Ocean Kisses

Hang Out

keralis pov:

XB ended up staying in the store for a good four hours, which was unusual for anyone, let alone someone who seemed so focused when he walked in. He wasn’t just browsing anymore—he was chatting with me, asking about my life, sharing bits about his own. I couldn’t help but suspect his intentions. It was clear he was trying to build some kind of rapport, maybe a friendship, in the hopes that it would lead him to the notebook. I wasn’t dumb; I could see right through it.

But… I couldn’t deny it was nice. It had been a while since someone had taken such an interest in just talking to me. He had a way of pulling you in with his calm voice and sharp wit, the kind of person who made you want to keep the conversation going.

At one point, he casually mentioned his favorite hobby: swimming. Of course, he did. That tracked perfectly with everything I already suspected about him. If he was the same person I’d seen down in the ocean monument—the one with those teal eyes and that deep, commanding voice—then it made total sense.

Still, hearing him say it out loud felt oddly grounding, like it confirmed some unspoken connection. “Swimming, huh?” I said, leaning casually on the counter. “I’d guess you’re pretty good at it.”

He smirked, just a flicker of amusement on his face. “You could say that.”

It felt like a game of chess, each of us making careful moves. I wanted to see how far he’d go before he admitted what he was really after, and I think he wanted to see if he could charm his way to the notebook. But at the same time, it didn’t feel like just a game.

As the hours passed, I found myself genuinely enjoying his company. He had a way of making even small talk feel meaningful, asking about my favorite books, my thoughts on the ocean, and why I’d opened the store in the first place. It was… nice.

For someone who had spent so much time keeping people at arm’s length, I was starting to feel a little less guarded. But I wasn’t about to forget why he was really here. Not yet.

Eventually, lunchtime rolled around, and though I usually just grabbed something quick and ate in the back, today felt different. I found myself wanting to keep the conversation going. XB was intriguing, and while I hadn’t entirely let my guard down, I couldn’t deny that I was curious to learn more about him.

“Hey,” I said, leaning against the counter. “You hungry? I know a place not too far from here. My treat.”

He raised an eyebrow, surprised by the offer. “You’re offering to buy me lunch?”

I shrugged, playing it casual. “Well, you’ve been in here for hours. Figured you could use a break from the bookshelves.”

He chuckled, a low, warm sound that made me feel like I’d just made the right move in this strange little chess game we were playing. “Alright, I won’t say no to that.”

I headed to the back room to grab my things, making sure to leave the door open just enough to keep an eye on the front. I didn’t entirely trust him yet, not with that notebook out there on the shelves. I quickly grabbed my backpack and shoved the notebook deep inside before slinging the bag over my shoulder. My wallet went into my pocket, and with one last glance to make sure nothing important was left behind, I walked back out.

“Alright,” I said, grabbing the keys off the counter. “Let’s go.” I flipped the sign on the door to Closed and waited for XB to step outside before locking it behind us. The metallic click felt final, like I’d just taken the first step into something I couldn’t quite define yet.

As we started walking, the street was quiet, the afternoon sun filtering through the buildings. I glanced over at him, noticing how much more relaxed he seemed out here compared to inside the shop.

“So,” I asked, breaking the silence, “any particular reason you’re so interested in ocean monuments?”

He glanced at me, the corner of his mouth twitching upward like he’d expected the question. “You could say I’ve got a… personal connection to them,” he said, his voice carrying that same deep, steady cadence that had caught me off guard back in the store.

It wasn’t much of an answer, but it was enough to keep me hooked. Something about him, about this whole situation, felt like standing on the edge of a cliff, unsure whether to step back or dive in.

"Yeah, ocean monuments are pretty entertaining. You’ve got to be careful with the guardians, though," I said, my fingers gripping the strap of my bag a little tighter as we walked toward the restaurant. The notebook inside suddenly felt heavier, like it was burning a hole right through the fabric.

I glanced at him, trying to gauge his reaction, but his face was unreadable. There was something about him that made me want to push, to see if I could get under that calm exterior. "I call the ocean monuments the heartbeat of the ocean," I added, letting the words hang in the air.

The effect was immediate. He stiffened beside me, his movements just slightly less fluid, and his teal eyes—those impossible, piercing eyes—seemed to glow faintly for just a moment.

"Heartbeat?" he repeated, his voice deeper now, carrying a weight that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I nodded, keeping my tone casual even as my heart began to race. "Yeah. It’s something I’ve always thought since I was a kid. Fell off a boat once, almost drowned. Heard this… rhythm, like a pulse, deep in the water. Never really forgot it. First time I saw an ocean monument, it just… fit."

XB was quiet for a long moment, his gaze fixed straight ahead as if he were lost in thought. His jaw tightened briefly before he finally spoke. "That’s… an interesting way to put it."

I shrugged, trying to play it off, but inside I was studying every little reaction, every flicker of emotion on his face. "What about you? Got any theories on why they’re so special?"

He hesitated, and for the first time since we’d met, he seemed almost vulnerable. "You could say I’ve heard that… heartbeat before," he admitted, his voice low.

That caught me off guard. I slowed my pace, turning to look at him fully. "Wait, seriously?"

He didn’t answer right away, his expression unreadable as he avoided my gaze. "It’s not something I talk about often," he said finally, his tone closing the subject as quickly as it had opened.

I wanted to press further, to demand an explanation, but something told me this wasn’t the moment. So instead, I kept walking, the air between us charged with unspoken questions, and the distant hum of the ocean’s pulse echoing faintly in my mind.