Ocean Love

Chapter 4

After the grueling training session, I felt like my limbs were weighed down with lead. The energy I had spent trying to control my powers had drained me completely, leaving me exhausted both physically and mentally. My mind was a whirlpool of thoughts, spinning with the intensity of what I had experienced today and the constant nagging feeling of uncertainty about the pendant.

As we left the training arena, I turned to Sarah. "I need some time alone," I said, my voice barely louder than a whisper. I hoped she would understand that I just needed to clear my head.

Sarah gave me a soft, understanding smile. "Take all the time you need. Just don't get lost in your thoughts too much, okay?"

"I won't," I promised, though I wasn't sure how true that would be.

With a wave, I parted ways with Sarah and wandered through the bustling city streets. I didn't have a destination in mind; I just needed to walk, to let the noise of the city drown out the noise in my head. The crowds moved around me, the steady hum of life in the city acting as a comforting background to my tangled thoughts.

As I strolled aimlessly, my eyes caught sight of an antique shop tucked between two larger buildings. It wasn't the sort of place that stood out, but something about it called to me. Maybe it was the way the window display was cluttered with old, curious items, or perhaps it was just the idea of losing myself in the past, even for a few moments. Either way, I found myself pushing open the door and stepping inside.

The shop was dimly lit and crammed with all sorts of objects-old books, tarnished jewelry, dusty trinkets. It smelled of old wood and something earthy, like the scent of a forest after the rain. I wandered through the narrow aisles, letting my fingers brush over the various items, feeling the history and stories they might hold.

As I turned a corner, I nearly bumped into someone. "Whoa, sorry!" I exclaimed, stepping back quickly.

To my surprise, I found myself looking up at a familiar face-purple hair, lavender eyes, and that same easygoing grin. It was the boy from the amusement park.

"You again?" I blurted out, more out of shock than anything else. What were the odds of running into him twice in such a short span of time?

He looked just as surprised to see me, but his grin widened. "Hey! Fancy meeting you here," he said, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jacket. "You stalking me or something?"

I rolled my eyes, already feeling a bit of annoyance creeping in. "Me? Stalking you? Please, don't flatter yourself. I was just looking around."

"Sure you were," he teased, his tone light and playful. "But if you were, no judgment. I'm a pretty interesting guy."

"Interesting? You mean annoying," I shot back, crossing my arms over my chest. There was something infuriatingly charming about his attitude-like he wasn't taking anything seriously, including me.

"Annoying? That's harsh," he replied with mock offense, though the grin never left his face. "I prefer 'charismatic' or 'irresistibly charming.' But hey, to each their own."

I shook my head, unable to keep a small smile from tugging at the corners of my lips. "You're impossible."

"That's what they tell me," he said with a wink. "So, what brings you to this fine establishment? Looking for anything in particular, or just browsing?"

"Just browsing," I answered, trying to keep my tone casual. I didn't want him thinking I was here for any specific reason-especially not because I might have been curious about him. "What about you? Do you always hang out in dusty old shops like this?"

"Only when I'm trying to avoid the craziness of the outside world," he replied, his tone light but with a hint of something deeper, though it was hard to tell if he was being serious or not. "Sometimes it's nice to just... get away, you know?"

I nodded, understanding that feeling all too well. "Yeah, I get that."

We stood there for a moment in a somewhat awkward silence. I found myself glancing at him from the corner of my eye, still trying to figure him out. There was something about him that was hard to pin down, but at the same time, he seemed almost... normal. Just another guy with a laid-back attitude, no hidden motives or grand mysteries.

"So," he said, breaking the silence, "you into old stuff? Because I can totally recommend the weirdest items in this place. They've got some funky things here."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "Oh really? Like what?"

He gestured to a nearby shelf lined with all sorts of oddities. "Well, for starters, there's this," he said, picking up a small, intricately carved wooden box. "Looks like a regular box, right? But open it up, and it plays the creepiest tune you've ever heard. Seriously, it's like something out of a horror movie."

I reached out to take the box from him, curiosity piqued. "Creepy tunes, huh? That's... oddly specific."

"Hey, it's all part of the charm," he said with a shrug. "Or, if you're into the more bizarre, there's this," he added, holding up what looked like an ancient compass. "Doesn't point north. Or anywhere, really. It just spins. But it looks cool, so, you know... points for style."

I couldn't help but laugh at the way he was describing these random items. "You really know how to sell it, don't you?"

"Hey, I'm just trying to make your antique shop experience more memorable," he replied with a grin. "But seriously, it's cool to see someone else who appreciates the weird stuff. Most people just walk by places like this."

"Well, I guess I'm not most people," I said, setting the box back on the shelf.

"That's obvious," he said, his tone still teasing but with an underlying note of sincerity. "You've got that 'not like everyone else' vibe going on."

I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks at his words, and I quickly looked away, focusing on the items on the shelves instead. "Thanks, I think."

He watched me for a moment, then smiled again, though this time it was a bit softer. "Anyway, I should probably get going. But it was nice running into you again, Marlia."

I blinked in surprise. "Wait, how do you know my name?"

He paused, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You might have mentioned it at the amusement park. Or maybe I'm just good at guessing."

I narrowed my eyes at him, not entirely convinced. "Right... well, it was... interesting running into you too."

With a casual wave, he turned and headed for the door. "See you around, Marlia. And hey, try not to get lost in any creepy old boxes."

I watched him leave, still feeling a mix of annoyance and curiosity. Whoever this guy was, he was definitely something else. I couldn't quite figure him out, but maybe that was part of what made him so intriguing. As frustrating as he could be, there was no denying that he had a way of getting under my skin-whether I liked it or not.