Solstice Dreams

Five || Tides of Laughter

As I woke up around 7 am to get ready, I recalled Raphael’s invitation from last night to head to town with him. My mom, always sharp, was already in the living room, scanning my outfit with a keen eye.

She looked at me with a smirk and said, “Oh, you’re wearing your favorite shirt?”

I gave her a confused look and quickly replied, “What? No.”

But she didn’t let it go, her gaze sharpening, “Don’t you just wear that on special occasions… so who are you going out with?”

I hesitated for a moment, trying to sound casual, “No, I’m not… I’m just helping someone to town.”

She raised an eyebrow, a little amused, then nodded. I gave her a quick wave and headed out, my footsteps quickening as I made my way to the café.

When I got there, I spotted Raphael sitting at a table. He was wearing his sunglasses, a button-down top, and shorts that made him look effortlessly clean and put-together. As soon as he saw me, I waved, signaling that we could head out.

“So,” he started as we approached, “How do you usually commute to town and other places?”

I pointed to my bike, which was a small scooter, and said, “Well, usually by bike.”

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, “Are we riding that?”

I chuckled, knowing what he was thinking. “Don’t worry, we’re not using my bike today… it’s being repaired.”

He let out a small sigh of relief, the tension lifting from his face. I grinned and pointed toward an old, big pickup truck parked nearby.

“We’re taking that,” I said, feeling a bit amused by his reaction.

As Raphael and I climbed into the old pickup truck, I couldn’t help but laugh at the contrast between the sleek, modern world of his usual rides and this old beast. The engine sputtered to life with a loud growl, and I could see him looking around at the worn interior, trying to hide his surprise.

“You sure this thing still works?” he asked, half-joking, half-concerned.

I grinned and patted the dashboard. “This old thing’s got character. Don’t worry, we’ll make it there.”

He shrugged, a little unsure, but we pulled off down the street, the truck rattling as we went. The ride was slow, but there was something oddly peaceful about it. The sunlight filtered through the trees, and I couldn’t help but glance at Raphael, his sunglasses hiding his expression but his relaxed posture showing he was slowly starting to enjoy the ride.

As we stepped into the town square, Raphael took in the surroundings, his sunglasses still perched on his nose as he observed the slow, easygoing pace of the people around us.

“Wow,” he muttered, almost to himself. “This place feels… peaceful.”

I smiled, watching him take it all in. “Told you. It’s different from the city.”

We walked for a bit, the early morning breeze making the air crisp and light. As we passed by the local food store, the scent of freshly cooked food drifted towards us, making my stomach tighten in hunger.

I turned to Raphael. “Hey, do you wanna eat first? It’s still kinda early, and I’m—”

Right at that moment, my stomach decided to make the loudest, most embarrassing growl.

A deep, mortified silence followed. My entire soul shriveled up inside me. I wished, with every fiber of my being, that the earth would just open up and swallow me whole.

Raphael turned to me, one eyebrow raised above his sunglasses. Then—he smirked. Not just any smirk. A full-on, amused, almost too-charming smirk.

“Well,” he said, way too entertained by my suffering. “I guess that answers the question.”

I should’ve eaten before leaving!

“Did you say something?” he smirked. He chuckled, nudging my arm lightly with his elbow. “Now we definitely have to eat.”

Inside, the warm aroma of spices and sizzling dishes filled the air. I eagerly placed my order, piling on a mix of local dishes that I knew would hit the spot. Meanwhile, Raphael simply ordered a cup of coffee, his expression unreadable behind his sunglasses.

I glanced at him, raising a brow. “You’re not eating?”

He shook his head slightly, the corner of his mouth lifting in amusement. “I don’t usually eat breakfast. But help yourself.”

I paused, looking between him and my growing tray of food. “Have you even tried the food here before?”

Raphael made a small gesture, tilting his hand side to side—not really.

I scoffed playfully. “Well, since we’re already here, I might as well make you try some.” I pushed the tray closer to him, determined. “I’ll make sure you actually enjoy your day off today.”

He huffed out a small laugh, finally lowering his sunglasses to glance at the food. “Alright then,” he said, intrigued. “Impress me.”

As we stepped out of the food store, my stomach full and content, the warm morning air greeted us. The streets were slowly coming to life, but what caught my eye were the kids playing barefoot on the side of the road, their laughter echoing through the quiet town.

Before I could take another step, a small figure suddenly ran up to me.

“Kai!!!”

I turned, grinning as I recognized the little boy beaming up at me. I crouched slightly to meet his height. “Oh, you’re out playing so early,” I said, ruffling his hair. “Have you eaten anything yet?”

The boy shook his head, his small fingers fiddling with the hem of his shirt.

Without thinking, I reached into my bag, pulling out some money and placing it into his tiny hands. “Go buy some snacks—and share with your friends, alright? And don’t forget to head home after, or else your mom’s gonna get mad.”

The boy grinned ear to ear. “Okay!!” he chirped before dashing off toward his friends, the excitement practically radiating from him.

As I stood back up, I felt a gaze on me. When I turned, I found Raphael watching me, his expression unreadable—but there was something soft in the way his lips curled slightly at the corners, something quieter in his posture.

His sunglasses rested on the collar of his shirt, his eyes softer without their usual shield. His hair, slightly tousled, lacked its usual perfection—making him look more natural, almost effortlessly charming.

I tilted my head. “What?”

He blinked once, as if snapping out of his thoughts, but he didn’t look away. Instead, he let out a soft breath of a chuckle, shaking his head. “Nothing.”

I squinted at him, unconvinced. “You sure? You’ve been staring.”

His smirk grew, a little more teasing now. “Maybe.”

I huffed, crossing my arms. “That’s not an answer.”

He took a step closer, his tone lower but laced with amusement. “You’re good with kids,” he said simply. I couldn’t help the small smile pulling at my lips as I caught up to him.

After wandering around town for a bit, we ended up at a small shop filled with all sorts of random things—souvenirs, clothes, local crafts. Raphael browsed through the racks, sunglasses still clinging to his shirt, while I casually trailed behind.

He picked up a simple T-shirt, inspecting it with a thoughtful hum. “What do you think?” he asked, holding it up.

I tilted my head. “Hmm… not bad. But I think you should go for something more tourist-y—like that one.” I pointed at a bright, ridiculously patterned shirt hanging nearby.

He followed my gaze and scoffed. “Absolutely not.”

“Oh, come on,” I teased, grabbing it off the rack. “It’s got character. It screams ‘I’m on vacation and loving it.’”

He gave me a flat look. “It screams I got lost in bad fashion choices.” I laughed, putting the shirt back as he ended up grabbing a few simple items for himself.

Then, to my surprise, he started piling up different kinds of local snacks.

I raised an eyebrow. “Stocking up for the end of the world?”

He smirked. “These are for the crew. Thought they’d appreciate trying something new.”

I blinked, a little surprised but oddly endeared. “That’s actually kinda sweet of you.”

He shot me a look. “Kinda? Wow. I put in effort and only get a kinda.”

I grinned. “Fine. That’s very sweet of you.”

He nodded in satisfaction. “Better.”

Once we paid and left the shop, I immediately pulled him toward the street food stalls. The smell of grilled skewers, fried snacks, and sweet delicacies filled the air.

“You can’t leave town without trying these,” I announced, already scanning for my favorites.

He eyed the sizzling food warily. “Alright, what’s safe?”

I gasped dramatically. “Safe? Everything is amazing here! Trust me.”

He took a bite, then squinted at me. “Why do I feel like you’re testing me?”

I smirked. “Because I am.”

He huffed a laugh, shaking his head. “Unbelievable.”

As we hopped from stall to stall, I kept handing him different foods, and he played along, sometimes making exaggerated faces just to make me laugh. At one point, I tried giving him something a little too unfamiliar, and he leaned in, lowering his voice dramatically.

The sun was starting to dip lower, casting a warm golden glow over everything as we made our way back to the truck.

I parked the truck and we unloaded the bags he’d picked up. As we closed the tailgate, Raphael turned to me with a relaxed smile. “I had fun,” he said, his voice genuine.

I returned the smile, my heart fluttering a little. “I had fun too,” I replied, the words coming easily.

As we walked along the shore, the soft sound of the waves lapping against the sand filled the air. I glanced over at Raphael, watching the way his relaxed smile softened the features of his face.

“You know,” I said casually, “I was thinking of taking up a hobby, maybe something adventurous. You know, since I’ve been so busy.”

Raphael glanced at me, curiosity in his eyes. “Like what?”

I gave him a sly grin. “Maybe something like skydiving. Or rock climbing. Just… something that’ll make me feel alive, you know?”

He looked at me for a second, his expression unreadable, before he let out a small laugh. “Skydiving? You’d be lucky if you didn’t scream the whole way down.”

I shot him a playful glare. “Oh, I’d totally scream the whole time. It’d be fun.”

His grin softened as he looked out at the horizon. “You’d probably make it fun, yeah.”

As we approached the set, Raphael glanced over his shoulder, catching me in a brief gaze before Ivy appeared and pulled his attention away.

With a small nod, I made my way to the café, my mind still replaying the light banter, the little looks, and the way the evening felt just a little too perfect.