It felt like she’s been smiling so much that her mouth would fall off. The breeze, the ocean, the smell; it all tickled her senses. Right at this very moment, she felt urged to jump into that open water, let her clothes get soaked and not even care about the consequences later. And just when she was about to set out her plan, a pair of arms wrapped around her shoulders, keeping hold and preventing her from moving any further.
“Trying to swim?” The happiness was coated in the man’s voice and she turned to face him, her eyes lighting up at the sight of his smile.
“You scared me, Tidus.”
The young man took a step back with a grin plastered against his lips and arms folded across his chest.
“Just thought I would check up on you! Being out here by yourself without a guardian can be pretty dangerous, y’know.” He took a few steps closer to the water until his feet barely brushed against it.
Yuna eventually stood beside him, her hands placed firmly behind her back. Her eyes slowly traveled in his direction, noticing his suddenly quiet appearance.
“Are you alright?”
“Huh? Oh, yeah, I’m fine.” He looked over in Yuna’s direction, with the same grin from earlier but Yuna didn’t turn away.
“You just seemed dazed for a bit there. Got me a bit worried.”
“Nah, Yuna, you worry too much! Besides, I was just taking it all in. Being here in Besaid kind of reminds me of being in Zanarkand. They’re not the same, of course, but this is the place where everything started. And being near the ocean…it’s nice.” His tone obviously showed Yuna how much this place meant to him and her lips curled into a smile. Her hand reached for his and took hold of it, her eyes looking directly at the ocean.
“That makes me happy,” Yuna stopped; she could feel Tidus’ eyes on her but she kept the smile and looked forward before continuing,
“I’m really glad that you enjoy it here. I know it’s hard being away from family and where you grew up but…just having you here and being happy gives me so much bliss.” When Yuna felt his hand grip tightly around hers, she knew he understood. Even after all they’ve been through, moments like these always made her nervous and jumpy.
Yuna’s body jerked suddenly, and a yelp was heard, causing her to fall into the vibrant sapphire water in front of them. Her dress was soaked from the sudden push but her bottom still sat on the sands of Besaid. When her eyes met with Tidus, that grin was still there. Yuna pretended to puff her cheeks out as a way to show her embarrassment and fake anger.
“Why did you push me!?” She couldn’t hide the laughter in her voice and Tidus smiled even more.
“Cause you said you wanted to go swimming!”
“How did you know that I wanted to swim in this?” Yuna knew it wouldn’t bother her at all, especially since her Pilgrimage was over, but she enjoyed wearing her dress occasionally.
“Didn’t have to tell me at all, just had a feeling I guess?” He laughed as Yuna stood to her feet, tried her best to walk in her soaked clothes, before pulling on the young man’s arm and dragging her in the water with him. In the end, she always found herself pushing him in water and occasionally vice versa. People told them to stop doing it but those pleas usually went unheard. After all, their first special moment took place in the water and since there was plenty of water cities in Spira, Yuna couldn’t stay away from that memory.
No words could be formed from all the laughing they were busy doing and Yuna felt her stomach hurting. Her arms wrapped around his abdomen, taking in his warmth despite them being wet.
I love you, is what she wanted to say but her lips wouldn’t move.
“Yuna?” Tidus questioned but Yuna shook her head.
“I just want to stay like this.” And so she did, never moving until she felt his arms around her. She couldn’t ask for anything else besides being with him and enjoying his presence.
Yuna.
Yuna!
The woman simply smiled, burying her face into his chest and felt one particular drop of water that seemed different fall from her eye.
