Mia

The boat slices through the crystal-clear waters of the Andaman Sea, each wave sparkling under the sun's brilliant light. I stand at the bow, feeling the wind whip through my hair, a rare smile playing on my lips. Dressed in a black thin strap cotton top and black shorts and my Gentle Monster sunglasses, I feel the warmth of the sun on my skin, the cool breeze a perfect counterbalance. I look out at the scenery, captivated by the limestone cliffs rising majestically from the water, covered in lush greenery. The vibrant turquoise of the sea is almost too beautiful to be real, shimmering like a thousand tiny diamonds. Schools of fish dart beneath the surface, their scales catching the sunlight, and seabirds swoop gracefully, skimming the water.

For a moment, I let go of everything that usually weighs me down like my health and my depression that always follows me everywhere I go. Maybe that is why I am always so moody and annoyed. But right now the biting sarcasm, the cold facade – they seem unnecessary here, in this paradise. I breathe deeply, savouring the salty air, feeling a sense of freedom and peace that's almost foreign to me. The wind was blowing through my hair and face, and my muscles seemed to visibly relax, the pent of tension for years finally winding down. That or the fact that a certain Doctor's presence has been lifting up my mood. No that can't possibly be it. I barely know Aryan, how could he even elevate my mood or my spirits?

Behind me, I hear Aryan shift his body next to me. He's been watching me, I know. There's something different about him, too. He looked more relaxed compared to his usual stressed out attitude and I know he blames me for it deep down because he is always worried about my health for some reason. Well I wasn't forcing him to care about me in any way. He is practically bribed to look after my health, so that he can get his debt waived off. I felt slightly uneasy when I hear myself say the last part. He is doing all of these for a personal reason and it has nothing to do with how he may feel about me. Probably nothing good or impressive, yet I still felt a slight dip in my tummy. Is that disappointment?

I turn and gaze upon him, the way the sunlight catches in his hair, or the relaxed smile on his face. God is unfair for someone to be this good looking. He looked like a Calvin Klein model who just finished his photoshoot for the day and finally decided to hop on a boat to go and chill somewhere. I guess I was staring at him a bit too long because he definitely caught me and he started giving me his usual sexy smirk.

"I get it, I look good and even you can't deny it fiore."

"There is something on your face." I plucked an imaginary dirt off the side of his head and flicked it away. There is no way in hell I am going to admit that I was oogling at his beautiful face.

"Lies, but whatever helps you feel better." He smiled and scooted closer to me and placed his arms around my shoulder, my body instantly lights up with his touch. It was just a normal gesture, I didn't need to react this way at all. But with Aryan, everything always felt abnormal. They way he smiled and laughed or even nagged. For most parts it gave me butterflies but obviously the latter annoyed the living daylights out of me, yet I am learning to tolerate it better. He definitely casted some sort of spell on me because there is no way I am starting to like him or even consider being his friend.

We sit next to each other in comfortable silence, the kind that speaks volumes without saying a word. The boat slows as we approach Phi Phi Island, the white sand beaches and vibrant blue waters coming into sharper focus. Palm trees sway gently in the breeze, and the distant sound of laughter and music drifts from the shore. This island is such a vibe.

I take it all in, feeling a sense of contentment that's almost unnerving in its rarity. The boat docks, and Aryan helps me onto the pier. His touch is steady, grounding, as we step onto the wooden planks. We walk together towards the island, the promise of a new day full of possibilities stretching out before us, the beauty of Phi Phi Island setting the perfect stage for whatever comes next in our journey together.

"This place looks incredible. We need to explore every inch of it." Aryan smiles excitedly while adjusting his Raybans on his nose.

"Every inch huh. Hope you can keep up, doctor." I walked ahead of him and obviously he caught up to me in a second.

"Let's start with that cove over there." He points to a secluded spot framed by towering limestone cliffs, the water a stunning gradient of blues and greens.

We reach the cove, where the water is calm and inviting. Aryan pulls off his shirt, tossing it onto the sand, and once again, my heart lurches in my chest. He was so toned and sexy. I ran my eyes shamelessly all over his six packs and his biceps. I wanted to run my hands all over his chest and shoulders as he fuc.... "No no get your mind out of the gutter Mia." "Goddamn it Aryan." I gulped. Luckily for me my glasses was hiding my eyes, so Aryan didn't notice me eye fucking him. Aryan wades into the water and turns back towards me and calls me in.

"Come on fiore." He smiles and I almost melt.

I hesitate for a moment before giving in, slipping off my sandals, I remove my black top and shorts, just leaving me in my red bikini and stepping into the cool, refreshing water. Aryan is right; it's perfect. I noticed Aryan eyeing me, his gaze lingered just a tad bit longer especially on my chest before he shakes his head away and smiles back at me.

"I know I am very sexy." I flick my hair and he just looks partially embarrassed.

"The water is uhm really blue... I mean green.. I mean blue. Fuck it's a mix of both. It's beautiful." He rambles and I laugh out loud. I splash the water on him and he was shocked at my gesture.

"I am going to get you for that."

We swim around, splashing water at each other and just enjoying each other's presence, the water buoying us up as we drift lazily, the cliffs providing a sense of privacy and serenity. Why didn't I do this any sooner? Probably because I hated travelling alone. But fortunately for me the universe decided to present with the presence of an irritating doctor, who is fond of travelling. I know I never really cared much about his presence in my life prior to this, but for the first time, I appreciated it. I can finally hang out with someone who is fun and has a charming personality. It's easy to get along with him, though I would never actually admit that part to him, I just appreciated it inwardly. For once, everything felt like it was going my way.

After our swim, we dry off and head to a nearby beach shack, where the smell of grilled seafood and tropical fruits mingles in the air. Aryan orders us a feast, his excitement palpable.

"We'll have two of everything. And extra pineapple, please." Aryan ordered.

"Are you serious right now? You can't possibly finish all of that."

"Who said I am eating all of these on my own, you are going to enjoy this delicious meal with me." He smiled and brushed the hair out of my face.

We find a spot under a thatched roof, overlooking the beach. Aryan keeps up a steady stream of conversation, telling me about his favourite beaches, the best seafood he's ever had, and his surprisingly in-depth knowledge of tropical fruit. I never knew someone could talk this much. It's like once he is in his zone, he could talk about the most random topics. But that is the thing about Aryan, he could warm up to just anyone he meets. His calm and sparkling attitude could attract even a rock if it had the emotional capacity of a human. And I don't know how I am falling for it as well. His infectious smile always brought a silent warmth to my soul. He lights me up in ways I never knew someone actually could.

"Did you know that mangoes are considered the king of fruits in many cultures? They're not just delicious; they're packed with vitamins." He held up a piece of mango on his fork and fed one to me.

"I didn't know you were such a fruit expert."

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me, fiore." He gave me a cocky look and I just scrunched up my face.

"Alright Doctor Mango, tell me what is your favourite type of fruit?"

"Grapes. How about you?"

"Apples. And do you know why I like apples, Doctor Mango?"

"Don't say it." He sighed and I smiled.

"Because an apple a day keeps the doctor away."

"Well it's a myth, because it didn't keep me away from you. Not now, not ever." He started picking on the other fruits and I couldn't respond to him. He was right and I hated it, no amount of apples kept me away from ending up in his ER, him invading my life or my home. A small part of me was glad that he saved me instead of someone else, because if it wasn't for him, I don't know if I would have made it out alive.

We sat there in silence for a bit until he spoke up again.

"Can I ask you something?" Aryan removed his Raybans and stared at me with his light brown eyes, which now shone like gold flecks under the late afternoon sun.

"Hmm yeah." I bit on a guava.

"Are...Have you ever been depressed?"

I almost spat out the guava when he asked me that. Why is he even asking me a question like this all of a sudden? That is extremely personal and I have never spoken about this topic to anyone ever.

"I... I have."

"For how long?"

"Years. I don't even remember when it started, it must be somewhere around the age of 16." I looked away towards the ocean, reminiscing about the past. My family, my pain, the disappointment, the anger. The worst part of all I couldn't fix it or run away from it. I couldn't live the life I wanted and neither did I have the guts to end my life. So I was just stuck living this horrible lifestyle that I grew to resent every damn day. The only good thing actually two good things that happened in my life so far was adopting Shvan and Toffee.

"Did you ever try to get help?" I stared back at him again when he asked me that and he had this sad pitiful look plastered on his face.

"Aryan, why are we talking about this? We are at this beautiful beach and I just want some peace and..."

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to bug you about it. It's just that, from the time I met you until now, you gave off this vibe that you have depression and I just wanted to help."

"I appreciate it Aryan... It's just that I am not ready to talk about it to anyone. Not right now at least."

"I am always here whenever you are ready to talk about it." He tipped my chin up gently and I just gave him a small smile.

"Now let's finish this platter, go for another swim and then head back to the hotel so that we can eat again."

"Doctor Mango, I'm going to open a TikTok account for you, so that I can upload videos of you just eating."

"Hot Doctor who loves to eat. The girls will love it. I will happily do it for you fiore." He pinched my cheeks and I just swatted his hands away all annoyed.

I hate you Aryan.