Eternal season

he rolling waves. The events of the previous night played over in her mind-the photographs, the quiet but electric atmosphere of the gallery, and, most vividly, Kai Alaric. She'd jotted down some

everywhere, trying to preserve them?" Kai shrugged, leaning back on his hands. "Sometimes. But it's also what keeps me grounded. The world's too chaotic to ignore the moments that remind you why you're here." His words hung in the air between them, and Aria found herself wondering what moments Kai had held onto in his own life. What had shaped him? What had left him searching for stories in the quiet corners of the world? Before she could ask, Kai straightened and gestured to the journal resting on her lap. "What about you? What's in there?" Aria instinctively clutched the book tighter. "Nothing worth sharing." Kai raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching. "You brought it all the way out here, but it's nothing worth sharing?" "It's personal," she said, her tone firmer than she intended. Kai didn't press, but the playful glint in his eyes softened. "Fair enough. But if you ever want to trade stories, I'm all ears." The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard, and she had to look away, focusing instead on the waves rolling against the docks. "Maybe one day," she murmured. They sat in silence for a while longer, the conversation settling into something unspoken but comfortable. Aria wasn't used to this-sharing space with someone without feeling the need to fill the silence. But with Kai, it felt natural, as though words weren't necessary to communicate. Eventually, Kai stood and stretched, slinging his camera strap over his shoulder. "I'm heading up to the cliffs this afternoon. There's a spot where you can see the whole town, if you're interested." Aria hesitated. She wasn't sure why, but the idea of spending more time with him made her both curious and cautious. "Maybe," she said noncommittally. Kai smirked. "Well, if you change your mind, I'll be there around three. Just follow the main road out of town-you'll find the trailhead." With that, he gave her a small wave and walked off, leaving her alone with her thoughts. The afternoon sun was warm on Aria's skin as she followed the trail Kai had mentioned. She hadn't intended to go at first, but something about the way he'd spoken-like he was inviting her into a secret-had sparked her curiosity. The path wound through a thicket of trees before opening onto a steep incline. By the time she reached the top, her breath was short, but the view made it all worthwhile. The cliffs overlooked the entire town, the red roofs and narrow streets stretching out like a painting below. Beyond that, the sea sparkled under the sun, endless and hypnotic. Kai was there, sitting on a flat rock with his camera in hand. He didn't look up immediately, his focus trained on something in the distance. "You came," he said finally, without turning around. "You make it sound like I had no choice," Aria replied, stepping closer. Kai glanced at her, his gr