Chapter 59 Surfing Lesson

KIA

Everyone is aware that summer has arrived as the sun reaches its highest point and the wind gets more humid than before. You know it's time to flee the oppressive heat or try to embrace it by going to the beach when sweat drips from your body down to the hard, dry pavement. The vacation has begun, and like I promised my friends, I will ask Ares to take me out of town. Before he had time for our scheduled road trip, we had to wait a week. But that’s not it, we also manage to invite Miaree and Dave to spend this trip with us.

FLASHBACK

[OMG! OMG! OMG! Really?! Tell me you weren’t joking right now, bestie! ARGHHH!] Miaree screamed with joy as I invited her for a short vacation with me, Ares, and of course, Dave.

“Should I repeat it? I am not joking, Miaree. So, are you in?” I asked even though I am fully aware that she will definitely come with us.

[Why are you still asking me that, dumbass, of course, I’m in!]

END OF FLASHBACK

The wait has ended. Finally, Friday arrived. It was a hot, sunny day, and this was going to be the day we went on a wonderful vacation. I couldn't contain my excitement when we decided to leave the house and spend some time somewhere else. But we had to pack up a few items before we went to bed. All the necessities were all packed. We also packed some snacks for this lengthy drive. Ares' car was beginning to fill up as we prepared for this road trip by loading up all of our essentials. After checking everything we then now went to pick up Miaree and Dave.

The car stopped in front of a convenience store. There was a guy who stood up and walk towards our car, that must be Dave.

“Hey, bro, thanks for inviting me for this trip—wait! You must be Kianna, right?” Dave asked when he saw me.

I nodded and smiled at him. “Yes, hi! I’m Ares' wife.”

“Bro, wasn’t joking when he said that you were much more beautiful in person. Hi, Kianna,” he said.

“Why would I lie about my wife? Everything about her is perfect.” Ares interjected. “Dave, are you ready to meet Miaree?” he added.

“Of course! But I am kind of nervous right now. I hope Miaree would not hate me after this.” Dave mumbled.

Ares and I looked at each other and started smiling. I know what he was thinking. If only Dave know how much Miaree likes him…

“Alright, let’s go and pick up Ms. Ishii,” Ares said and started the car.

…

After ten minutes, we arrived at the Ishii Residence. I got out of the car and ring the doorbell but the gate suddenly open right away like Miaree was waiting for us.

“Oh, bestie, you’re here…” Miaree said in a calm tone.

What the fuck is wrong with her? Why did she suddenly turn into a very modest kind of woman?

“...Uhm, Miaree—”

“Hi, Miaree.” Dave suddenly interjected. I didn’t notice that he already got out of the car. “I can help you with your bags if you don’t mind,” Dave added and wink at her.

Blurgh gross!

I turned my back and left the two of them while they were still flirting with each other and went back to the car. Ares looked at me with a confused expression on his face.

“What happened?” he asked.

“I couldn’t take seeing a cringing scene from those two.”

He just laugh at me and when the two got into the car, we then left the town. The freeway and the interstate are our next stops. La Union was so far away that a person could fall asleep for the entire trip there and yet not arrive. We decided that singing would help us pass the time since we were so bored. My bright yellow iPod was carefully extracted from my large bag, and it was then plugged into the jack. It was then that I realized this would be the best summer for all of us as a thunderous blast of music playing the John Denver song "Take me home, country roads" burst from the speakers.

“Country roads, take me home ~ To the place, I belong ~ West Virginia, mountain mama ~ Take me home, country roads~”

As we sang along to the music in the car, we began to shout out the words and relaxedly sway as we danced to it. The song immediately made us feel nostalgic. Ares informed us that we had reached La Union after an arduous seven-hour drive.

“We are here, hon!”

As soon as we arrived in the busy town of San Juan La Union, I quickly reached for my phone and started recording a video. Their city is well recognized for being both the North's surfing hub and for its ceramics industry.

“Hey, hon, smile for the camera!” I said as I captured him driving. I then turn the camera at Miaree and Dave, “Hey, guys, say hi!”

The sun was at its peak as we arrived in San Juan, La Union. As the sun hit our skin, we could feel its searing heat burning it. The little air we could feel had a sticky texture, which caused my long hair to become coarse and attach to the sweat droplets running down my neck. Even though the heat was hotter than normal, nothing could stop us from entering San Juan's calm, clear waters.

In an effort to jump into the alluring water, I jumped out of our automobile with all of my strength. As I was about to step into the water, my clothes were flying everywhere. I yelled out as a burning feeling hit the soles of my feet as my bare feet made contact with the dry, grainy sand, prompting me to run farther to reach the water. I felt comfort sweep over me as soon as my feet touched the water, taking the pain with it.

“Kia, wait for me!” Miaree screamed as she followed me, leaving Dave with Ares.

Even in the middle of the day, travelers could still be seen smiling from corner to corner, taking pleasure in the companionship, sun, and water. I made the decision to go surfing while the others were having a good time doing their own thing because the waves were big enough and there were no other surfers in the sea.

“Bestie~,” Miaree said while pinching my arm.

“Ouch! I will make you home right away if you won’t stop pinching me—”

“Don’t! I will behave now… Thank you, bestie…” Miaree said and hugged me so tight that I can barely breathe.

“Anything for you. Go now and spend time with Dave. You should be beside him right now, not me.”

“I’ll talk to you later!” she said before she went back to them.

I can feel every bit of sand touching my feet as I walk. I am making the most of every moment we are here. I was frightened just by the idea of an ocean wave dragging me beneath it into a vortex of bubbles and icy water. I couldn't stop thinking about all the risks associated with surfing. What if I fall off, drown, or have my feet pulled out from under me by the current? I've always wanted to give surfing a try, but I would need to overcome my phobias in order to do so. It was simpler to say than to do that.

I stood up and approached my husband, Ares, who was making a sandwich for me.

“Hon, want to surf?”

That one question made him put down the sandwich and place it in the tupperware.

“Where are they?” I asked Ares.

He didn’t answer and just pointed his finger at a restaurant near the beach. It seems like my best friend has grabbed the opportunity already.

“Let’s go.”

We quickly went to this little shack where they keep all the surfboards. “The board that I have been using since I started surfing was an 8.9-inch water-cooled board with a white base and red trim,” Ares said as we were looking at the different boards.

A guy suddenly approached us. He will be the one who will teach us how to surf, but since Ares already knows how to surf, I will be the one who will be his student for today.

“Sir, is it really hard to learn surfing?” I asked.

"Well, I'd say the answer is yes. One of the most difficult sports in the world to learn is surfing. An unstable, moving surfboard is in a continually shifting environment. That makes it challenging just by itself. Don't let this discourage you, though. Learn the proper technique right away, and you'll advance quickly and surf with more assurance," he said. “Okay! You must first be aware of the safety concerns. You must be an excellent swimmer and have a working knowledge of how to swim. That will be a problem if you have a problem with this. Do you have swimming skills, Ma'am? ”

“Yes!” I nodded as I answered his question.

…I guess that’s a good start for me…

He then continued teaching me, step by step, the process of how I would learn how to surf. “...Don't be discouraged if you can't catch waves as well as you could with foam. It takes a little practice to acquire the right sensitivity for choosing the right wave to row and the right time to stand up. — Well I guess you are ready now!” He said that and helped me get up.

“Are you ready, hon?” Ares asked as I got my board, and I strapped my leash to my leg, hearing the ripping sound of the Velcro as I did it.

I gently entered the sea while checking both sides to make sure the coast was clear and the waters were safe to surf. I hurriedly paddled to the point while feeling the wind in my hair and the sun on the backs of my legs. The waves near the point were around 3 feet high, not particularly tall, but surfable. I could not believe I was surfing until I felt a tingling sensation run through my body as a wave approached. I balanced my stomp and rode the wave like a pro.

When my husband eventually caught sight of me surfing, he was overjoyed. My body had an adrenaline rush. What a wonderful sensation. My husband made the decision to follow me after riding the wave out of jealousy. All day long, we went surfing.