..?" The audacity.

Ta'liyah bit back a scoff as she surfaced and swam herself to the shore.

"'Liyah?" The smooth and familiar voice made Ta'liyah wince. Knowing that she hadn't spoken to the girl since that day. 

"'Reya, hi." Ta'liyah mustered up a smiled, accepting the girls warm embrace.

"I've missed you." Tsireya gave a warm smile, "Care to hang with me?" She asked, an eager gleam in her eyes. Tsireya knew that things were rough between the ivory haired girl and her brother. However, she'd deeply missed the girl.

"I'd love to." Ta'liyah smiled, allowing herself to hook her arm underneath the other girl as they began walking along the coast. 

ᅳ∘༉♡∘ᅳ

They had spent some time gathering small seashells in the waters nearest the shore. A comfortable silence lingered around the two girls as they gathered and would resurface. placing their collections on a giant fern. 

Sometimes, they'd converse in small talk and admire the others findings. Ta'liyah had been awe-struck when Tsireya had shown her an oyster she'd found that consisted of 2 beautiful heart-shaped pearls.

Once finished, they rested on the dry sand. Tsireya laid on her stomach whilst Ta'liyah sat besides her as she gently ran her nail in small motions on the other girls back.

"I missed this." Tsireya breathed, these past two weeks had felt so off and lonely for her. 

She knew Ta'liyah was going through things and she didn't want to bother the girl until she was ready but seeing her today walking across the shore with a sullen face made her speak up. Even if most of the time spent with her was silent, Tsireya was grateful. She hadn't felt so at peace in ages.

"Me too." Ta'liyah hummed, tilting her head towards the ocean.

Her day hadn't started off so well, she'd been bombarded with questions of her & Ao'nung's relationship during her lessons once again, and it just got worse when said boy showed up right at her doorstep. Thankfully, all those events were forgotten once Tsireya pitched in.

"I'm sorry for everything.." She whispered, suddenly.

"Huh? For what?" Tsireya spoke, confused.

"I had cut you off for no rea-" Before she could continue Tsireya had snapped her neck to look at her.

Tsierya gave an earnest smile, "'Liyah.." She sat herself up, placing an arm on the girls thigh,  "There's nothing you should be sorry for."

Ta'liyah bit her lip before replying, "I just.. I shouldn't have left you in the air like that, it was wrong."

Tsireya furrowed her brows. "Don't be." She simply stated, "If anything, I understand." 

Ta'liyah ghosted a smile at the girls subtle words.

"But.." Tsireya began, highly pitched, "Don't ever do that to me again." Bumping her shoulder lightly into the other girl causing the both to laugh.

"Never." Ta'liyah promised, resting her head on the others shoulder.

"Two days at most." Tsireya added, holding a closed hand out towards the girl.

At the gesture Ta'liyah opened her hand from under and Tsireya opened hers, allowing one of the heart-shaped pearls to drop into it.

"Two days." Ta'liyah smiled, gently enclasping the pearl.

ᅳ∘༉♡∘ᅳ

Ta'liyah

After a few hours Tsireya & I said our goodbyes and departed from one another.

I hadn't noticed how closed-off I'd become since the fall-out.

True, it hurt and I felt aggrieved from it all. Yet, I didn't want it affecting those I held dear to me. These past two weeks I've become less and less responsive to others. 

The constant questions, constant whispers, constant looks.. and perhaps, the worst of it was constantly hearing about how much trouble Ao'nung was getting himself into these days. 

With me not wanting nor being able to do anything about it.

He didn't care so nor did I.

My parents hadn't questioned me about him nor had Tsireya and I was forever thankful for them both. They had their own little ways in comforting me about it. 

It somehow wasn't what I really needed. Once they were gone.. I found myself closing off all over again. To be fair; I, myself wasn't even sure in what I really needed.

I looked out towards the noise of Metkayina boys yelling in the distance. 

Of course it was him, along with a few others. They seemed to all be cliff diving. Yelling out obscenities as they slammed themselves down into the crashing waves.

Before I could look away cold steel blue eyes locked onto mine. There were two visible angry cuts, that marred his right cheek and another coming down from the side of his forehead.

The eyes that once held so much warmth were now cold and unfamiliar; I didn't recognize them.

One of the boys could be heard trying to get his attention but his cold eyes remained on me. The other boy followed his gaze and eyed me. He probably made a comment because in the next moment Ao'nung had punched him in the face.

Utter.. chaos.

After an excruciatingly long minute I looked away, cursing under my breath for taking so long. Tightening my grip over the pearl as I walked myself home.

Ignoring the ache in my heart.