"Cash or card?" The attendant suddenly said, and Luke turned away from me. He pulled out a card and gave it, then smiled at me.
I stood there, trying to blink myself back to reality. Reality though, was far off. Nothing here was reality. Not even Luke.
I nodded at him as he gestured at me to come with him. We went out of the shop and into the car, where he handed me what I had bought with a couple others that I don't remember picking.
"I am okay with these," I said and he rolled his eyes. Probably the first childish gesture I had seen from him. It was weird how matured he was for a guy who just turned nineteen.
"You need to eat a lot, because we still have some time to go. You also didn't have breakfast, and I intend to cook dinner only after we arrive."
"Seems a like a long time." I murmured quietly, and accepted it.
He started driving again. This time, it was more quiet in the car.
"Music?" I suddenly asked.
"Just choose whichever you would like."
I nodded, then connected my phone. One thing I could trust, past or present was my taste in music.
I settled on That's The Way It Is by Celine Dion.
"Celine Dion?" He looked from me to my phone.
"It is fine if you don't like it. I will change it." I picked up my phone to do just that, but he suddenly held it in place in a gentle subtle touch.
He looked at me, an amused look on his face. "I actually don't like it. I love it. My dad loved classics like hers, Whitney Houston, Don Simon...I literally grew up listening to it, and seeing him practicing a few dance steps that just never seemed to come out right."
I burst into laughter as he flicked his hand to the beat, then swayed his head.
"You don't look like someone who would like songs like this." I remarked, unable to get the smile off my face.
"I don't look like a lot of things, I guess."
"You don't know how true that is," I said, then turned away to the window.
He didn't ask what I meant by it, and I was grateful. I haven't thought of a way to explain it to myself too.
The song ended, and To love you more by Celine Dion started to play.
As if automated, both of us started to sing along. I have expected him to be off tune, and maybe have a horrible voice. His voice sure wasn't standard, but he knew the lyrics so much, he could have as well assisted in writing them.
"We are almost there." He said to me after a while, his voice a little breathy.
"Alright." I had almost finished all the snacks he had bought, and I felt a little embarrassed by the display of nonchalance I had put up earlier.
He didn't seem to care however, and helped me dispose of them in the small trash can he kept in his car.
The sun was setting when we arrived, and he parked his car to pay our entrance fee. After that, we drove in, then walked to the beach, where I could already see some grills. He however increased the volume of my music, leaving it on after he turned off the engine.
"Wow." I said as I got down. It seemed like something brought out of a textbook, but a bit more real. The sun was setting in front of us, bathing everything in this bright orange hue that made you young at heart. The music playing made the scenery before me even more ethereal.
"You like it?"
I nodded subconsciously. "It's beautiful. Where is this?"
"Jekyll Islands, Georgia. I have always wanted to come here, but...it doesn't seem nice coming here alone. I am glad you found me."
I looked up at him. "You are glad I found you?"
He nodded his head, his eyes closing for half a second. "I am very glad you found me."
A second passed, before he turned away, presumably to get the things he needed out.
He is glad I found him? I found him?
I swallowed, blinking back a few drops of tears that threatened to escape my eyes. I wasn't even sure why I felt like crying, but I think I had an idea. I had gotten so accustomed to being estranged from my family after they forced me to get married, and then my friends, and Luke himself, the loneliness had gnawed away at my insides. I hadn't noticed then and would probably never have noticed, but...inside, somewhere within me, I had been calling out for someone to find me.
He walked past me and set up his small foldable table, and then set up the chairs. I had no idea when he had prepared all of that, but it was the least of my concerns. Maybe I didn't just find him. Maybe...just maybe...
"What are you thinking about?" The sun was behind him, his brows furrowed with mild concern. "Are you okay?"
I looked up and gave a smile. "I guess um..."
He raised his brows in anticipation.
"I am glad you found me too, Luke." I said in one breath, before I lose the little confidence I had tried so hard to sum up.
He looked pleased with my small confession. "I guess we are both glad we found each other."
The smile he gave then, I was sure would remain etched in my memories regardless of my temporality. Regardless of whether I was drifting in the future or the past or hanging somewhere within the threads that summed up time as I knew it...I was sure I would see that smile for a very very long time.
I was just not sure at this point, if it was a gift, or a punishment.