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♯┆blue world .ᐟ ━━━━━━━━━━
The offer had been taken. Afternoon lighting had barely broke, the waves of the water calmed but the life beneath bloomed with bioluminescence. On the sand, Metkayina's gathered their children and families for some rest. A time to wind down and rejuvenate for the next day.
But, Maleia and Lo'ak stayed within the ocean. The water cold compared to the day, the sunlight not heating it up.
And Maleia could barely keep her eyes open. Although her day began with training the Sully children, the rest ended with the responsibility of being next in line Tsahìk. Ronal hadn't given the chance for Maleia to breathe before deciding that the afternoon would be the perfect time to teach.
Lo'ak watched as Maleia dissociated to somewhere between here and where she dreamt her life could lead. "You back?" Lo'ak asked with a concerned smile.
Maleia nodded her head and quickly apologised for not paying attention. Understanding, Lo'ak shook his head at her immediate apologies. "We can do this another time, if you're tired," Lo'ak announced but Maleia shook her head.
Whether Maleia could admit it or not, she enjoyed spending time with him.
Lo'ak felt like a safe space. Someone who doesn't expect too much responsibility and stern consequences from her. Someone who'd let her breathe, relax. Take time for herself when she needed it the most. Maleia could sense all of that from the moment Maleia laid eyes upon him and that sly smile he gathered across his expression.
"I offered this, Lo'ak," Maleia announced and he nodded his head. He noticed that she almost had the same smile as Ao'nung, but she more it her own.
"Okay? Hop on," Maleia told him as she soothed the ilu beneath her palms. Lo'ak followed her instructions and jumped onto the ilu like it was an Ikran. Maleia returned the action with a soft chuckle, "You do mount an ilu like that."
Lo'ak looked at her, confused— Maleia understood that the only thing Lo'ak knew is the forest. How hard animals are to grasp and climb upon. Differences between animals and nature, consumed by trees. Challenging behaviours coming from the animals because they're too stubborn to ride upon.
Maleia reached her hand forward and guided Lo'ak's thigh backwards. Perfecting his mount upon the ilu. His eyes travelled down to the soft hand on his flesh.
And then Maleia moved to the front of the ilu. "Lower down a little," She mentioned after noticing he was too straight. He had to have a good view of where to guide the ilu and to be stronger when diving beneath.
She then moved to touch his hand. Not afraid of touching that extra finger associating him with the name 'alien' and 'demon.'
"Move them here... hold on tight," Maleia mentioned as Lo'ak wrapped his hands around the ilu's natural handle. She clicked her throat and waited for another ilu to join the two of them— she attached her kuru before mounting. "Like this..." Maleia showed him how to sit on top of the ilu. Lo'ak paid attention and copied her figure.
"You tell them where to go within your mind. Like any other animal. Ilu's are energetic and she is young, she will move quick," Maleia warned him and Lo'ak nodded his head.
He told the ilu where to go, slower this time so he wouldn't loose his balance and fall again. Maleia watched from above, a proud smile on her face when realising the Lo'ak had handled the pressure of the water.
Maleia swam her ilu in playful circles surrounding Lo'ak before carefully bumping into his ilu's side. Bubbles escaped from Maleia's mouth beneath the surface, moving her fingers in front of him, "You did it!"
Although he mastered riding an ilu, he couldn't understand sign language. Maleia pointed to the surface before they both arrived above. "It means 'you did it'," Maleia mentioned from her signing before.
He smiled once realising the proud smile across Maleia's face. "Perhaps tomorrow, our lesson should be sign language," Maleia mentioned and noted to herself. Lo'ak immediately looked towards her— tomorrow? She wanted another lesson with him tomorrow.
"It will become easier once you are taught," Maleia told him. The sign language was going to be difficult to teach— so many words that had to be used.
"I think anything is easier when you teach me," Lo'ak announced. Then his face dropped when he realised what he had said. Out loud. Not within his head. "Shit," Was all he managed to say to escape himself from embarrassment. Maleia let out a soft chuckle, "Then it should be easy for you."
Lo'ak could only nod in response before deciding to dive beneath the water, saving himself from anymore embarrassment. Maleia followed close behind him.
Their different coloured eyes scanned the beautiful coral and bioluminescence surrounding them both. Giving light to a space that would usually be dark during night. Lo'ak watched as Maleia moved her palm out in front of her, allowing small animals to gather within her palm.
Their fascination soon consuming him. How her hand swirled within the water with smoothness, watching her play with the glowing animals. Noticing her smile bloomed her face that much, he could barely see her eyes. Her nose crinkled as she laughed, animals tickling her flesh. Dimples showing deep within her full cheeks.
Everything about her in this moment sent something warm within his chest. He didn't care how cold the water was. How freezing he would be when he touched air again. Because, she was right next to him.
And, he didn't understand those feelings deep within his heart.
