Chapter 27: Chapter 27

He walked past me. I noticed that he was carrying a surf board on his left arm. I remained on my spot and watch Garren as he starts to surf on the wave. I was flabbergasted! He's impeccably moving as if he had already memorized how the waves move.

"Woah!"

I was utterly astonished when Garren suddenly performed a surfing trick. I don't know what it is called since I'm not really familiar with surfing, but he basically made an S shape in the water. As if my eyes were glued, I couldn't stop watching him.

"He's really great."

Garren stopped and walked towards my direction unexpectedly.

"I'm a great surfer, aren't I?"

I stared at him incredulously. "What?"

"Deaf," he mocked. "Do you want me to teach you how to surf?"

That caught me off-guard. I was dumbfounded. Did he perhaps hit his head earlier and he's asking weird things?!

He was making fun of me a while ago and now he's offering to teach me?

"Are you just going to stare at me like an imbecile?"

I blinked multiple times.

"Sorry. It's just unlikely of you to offer such a thing, so I was quite surprised," I said.

I saw panic pass through his eyes. His jaw contorted too.

He cleared his throat. "Forget about what I said."

His mood changed just like that. Garren was about to leave, but I immediately stopped him by grabbing his arm.

He frowned. "Didn't I tell you to not touch me again?"

I swallowed a lump. "Sorry, sir. But I would like you to teach me how to surf. "

I don't know why that came out of my mouth- but I can't take them back now.

The austere emotion on his face didn't falter, and it's putting me on tenterhooks.

"Follow me."

I scoffed before following him. We stopped when the water level reached my legs.

"We can start with this wave in front of us. This is ideal for beginners," he explained.

I simply nodded.

"Always pace yourself and don't get too excited," Garren said as he rode on the board.

"You first have to master your prone position. Lie down your stomach on the surfboard and start paddling with your hands. Learn how to balance in a centered and prone position." He demonstrated it.

I can't help but feel a subtle esteem while listening to him. He's talking like a real mentor.

Suddenly, his exposed arms and back caught my eyes. The water made his skin glisten, emphasizing his muscular features. And his pushed-back hair looks undeniably.... sexy.

"Are you even listening to me?"

I was startled when he raised his voice. I shook my head furiously. My cheeks were burning.

What the fuck?! Did I just check this man out?!

"Y-Yes, sir. I'm sorry." I stammered.

His forehead furrowed. His piercing eyes are set on me, and it's setting my heart at a fast pace.

"Stop thinking of anything and focus on what I'm saying." He told me off.

That's right. We're conversing right now solely because I want to learn. I shouldn't let other things cloud my mind.

Garren then proceeded on his lecture and showed me how to paddle on the wave and how to stand up on the surfboard.

He skillfully shifts his legs on the side of the surfboard. I watch him with an agape mouth as he dances along with the rhythm of the wave. His hair is also swaying in perfect harmony with the cold wind. There's a vague yet cordial smile on his face while he's surfing.

He got off the board and walked back to me.

"Don't lean too far to the left or right because you'll fall off your board. If you lean too far forward, the board will disappear behind you. Lean too far back and you will encounter that torpedo effect again."

He handed me the board.

"Do you want to try it now?"

I reluctantly got it from him. I don't know if I can do this, but there's no harm in trying, right?

I heaved out a deep sigh before I lied on it. As I puddle through the water using my hands, my heart was beating erratically inside my chest.

I slowly stand off the board, careful not to lose my balance. I kept on reminding myself of everything that Garren had taught me.

The water level is not that high, so I'm not afraid of drowning. However, I fear that the board might hit my body. I'm not wearing any protective gear for god's sake!

"Oh my God," I uttered when I was able to lift myself a bit from the board, with my hands supporting my balance.

I was quite relieved that I didn't fall or anything.

I breathed deeply and spurred myself. "You can do this."

I slowly detached my hands from the board. A smile curled in between my lips when I was able to finally stand up on the board.

However, that relief quickly vanished when I felt the board shaking. I tried to stabilize my body, but my nerves are getting the best of me.

"Don't let your nervousness rule over you!" I heard Garren shouting over the distance.

But that's futile. In the end, I still ended up losing my balance and falling flat on the water.

I immediately picked myself up and got the board. I cast a wary glance around. I breathed a sigh of relief when no one was looking at us.

"Damn it."

The splash of the water indicated that Garren was approaching me.

"Sorry. I couldn't balance on the board."

I was expecting some snide remarks and ridicule from him. But that's not what happened.

Garren tapped my shoulder and said, "That's fine. If there’s one certainty when learning to surf, it’s the fact that you will be involved in a lot of wipeouts. You will fall numerous times. Just remember that falling doesn't mean failing."

For a moment, I didn't know what to reply to him. I was tongue-tied.

Does he have a fever or something? Perhaps the ocean water cast an enchantment on him. It's really out of character for him to say those uplifting words.

Nonetheless, I genuinely appreciate it. We'll get along well if he acts like this most of the time instead of being a jerk.

"Why are you smiling?"

I shook my head. "Nothing, sir."

I chose not to voice my thoughts because he might just throw a niggling hissy fit again. This man has no sense of humor.

"Whatever. Go and try it again," he commanded.

I heaved out a deep sigh and lied down on the board. I started paddling my hands in the water and gradually stood up.

Taking deep and heavy breaths, I slowly detached my hands from the surface of the board.

"I did it!" I squealed when I was able to stand up.

However, that fleeting moment of satisfaction vanished in the blink of an eye when another set of larger waves crushed against my board, and I didn't anticipate it.

I panicked and ended up falling into the water. It's a good thing that my body wasn't hurt at all. I quickly got myself up from that humiliation.

Garren's hiss behind me didn't escape my ears.

"You get worked up easily," he stated the obvious.

I flashed an awkward smile.

"It's one of the several things that you should work with," he added. "Don't fear the waves, befriend them instead."

Garren's speaking idioms? Interesting.

"They won't eat you alive. Hold your damn horses." he chided.

I puffed out a breath.

"Also, while in the water, you need to keep moving your feet. Just don’t let them dangle away," he tacked on.

I nodded and said, "I'll take note of that."

"Lastly, you need to stay perpendicular to the part of the breaking wave. If you don’t, then you will be pulled under the wave and dragged to the shore."

To be honest, I didn't completely get what he was saying, but I still nod my head.

He clapped his hands, signaling me to start—and so I did.

I slowly stood up after paddling towards the wave, keeping my body centered and balanced as Garren instructed.

When I saw the new set of waves that were coming in my direction, I moved my feet perpendicular to them. My lips curled into a smile when I was able to do it.

But I didn't rejoice too early because there was a new batch of breaking waves approaching me. I did the same thing, and once again, I didn't fall off the board!

"I did it!" I shouted triumphantly and raised my hand skywards as if I won something.

I slowly lowered my body onto the board and puddled back towards where Garren's standing.

"Did you see that?! I was able to balance myself!"

I couldn't erase the smile on my face. My heart is fluttering with happiness. It feels so fulfilling to learn something new.

"I feel like I can be a professional surfer now," I added while caressing the surfboard, admiring its intricate map-inspired design.

"I'm sorry to burst your bubbles, but you still have a long way to go. You have to work on a lot of things, especially your paddling technique."

My face puckered. The condescending tone of his voice got under my skin. Why did he need to be such a spoilsport?

But since he taught me how to surf, I'll let him off the hook.

"I'll keep those in mind. But anyway, thank you for lending your time to teach me, sir." I smiled genuinely.

Having enmity with someone and genuinely appreciating a certain thing that they did can coexist, right? 'Cause that's where I am right now.

My forehead creased when I noticed that his eyebrows had snapped together. There's a strange emotion glistening in his eyes that I can't fathom.

He opened his lips, so I thought he was planning to say something, but then he just remained quiet.

This man is acting weirder than he already is.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

I was taken aback when he turned around and hastily walked back to the shore.

What the hell was that?

I blew a fuse before I ran after him. However, I wasn't able to catch up to because he was really quick, to say nothing of his long legs, that whenever he takes a single tread, it's already equivalent to twice my steps.

"Are you alright, Cleo?" Greyson asked when I reached the shore. He's still building a sand castle.

"Y-Yes." I answered.

He shrugged his shoulders. "Dad said that he felt cold already, so he went back to our villa. How about you? Don't you feel cold yet?"

My eyebrows furrowed. That was the reason he told his son? Well, I don't buy his crap.

I smiled and sat beside him. "Not yet. But I'll take a break from swimming for now. My body feels sore already."

He stopped what he was doing and turned to me.

"Speaking of, you and Dad looked so sweet earlier while he was teaching you to surf! I was watching the two of you from here." He giggled, obviously teasing me.

My cheeks flushed. "There's nothing sweet about that, Greyson."

"I don't care. You guys look like matches made in heaven."

If Garren is hearing us right now, I'm pretty sure he will throw knives at me. He will assume that I'm the one who planted that idea on his son.

"Believe it or not, Greyson, I and your dad are the complete opposites of each other. So what you're talking about right now is far-fetched and ridiculous."

I pinched his nose, earning a grunt from him.

"Aw! Stop it!"

I chuckled before I let go of him.

"Don't you like my dad? He's rich and handsome. He's kind sometimes too," he asked, rubbing his reddened nose.

I shook my head and answered with no hesitation, "I don't, and your dad certainly doesn't like me either. You know what? Let's just continue this castle that you're building."

His face brightened up. "Okay! I want to make it so humongous that I can fit myself inside."

I chortled. "That seems impossible, but let's see."