Kian and Jay woke up early, which was a miracle in itself. The sun was just creeping over the mountains, and they stumbled out of the inn, still rubbing sleep from their eyes.
"Man, I need coffee," Jay mumbled, running a hand through his messy hair.
"We're in the middle of nowhere, Jay. No barista's gonna serve you a caramel latte with extra foam," Kian teased, grabbing his backpack.
Jay made a face. "Fine. Let's just get this over with then."
They headed to a small market stall by the lake, where a grizzled old man was selling fishing gear. Kian picked up a rusty net, raising an eyebrow. "Is this supposed to be for fish or to catch ghosts?"
The old man chuckled. "It's got character. Like me," he said, showing a grin with more gaps than teeth.
Jay, trying to look serious, added, "I think we'll just need some bait and a bucket." He glanced at Kian, who was clearly eyeing some shiny, overpriced lures. "And don't even think about getting fancy. We don't know what we're doing."
After grabbing the essentials and not much else, they made their way to the lakeshore. The priest had given them a couple of fishing rods before they left, but neither of them had any clue if they were good or just old relics.
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The Competition Begins
The lake was already buzzing with activity. Locals were chatting, setting up their spots, and comparing rods. Kian and Jay found a quiet patch away from the crowd. They set down their gear and looked out at the water, which was calm and inviting.
Jay took a deep breath. "Okay, so…how do we do this?"
Kian shrugged. "Easy. We just…cast the line out there and wait, right?"
Jay looked doubtful but decided to go along with it. He mimicked Kian's move, tossing his line into the water. "Now we wait?"
"Now we wait."
They sat there in silence for a few minutes. Then, Jay started to fidget. "Man, this is boring."
Kian grinned. "You wanted excitement. Maybe we'll hook a sea monster or something."
Jay chuckled. "Yeah, right. I'm not even sure there are fish in this lake. It looks way too peaceful."
As if to prove him wrong, a fish splashed in the distance. Both of them jumped. "Did you see that?" Jay asked, suddenly more alert.
"Yep, and I'm gonna catch it," Kian declared, leaning forward with a determined look.
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Fishing Fiascos
Minutes passed, then an hour. Kian and Jay weren't having much luck. Jay had already tangled his line twice, and Kian's rod seemed to be more interested in catching seaweed than fish.
"Why are they not biting?" Kian muttered, frustration creeping into his voice.
"Maybe they know we're amateurs," Jay replied, laughing. "Fish have instincts, right? They probably smell our inexperience."
Kian gave him a mock glare. "Very funny. At least I'm not the one who almost hooked their own shirt."
"Hey, I was trying something new," Jay defended himself.
Just as they were about to give up and break out the snacks, Kian spotted the cove the old man had mentioned. It was a little distance away, with rocky edges and some shady spots where the bigger fish might hide.
"I think that's our spot," Kian said, pointing.
Jay looked skeptical. "Are you sure? It looks pretty…slippery."
Kian grinned. "What, scared? Come on, let's give it a shot. We didn't come all this way to fish like we're at a kiddie pond."
Jay rolled his eyes. "Alright, but if I slip and break something, you're carrying me back."
"Deal."
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A Change of Luck?
They made their way over to the cove, slipping and stumbling over rocks. When they finally settled, Kian felt a rush of excitement. The place had a different vibe. It was quiet, almost too quiet, but in a good way. The water here seemed deeper, darker. Perfect for hiding big fish.
They cast their lines again and waited. And waited. Then, finally, Jay felt a tug.
"Hey! I think I got something!" Jay shouted, his eyes wide with excitement.
Kian's face lit up. "Reel it in, man! Slowly, slowly…"
Jay did as instructed, his hands trembling. The line went taut, and they both leaned in, anticipation growing.
Then, with a mighty pull, Jay yanked the line out of the water…and found a small, rather unimpressive fish dangling at the end.
Kian burst into laughter. "Wow, Jay, you caught…dinner for a mouse."
Jay glared at him, trying to suppress a grin. "Hey, it's better than your seaweed collection."
Kian shook his head, still laughing. "Alright, alright. Let's try again. Maybe this place really does have the big ones hiding somewhere."
They kept fishing, joking and bantering, their spirits lifted. The fish might not have been biting much, but at least they were having a good time.
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A Surprise Catch
Hours went by, and just as the sun was starting to dip, Kian felt a hard tug on his line. His eyes widened. "Whoa, I think I've got something…big!"
Jay immediately jumped to his feet. "Hold it steady! Don't let it snap!"
Kian gritted his teeth and started reeling in slowly. Whatever was on the other end was strong. The rod bent almost to its breaking point. "Come on…come on…" he muttered.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally managed to pull the line in. Out of the water came…a giant, old boot, dripping with mud.
Jay doubled over with laughter, clutching his stomach. "Nice catch, Kian! I'm sure that'll win us first prize!"
Kian stared at the boot for a moment, then started laughing too. "Well, at least it's bigger than your fish."
They laughed until they were out of breath, wiping tears from their eyes. Even though they hadn't caught anything impressive, they felt like they'd won the day just by having fun.