Alana's pov
The sun was shining brightly on the beach as I walked alongside Kael, the sound of the waves crashing in rhythm with the fluttering of my heart. Today was supposed to be perfect; we had planned a fun day of sun, surf, and laughter. But as I looked around, a familiar face caught my attention—Mia.
She stood a few feet away, her sun-kissed skin glistening, a wide smile stretching across her face as she approached Kael. My stomach twisted uncomfortably as I watched her saunter over, her confidence radiating like the sunlight around us.
"Hey, Kael!" Mia exclaimed, her voice bright and flirtatious. "I didn't know you were coming to the beach today!"
Kael turned toward her, a smile spreading across his face. "Hey, Mia! Yeah, Alana and I decided to spend the day here. It's beautiful out."
I felt a pang of irritation as Mia moved closer, her body language open and inviting. She leaned slightly against Kael, her laughter ringing out like music, and I felt my cheeks heat with a mix of annoyance and jealousy.
"Sounds like fun! I was just about to take a dip in the water. Want to join me?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
My heart sank as I watched Kael's expression. He looked momentarily taken aback, glancing back at me for reassurance. "Uh, I was actually going to hang out with Alana first."
"Oh, come on! It'll be fun!" Mia insisted, her tone playful as she nudged his shoulder. "Just a quick swim!"
I felt a knot form in my stomach as I stood a few steps away, suddenly feeling like an outsider in my own relationship. Was Mia flirting with Kael? Did he even notice? My insecurities bubbled to the surface, and I fought to keep my expression neutral.
"Alana?" Kael turned to me, a hint of concern in his eyes. "What do you think?"
I forced a smile, trying to mask the rising jealousy. "Uh, sure. If you want to go swimming with Mia, that's fine. I can just relax here."
The moment my words left my mouth, I regretted them. It sounded so dismissive, so childish, but I couldn't help it. I didn't want to feel like I was competing for his attention.
"Are you sure?" Kael asked, his brow furrowed with concern. "I want you to have fun too."
Mia stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm, and I felt a surge of protectiveness. "Alana can join us, right? It'll be more fun with all of us!"
"Right… of course," I replied, forcing a laugh that felt hollow. "Just don't let me hold you back."
Kael looked between us, his expression a mix of confusion and hesitation. "I—"
"Go ahead!" I interrupted, my voice a bit sharper than I intended. "I'll just be here, enjoying the view."
I watched as he hesitated, clearly torn between wanting to comfort me and the temptation of a carefree swim with Mia. With a sigh, he finally relented. "Alright, we'll swim for a little while, but I'll be right back, okay?"
"Promise?" I asked, my voice softening as I tried to rein in my jealousy.
"Promise," he replied, his expression serious.
As they walked toward the water, I felt a surge of emotions crashing over me like the waves. I tried to shake off the feelings, but they clung to me like sand on my skin. Watching them splash and laugh together, I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy. Mia leaned in closer to Kael, and my heart sank further.
"What's wrong with you?" I muttered to myself, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "He's not yours to claim."
I plopped down on the beach, burying my toes in the warm sand, and tried to focus on the beauty around me—the shimmering ocean, the vibrant umbrellas, the laughter of families enjoying their day. But all I could think about was Kael and Mia, and the way she seemed so at ease with him.
Just then, I noticed a group of friends nearby, laughing and splashing each other in the shallow water. I watched them, hoping to distract myself from the knot of jealousy tightening in my chest. But it was no use; my gaze kept drifting back to Kael and Mia.
After what felt like an eternity, Kael swam back toward the shore, his hair glistening with droplets of water. My heart leaped at the sight of him, but I felt a twinge of annoyance when I noticed Mia trailing behind, her smile radiant.
"Hey, Alana! We were just talking about you!" Kael said, his voice bright with excitement.
"Really?" I replied, trying to sound casual, but my tone was sharper than intended. "What a coincidence."
Mia stepped forward, her gaze lingering on Kael. "We were just saying how fun it would be to have a beach party next weekend. You should come!"
"Sounds great!" Kael exclaimed, his eyes lighting up at the idea. "We could invite everyone!"
"Yeah, that would be fun," I replied, my voice lacking enthusiasm. I forced a smile, feeling like I was wearing a mask.
"Awesome! I'll get everyone together then!" Mia said, her smile bright and inviting. "It'll be a blast!"
As she walked away, I felt a mixture of relief and frustration. The moment she was gone, Kael turned to me, concern written all over his face.
"Alana, what's wrong? You seem off," he said, his voice gentle.
"I'm fine," I lied, but the tension in my voice betrayed me.
"Are you sure? You looked a little… uncomfortable back there," he probed, his brow furrowed.
"I'm just not a fan of Mia, that's all," I admitted, crossing my arms defensively.
"Why? She was just being friendly," he said, confusion flickering across his features.
"Friendly?" I echoed, trying to keep my voice steady. "She was practically glued to you!"
Kael chuckled, though there was a nervous edge to it. "It wasn't like that. We were just swimming."
"Yeah, well, maybe I don't like her 'just swimming' with you," I shot back, my jealousy bubbling to the surface.
"Alana, I promise you, I'm here for you," he said, his tone earnest. "You don't have to worry about her."
I took a deep breath, feeling a mix of guilt and frustration. "I know. It's just… I don't want to feel like I'm competing for your attention."
He stepped closer, his expression softening. "You're not competing with anyone. You're the one I want to be with, Alana. I care about you. Just you."
Hearing him say that made my heart race, and I felt the jealousy start to melt away. "Really?"
"Absolutely. You're special to me," he said, his gaze steady and sincere.
I bit my lip, feeling a rush of warmth at his words. "I'm sorry for being jealous. It's just hard sometimes."
"I get it. But I'm not going anywhere," he promised, reaching for my hand. "You mean too much to me."
As he held my hand, I felt the warmth of his touch and the sincerity in his eyes. Maybe it was silly to feel jealous, but I wanted to protect what we had. "Thanks, Kael. I really appreciate it."
"Let's forget about Mia and enjoy the rest of the day, yeah?" he suggested, his smile returning.
"Yeah, let's do that," I replied, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.
We headed back to the water, splashing and laughing together as the sun dipped lower in the sky. In that moment, all my worries faded away. I knew I had to trust Kael and focus on the incredible connection we shared.
And as we swam side by side, I couldn't help but think that no matter the distractions, our bond was stronger than any wave that tried to pull us apart.
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