Golden Horizon: The Sea's Secret

Unresolved Feelings

Months turned into a year, and Ashton tried his best to move on from his feelings for Emma. It wasn't easy; her memories lingered in his mind like a haunting melody, impossible to forget. To move on, he started dating Airi, one of Rivertown's cheerleaders and an "it girl" known for her popularity and beauty. Airi was also his high school classmate, and while she was everything most guys would want—confident, outgoing, and strikingly attractive—she was nothing like Emma.

Airi was the one who had approached Ashton first, asking if he would go out with her. He had agreed, more out of a desire to distract himself from Emma than genuine interest. Airi was lively and passionate about her hobbies, particularly modeling and cheerleading, but Ashton soon realized they had little in common. She wasn't fond of the beach, which meant their weekends were no longer spent surfing with his friends. Instead, Ashton found himself wrapped up in Airi's world—one of photo shoots, social gatherings, and cheer practice. It was a stark contrast to the peaceful, carefree days he had once enjoyed with Emma and their friends by the shore.

Ashton buried himself in his studies and tried to focus on his relationship with Airi. He wanted to make it work, to convince himself that he could care for someone else. But deep down, he knew that his connection with Emma could never be replaced.

Ryan, Ashton's best friend, started noticing the distance between Ashton and the group. It wasn't like Ashton to avoid surfing, and his sudden disinterest raised red flags. One day, as they were hanging out at a coffee shop, Ryan decided to bring it up.

"Hey, Ash," Ryan began, casually stirring his drink. "You've been pretty distant lately. Is it because of Emma?"

Ashton looked up, caught off guard by the question. He quickly composed himself, shaking his head. "No, it's not that," he replied, though the hesitation in his voice was barely noticeable.

Ryan wasn't convinced. "Come on, man. I've known you for years. I've seen the way you look at her."

Ashton let out a small, humorless laugh. "I never thought I was that noticeable."

Ryan leaned back in his chair, studying his friend. "So what's going on with you and Airi, then? Are you serious about her?"

Ashton took a moment to think before answering. "Airi's not that hard to like," he said with a shrug. "She's fun, and she's into me, so... I guess I'm trying to see where it goes."

Ryan raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with the answer. "You know, I heard from Jess that Icy isn't too fond of Airi."

Ashton sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Icy never likes anyone who gets close to me, except Becca and Jess."

"Yeah, but Icy likes Emma," Ryan pointed out, his tone laced with meaning.

Ashton's expression softened at the mention of Emma. A small, wistful smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, she does," he admitted quietly.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of unspoken emotions hung in the air between them, a shared understanding of the complexities of love and friendship. Ashton knew that his feelings for Emma had never truly faded, no matter how hard he tried to push them away. And as much as he tried to convince himself that dating Airi was the right thing to do, a part of him couldn't help but wonder if he was just running away from the truth.

Ryan broke the silence, his voice gentle but firm. "Ash, maybe it's time to be honest with yourself. You can't force yourself to feel something that isn't there."

Ashton nodded slowly, his mind swirling with thoughts. He knew Ryan was right, but admitting the truth meant confronting the reality of his feelings for Emma—a reality he had been trying to avoid for far too long.

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"Look, Ash," Ryan began, leaning in with a serious expression. "I know you're trying to move on, but you should know better. It's not in your nature to use someone as a rebound."

Ashton glanced up, his face betraying a hint of discomfort. "I'm not using Airi as a rebound," he muttered, though the conviction in his voice faltered. "She's... she's a great girl, and I do care about her."

Ryan shook his head slightly. "But do you love her? Or are you just trying to forget Emma?"

Ashton didn't respond immediately, his gaze dropping to the floor. The silence between them grew heavy, filled with unspoken truths. Finally, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know, Ry. I really don't. I thought maybe if I just focused on someone else, it'd be easier to let go of what I feel for Emma."

Ryan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with concern. "But that's the thing, Ashton. You can't force yourself to forget someone by jumping into something new. It's not fair to you, and it's not fair to Airi."

Ashton looked away, feeling the weight of Ryan's words. He knew his friend was right, but it wasn't easy to admit. "I'm not trying to hurt her," Ashton said quietly. "I just... I don't want to be stuck on someone who's with someone else."

"But that doesn't mean you have to rush into something just to fill the void. Icy told me once that you've always been the type to follow your heart. So why are you going against that now?"

Ashton gave a small, rueful smile. "Maybe because my heart's been leading me in circles, and I'm tired of it."

Ryan placed a hand on Ashton's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "Then maybe it's time to face those feelings head-on, instead of hiding behind a relationship that doesn't mean the same to you as it should. You owe it to yourself—and to Airi—to be honest about what you really want."

Ashton sighed deeply, the weight of Ryan's words pressing down on him. "You're right," he admitted. "I guess I've been avoiding the truth because it's easier than dealing with it."

Ryan nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "It's okay to take your time, man. But just remember, no one deserves to be second best, including you. Don't settle just because it's easier."

Ashton looked at Ryan, appreciating the honesty in his friend's advice. "Thanks, Ry. I needed to hear that."

"Anytime," Ryan replied, his tone lighter now.

Ashton managed a genuine smile this time, feeling a bit of the burden lift off his shoulders.
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