"Bonfire Kiss-2" (extra)

The two of them laughed at each other because they just threw the questions to each other. After setting up their tent, they started surfing and rode with the waves.

Gem and Joe surfed like there's no tomorrow, laughing their hearts out while enjoying themselves in each other's company. For Gem, the waves were her best friend, but Joe was something more than that.

The night fell and they sat beside each other in front of the glistening bonfire. They skewered marshmallows on a long stick and placed it over the fire.

"Gem," Joe said, turning his head to face her. "You know that you're my idol, right?" He was about to open up about a certain topic.

"Yeah, you already said it a million times," Gem said, and she held the marshmallow stick too close to the fire to roast it. After that, she tried to taste it but her lips got scalded by the melting marshmallow. "Oww!"

"Careful! I'll blow it for you," Joe said, grabbing Gem's hand and pulling it near him. He gently blew the marshmallow.

At first, Gem was looking at her marshmallow. She didn't realize that their distance had lessened. She glanced at Joe, and caught him staring at her, his eyes burning with a passion hotter than the bonfire. He continued blowing the marshmallow while holding Gem's hand, still looking at her.

The two of them stared at each other in front of the warm bonfire. Joe stopped blowing the marshmallow and slowly pulled Gem's hand. His face approached hers.

Gem closed her eyes. Joe's lips reached her sweet lips, and when he stuck his tongue in, she was surprised and dropped her marshmallow stick.

It landed on Joe's foot, and he pulled away from her. "Oww! Hot!"

"Oh no, I'm sorry! I was just surprised…" Gem uttered. "That was my first kiss."

Joe stared at Gem, surprised about it. For him, Gem was the coolest woman that ever existed, so he thought that perhaps, she had a lot of suitors.

The two laughed at how awkward that kiss was. They spent the night talking about a lot of stuff about surfing and slept in the tent, giving warmth to each other.

The week ended and Gem had to return to Alfinne City. They had a long-distance relationship, constantly exchanging calls and chats. Gem thought that perhaps, Joe was the one for her.

But one rainy night, while Gem was on her way home from training, she got into a traffic accident. A drunk man was driving his e-car and it smashed into their vehicle. Gem's legs were crushed under the weight of the car, her life had flashed before her eyes, as well as her surfing career. She cried out in pain, and soon the ambulance arrived.

Because of the severity of the accident, Gem had to have knee surgery on both of her knees and have a long rehabilitation period. While staying at the hospital, she was wondering why Joe hadn't contacted her, when she immediately told him about her accident and situation.

After six months, she traveled to Aurica, bringing only her backpack and some necessities. She directly went to Joe's family restaurant. When she was about to open the door, Joe opened it.

He widened his eyes upon seeing her. "Gem…" He was stunned, as he did not expect her to come after all those months that he stopped communicating with her.

The ocean breeze blew, and Gem's sight was blurred with tears. "Why didn't you reply to all my messages? Why did you stop calling me?"

Joe didn't know how to answer her. It has been months, and he felt sorry that he neglected her.

"Joe? Who are you talking to?" A young woman asked.

Gem glanced at her. The woman was holding her belly. She's pregnant.

"Who are you?" Gem asked.

The woman extended her arms and offered a handshake. "I'm Joe's wife, Evelyn. You are?"

Gem looked at the woman's hand. She couldn't bring herself to have a handshake with her. Frowning, she looked back at Joe. "I'm leaving." She turned her back on him and briskly walked away.

Joe went after Gem and grabbed her arms to make her face him.

"Don't touch me!" Gem exclaimed. She cried in grief with Joe's betrayal in mind.

"I'm sorry, Gem. I really did love you," Joe explained. "But when I heard that you cannot go back to surfing, I… I suddenly doubted..."

"You…" uttered Gem, her hands trembling. "You did not truly love me."

"I did! I did, Gem!" Joe attempted to embrace her, but she pushed him.

"No… You just loved me because I was a famous surfer… As soon as I quit, you..." Gem glanced at Joe's wife at his further back. "You replaced me."

"No, I-"

"Is she a surfer?"

"...Yes."

Gem furrowed her eyebrows in disbelief. It was her first time to be in love. Joe was her first kiss and her first boyfriend. She thought that he was in love with her too, the way she was in love with him.

But she was naive.

There was a long silence as Gem stared at the ocean, thinking about a lot of things. She suddenly remembered all her happy memories with him.

Eating a lot of bacon and clams.

Riding the waves with him.

Their sweet kiss, in front of the bonfire.

Gem faced Joe and wiped her tears. She knew that she needed to regain her composure. She needed to accept that Joe would only be a part of her past. She gazed into his eyes. "I'll forget about you, Joe... Goodbye."

She turned around immediately, not wanting to see his face anymore. As she walked on the rocky sidewalk, her tears went gushing down her cheeks. She placed a hand to her mouth, stopping herself from sobbing.

---

'Surfing.'

It was just one word, but it affected Gem so much.

As much as possible, she wouldn't want to talk about it.

It always makes her remember that all her trophies and medals were useless...