Part 3! (LAST)

ESTJ (male) x INFP (female)

One week more.

Dara was starting to overthink everything already.

What happens if I miss a step? What do I need to do if the tank is faulty or doesn't work in the middle of the dive? Do I begin to panic if I can't rise to the surface?

...What happens if I suddenly forget everything I need to do?

"Hey."

Chico's voice disrupted her train of thought and she found herself thankful for that.

"Y-Yes," Dara managed to stammer out, blinking her eyes as she re-associates herself from her surroundings.

She's sitting across from Chico at a dining table located in the middle of the kitchen. Inside Chico's house. He insisted that for this night, they'll eat her reward dish at his place. His mom is sleeping in her room already so it's just the two of them in the kitchen.

The last time she was here was when she ate at their outdoor restaurant for a mukbang video that will eventually be posted in the following weeks after some editing from her producers. It was only in Chico's mom's restaurant that she tasted the best clams in the village. Of course, she didn't tell anyone that since it might cause a rift within the residents, but...she's happy that in front of her is a plate of the cooked clams she absolutely adores.

And not only that...

There is this feeling of excitement inside her that is willing to burst out of her chest at any second. It is this kind of happiness that she recently started to develop throughout the past days of spending time with Chico.

When she's not overthinking her scheduled dive segment, she is overwhelmed by the presence of this man whom she first detested but who has now been a good and kind person to her.

Sure, he may be strict and the way he teaches might be considered unconventional in some way, but she wouldn't deny that he is a good companion.

She's noticed that he started to be part of the crowd of people who would gather to watch her film a mukbang at a chosen restaurant for the day. And to be frank, every time they would spot each other amidst the crowd and a corner of his mouth would tug upward matched with an eyebrow that would rise, showing that he was impressed at her, Dara would feel less nervous and more confident in what she's good at. The camera might have caught the way her eyes would dart in a certain direction in some clips. No one would know why though. Only her.

She really likes Chico...and that makes her scared of all this happiness she's feeling being around him and being his center of attention almost every single day.

Because she's leaving the village in a week. Her two months are almost over and she'll have to go back to her life in the big city.

Maybe she can make a life here. Maybe she can stop working as a mukbanger and try to find another source of income. It doesn't even have to do anything with eating. She'll take almost anything.

But there is a rational part of her that asks her a bunch of questions she finds hard to answer. What about your contract with the producers? What about your family back in the city? And...are you sure you would stay behind for him?

"You nervous again?" Chico's voice rang through the air again and Dara had to physically shake her head as if to drown out her thoughts again.

She found him peering at her with careful eyes. "Listen, if you want to rest already instead of having another meal, we can do that-"

"No, no, it's okay," Dara assured him almost immediately. She looked back at the freshly cooked clams before her and forces out a grin. "I really want to eat these clams. I've been looking forward to eating them ever since we came from the sea to practice a 10-foot dive."

"Alright," Chico concedes. "Suit yourself. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. If you're thinking about our practice tonight, just know that you did well. Maybe we can try 12 feet tomorrow if you're up for it."

"I'll try." Dara begins to feel her stomach grumble. She then grabs her utensils. The fork on her left and the knife on her right. "But first, can we eat?"

Chico breaks off into his signature smug smile which Dara has begun to fall for the past week. "No one's stopping you." He brings a hand before the clams. "Bon appetit."

There is a distinct way of preparing the clams. Dara can't put her finger on it, but it is different to the point that she can't forget it. Chico always says that it's a family secret passed down from his great great grandmother down to his mom. Now his mom has taught him for when he will take over the family restaurant. The tangy and spicy sauce drizzled on the clams makes them even a lot better. Dara could find herself eating at least 20 servings of it by herself.

After cooking for Dara for the past weeks, Chico made sure that he prepared more than 10 servings of the clams for the night. Dara's happy that he's gotten used to her eating habits.

"So," she begins while scraping off the clam meat from the shell, "you're going to be the one in charge of the restaurant in the future?"

"Definitely," Chico answers before taking a sip of water and placing the glass back on the table. He begins to move his empty shells to a designated metal bucket for disposal. "I see myself spending the rest of my life diving and taking care of the restaurant. A simple life that I always look forward to having."

"You're going to do it all alone?"

"N-No," he weirdly sputters. She notices a tinge of red at the tip of his ears but he brushes it off with a cough and a slight clear of his throat. "My mom would want a daughter-in-law who could help out. She doesn't have to be the one left to run the restaurant. If my future wife would want to dive for our fresh catch each day and I'm the one who'll be left to take care of the restaurant, then so be it. As long as we continue our lives together in this place then I'm more than okay."

"Is it easy to find a future wife for you here?" Dara doesn't know why she asked that question. Oh, God, now she's beginning to overthink again. Would Chico think that she was hoping that she could be his future wife? Why is she suddenly thinking about marrying him? Why does she suddenly care?!

"Yes, I think so."

His answer makes her stop breathing for a second. "What?" She asked at length.

"Yes," he repeats. "I do think it's easy to find a future wife here in this village." Chico was talking as if the prospect of spending the rest of his life with one person is a practical decision to make. "Dara, there are a lot of women around my age who do the same things as me. Expertise in diving, managing a fishery business, and stuff like that - almost everyone here grew up honing such knowledge. Compatibility won't be considered a huge problem then."

Dara felt her heart drop.

How could he be so nonchalant about this? She thought. And now she's thinking that it's so silly of her to even be affected by what he's saying. She's only met the guy for more than a month.

And now she's thinking about a future together?!

Wake up, Dara. Come on!

"Enough about that, though," Chico says. "I'm sure there are other more interesting things you'd want to talk about-"

"Why were you so mad at me when I first arrived here?"

Chico was first taken aback by her sudden question. "...Excuse me?"

"The first day I arrived here, this house was one of the first I visited. You were mad at me for being here...why?" Of course, Dara, the best way to combat your aching heart is to change the topic into something more controversial between you two. Yes, you're a smart one. She doesn't know where her courage came from to ask the question that's been bothering her since last month.

At least...it's a better question than to ask, "Am I not someone you'd like to be with?"

Chico leans forward. "When have you been wanting to ask that question?"

"Since last month," she answered without any hesitation.

"That was fast," he muttered. "Well," he then said in a louder voice, "here is my answer then, I found your life unfair."

She blinked at him, dumbfounded. "Unfair?"

"You remind me of a kind of life with so little suffering and I found it unfair," he clarified. Chico then began to explain, "I grew up seeing the people here working hard every day to make ends meet. I know that we are a small village by the sea and others think that we live a slow life. And that's true. But they don't realize that we live a slow yet hard life. I simply wanted to continue living here by working hard constantly. Then you arrived, possessing a reality that was new to us and...and it just pissed me off." He then sits back on his chair and folds his arms before him. "People revere you like some kind of superstar when really, you're normal like the rest of us."

His words hit her in a way that she never expected. He didn't sound jealous. No, it was far from that. He sounded as if the equilibrium of life in this village was suddenly threatened because of her presence here. She, as an outsider, suddenly barged into their way of life and tried changing it without her knowledge.

That thought alone made her ridden with guilt.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know."

Chico shakes his head. "Don't be sorry. I didn't also want you to know, but you asked and I delivered."

"...I don't like the attention either," she confessed after a few moments of shared silence.

He tilts his head and asks with a voice laced with genuine curiosity, "Then why are you making those videos?"

She shrugs. "A few years ago when I ate out, someone saw me and apparently was a talent scout for this broadcasting company that wanted to expand their audience using various social media platforms. That person was amazed at the amount of food I could eat despite my petite figure. Everything else after that happened so fast. Suddenly, I was contacted by that person and given a contract to read. I signed it mainly because of the pay. The pay is good and I instantly knew that it could help my parents. In some way, I'm still doing all of this to earn money."

To Dara's surprise, a slight smile spreads across Chico's face. "We're all the same then, aren't we? Just trying to survive this world."

"You're right..."

"Do you know what's wrong with you?"

"Oh no," she groans, "you're always good at pointing out what's wrong with me."

He chuckles softly before finally saying, "You don't have any ounce of faith in yourself." His eyes did not waver, nor did they look away from hers as he continues, "I've seen the way you would talk in front of the camera - filled with confidence and the right amount of energy to engage your audience. I know that you are someone filled with so much strength. And you don't even hesitate to show it to everyone around you. I think that's why people admire you so much...myself included. Dara, all my faith goes to you. Where's yours?"

Dara's mouth dropped open slightly, but she stayed quiet. Not a single sound was emitted and it made Chico grow worried.

"You okay?" He asked her for the nth time tonight.

And that was when her eyes became rimmed with tears and slowly one tear rolled down her face followed by another one, then another, and another. Until she became wracked with tears as she softly sobbed into her hands.

Chico instantly got to his feet and walked to grab something from one of the kitchen drawers. "Why are you crying?" He says as he brings out a clean kitchen towel and hands it over to her.

Dara looks up slightly to take it and gently dab it on her eyes to dry them as she replies, "I don't know. Maybe I-I'm so overwhelmed to hear those words coming from you."

"You always find a way to cry whenever you have the chance to." Chico sat again and shook his head, but he was smiling at her. "I got to hand it to myself though for knowing what to do when you cry already."

After collecting herself, Dara sniffs, wipes her eyes one last time, and faces him again. "D-Do you want to know what's wrong with you?"

He raises an amused eyebrow at her. "Oh, your turn now? Alright, shoot."

"You can be a softie, too," she shyly murmurs.

Chico scoffs, "Softie?"

"More like... sincere. You're a very sincere person but I don't see you acknowledging it."

"Hey, tough love helps." He grabs the pitcher of water and refills Dara's glass. He then admits, "But it seems you're an exception now."

"So you've been showing me tough love this whole time?"

"Of course because, as I said, I have a lot of faith in you."

"You're going to make me cry again."

He smiles. "Hey, to get your mind off things, how about you help me heat up the rest of the clams? Because of how much time we spent talking, the clams got cold. Think you could help by carrying two plates?"

"S-Sure," she got to her feet, "no problem at all." And grabs two full servings of clams at are waiting to be devoured.

"Oh, before I forget." Chico then stops her by placing his hands on her shoulders, making sure that she was looking right into his eyes. "You say that I'm sincere, right?"

She nods slightly.

"Maybe I really am sincere. But I am only that way to those I trust and see potential in. Luckily," he suddenly leans closer, "you fit both criteria." He gently squeezes her shoulders and pulls away. "Come on, let's heat up those clams."

But Dara wasn't able to hear him after that. She could only hear the rampant beating of her heart against her chest. Her hands felt clammy. Her body has gone stiff. And her hopes have gone up again.

Hopes in...what though? She can't put a finger on it. She's not too sure.

----------

It's the day of the dive. The day that she has dreaded for the past weeks.

But there is a new feeling in her. Excitement.

Dara, all my faith goes to you. Where's yours?

Chico's words ring in her head and she feels more vigor to finally show the world what she has prepared herself for.

They are all on the same boat and on the same route a month ago for the re-shoot.

After donning her wetsuit and making final preparations for her diving gear, she is ready to re-shoot her opening segment for the diving special of her trip.

One of her crew members walks up to her and shows her a thumbs-up. "You ready?"

She nods with a smile on her face. "Yes, I'm ready."

"That's good, Dara. By the way," the crew member walks closer to whisper, "I noticed that you've been spending a lot of time with that diver over there." They jut their head toward the direction of the other side of the boat where Chico is currently wearing the rest of his wetsuit.

Dara felt her cheeks start to flush when she spots a sliver of his toned torso as he zips up the rest of his wetsuit from where she was standing. She hides her flustered expression with a quick laugh. "Oh, diver Chico has been offering to cook their best-selling clam dish for me some nights. It helps when I'm still hungry at night you know," she finishes with another laugh.

"You could have always told us if you were still hungry. We could have helped you-"

"Don't worry about that!" She waves a hand at the crew member. "I took care of myself well." Thankfully none of the team members know what she has been really up to for the past month.

"Alright then, if you say so. Speaking of diver Chico, he will still be the person with you during the opening segment. Would that be alright?"

Dara was actually relieved to hear that. "Yeah, sure, no problem with that."

"Great. I'll give you a few more minutes before we begin filming. You can talk with diver Chico to review how the flow will go."

"Thanks. I'll do that now." The crew member leaves to return to their post and Dara makes her way to Chico.

Even if she's a few steps away from him, he still has not noticed her nearing presence. He seemed preoccupied with cleaning the rest of his diving gear and checking if they were functioning properly.

Now that Dara was even closer than before, she sees that his brows were deeply furrowed together. It looks like he has some stuff going on within him.

This made her concerned.

"Chico?"

He turns to his side to see her standing in front of him. "Oh," he breathes out. "Hey, Dara," he merely says before returning to his task at hand. It is still written on his face that he's bothered by something.

Upon further inspection on Dara's end, he looks...nervous. Nervous? Why would Chico feel that way?

"You okay?"

"Yeah," he replies curtly, "Why ask?"

"You look worried."

He freezes mid-action and turns his head to the side to gaze at her. "Is it that clear?"

"Wait...you're actually worried?"

He exhales a heavy breath and carefully sets his diving gear on the ground before answering with a question, "Who wouldn't be?"

"I didn't know that you would be the type to worry."

"I've been worried about you ever since you accidentally fell off the boat. And if I didn't continue to worry, then I would have not even bothered to teach you how to swim. This does not change the fact that I have a lot of faith in you...I'm just also worried that you might get hurt in the process."

Dara suddenly brings her hand out to hold his wrist. "I understand. I'm nervous, but I learned it means that I'm about to do something great. Plus," she breaks off into a knowing smile, "I had a great teacher."

Chico smiles back, even laughing shortly under his breath. "You're just flattering me now."

She shakes her head. "It is only the truth. I have a lot of faith in you, Chico."

He then takes her hand in his. "I have a lot of faith in us, Dara."

"I bet your mom is waiting to see if this will be successful or not."

"Definitely," he breathes out. "Mama said that she'll kill me if you even get a tiny scratch."

Dara giggles and gives him a playful shove. "She shouldn't worry, Chico. I know we're going to do great." She winks at him. "I just know it."

And truth be told, the nights of training, all the trust, and endless faith in each other made Dara's diving segment for her show a huge success in filming.

----------

"Dara?"

It's one of the crew members calling her from behind. She turns from looking out at the sun setting before her to fully face the crew member. "Yes?" She keeps one hand resting on the boat railing. The boat that's going to take them back to the city. The boat that's going to take her home.

It's supposed to be a joyous occasion. They were able to film really good segments for her show for the next few months and they spent their time and resources wisely in the village - everything about this trip is a success.

But why is Dara in a somber mood?

"Got anything left for you to load on the boat?" The crew member points at their back and Dara sees the rest of her crew loading in the rest of their camera gear and their bags filled with their belongings for the past two months.

She shakes her head. "No, no, I'm good already." Without uttering anything else, she looks back at the calm sea before her. She never knew that the people behind her were so busy with their final preparations before leaving. She was stuck in her own thoughts ever since she woke up today and prepared to leave this wonderful place and all these amazing people, and...

She's not ready to say goodbye to someone here. And she's sad that it's only turning into night and he hasn't been able to see her.

Who is she kidding though? Why does she expect him to visit her before they leave?

She can't help her downtrodden feelings though...because she has grown to like him fully.

Dara likes Chico and she can't believe that she'll be leaving him in an hour.

"Dara?" A disembodied voice calls her.

"I said that I'm good already."

"Ouch, I just arrived here and you're talking to me like that?"

Dara finally realizes the voice of the man behind her. In a split second, she had to see the one she has been yearning for the whole day.

And there he is before her, with the same smug smile he always has on his face. He still has his wetsuit on but a simple black shirt and blue board shorts act as a topmost layer to shield his body from the now chilly air.

"Chico! I'm sorry, I didn't know that it was you-"

"Did you really think that I was going to let you leave without saying goodbye?" He takes a few steps toward her. He cocks his head, regarding her with a look of pure...affection?

Is that affection? Dara doesn't want to make up scenarios, but she's sure that, in some way or another, Chico has a different look on his face. His eyes have softened and there seems to be a remnant of a slightly wistful smile on his face.

"I...I didn't expect you to visit me here."

He throws her an incredulous look. "Just because I was late from work means that you won't expect me to visit you? Of course, I'm going to say goodbye. It's not as if I'm throwing away all these past nights we spent together because you're leaving now." He stops, watching her carefully. "You don't seem happy to see me, though..."

Dara then sniffs and tears begin to pool in her eyes. "I thought you were never going to say g-goodbye."

"You're stupid and cute at the same time, you know that right?" He murmured at length. Chico then brings his arms forward to take her into an embrace. Dara instantly melts into it and she even closes her eyes, relishing in his comfort and the way his arms feel like home - a new kind of home for her, the kind that she doesn't want to leave.

With newfound confidence, Dara tilts her head so that her lips can press a kiss on his cheek. "You don't know how to say goodbye."

Chico pulls away slightly and whispers, "No, that's not how you do it." Then he cups a hand on her cheek and pulls her close, shutting his eyes in the process as he kisses her lips. Dara was shocked for a moment, but he was tender and gentle in the way he held her and relayed his feelings through a kiss.

She likes him so much and apparently, he likes her back.

Chico pulls away softly to find tears streaming down Dara's face. He cradles her face in his hands and uses his thumbs to wipe away the tears. "That was how I'd like to say goodbye to you. Only. Don't expect me to kiss every one of your crew leaving."

Dara chuckles softly but she still couldn't stop crying.

"You're crying again," he points out softly.

"I'm relieved...and happy...and so sad." She sniffs. "If this is just a one-time thing for you, then I-"

"Who said that this is a one-time thing?" He interrupted her gently. "I know myself, Dara. once I set my heart on something, I pursue it, no holds barred. I set my heart on making sure I teach you how to swim. And now, I've set my heart on you alone."

Dara felt content hearing his words. "...I've set my heart on you, too."

He smiles and leaves a soft peck on her lips. "I'm glad. Really glad. And also surprised with myself. I've really fallen for you, Dara."

"I don't want to leave you."

"Hey, I'll just be here," he whispers in reassurance. "If ever you'll want to come back here, I'll be the first person you'll see."

"Of course, I would want to come back here. Would you wait for me?"

"For you? I'll always be willing to." Chico couldn't help it. He leaned in to kiss her again. "You'll find me here," he murmurs against her lips.

She gives him a tearful smile after.

"Yes! Yes! I knew it!" The voice of Chico's mom rings above the air and the couple peeks after the railings to see that she is jumping for joy and throwing her arms around at the shore as she continues to show her happiness.

And she's not the only one at the shore. The couple has garnered a crowd with some expressing their happiness and shock to see their two-month-long visitor being affectionate with one of their residents.

"Oops," Chico says. "It seems that others on the shore could see us from here. I apologize if the people here are nosy."

Dara felt a twinge of embarrassment but it soon passes when she realizes that this was something to not be embarrassed about. She's happy, Chico's happy - and no one is hurt. "At least this won't be a segment in the show."

"It better not be." He leans his forehead against hers. "Because my feelings are only for you to witness."

Dara then whispers, "Mine, too."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was my birthday yesterday (which explains the '1228' in my username hahaha). I spent my day reading and writing. This is my birthday gift to you all ♡

I hope you enjoyed this cheesy yet sweet 3-part imagine!