wave after wave 🌊 [rini au]

summer ; 12

A month later, Nini began working at Nate's and Emma's little shop in Poipu. A year ago, they had set up a quaint little sustainability cafe near the beach, so that tourists who came in for coffee and food would get educated on the Kauai environment and hopefully treat our island with more care. Over the months, it had evolved into a cafe slash equipment rental slash souvenir shop. Nate and Emma had wanted her to curate and design more souvenirs, while managing the souvenir side of the shop. On some days, she took afternoons to sing an open mic in the cafe, garnering tips from people who had too much money to spend. The job wasn't much but Nini was more than grateful for the generosity of her brother and sister-in-law, in giving her the freedom to do what she loved while earning her keep.

Ricky would come in during his lunch breaks to spend time with her. On busier days, he'd eat lunch while watching her talk to customers with a pleasant smile on her face; other days, they'd eat together and she would teach him how to make some of the souvenirs they put out. One fine day, unbeknownst to Nini, Emma had taught him to braid a ring with some leftover rose gold plated copper wire and he'd made one for Nini's tiny, slim index finger. Just like she'd given him the dog tag, he gave her the ring, joking that he wasn't proposing but just "staking his claim', as he quoted her. "I've noticed how there've been an increasing number of male tourists coming in here when you sing in the cafe," He wrapped his arms around her waist tightly, pulling her close to him. Nini crinkled her nose cutely, enjoying the close proximity of their bodies, "Let me guess, you trust me but you don't trust them?" He rolled his eyes at her and let out a low growl in her ear, "You always look sexy in navy, Nins, what can I say?" The Roberts family looked absolutely gorgeous in navy blue, it was no wonder fashionista Nate would choose the colour for his uniform. Nini leaned in to kiss her boyfriend, he intertwined his fingers with hers, stroking the ring on her index finger. "I'm your Nina," she whispered, reminding him that no one else called her that, except him.

Until someone else did.

"Nina!" A boy, whose eyes were covered by sunglasses even though he was inside the shop, called out to her. Nini chose not to react, not wanting him to think that she was ok with him calling her Nina. "Your name is Nina, right?" He asked shyly, after her lack of reaction.

She shrugged, "I prefer Nini, please." He shrugged in response, "I heard a guy call you that though, I think that's your real name." Nini felt uncomfortable with the attention she was getting, especially since the target of this boy's attention was her, for once not her brothers. She took a quick glance at Nate, disappointed to see him busy making coffee for a customer. "Just Nini, please. Welcome to Seas the Day, how may I help you?" She took her place behind the counter, to place some distance between her and the stranger. Her eyes flickered to the clock on the screen-saver. 11:28. Approximately three minutes before Ricky would walk in to save her from this situation. "Hmm, I would like to have your number. Maybe we could have some fun tonight at the local party I heard about." Nini cringed at his straightforwardness, immediately dismissing him, redirecting him to the cafe for a coffee. "Come on, live a little," He leaned over the counter, getting closer to her. She took a couple of steps back, surprised and highly disturbed at his advances.

Just in time, she saw her curly-haired boyfriend burst through the glass door into the air-conditioned shop, his eyes still covered by his sunglasses. Unlikely the pretentious tourist boy, he took his sunglasses off, as he scanned the place for a sign of Nini; he was rudely met with the view of a guy standing over his girlfriend, who looked scared out of her wits. He caught her eyes and quickly walked over to save her from the situation. Ricky's arm wrapped around her waist as he planted a kiss in her hair, "Hey Nins, how have you been doing, love?" He'd never used that endearment on her before, they'd thrown pet names like babe or hon in the mix before; but they haven't said the four lettered L word to each other yet. She leaned into his body next to her and planted a kiss on his jaw, "I've been doing great, up till now at least."