23:11 ✔

4

FOUR – 10:01:09 AM

Dream or not, I've made up my mind.

There is no way in this world I'll let myself be stuck with someone like this guy forever. He's been teasing and provoking me to give in and back out from all of this but ha! I will never give him the satisfaction! Getting stuck with him for a day is a million times better than forever. If I don't finish this, I can already imagine my head exploding when I get stuck with him.

This day will be fun—he said so himself and I want that instead of losing my energy trying to fight or argue with him for something pointless. We're here now and there's nothing I can do to reverse this wish.

This is just for a day or I should say less than a day now and then I will be free, everything's going to go back to normal. I will enjoy this!

"W-We're at an aquarium..." I swear we just went outside the pancake house and now were in front of the ocean park!

This guy grins like his evil plan has finally started. He even rubs his palms together. When he looks at me, he almost looks like a happy puppy! This guy and his duality!

"I've never been in this type of theme park before and I've always wanted to go."

"Why didn't you just go before?"

"Duh, of course, I want to be here with someone."

I didn't expect this at all. I'm not very good at swimming so I never pictured myself going here in this type of theme park. Even though it's just like going to some giant aquarium, I'm not really comfortable. What if the glasses break?!

He nudges his elbow to my side and raises his eyebrow at me. "Don't want to go here with me? Are you scared of the ocean or something? We could go somewhere else—"

"No!" Damn! There was just something in his quick disappointed look that made me answer without thinking!

He chuckles. "That's a big no." He really looks like an excited kid and rubs his palms again. "Let's go here then! I've never seen the sharks up close and personal!"

That left me a little too surprised that he had to call me again because I didn't notice that I didn't walk a single step. I caught up to him though I'm still confused with myself.

Yes, I still have trust issues with the glasses used in these aquariums but seeing this guy like an excited kid... makes my fear somehow go away. I suddenly want to do whatever this guy would want to do because he hasn't experienced it.

I want to... I want to be that person who's with him for the first time. I don't know what I'm saying anymore!

"Good morning, sirs, welcome! How many tickets are you going to avail, sir?"

He smiles and I can already see the love hearts from the cashier's eyes. "Just two adult tickets, please."

"Oh! Just the two of you, sir? The park actually has a couple's promo that you might want to obtain. It includes special activities that will be provided by your tour guide for this morning. Do you want to avail that instead, sir?"

He glances at me and grins. I can almost hear him laughing. "Of course, my wife and I would like that. We'll take that please."

I rolled my eyes and didn't even bother punching him that I would normally want to do. I'll get used to this guy's unending teasing and if he thinks I'll give him the satisfaction of getting irritated with him—ha! He's never going to win over me.

He then laughs and I kind of... like it.

WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING TO ME?!

"Here are your bracelet passes, sir, and your couple's tickets. Please enjoy! Your group's tour guide will be there shortly with you."

My heart is unexplainably doing its frantic thump-thump in my chest. I don't really know what this is for but to hell with it. I will never tell a soul that my heart almost skipped a beat and is now going all frantic because of this guy! I'm sure as hell that no one is causing my heart to go all like this except for him!

"Are you okay?" He turns to look at me.

I nodded, almost too fast. "O-Of course!"

He looks at me suspiciously for a second but then lets what he noticed go.

We went inside and I know it's just the reception of the whole park but... wow. All these underwater details for decorations are just amazing. I don't like the water but it doesn't mean I hate seeing the beauty of it underwater.

That made me look at this guy to see his reaction but to my surprise—he is looking at me.

He grins then looks away. "You sure you went here before? You look more like a first timer than I am."

I crossed my arms on my chest. My heart won't really calm down now. "Yeah, you could say that this is my true first time going in here. I was too little and too scared then when we had our school field trip. All I can remember was that I was just buried in my mom's embrace, not wanting to look at anything."

"Wow. Someone can talk in paragraphs."

I punched him with that remark and couldn't help but to laugh with him.

Whatever is happening right now with me—I don't mind it now, I guess. If I'm going to enjoy this, might as well just let go of everything and just really, really enjoy this.

I want this day to last, too.

"W-Will you help me?"

"With what?" He asked, not teasing but just really asking.

I smiled nervously. "I'm s-scared."

"Okay."

He took my hand and held it. I felt safe.