Shui Yi held her breath after blurting out everything she had been holding in her heart. She knew her companions were keeping something from her.
"Ling Yue!" Long Fei's voice broke through the dark as his movement made a soft squelch in the damp silence.
"What? She's not just a pretty face. She figured out everything on her own, so we kept our word."
"You have a way of making everything... weird."
"I make everything weird? Why didn't you turn on the lights? You let Shui Yi grope my tonsils while I'm swimming! That is weird." A gush of warm air filled the cavernous space, ruffling their hair.
There was a soft rustle, then Long Fei raised a crystal. Its golden light spilled over his chiseled features and illuminated the dark. The whale's inner mouth walls glistened a watery pink, gently pulsing with life. The whale's tongue slowly rose and fell in rhythm, slick with moisture as seawater lapped at the edges.
Shui Yi couldn't help but giggle at their playful bickering, relieved that her sudden outburst no longer made things awkward between them. She could now see that Long Fei was flustered as he cleared his throat, and the tips of his ears reddened. It was strangely endearing. There was something about witnessing him unguarded, like a crack in his composed exterior, that made him all the more captivating.
"Now that Shui Yi has gotten everything off her chest, what's our next destination? Better yet, time you both get out of my mouth and check out the view."
The whale surged upward. Water parted effortlessly as they ascended, revealing the vast expanse above. The moon hung high, its silvery light spilling across the sea, casting a tranquil glow. Cool night air carried the scent of salt and distant sea life, while soft waves lapped in a peaceful rhythm.
As they emerged from the depths, Shui Yi was sent tumbling into Long Fei's chest. He dropped the crystal. This time, he didn't push her away. Instead, he held her waist, steadying her. His touch was firm, yet gentle. His usual stoic composure remained intact, but when she gazed into his eyes, he quickly turned away, his jaw clenched and lips pressed tight.
Her heart fluttered, her breath catching at the unexpected closeness. Her hands rested lightly on his chest, and she could feel his heartbeat quicken, matching her own. It was a moment of connection that seemed to stretch the boundaries of time: a hush between them, the warmth of his hold, and the faint glow of the fallen crystal casting soft light across their faces.
The whale opened her mouth wide, revealing a breathtaking sight around them. Endless ocean met jagged cliffs, and the horizon stretched out like a dark, infinite tapestry sprinkled with stars. The waves, gentle and unhurried, kissed the base of the towering rocks, their rhythm almost like a lullaby.
Above, the sky glittered with a cascade of stars, guided only by the soft glow of moonlight. Her gaze lingered on him, her heart racing as the air between them felt charged. She was so close to him, and the moment shimmered with possibility. His eyes softened as he looked out at the horizon, and then he cast her a brief, sidelong glance that pulled her in even closer. She reached out, her fingers brushing his chin to guide his face toward hers. Their eyes locked, and for a moment, it felt as though time had paused entirely.
She could hear her heart thumping. He gulped and glanced at her lips, then closed his eyes, leaning slightly into her touch as his breath warmed her fingers. She cupped her hands around his cheek. Before she could lean in to kiss him, Ling Yue's loud voice broke the moment.
"We don't have all day, you know! That cliff over there isn't going to explore itself."
Long Fei's eyes widened, and he turned sharply as Ling Yue called out. His fingers briefly lingered at Shui Yi's waist before he released her and flew to the top of the whale's head, his posture as graceful and composed as ever, without a second glance. He left so swiftly that her arms remained suspended in the air where his face had been.
Shui Yi, still breathless from the moment, shouted. "Hey! What about me? How am I supposed to get up there?"
Ling Yue's teasing voice rang out. "Use your arms and your legs. We didn't train you for no reason."
Shui Yi rolled her eyes, but a smile tugged at her lips as she prepared to climb. She searched for footholds along the side, gripping patches of silver-blue hair as she ascended, feeling the whale's subtle breathing beneath her fingers. She raised a hand for Long Fei to help her, but he offered only a sidelong glance, his hands clasped behind his back, eyes fixed on the cliffs ahead. She sighed, pulled herself up, and stood beside him, tucking her silver hair behind her ears.
They stood in awkward silence as Ling Yue pressed forward toward the cliff. The mermaid touched her lips, head tilted, wondering if she had imagined the moment. Long Fei's gaze remained fixed ahead, hands firmly behind his back, his breathing steady as though nothing had happened. A gentle breeze blew his ebony hair, and the reddened tips of his ears betrayed him. She furtively glanced at him, fiddling with her hair and biting her lower lip, her heart still beating fast as the breeze brushed the tip of her silver hair against his neck, prompting him to glance back at her, his eyes briefly widening.
He quickly turned away. She pursed her lips, stifling a giggle as the tip of his ear turned a deeper red. His silence, once reassuring, now made her question everything. When she finally summoned the courage to ask him, a loud thunderclap startled her. Not again.
The serenity of the view shattered as the sky tore open, raining fire upon the world below. Smoke and embers swirled like specters, their glow casting eerie reflections across the churning sea.