chapter 14
present day (na'teya pov)
i went for a walk along the shoreline, my mind still caught up in last night's kiss with lo'ak. the emotions swirled inside me, a mix of excitement and confusion. we had been arguing as usual, and then suddenly, in a moment of passion, our lips had met. but now, in the light of day, i was left with a torrent of questions. what did it mean for us? was it just a one-time thing, or was there something more between us?
lost in my thoughts, i heard someone calling my name. it was tsireya, inviting me for a girls' trip with her and kiri.
"of course, why even ask!" i laughed, following them towards kiri's hut. but as we approached, we saw kiri in the distance, ao'nung and a group of boys surrounding her.
"that's weird," i said, watching closely. i was about to rush in, but tsireya pulled me back."we shouldn't interfere; we might get in trouble," she warned.
"but kiri might get hurt!" i protested.
tsireya shook her head, refusing to budge. feeling torn, i eventually broke free from her grip and ran towards the scene. i arrived just as the situation was diffusing, and kiri walked away, seemingly unharmed.
"hey, kiri, are you alright?" i asked, concerned.
"yeah, i'm fine. but don't we have our girls' day to get to?" she chuckled, grabbing my hand, and we ran off to tsireya's marui.
tsireya, kiri, and i embarked on our much-anticipated girls' day trip. the sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow across the landscape. tsireya led the way, her vibrant energy contagious. she took us to hidden corners of pandora, places even some na'vi had never ventured.
our first stop was a secluded beach, where the cerulean waves crashed gently against the shore. tsireya showed us how to find the most exquisite seashells, their colors ranging from iridescent blues to deep purples. kiri, always attuned to nature, made friends with a playful school of glowing fish. as she extended her hand, the fish swirled around her fingers, leaving trails of bioluminescent sparkles in the water.
from there, we followed tsireya to a series of hidden caves, their entrances camouflaged by lush foliage. inside, the air was cool and damp, the walls adorned with intricate bioluminescent patterns. tsireya shared stories of the ancient na'vi who had once used these caves for ceremonies, infusing the place with a sense of mystique. kiri, with her keen intuition, seemed to sense the spirits of the past, her eyes reflecting a deep connection with the land.
after exploring the caves, we ventured to a clearing surrounded by exotic pandoran flora. tsireya demonstrated how to weave delicate flower crowns, her nimble fingers expertly crafting colorful arrangements. as we crowned ourselves with the vibrant blooms, laughter echoed through the clearing. for a moment, we were not na'vi warriors burdened by the weight of our responsibilities but carefree young women reveling in the joy of the present.
our adventure continued as tsireya guided us to a cliff overlooking a cascading waterfall. the sound of rushing water and the cool mist on our faces provided a refreshing respite from the day's warmth. kiri, always in tune with the spirits, closed her eyes and seemed to commune with the elemental forces surrounding us. her peaceful aura radiated tranquility, grounding us in the essence of pandora.
later, riding back to the village on our ilus, we laughed about the day's adventures. tsireya showed us hidden caves, kiri made friends with marine life, and i couldn't help but sneak glances at lo'ak from time to time, lost in my thoughts.
when we arrived back at the village, it was oddly silent. as we approached, we heard someone yelling, "the boy has returned!" we hurried towards the crowd, my curiosity piqued. when i reached the front, i saw a familiar face, lo'ak, but his gaze was fixed on ao'nung, filled with anger. if looks could kill, aonung would be with eywa.
"the boy knows better than to venture outside the reef," tonowari scolded ao'nung, seemingly ready to punish him.
"no, it was my idea, ao'nung tried to stop me," lo'ak lied, taking the blame. i felt a pang of guilt but it was lo'ak's choice to take the blame for aonung, he must pay the price.
after the commotion settled, i approached tonowari and informed him about ao'nung's cruel behavior towards lo'ak and kiri. his eyes widened in surprise, and he assured me he would address the issue.
returning to my marui, i noticed a strange fishy smell. i briefly considered that ao'nung might be seeking revenge but decided i needed a bath instead. as i headed to the pond, i heard voices and decided to investigate. peeking through the petals of a massive flower, i saw lo'ak and tsireya laughing and talking. curiosity piqued, i leaned closer, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.
"so, lo'ak, do you have any favorite places on pandora?" tsireya asked, her voice soft and curious.
lo'ak, caught off guard by the random question, smiled warmly. "yeah, there's this spot near the hometree where the flowers bloom every night. it's beautiful."
"oh, that sounds amazing," tsireya replied with genuine interest. "i love how you see the beauty in everything here. you have this way of appreciating the little things."
lo'ak blushed slightly, not used to receiving such heartfelt compliments. "well, it's hard not to in a place like this. pandora is incredible."
"i agree," tsireya said, her eyes sparkling. "and you make it even more special, lo'ak. you have this kindness about you that just makes everything better."
lo'ak looked at her, touched by her words, but knew where she was heading with this and tried to shut it down. "thank you, tsireya. you're pretty amazing too. i mean, you're always so caring and understanding. it's really great being friends with you."
her smile widened but i could tell her soul was crushed when he called her a friend. "likewise, lo'ak. i feel lucky to know you."
i decide it was time to save tsireya from embarrsing herself and stop lo'ak from crushing tsireya's heart, "hey guys"
"hey, na'teya!" lo'ak greeted me with a warm smile.
"where's neteyam? he's usually with you," i inquired, curious about his absence.
"ah, he's on a date," lo'ak replied, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"what? really?" i exclaimed in a hushed voice, barely containing my surprise.
lo'ak chuckled softly, clearly enjoying my reaction. "well, it seems like he's finally found someone he likes."
i grinned, happy for neteyam. "good for him. everyone deserves a bit of happiness."
"absolutely," lo'ak agreed, his eyes lingering on mine for a moment longer than usual.
as i turned away to dive into the water, i felt a mix of emotions. happiness for neteyam, but a pang of jealousy seeing tsireya and lo'ak so close. when i resurfaced, i saw lo'ak and tsireya were gone, my earlier smile fading into a frown.
suddenly, strong arms wrapped around my waist, and i screamed in surprise before the familiar laughter reached my ears. i turned to find lo'ak, his eyes filled with amusement. i playfully slapped his head, and we both laughed, the tension of the moment dissipating.
"i'm disappointed you're wearing your top this time," lo'ak said with a playful grin.
"yeah, well, maybe if you asked nicely, i'd take it off for you," i joked, trying to keep the mood light.
lo'ak rolled his eyes. "i'm so glad you came and saved me. i didn't know how to reject her."
"i can't believe you rejected the metkayina princess," i laughed.
"i may have given her some alcohol," lo'ak confessed, his expression turning serious.
"yeah, well, a drunken mouth speaks a sober mind. she likes you," i replied, trying to ease the tension.
after talking for a few more minutes, we climb out of the pond and dry off.
we walked towards my marui, and once inside, lo'ak shut the flap behind us. my heart was pounding in my chest. after our kiss last night, i was feeling both nervous and excited. i wasn't sure what it meant for our friendship, but deep down, i knew i wanted something more.
"we need to talk about last night," lo'ak said, his eyes searching mine.
i nodded in agreement, trying to hide my anxiety. "i really like hanging out with you, na'teya, especially last night," he confessed, his voice sincere.
"i enjoy hanging out with you too, lo'ak," i replied, feeling a mixture of relief and hope.
"na'teya, i'm talking about the kiss," he admitted, his gaze intense.
"oh, right. yeah, that was... something," i acknowledged, my voice trailing off.
"what does it mean for us?" lo'ak asked, his words heavy with emotion.
i gave him a curious look, my heart racing. "i don't know, lo'ak. you're the one who kissed me. tell me what you want."
"i want you, na'teya," he blurted out, his vulnerability surprising me.
"want me how?" i questioned, trying to understand the depth of his feelings.
"i want you as my girlfriend. i've had feelings for you since we made eye contact for the first time in the forest, and i just can't keep them to myself anymore. i love spending time with you, and i can't stand seeing other guys flirt with you and not being able to do anything about it. i want to be there for you, make you laugh, and support you through anything life throws your way," he confessed, his words pouring out.
i looked up into his eyes, feeling a mix of joy and nervousness. i wrapped my arm around his neck. "yes," was all i managed to say before he pulled me in for a kiss.
his lips brushed against mine, soft and gentle at first, igniting a spark within me. i responded eagerly, parting my lips to deepen the kiss. his hands cupped my face, pulling me closer, our bodies pressed together in a heated embrace. with each passing second, i could feel his desire growing, and it only fueled my own. our tongues tangled together in a passionate dance as we explored each other's mouths. the taste of him was intoxicating, and i found myself completely lost in the moment.
he broke away for a moment, both of us gasping for breath, before crashing his lips back onto mine with even more intensity than before. in that moment, nothing else mattered but the sensation of his lips on mine, the way his hands roamed over my body, the entire world disappears, leaving only the heat of our bodies pressed together and the urgency of his lips against mine. everything else fades away, and all that remains is the overwhelming desire we have for each other.
end of chapter 14
(a/n: heyyy guys i've finally started publishing my chapters!!!! i just wanted to let you know i won't write about them having sex or anything because of 2 reasons.
1. it feels weird writing about it
2. i don't know how to write it so it would just sound very weird
i will write the kissing etc cause a little fluff never hurt anyone ๐)