Message received loud and clear. But I won't stop myself from liking you.

Especially when I already like you. I won't even try to get over you, I'll wait for you, I'll wait.

I continued walking beside her as I felt her glance at me but I ignored it. Maybe I'm right about the observation I pointed out towards her liking the Dark Wave genre. Maybe she is right that she is a cold person, but my heart says something else. I want to prove to her that she isn't cold as she assumes.

But why would she want to be a cold person in the first place?

I kind of got it Why we are here, it's for the sunrise, I haven't been to Baylands yet but it seems like a beautiful place even if it's dark. I knew that we were walking beside a water body as I heard the faint wave noise. I moved my phone to the side as I saw the water body confirming my assumption.

Shiya turned left all of a sudden as I followed, the wooden bank beneath us creaked as I joked, "are you planning on murdering me?"

She chuckled, "murdering? Not. But kidnapping doesn't sound bad, does it?" I laughed loudly as she joined me, "you're seriously giving me ideas of calling Tani and getting you kidnapped now and here."

I laughed, "and where will you both hide me?"

"Oh! We already have that planned, we'll take you to an old mansion on the most scheduled island on the earth. Tie you to a bed, put multiple locks on the door and windows, and then install a detailed security system. And get at least 10 scariest dogs in the world to bite any outsiders who try to invade."

I continued laughing, "I'm surprised that I won't be married to either of you,"

She chuckled, "You won't be the only one kidnapped that's why. But if we both want we can marry every single one of you. We're an OT7 after all."

I should record this and send this to my members.

"I don't think anyone of us would mind marrying such beautiful ladies," I smirked as I felt her avert her eyes. I knew she was blushing, but I wanted to see the cute blush.

"Okay, we're here," I looked straight up to see faint sun rays from the mountains ahead, across the lake. It was getting brighter but we still needed our phone torches. "I'll just set this up." She mumbled while keeping her backpack on the wooden bank the bend over to look for something.

I immediately looked away trying not to be a pervert as I waited for her to stand straight again. As soon she stood up straight I helped her lay the blanket down as we both sat on it, physically close as our elbows kept bumping whenever we moved.

She folded her legs in Indian style as her hands dig into the bag while I point the torch light towards her bag. "What do you wanna have? I've sandwiches, wraps, biscuits, fruits... and whatever."

I stared at her like she has grown two heads, "did you make the sandwiches and wraps?" She nodded, "when? Did you wake early for this?"

She nodded again, "I don't mind. I can wake up real early if I get to do some fun stuff with my friends." She waved it away. "Now what do you wanna have?"

"Uh... I'll have a wrap I guess."

"Good choice, 'cause I think I burnt the bread." She chuckled. "I ain't good at cooking at all. I'm just a pro at making Italian dishes, baking and beverages. It's surprising how I know to cook instant noodles."

I laughed as I took the wrap from her, "I think you like Italian because it isn't much spicy, baking because it's all sweet and beverages because it includes your coffee."

"You got me there, and include hot chocolate with marshmallows in beverages." She licked her lips as I smiled at her. It's good to hear that she likes hot chocolate, now we can drink hot chocolate together.

I remove the paper as I take a big bite and groan a bit, "this is too good," I praise her while chewing.

She smiled as she took a bite too and nodded, "I admit, I did a good job." She giggled. Some might think that she is so rude by praising herself, but what if she is right?

It's completely justifiable to praise yourself, after all, it matters the most when you praise yourself.

We both remain silent as we continue eating after a while it had become bright enough that we didn't need the torches anymore. I switched off the torch as Shiya followed then she exclaimed, "oh! Look!" I followed the direction she is pointing towards as I saw the sun rays peaking from the mountains.

"Here," she handed me my camera as I saw her remove one more camera, "I like clicking photos of landscapes, horizons, and clouds so I often come here. Moreover, this is the area like my mini heaven, I can just come here whenever I want." She smiled looking at the horizon as I lifted the camera and brought it closer to my face.

Closing one eye, I focused on her side face as I pressed the clicked button. Hearing the snap she turned towards me and laughed, "if it came out good, do share it with me." With a chuckle, I nod as I turned towards the horizon adjusting the lenses to click some beautiful pictures.

I even got a picture of the sun ray's reflection in the water as I looked around, finally taking in our surroundings. There were grasses surrounding us as the boardwalks ran parallel to the lake with this a bit into the lake. Also, there weren't any people around, thankfully.

I think Shiya purposely chose this spot because she knows that many people won't come here. So smart.

I saw Shiya remove her shoes and socks then she rolled her yoga pants to her knees and walk towards the lake on her toes. She sat by the end as she dipped into the lake. Immediately lifting my camera to my face, I clicked a picture of her.

I kept all of our stuff in her bag as I stood up walking towards her with her backpack strapped on my shoulder, and her shoes in my hands. Keeping it right behind her, I remove shoes and socks then roll my joggers to my knee and take my place beside her.

My feet dipped into the lake as the cold water sent goosebumps through my skin. "You know," Shiya started speaking, "Tani often asks me why I don't regret choosing NBS Singapore over Stanford. This is exactly the reason why I don't. The natural beauty, the small city which isn't too noisy... I just feel comfortable here, though I'm a city girl."

"I get it, I know how you feel."

She sighed, "you're serious about getting to know Shiya Saathvik. I might need to warn you, I hurt the people who are close to me."

Okay... whoa!

"Why are you saying that?"

"I've hurt the most important person in my life multiple times. No matter how hard I try it never stops, and because I hurt her, the people around us—around her, get hurt too. I think I hurt Tani too, when I chose Stanford, whereas we both had promised each other that we'll go to Singapore together."

"I don't think Tani thinks like that, but who am I to say that? If you think so, go and ask her. Ask her if you hurt her. Go and ask the most important person in your life if she feels hurt, ask every single person in your life if they're hurt by something you'd."

"How're you so good with goddamn words, dude!" She laughs trying to lessen the intense environment. I go with her as I chuckle too. We both go silent once again as we glance ahead staring at the rising sun with a peaceful mind. Well, I think mine's peaceful, I don't know about Shiya.

I wish I knew what she is thinking.

She giggled as she shoved my arm but I didn't bulge as I pretend like I was gonna tickle her                   

She giggled as she shoved my arm but I didn't bulge as I pretend like I was gonna tickle her. We were near her car when suddenly the topic of tickles came up, I got to know that she is ticklish Like everywhere, her neck, her arms, her thighs and especially her tummy.

So I started pretending like I'm gonna tickle her. The people around us were looking at us with a smile, and I'm pretty sure they were smiling because of Shiya's beautiful smile. My pretty smile wasn't visible because of the mask I was wearing so they weren't paying much attention towards me.

As soon as we reached her car I started tickling her, as my fingers ran through her bare tummy. She had removed her sweater claiming she was feeling hot, so she was only wearing a sports bra and her sweater tied around her waist.

She laughed loudly as she leaned against her bonnet while trying to protect herself with her arms but it was going in vain, "Dali! Please stop!"

My eyes lit up hearing the nickname it sounded so sweet coming from her, "what did you call me? Repeat please."

"No," I raised an eyebrow as I continued tickling her, "Okay okay I'm telling. Dal—"

"Dawn?" We were interrupted by a Male voice as I stopped tickling her and we both turned towards the intruder. There was a good 6 feet tall guy with the signature American looks—blue eyes, blonde hair and a hard jaw. He wasn't looking at me but at Shiya, but it seemed like he was checking her out so I stepped a bit closer to her—in a protective way.

"Logan..." She said sounding breathless with all the tickling. "Hi,"

"Can we talk?" He asked then glanced at me, "in private." I turned towards Shiya to find her frowning but nodding anyways.

She leaned in and whispered, "stay by the car please, there are people around." Nodding in agreement I saw her pass a smile to me as she stepped away and walked away from me with this Logan guy. I watched her as she untied her sweater and wore it while this Logan guy tried to avert his eyes from her figure.

She is uncomfortable...

I hope nothing wrong goes on here.

+++

Time to know me again

So I had this best friend, exactly like Tanishka, except for the fact that she isn't sassy like Tani.
So we both had all planned out, how we would go to Singapore together to study further, and I had still one more year left to apply for admissions.
But then she, secretly, without telling me, applied to one of the best schools in the world and she got admission to that.
Though I'm happy for her, I was miserable when she told me about it.
I think a lot before making someone my best friend because after a while I regret it for whatever reason.
And I thought she would be different, but alas...
Now we don't even talk to each other.
🫠