Prologue
“Where are you going?”
“I’m just going outside for some air,” I said as I left.
It’s really different when you’re at the sea. The breeze is nice, it’s quiet, free...
Free?
“Agh!”
I fell because someone bumped into me.
“Sorry, miss,” he said, helping me up. “I’m really sorry, miss. I promise I didn’t mean to do that.”
“It’s okay-” I was a bit surprised because there was something on his face. “S-sorry...” I tried not to laugh.
He has a face mask on, and it’s black.
“Ah.. my friends put this,” he explained, scratching his head.
I composed myself before speaking. “Sorry, I’m not laughing at you, I was just surprised.” Now I feel embarrassed.
“It’s okay, I really look ridiculous. Sorry again about earlier, I really didn’t mean to.”
“It’s okay, I didn’t see you running either.” I smiled. “I’ll go ahead now.”
“Wait!” I stopped and looked at him. “U-um.. I’m on vacation here, I just wanted to hear stories from the locals. C-could you stay here for a bit?”
Huh? What did he say?
“Oh, never mind, miss. It’s embarrassing.” He quickly took back what he said. He seemed ashamed of what he said. Then he sat on the sand.
I didn’t know why, but I felt a sudden urge to keep him company. I didn’t even know him, yet I felt completely at ease around him. Deep down, I felt like he wasn’t a bad person at all.
“How can you tell that I’m a local?” I murmured as I sat next to him. He looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected me to sit beside him.
“U-uh, I was just guessing, haha.”
I looked at the sea. The waves were beautiful to watch.
“So beautiful”
I looked when I heard that.
“The sea is here,” he added.
I thought it was something else.
“For you, what makes the sea move?” I asked suddenly, not knowing why. “Is it the ocean itself, or the wind?”
“Huh?” I wanted to laugh at his reaction.
“People say everyone has their own life. The sea is the same, right? Maybe the sea has life, but how does it move? Does it move because of its own water, or because of the wind? If you notice, if no wind passes over it, it won’t move, it won’t have waves, strong or weak.” I kept talking, I don’t know how I did that. I felt sadness again.
“You might be right,” I didn’t expect him to answer. “But water can move without wind. It can move in other ways. You’re sweating, aren’t you?” I just stared at him.
“Go into a room without air conditioning or an electric fan, just where the air is still enough so you can breathe. Because it’s stuffy, you’ll get hot and sweat.”
He spoke while looking at the ocean. I watched her lips move as he talked.
“When you sweat, it drips on its own without needing strong wind. It will slowly drip or run down your skin, right?”
I am quietly listening to him.
“Air is essential for everyone alive on Earth. It lets us breathe, but that doesn’t mean you should let it control you. It is always there to sustain us, not to carry us away. Only we can control our actions, because they are our own. The wind exists to give us life—that’s its job.” He stopped, and I turned to look at him. “And if you do move? That is because of you—not because of the air around you.”
I stared blankly at him, thinking over each word he said.
‘And if you do move? That is because of you—not because of the air around you.’
I don’t know, but it seems like that answered my question. However, something is still blocking me, and I don’t know what it is.
“Thank you.” I admit everything he said makes sense. I stood up because it was late, and they might be looking for me. “I need to go home now. Thanks for your time.”
“I-I should be the one thanking you. You stayed here even though you don’t know me.” He seemed shy, which made me want to laugh.
“I didn’t even get to tell you what you wanted to hear. You were actually the one who shared your thoughts when you answered my question earlier, so thank you.” I genuinely meant every word. “Anyway, goodbye, Mr. Face Mask,” I said, bidding him farewell once more, letting out a little chuckle as I remembered the mask covering his face.
**
