Chapter 2 - Destiny Written by the Waves
630 Words
Song Yu stared at the seashell in his hand. Its smooth surface reflected the moonlight, with delicate ridges flowing like endless waves crashing onto the shore. He pressed his lips together, fingers instinctively tightening around it before slowly relaxing. Lin Xian’s words still lingered in his mind:
"If you can’t hate it, why not try making peace with it?"
"You seem to like philosophy." His voice was low, blending with the sound of the waves.
Lin Xian stood beside him, his tea-colored eyes reflecting the faint light. Tilting his head slightly, he replied softly, "Doesn't everyone have a place they belong to? The sea is where I always find myself drawn to."
Song Yu let out a quiet chuckle, his gaze as deep as the ocean. "But there are also people who don’t get to choose."
Lin Xian raised an eyebrow but didn’t press for an answer. He could tell this wasn’t someone who easily shared his thoughts.
Silence stretched between them. Lin Xian wasn’t uncomfortable with it—he simply gazed at the sea, as if waiting for the other to speak first.
And sure enough, after a while, Song Yu suddenly asked, "What’s your name?"
Lin Xian paused briefly before smiling faintly. "Lin Xian."
Song Yu repeated the name under his breath, as if committing it to memory. "Song Yu," he said in return.
"Your name… it sounds powerful." Lin Xian murmured, studying the person before him. "Song Yu—it means wings soaring far, doesn’t it?"
Song Yu smirked slightly, though it was unclear whether it was amusement or something else. "You’re good at guessing names."
"It just feels like it suits you."
He didn’t respond, merely gazing out at the sea. His expression remained unreadable. After a moment, he asked, "Aren’t you afraid of the ocean?"
Lin Xian chuckled. "No. I find it vast, but also gentle."
Song Yu gave him a strange look.
Sensing the unspoken thoughts in his gaze, Lin Xian asked, "And you? Why do you hate the sea?"
Song Yu lowered his eyes slightly, his fingers tracing the seashell’s ridges. For a brief moment, something unreadable flickered in his gaze. "Because it took away the most important thing in my life."
The ocean breeze howled, tousling his dark hair. In that fleeting instant, Lin Xian glimpsed something behind those eyes—pain, loss, and a wound that had never truly healed.
He didn’t ask further. Some things didn’t need to be spoken aloud.
A strong wave crashed onto the shore, spraying cold water over their ankles. Lin Xian glanced at the foamy tide before turning back to the figure beside him. "And yet… you still came back here?"
Song Yu let out a soft, bitter chuckle. "Sometimes, no matter how many times you try to run, you end up being pulled back to the place you least want to be."
Lin Xian remained silent. The salty wind carried a lingering chill. After a moment, he spoke again. "If that’s the case, then instead of hating it… why not face it?"
Song Yu didn’t reply, his gaze dropping to the seashell in his hand. The delicate ridges, the edges worn down by time—yet it still retained its original shape.
Lin Xian didn’t press for an answer. Instead, he turned his eyes back toward the sea. "I’ve always thought… the ocean isn’t something you can simply love or hate. It’s just there, silently witnessing everything."
Song Yu followed his gaze. The waves continued rolling onto the shore, never ceasing.
There they stood, side by side under the moonlit sky. A meeting unplanned, yet seemingly destined—like pieces of a puzzle falling into place.
Their shadows stretched long over the sand, the waves quietly washing away the footprints they had left behind.
- Writer
