seventy one ✎ᝰ

THE COTTON CANDY sky had dawned upon the beautiful ocean pool. The view was mesmerising; a mixture of light and fluffy and softly colourful; pastels of pink, purple and blue that would easily take your breath away. The ocean was calm; unlike the heart of one that felt like it were thrashing waves in the middle of a brutal storm.

Riley held a hand over her heart. Please be calm she pleaded. She hadn't been this nervous since her graduation speech all those months ago. Her right hand held Mason tightly. "Follow me."

She guided her down a flight of stairs that led them to the small pool deck. Mason could hardly believe her own eyes. "Wow...this place is beautiful." She exclaimed. "This actually exists?"

Riley nodded. "I used to visit this place whenever I wanted a peace of mind. It was just like no other place." She smiled. "I could think about life while looking out into the ocean. I'd find myself here for hours on end...sometimes till the sun set. It's absolutely worth it though. You'll see."

The pair had reached the bottom of the stairs. It was quite empty for this time of day; Riley felt relieved. She hoped that they'd have the place to themselves this evening ; and at the minute, it sure seemed like it. It was one less thing for Riley to worry about— making it much easier for her.

Mason took the hem of her oversized tee between her fingernails. "Do you think the water will be cold?" She looked down at the manmade pool. It was absolutely beautiful up close. "I could cry just thinking about it." The comment left Riley in a fit of laughter. "Don't laugh! Aren't you worried?"

The latter took the hem of her oversized tee and pulled it over her head and tossed it to the side before jumping into the water. Mason stepped back and gasped. "Riley! Oh my goodness."

Riley brought her knees to her chest and let her body submerge into the water. Her mouth curved up into a warm smile as she brought herself back up over the water. "The water is beautiful, baby."
She runs her fingers through her curly waves.

"Oh wow." Mason felt her heart begin beat rapidly against her chest. "Riley..." She couldn't help but swallow her words at the mere sight of the young lady in front of her. Mason had soon realised that this was the second time they've been in the water. She vividly recalled their time at the lake all those years ago. Mason was just as speechless as the first time; she was breathless and falling in love with Riley all over again. Her heart had been captured and she knew it was solely hers.

It was always going to be.

Mason held the hem of her shirt and brought it over her head, revealing a floral one piece that would leave Riley just as breathless as she left the latter. She tossed her shirt down on the pool deck and moved towards the the two hand rails. Mason hovered a hand over either one and dipped a toe in to test the waters. "Hmm."

"Are you getting in or will I have to bring you in here myself?" Riley questioned. She managed to stay afloat; easily becoming one with the water.

Mason took one step at a time into the water and got in safely. "Not anymore." She smiled proudly. Why, was that a threat or a promise?"

Riley shrugged. "It could've been both." She held her hands out for Mason to hold. "Come." The latter obliged and they brought themselves to the edge of the pool where the the rocky edge stood between the ocean waves. It was absolutely mesmerising and they were both in awe of it.

Riley intertwined their hands together as they stood side by side at the pool's edge. "Do you remember the first time we ever swam together?" Mason couldn't help but smile.

"I was just thinking about it earlier. So, yes. I do."

Riley felt her heart beat against her chest like a thousand drums. "It felt magical. It was so surreal and...it just feels like it was yesterday."

Neither of them could comprehend the mere fact that their spontaneous swim at the lake was more than five years ago. Both of them were so young and quite naive; unaware of many things.

"I still feel the same as I did that day." Mason confessed. "I felt that same feeling just then as I watched you get into the water. You just left yourself become one with the waves and...I just felt my heart race a thousand times over."

Riley felt the heat rush to her cheeks. The sun was soon due to rest. She was convinced that the heat of the sun had found home in her body. A rush of warmth had blossomed all throughout her as Mason inched forward. Her body felt like it was on fire. The cool waters could not cool her.

She felt her breath hitch at the same time. "I could say the same about you." Riley admits. Her expression was soft yet somewhat serious. Mason couldn't help but smile. She liked how it softened slightly when Riley looked back at her. The way she looked at her was different from how she looked at everyone else. "You are the love that came without warning; you had my heart before I could even say no. It couldn't be more true—that saying. You fall in love with the most unexpected person at the most unexpected time."

Mason couldn't help but blush. "You probably had no intention of ever falling in love with the shy and ever so mysterious sit alone girl at the back of class. The same person that would be your tutor. The same person you would see everyday Saturday night. The same person you built a whole wish list upon. How is it anyway?" She wondered. "I haven't been able to look at it these days. I can't help but think you're hiding it."

Riley shrugged. "It's for me to know and you to find out." She teased. "But you're right. I didn't expect to fall in love with the girl that didn't even look up at me when I first walked into the room. I didn't expect to fall in love with the person that helped me grasp a whole new topic after transferring. I most certainly did not expect to fall in love with the person I built my wish list upon. You were meant to merely be a happy crush. You were meant to be the girl I admired from afar. But it was difficult; for many many reasons. I couldn't seem to stay away from you."

Mason cupped Riley's cheek and smiled. "Neither did I." She answered. "We were glued to the hip."

Riley nodded. "Right we were." She laughed. "And I wouldn't have had it any other way. You're my fairytale, Maisie. That invisible string truly exists. I know that our relationship hasn't always been easy. We argued. We got mad. We started lying and keeping secrets. Whenever things got rough I would always tell myself that we would never be apart; not for long. You are like the seasons. You return like autumn and I fall for you every time. It was always dangerous. But you were the risk I was always willing to take. We may be chaos; but that's the kind of chaos I'd throw myself into a million times over. Because that's just how I feel. I love you. I never thought I'd get attached but my heart is so full of you that I can hardly even call it my own."

Mason felt tears well in her eyes. "Riley..."

"I know that I'm not perfect. I know that I still have so much to learn. I know that life will never come easy. But I know full well that I can conquer the world with one hand as long as you are holding the other. You are so deeply tangled into my soul that I fear that I could never not love you. Our story may not be like the movies or the books. It may not be a Taylor Swift song or even a poem. But our story is still the best one I know. Because no matter how far fate tries to go to take you away from me, I will find you. And I promise to find you in every lifetime. My love, you are worth it all. All the heartbreak and misery. All the good and bad. All the happiness and laughter. You are my brightest star. And I will love you till the stars fade and the sky loses its shine. I am your sword, your shield and your love-sick protector. It'll always be you because no one else makes sense. I will always find you. And I will love you till my last breath. And I will take this opportunity to do the one thing on my wish list that I've waited my whole life for."

Mason doesn't realise the tears that have run down her face. She can't seem to fathom the reality that was slowly revealing itself to her.

"Riley..." She cooed.

The latter brought her hands to the nape of her neck. Mason hadn't noticed the diamond ring that was attached to the gold chain around her girlfriend's neck. It glistened under the last light of the sun as it begun it's journey to rest.

Riley unclasped the necklace and held it between her fingertips like it were the most delicate thing she had ever known. Mason had fallen into a state of shock and her tears were overflowing.

"Maisie. I have loved you for one thousand and twenty six days. Forty three thousand, eight hundred and twenty four hours. Two million, six hundred and twenty nine thousand, four hundred and forty minutes and one hundred and fifty seven thousand sixty six seconds and counting. I have always dreamed of spending my forever with you. It would have me over the moon to know if you could check the last thing on my wish list." Riley could hardly keep her calm.

Mason chuckled softly as she wiped her tears dry. "It depends, Marsh. What is the last thing on your wish list?" She could feel her heart swirl with the kind of excitement that could explode.

"My dear Maisie, will you marry me?"

Mason broke the distance that stood between the two of them. Their lips crashed against each other like the waves of the ocean against the seashore.

It was passionate and full of love.

"I would love you till the ocean runs dry." Mason confessed. "I hope you're ready to love me till that day comes, Marshmallow. And I can't wait to see you down the aisle and say 'I do'. I'm happy that the stars had aligned for us to be. I'm happy that you my heart has found you. I'm happy that you were the one at the end of my invisible string. Nothing could ever tear you away from me. And I love you more each day than I did last. Thank you for never giving up on us."

"Does that mean yes?" Riley cried.

Mason nodded. "Yes. A million times over."

Riley hooks the necklace around Mason's neck. She feels her heart swoon like she could never grow tired of loving her.

It had come down to this very moment. A moment she had planned from the day she knew so desperately that she would give up her life for a forever with her. It had come down to a mere one thousand, eight hundred and twenty six days. It was full of love and heartbreak. But it is destiny that will bring you to the one you will love for the rest of you life. And so Riley found her home in the young lady that stood before her.

Her wist list is now complete.

And so they kiss until they can't catch a breath. Until the waves crash and fall upon them like a sudden downpour.

Mason pulls away slowly. "Can't you remember?"

"What?"

"I'm yours. Forever and always."

END.