Where's My Love? - Lo'ak

Chapter 26: Cracked Hearts

When Lo'ak returns he has the biggest smile on his face, so Esmyrie assumes that everything went okay with the Tulkan. He even had a little skip in his step, which is very uncommon for the boy.

"So?" Esmyrie asks once he reaches her, his hand going to move hair out of her face and placing it behind her ear.

She smiles at the gesture and moves the flower that is in his own hair to fit more properly so it can be seen.

"Come. I don't want everyone to bombard me at once before I can tell you." Lo'ak insists, giving her his hand and being gentle when he walks, always being just a step ahead incase it hurts her too much.

Esmyrie follows Lo'aks request, holding onto his hand tightly every time she shifts her body in a way her side does not like.

"You okay?" Lo'ak asks every time he feels her hand tighten, not wanting to force her to continue walking if it hurts.

"I'm okay."

They finally reach a secluded area and Lo'ak gently helps set Esmyrie down on the shore, him going to sit in front of her, the biggest smile on his face that she has seen in awhile.

"He can't be a killer, Esmy. He just can't."

"Lo'ak-

"He would of killed me already if he was. Why would he of saved me? There would of been no reason for him to save me if he was a killer. Something happened to him, he won't tell me. He says it's 'too painful' but something happened. When I found him he had this metal thing stuck in one of his fins. I helped pull it out of him. He isn't a killer. He is my friend." Lo'ak explains, his eyes holding so much concern that Esmyrie won't believe him.

When she hears the amount of love Lo'ak has for this creature and the smile that shines on his face she can't help but believe him. She has to trust Lo'ak. She has no reason not to.

"I believe you, Lo'ak. I do." Esmyrie confesses, causing Lo'ak to smile widely, his fears vanishing in an instant.

Lo'ak looks at her for a few moments, taking all of her in.

She is beautiful.

Trustworthy.

Humble.

She scrunches her nose up when she is deep in thought.

She scratches at her arm when she is anxious.

She is kind.

Loving.

Protective.

Rebellious.

Strong.

She loves the smell of rain but hates thunderstorms.

She loves the color purple.

She is a girl who holds no fear in her heart.

She is so many things and she means so many things to Lo'ak.

"You are the only person besides my family that doesn't see me as some freak." Lo'ak confesses, his hand moving to rest on her thigh.

"Why would I see you as a freak?"

"Because everyone else does. You could of so easily followed what everyone else believes but you didn't. You don't. That's not you. You always have your own opinions and.... what I'm trying to say is-" Lo'aks hands are sweating and he all of a sudden feels very vulnerable.

This is the moment, this is the intimate moment I have been waiting to tell her how I feel, Lo'ak thinks to himself.

"Esmyrie, I so badly wish you could see yourself through my eyes. Because if you did, your whole perspective on yourself would change. You hate the color of your skin, but I... I like it. I like that it's unique. You always try to hide away your arms that are bigger and stronger than mine, but I like them. I like that they are stronger. You wish your hair was a different color but I don't... I love your hair." With each physical feature that gets mentioned, Lo'ak makes sure to touch it, truly trying to express how honest and sincere he is on the matter.