Heart of the Sea

C5: Exhaustion Has Won

HC's POV...Again:

"You know what I meant.." He's pouting. It's cute. I'm just glad I've found him... He's beautiful. "San Lang? You space out. You okay..?" I look up confused. "Hm? Yeah. I was just thinking about someone..." I scoff and smile looking down. God I wish I could tell him. But he doesn't even remember me. And I'll have to leave him again.. What if he doesn't come back this time?

"Wanna... wanna talk about it? About them?" He pussed himself up onto the ledge that I'm on, trying not to get everything wet. "No. He um. He doesn't remember me. Or his significance to me." Xie Lian placed his hand on my shoulder. Sighed even. God that hurt even more. Because when I saw his face, He looked so remorseful. Like he understood my situation. Like he's sorry even though it's not his fault. "He's the reason why I'm alive. I was learning how to surf as a child.. I was declared dead after he dragged me onto a beach.." My voice is shaking and the tears won't stop. "I didn't know I was wanted alive until he showed up. He's a deity. Heaven sent.." Xie Lian smiled and hugged me. "He sounds amazing. Get rest? I'll make sure to wake you later." I nodded and he let go of me. I didn't want him to but it was for the best.

"Hey, I'm going to sleep here I think. In case the tide rises, it's best if I can feel it instead of already being submerged.." I hum barely even awake at this point. It's exhausting. Crying I mean. It rarely happens and wears me out. He Xuan would either let me sit there or he'd cook something and turn on a show to distract me. He knows me well. I say I hate him. And I do. But he's also my best friend. Even... if I hate to admit it.

—*—

I wake up to a splash of water next to me. Opening my eyes, I look down to see Xie Lian. "Good morning.." I groan tiredly and sit up. "Here eat. We'll leave afterwards. I uh.. I made sure everything was safe. But you must be hungry." The merman passed me a roll of kelp and something in the middle. "Try it. It shouldn't get you sick. It's actually the safest form of protein out here that I could find for you." I nod, smile, and take a bite. It tastes ok but the texture is weird. "So, are you okay to travel today?"

"Yeah. I actually feel a lot better. You're much better at comforting people than He Xuan." He shifts his head in confusion. "He's a friend. Sadly.." I manage to laugh. "Yeah.. I used to have friends like that..." He laughed and then continued, "The annoying type that drains you but are the only reason why you have a social life at all?" I nod shocked. "Can you read minds or something?" He shook his head and chuckled a bit. "No. I've said the exact line, 'They're my friends. Sadly.', many times before. Honestly I feel like it's all I used to say.." He was laughing through the statement and I laughed with him. "Shall we leave? Have you eaten?" I say after taking my last bite. "Yeah. You know we can actually skip a cave or two. If we leave now and take frequent breaks. We'll stop for lunch on an island. Is that ok?" I nod and get in the water. Xie Lian turns around and reminds me of the signal for air before I get on his back and we leave.

It didn't take long for us to arrive at the next cave. We skipped one. Stopped for air maybe six times before lunch and two times after. When we got to that next cave, it had multiple levels. Two levels had a pool and one had black sand. The pool closest to the sand level (also the heist level) is the deepest aside from the entrance. "You can take the top level, I'll take the second." We both are tired and crawl our ways to the different levels. "We're resting here for a few days not skipping the next caves.." I groaned and he rolled over. "Agreed.."

"Hey, do you think they're looking for me?.." I ask half asleep. "Yeah. Definitely. The fish are skittish. More than usual at least." I close my eyes for a bit. "Hmm. Okay. I sorta wish they wouldn't" Xie Lian sat up shocked and very confused. "What?" I just stared back at him. "Being here with you is so much better. If only it were that easy." He lied back down. "Yeah if only.." We both fell asleep. Exhaustion really beat the shit out of us this time.

Word Count: 806

I'm so tired it's 3:30 AM and my coffee wore off. Next update should be tomorrow but no promises. I feel like Hua Cheng and Xie Lian at the end of this chapter right now...