A week ago. . .

The Summet lagoon was cold this time of the year, making my skin shiver as currents flow between my legs. My golden hair floats gracefully around me like a halo, swaying with the rhythm of the gentle waves. Some strands clung to my forehead, momentarily obscuring my vision. With a quick swipe of my hand, I pushed them aside, revealing the panoramic view of the shimmering lagoon. Glancing up, I notice Tatianna waving her hand, beckoning me to join her in the deeper part, where the inky blue depths began before gradually yielding to lighter shades in the corners.

Giving her a hesitant thumbs-up, I propel myself forward with confident strokes as the water parted effortlessly when I sliced through it, feeling it's cold caressed against my body.

Water splashes over my face in fury, stinging my eyes. And my body seems to tire out from relentlessly pushing through the choppy waters. But with a surge of anticipation, I propelled myself forward, my strokes growing stronger as I ventured towards the heart of the lagoon. The water grew darker beneath me, like an endless abyss that held secrets untold. It was a stark contrast to the familiar shallows, yet something about the enigmatic depths called to me, daring me to continue further.

As I approached Tatianna, the lagoon's colors morphed before my eyes, where it had grown from inviting clear baby blue to dark starry night.

"About time you showed up, Laneya," she said sourly, but her lips carve into a small smile.

The radiance from the setting sun glints against her auburn hair, making it seem like the water where her hair floated upon caught fire. With a tanned complexion similar to hazelnut, her sun-kissed skin glowed with warmth and radiance. And her eyes, as they lock into mine, hold me in place. They are strikingly vivid. Swirls of mint blue swirled around in the center of her iris, and gradually turned darker navy blue as it stretched outward, almost like the lagoon itself resided in them.

I stick my tongue out to her, to which she splashes a palmful of water on my face and we both start giggling before I said, "I may not be an adventure-seeker like you Titi, but you know I trust you with my heart. If you're down to something seemingly dangerous, I'd follow you."

"Oh would you really," she asks, fluttering her eyelashes. I gulp, knowing that certain look meant trouble. "Want to climb an active volcano then, possibly mount Kīlauea in Hawaii? I just can't wait to feel the warmth on our feet, and the adrenaline rush of being next to a natural phenomenon."

I shake my head, before rolling my eyes. "You're crazy, you know?"

Tatianna smirks. "That sounds like me."

Swimming closer until our legs touch, I wrap my arms around her. Taken aback, she wriggles free from my grasp. "I don't like hugs, Lai. You know that, don't you? It makes me feel claustrophobic."

I do a single nod. "I know, but I think it's what both of us needed right now. Warmth from one another."

Her lips form a straight line, but I know she agrees because she had just lost her grandmother a few weeks ago, and as much as she conceals her emotions, I know a flood of pain is gnawing at her heart.

"Can I ask you something?" I query, to which she inclines her head.

"What's your biggest fear? I mean, you're always so calm in situations that make people pee their pants or faint, but there must be something that frightens you? Height? Spiders? Cockroaches? Drowning? Maybe a murderer?"

While Tatianna's eyes grow big, she soon throws her head back in laughter. The water droplets that clung to her eyelashes shimmer like diamonds. "You should know that by now, Lai. Everything fears me, even fear. Except--"

"Except what?" I ask, curiosity spilling into my voice, and I didn't realize how soft and desperate my voice had become.

"Not being able to have the freedom to attempt all these adrenaline-pumping adventures! I could never live without taking risks. Though, my parents are against it, at least they don't contain me within four walls."

I let my shoulder drop in disappointment as her answer wasn't what I was hoping for, but it was just like I had imagined.

Tatianna Armstrong was one tough cookie to crack.

And I couldn't think of a single situation where she'd lose to her fears. She was invincible.

But as the night crawled in, and we swam back to shore to dry our shivering wet bodies with a towel, something laid a heaviness inside my soul. I couldn't put a finger on it, but the way in which Tatianna was so careless about her safety frightens me.

A strong arm forcefully grabs my shoulder, shaking it. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you coming down with a cold?" The concern in their voice is palpable.

"No, no, I'm fine," I hastily reply, brushing off their questions in one go. "Let's head home before our families start to worry."

Titi nods, but her eyes betray her disbelief. She clearly didn't believe me.

As we part ways, our entwined wrinkly fingers slipping away from each other, somehow I felt like we were bidding farewell. . . forever.