Ignoring the people around me, I stride towards her, a permanent smile settled on my lips. Running a hand through my wet hair, I put the surfboard beside me in a vertical position.

"So?" I arch an eyebrow at her and I subtly let my eyes roam around her face.

"Yeah, you were not bad," she says as rolling her eyes with a hint of a smile on her lips.

"Not bad, huh?" I shake my bad and chuckle, "If in your dictionary 'not bad' means fantastic, then yeah... I was not bad." I shrug with a slight smirk on my face, enjoying our banter.

"Yeah, sure." She tries to say with a straight face while chewing inside of her cheeks to stop herself from laughing.

"Let's go," she says as removes wisps of hair from her face which loosens from her hair tie. My eyes, unintentionally, following her movement.

"What do you mean by, go?" Instantly, I grab her wrist stopping her from taking another step, "You said, you will surf once I will prove to you that I can surf. So now, it is your turn." Leaving her hand I cross my arms over my chest.

"I don't think it is a good idea." She signs to me as she looks around the crowd nervously repeating the words which I have earlier said to her.

"Afraid, are we?" I tease her, arching my eyebrow at her, "What about knowing how to stand after fall...blah blah blah."

"I said I know how to stand after I fall but I never mentioned I know how to survive after I drown." She pouts then gives me a sheepish smile.

"C'mon it will not be that bad. I will be there with you, I will not let you drown, trust me." I encourage her.

"No, everyone will ...... at me," she says while pointing a finger towards her.

Everyone will? I think for a moment trying to decipher the word. Laugh?

"Everyone will laugh at you?" I repeat the sentence to confirm.

She nods her head, looking uncomfortable.

"Nothing like this will happen.No one will laugh at you" I assure her giving her a reassuring smile but the stubborn girl refuses to budge.

"Since you haven't left me with any other option, I have to introduce you to water by myself," I say as I shake my head slowly, her eyebrows shoot up and I notice her stance changes as she is about to sprint off in another direction.

But before she can take another step, I quickly catch her and throw her over my shoulder. I laugh loudly at the useless attempts for her to free herself. I know she must be cursing me royally, as she continues to kick and hits my back with her fists.

"You know, what is the best thing about being deaf is?" I ask in between laughs, briefly, she stills her movement indicating I have got her attention, "You can't blame me for turning deaf ear to your pleas." I laugh loudly while tightening my hold on her thighs so that she does not fall as she punches my back again.

I let her body slip from my hold as I walk past waist-deep water. Her entire body brushes mine, making me intake a sharp breath, as she stands in front of me holding my shoulders to balance herself in water.

I can feel waves lapping around us, making our bodies sway with water. A large wave approaches us and she stands on her toes, trying to keep herself above water. Instantly, wrapping my arm around her small waist I bring her closer to me and pick her up. With my other hand, I lightly tap behind her thigh silently asking her to wrap her legs around me, all while not breaking eye contact with her.

She swallows nervously then hesitantly wraps her legs around my waist, just in time when a wave crashes against our bodies. She tightly held onto me and closes her eyes as water splashes on her face.

Slowly, opening her eyes she laughs as she notices the wave has passed. Her breath fans across my face when she laughs, clenching her eyes as another wave hits us splashing water on our face.

Her laugh turns into a small smile when she looks at me. Then suddenly she runs her fingers through my hair pushing away the hair which is sticking on my forehead.

Instinctually, my gaze falls to her lips which are so inviting that I feel myself leaning towards them. Her grip on my shoulders tightens as I feel her breath hitch, which makes me halt. Tearing my gaze away from her lips I blink trying to clear my mind. Internally, scolding myself for being an idiot.

What will she think of me? Probably that I am a pervert.

"Put me down," she says as she lightly pats my cheek to make me look at her.

Reading her lips seems so difficult when all I can think about kissing her lips.

"Yeah, careful," Clearing my throats, and my thoughts, I manage to say.

Before I can put her down, she holds my neck and slightly perches herself up more, making me swallow hard. I raise my eyes to her face careful not to linger them on her chest which is practically in front of me. Leaning my head away I watch her excitedly waving at someone behind me.

I turn just in time to watch my brother and friend running towards me, as fast as they can in water, with big smiles on their faces. Carefully, I put her down, but still, keep my arm around her waist protectively.

I slightly stumble as they engulf me in a hug.

Their eyes showing their happiness as they grin at me. For others, this might be a normal thing but for me... for us, it is a big thing. As this is the first time, I have surf after the accident and I know how much this means to my family. Because not only me but they have also lost the old Jason, whom they wish to get back.

Lina hides behind me while holding my shoulders as Caleb starts to splash water on her face. I can feel her laughing as she almost pressed against my back as she tries to save herself from Caleb's water attack.

But suddenly, her hands vanish from my shoulders instantly making me turn to her. I see Nick has picked her up as she is shouting something then before I can stop him he swings her and throws her in a little deeper water.

Nick and Caleb laugh, as I push them away and look for her.

"Lina!" I call her name when I can't see her.

Instantly, Nick and Caleb also look for her.

"What the fuck is wrong with you, Nick?" I glare at Nick, who looks pale as he runs a hand through his hair, "Why did you throw her in the water? We do not even know if she knows to swim."

I feel the panic rising in me because we can't find her. The water was already high for her.

Then I see her hands a little away in deeper water as she splashes frantically.

Quickly, I jump and swim to her. Holding her from her waist I start to swim back, I do not know why, but I feel something is not right. Slightly, looking in her direction I find myself completely relaxed not even slightly panicked like a person who was drowning a few moments ago.

Catching my eyes, she subtly winks at me and closes her eyes.

This girl!

Pursing my lips to stop myself from laughing, I became a part of her prank, as I swim us to the shore.

Instantly, Caleb and Nick are by my side as I pick up Lina and place her on the sand.

Damn, she is really doing a good at playing unconscious.

I look at Caleb as he harshly pushes Nick and points at Lina saying something.

I am sure he is cursing him.

I pretend to wake Lina up by lightly slapping her cheeks. Why would I give CPR to someone who is perfectly fine?

Nick quickly sits beside me starts performing CPR on her. Before he can give her mouth to mouth, not that I would have let him do that, she sits up shocking Caleb and Nick, and slaps him.

Nick holds his cheek looking at her with wide eyes, as I and Lina burst out laughing.

Then slowly he also starts laughing with us as he flashes a finger at me and her.

Caleb throws his arm around Lina's neck as he points at something and we all turn to look to find some guys surfing.

"Let's go surfing," Caleb excitedly says as well as signs, "Just like old times." He clenches my hand, his excitement is contagious.

"Just like old times." I smile and whisper as I start following Caleb.

Turning my head, I glance at Lina who is smiling at me while sitting at the shore with her arms wrapped around her knees. Returning her smile, I wink at her and I watch her eyes widen as her cheeks become redder than they are already due to the sun.

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Thank you for reading.