"They didn't agree on much. Infact, they didn't agree on anything. They fought all the time and challenged each other every day. But despite their differences, they had one thing in common. They were crazy for each other", Nicolas Sparks, The Notebook.

~'~
Phillipines, Malaspascua island:

"Listen, Agnes. This is totally crazy. It's not safe, we could die," Jason said, tensed. "And plus Akane and Takumi aren't doing it either. Swimming with sharks is--"

Agnes waved her hand in the air. "Oh, come on! It's nothing. Mr, Lecturer it'll be fun. And it's safe. The sharks don't do anything unless provoked."

Fun, right. Swimming with sharks is a whole lot of fun. Seeing death so close to you is so much fun!

Jason looked at her with utmost disbelief.
"Listen Cherry. How will we know when and how they'll be provoked? This is totally crazy. I'm so not going!"
Agnes laughed.

"Firstly, you look very cute when you do that. Secondly, we've arrived. Thirdly, stop looking so horrified. Life is made for adventures, life is made for living. And fourthly, I'm going to go and talk to the guide," she said, getting down of the bus at Malaspascua island.

Jason looked around and sighed.

"Hey!" she waved at him, coming back like a jet aircraft.
He walked towards her.
"There'll be hammer heads too!"

~'~

"Okay, now listen. The sharks usually swim in groups of twos and threes. If you see them, stand still. And if there is no movement, they might even come close, so close that you can almost touch them. Swim slow when the sharks are around. You'll be able to see other fishes too, so no worries," the guide smiled at them. Jason and Agnes were in their scooba diving suits, the oxygen clyinders at their backs and the oxygen pipe into their mouths. They nodded.

Jason looked at Agnes. She was shivering, just like him. Of course. This was scary.

"Ready?"

They nodded.

"Go!"

The two of them jumped into the water. The guide followed from behind.

The three of them swam into the crystal, unimaginably blue waters of the island. As they paddled deeper, they could see a different world- a world of blue, a world so different from land, a world so unique. The water engulfed them, as if a goddess of aqua and beauty.

Looking around, they spotted small fishes in line like leaves on willow trees, beautiful colourful corals and tiny sea plants dancing in waves. The benthos of the sea swayed with the light ripples as if waltzing, singing and tapping with the beats of this musical amber sea.

Their eyes silently scanned the sea, so beautiful and calm- devoid of troubles and pain.

The guide pointed into the far west. Jason and Agnes turned and stood still, still as a statue. Three thresher sharks were swimming in circles. After all, it is the most beautiful things which house the deepest dangers.

A chill ran down their backs. They looked at each other and then at the guide. He nodded and swam slowly, with Jason and Agnes. Coming little closer, they stood still again.

The sharks swam slowly in circles, nearing towards them, as if playing a game of deceive and kill, just like life. Jason and Agnes stood close to one another, so close that they could feel each other's fear penetrating from the waters, into each other. Finally, the sharks were close enough.

Agnes took a deep breath. Then, slowly, ever so slowly, she extended her hand to touch it. The guide nodded, but Jason's eyes widened. He pulled her back with such force that the sharks swam away. They swam passed them with such a speed that Jason and Agnes felt that they were attacking them. Shocked and utterly disturbed, they pleaded the guide to take them to the surface.

~'~

"Are you mad?" Agnes said to him, her heart beating at such a pace that she was positive she could hear it beat.

"Are  you mad? You were touching the shark--"

"The guide said it would be saf--"

"I don't care what the guide says--"

"But it would be---"

"It would nothing but ---"

"Don't you think--"

"I was worried about you, Agnes. That's all," he finally said, looking at her with concerned eyes. She softened and looked at him in surprise.

"I'm sorry"

He shook his head. But before he could say something, Agnes smirked.

"So, Mr. Lecturer is worried about me," she said jokingly.

Jason smiled, neared towards her and whispered. "Yes, ofcourse, Cherry. I am worried about you."

~'~

That evening, Agnes knocked at Jason's bedroom door.

"What you doing?" she sang as she came inside. He was sitting on the couch, with his framless glasses perched upon his nose, reading a book.

"Reading."

"Boring. Books are mostly boring"

Jason looked at her, surprised. "You don't read books?"

"Not much."

"That's impossible. You write books. You can't write such good books unless you've read good books."

"Everything in life is possible. It is a game of the deceiver and the play of the simpleton. And that's that. Well, never mind. Let's play"

"Play?" Jason asked, a little taken aback by her words.

LTRUTH AND DARE!" Akane and Takumi entered the room, laughing.

"By the lord you don't have to scream, Akane," said Takumi, rubbing his ears.

"Yes," Agnes smiled.

Akane placed a glass bottle on the table. Jason folded his legs and turned to sit towards it. Takumi pulled a chair and sat down. Agnes spun the bottle.

It pointed towards Jason. Agnes grinned.

"Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

"Your first crush?"

Akane and Takumi smirked. "Be careful when you answer that, such topics become quite sensitive beside one's girlfriends.."

"Shut up, you both," she said, shooting them a look. Jason watched them, amused.

"Well, I was a teenager. I fell for a book character. She was a book character"

Agnes stared at him.

"Yes"

"Oh God. I mean.."

"That's very normal. A study said most teens have fallen for Harry Potter and Hermonie ," Takumi informer.

"That's HARRY POTTER. It makes a difference," Agnes said, still looking at Jason. He shrugged.

"Anyway, okay," she continued,  spinning the bottle.

"TAKUMI!" Akane shouted, grinning at his brother.

And so the game went on. But Agnes realized she could not concentrate. She was sitting close to Jason and she suddenly, for the first time in her life, felt tiny butterflies fluttering inside her stomach. She shifted uncomfortably. Jason asked whether she was okay, and she nodded.

"Ugh. Agnes, control. What's wrong with you?" she thought. But love had already been delivered to her mail box; it was now only a matter of time for her to tear it open.

~'~

That night Jason and Agnes stood in the balcony, staring at the island's sky thick with  shinning stars.

"And tomorrow," Jason began,

"We're going mountain biking," Agnes completed.

"Yes."

He gazed at her face, shinning under the moon light, and her eyes adorned with purity and innocence, looking at the city.

"Agnes?"

"Yes?"

"Are you still running short of dark chocolates?"

She sighed. "Yes"

"Well, then. I have something for you," he said, fishing something out from his pocket. She looked at him, skeptically.

He handed her a huge bar of dark chocolate. Her face immediately burst into a smile.

"Thank you so much, Jason!"

He laughed. "No problem."

She enclosed him into a hug. He smiled, saying nothing this time.
Happiness doesn't shout. Happiness doesn't declare it's coming. Happiness comes with little, inspiring, caring moments which we share. Happiness is what people often define as magic.

And slowly, between the hustle and bustle of the lights, the cars, the travels, the new countries, the new food and the new acquaintances, a new relation was blossoming.

~'~
This time, a question

Which is your dream place? Which place in the world have you always dreamed of visiting? (maybe Agnes and Jason visit that one?) :

Thank you for giving your time !