Ethereal

three - liberator

Ethereal - Chapter 3 - Liberator

By the time we woke up it was going on 7 at night. Yes, we had laid in my bed and slept for over 12 hours. No, it did not bother me one bit. 

It was clear how sleep deprived Ocean was. Her brown eyes were turning red, and they had dark eye circles circulating around them. I let my thumb swipe back and forth on her soft cheeks. Such an angel, she is. 

I doubt she's even gay though. She most likely has somebody, a man. How could she not? I wouldn't dare ask her though, and I wouldn't even mention that I was gay. It would probably make her feel uncomfortable knowing she slept in the arms of a female who could possible have a thing for her already. 

I wouldn't blame her, nor be mad. 

I wish I could read her small mind though. Or just see what her dreams are like. Sometimes, I begin to doubt that they're good dreams, the way she tosses and turns a lot, kinda gives it away, yet then again, that's just how some sleepers are. 

I walked out of my room, Ocean followed close behind me. I switched the hall light on, the dim light flickered and stayed on, giving us minimum light to guide our way to the kitchen. I flipped on the bright kitchen light. Our eyes came to a squint. 

Our eyes adjusted within seconds, and I continued on. I opened the fairly large brown cabinet, and began pulling out pots and pans. 

I looked up at Ocean who was sitting on one of the kitchen stools, her hands placed on both sides of her cheeks, and her elbows on the counter. She seemed bummed, either that or extremely bored. I couldn't blame her. I wanted her to know that she's free to leave whenever she feels she's ready to, that and the fact that even if she chooses to not leave, that I would never kick her out and put her in the same position that she was at before. 

"Are you willing to talk?"  I asked her softly. 

"Yes" She responded in almost a whisper. 

"Are you wanting to go back home?" 

She stayed quiet, and I instantly regretted asking her that question. The way tears pulled to her eyes and threatened to spill, made me feel pure guilt and anxiety. I was unsure about what made her upset, and I blamed myself for making her feel the necessity to cry. 

"You want me to go? You're already sick of me?" She questioned me as the tears fell down her soft, baby-like cheeks. 

"No, not at all, Ocean!" I exclaimed, "Of course, I would love your company more than anything, I just wasn't sure if you felt uncomfortable, or homesick." 

She paused and thought for a moment. Out of nowhere a smile broke out onto her lips and her pearly whites flashed me. Soft giggles let loose. Her little giggles sounded like raindrops falling one by one and being collected into a bin, so peaceful, or like a single cello, filling up an entire ballroom with its simplicity. 

Ocean was a ball of sunshine. She had a glow to her, in my eyes, even when her smile wasn't showing. I told myself that I would do all I can to keep her safe and as happy as can be. She had no idea how I felt though.

"What's so funny, you little dork?" 

"I thought you didn't want me or something"

"Of course I want you" We paused. I took a moment to realize what I had just said, her face went blank.

"..as a guest, if course I want you as a guest in my house" I stuttered out. 

Her giggles ruptured out once again, like a police siren bursting out when there's an emergency, except it was gentle, sounding like a siren of an ice cream truck, so soft, lovable, and attractive. 

"I know what you meant, Luna" She said through her laughter. I responded with a smile. 

I picked my phone up from the counter and checked the weather. 87 degrees is what it read. 

"Do you wanna go out tonight?" I asked Ocean.

"Where to?"

"Let's just take a walk around the city and wherever you want to stop, we'll go there" 

"Sounds good to me" She replied as a cheesy smile came upon her face. 

--- 

We headed out and our little touring adventure. We continued walking, letting the light breeze whip across our face. I was wearing a yellow romper and I let Ocean wear my baby pink one, because I didn't want for her to wear the same clothes she had on yesterday. 

We came across a small café. Ocean wanted to stop in there, and so we did. 

The both of us ordered a blueberry muffin and sat down to eat. 

"Tell me about yourself" Ocean demanded. 

"Well.. I'm Luna Watanabe. I love the color yellow. I love poetry with my entire heart. I love to travel. Most of my family is in Japan. I have a brother who lives next door to me though. I love old school music. I love drinking coffee and watching the sunrise. And I love dramatic romance movies and novels." 

"Wow.. I love light blue, I read every once in a while, BUT it has to be a really interesting book, traveling is fun, but extremely pricey too, most of my family is in japan too, except for my parents, 2 sisters, and grandma. Coffee is delicious, so I can't say much about that. I love horror movies most of the time, but sometimes I wanna watch them, but I can't, because I'm a big baby" She joked. 

My goodness is she so pure. So open, so talkative, so fascinating. She could be talking about how disgusting cleaning bathroom are, and I would mention how nobody could ever make it sound so interesting and lovely. Ocean really has that affect. 

After we finished eating, we grabbed our belongings and headed the same way we were before we stopped. I knew about the beach that was about a mile and a half away, so I decided we should go there. 

Ocean found a comfortable spot on the sand for us to sit, and so we did. 

The loud crashing of the waves could be heard clearly, but it brought peace to us both. 

Out of nowhere, Ocean's words broke the silence that was among us. 

"Are you in a relationship?" She questioned. In my head I laughed a little, realizing how single I was and how long I had been single. 

"I am" I replied with a soft smile upon my lips. 

What?! HOW? YOU'RE SO PRETTY WHAT THE HECK, LUNA??" She shouted. 

I sat on the smooth sand and laughed. 

"And yourself?" I questioned back.

"I'm single too, because everybody finds me a burden. That i'm annoying. I talk too much. I complain a lot. I'm a cry baby. I always get myself in dumb situations. Oh, and I'm hideous" she told me. 

"They're wrong, extremely wrong. I barely know you, but I am very observant. You talk a lot, but it's adorable, it's attractive. At least when something is on your mind or somebody says something to you, you're not the type to just stand there quietly and let someone walk all over you. At least if you're ever on a date, you could make conversation. Complain? Everybody complains about something at some point, so don't trip off of that, little ma. Get yourself in dumb situations.." I paused at that and let out a small laugh. 

".. Everybody has been there and done that with themselves already, so don't event trip off of that, shawty. Finally, DO NOT EVEN GET ME STARTED on you being 'hideous'. IS YOU CRAZY?!!! YOU"RE STUNNING, OCEAN. I truly do mean that, and I really hope you realize it yourself. Embrace your beauty. You're so gorgeous that I may envy you for it. Your beauty stands out and is so powerful that you make me feel like I gotta get on my knees and bow down to you, and then say "It's an honor to be speaking to you, Queen Ocean". She smiled hard and blushed and we laughed together. 

"Luna, I feel so free with you. I was trapped in my own mind for so long, but you got me to come back to reality and enjoy living life a little more" She told me. 

I smiled hard, she deserves the greatest, and I hope I can give it to her. Well, I know I am capable of making her happy, but it's up to her if she will let me or not. I mean so far.. I am her liberator.