(Yuri’s POV)

 

            I was watching Jessica lean against the wooden barrier of the ship, watching the waves as we sailed for the second time. She looked so innocent and wondrous…one glance at her and I’m doomed to stare at her for minutes.

 

My legs seemed to have a life of their own since I was about 2 meters away from her, leaning against the same wooden barrier as her just to get a closer look at her face. I continuously stole glances at the ice princess that stood a bit far away from me.

 

My finger drew circles on the top of the fence while my smile started to become visible.

 

Am I falling for someone again?

 

How could I even fall in love with somebody again when my heart’s been damaged badly? After I declared to never let anybody fool me again.

 

My smile turned into a wide one after I realized that I simply forgot that answer to this question.

 

You’re in love, Kwon Yuri. It changes everything. It goes against laws, races, genders and distance.

 

“And what might you be grinning about, Kwon?” Her voice penetrated my thoughts, making me turn to her instantly. She was looking at me against the wind so one of her eyes was closed while her hair danced with the wind, making her look even more breathtaking in my eyes.

 

I was too stunned that I even held my breath, taking my time to stare at her more. But of course, this agitated the ice princess. “Yah.” She glared. I broke my gaze and smiled widely.

 

“Just thinking of the future this ship called, Fallen Angel has.” I lied, still beaming at her so she won’t see through me.

 

She continued to glare at me but finally turned back to the ocean. “I don’t know if it’ll be magnificent or tragic. The future for Fallen Angel, that is.” She replied, having a stoic expression on her face.

 

“And why is that?” I dared to step closer to her, losing 1 meter of distance from her. My heart started to pound just on the thought of being beside her so closely again.

“Well, one. The success of fights depend on the cooperation of those two lovey-dovey people are going to give out.” Just about to close the distance with her…just a few more steps. “Two…I feel like I’m getting weak…for some reason.” My heart raced as I already felt her arm’s skin brush on my own. Being this close to her…it makes me unstable inside. But the statement she said woke me up from my own thoughts. She’s weakening? Is she sick?

 

“What do you mean?” I asked, trying to keep myself calm and listen to her, trying to have a normal conversation.

 

“I’m weakening…because I’m deeply distracted. By someone.” She whispered. My heart skipped a beat as soon as I heard her last sentence. My eyes popped open widely, staring at her serious and troubled face.

 

“S-Someone?” I dared to ask. My heart wasn’t ready for this. If it wasn’t me that she’s referring to, my heart will break even when nothing has happened between us.

 

But before I could even ask, she immediately stepped away from the view of the ocean and turned away from me. I watched as she walked away from me, still having the troubled expression on her face.

 

I sighed deeply. “You’re hard to read, Jessica.” I mumbled, particularly to no one.

 

~~~

 

            (Taeyeon’s POV)

 

            I smiled at the familiar brown hair bouncing up on the stairs to the bridge; where I was standing right now. As soon as we met eyes, she instantly threw an eye-smile at me, hopping to my side before leaning to plant a soft kiss on my cheek. “Where should we head first, TaeTae?” She asked with a cheerful aura around her.

 

“I don’t know. Where do you wanna go?” I asked, throwing back the very same question she asked me as I pulled her closer.

 

“I don’t know. Where do you wanna go?” She replied, smirking with one lip being bitten. We were both leaning forward, towards each others lips. Honestly, we’re both fairly incompetent once we set a mood between us or we manage to fall in each other’s eyes too deeply.

 

“I don’t know…where do you wanna go?” I whispered back before finally capturing her lips.

 

“Hey, love idiots, seriously, where do we go?” Jessica asked; who has apparently been there long enough to witness the scene.

 

I was upset to feel Tiffany’s lips parting from mine, making me angry that she’s interrupted us again.

 

“Darnit, Jessica…” I whispered but Tiffany still heard. She turned back around and giggled before taking my hand for both of us to approach Jessica.

 

“No need to call us ‘Love Idiots’, sis.” Tiffany said, pouting as soon as we faced Jessica.

 

“It was for my benefit, sis.” She replied, grinning. “So anyway, really, when it’s Sunny’s shift to be on the wheel, we have to set course for something, where are we going to head?”

 

Tiffany and I turned to each other, gazing at each others faces before turning back to Jessica, saying this simultaneously with a blank face: “I don’t know.”

 

“What? We have two captains yet neither of you knows what is our next motive?” I couldn’t help but crack up about that while I answered.

 

“Nope. It’s funny, isn’t it?”

 

“No, it’s not, Taeyeon!” Jessica said, slightly yelling. We were both surprised at the sudden raise of voice. Then Jessica sent out a serious heavy atmosphere around us with a serious expression plastered on her face right before she continued. “In case you two forgot, you’re both the strongest ships in the Atlantic Ocean and numerous pirates want to challenge you. Now that our ships have been combined, there are going to be twice as much enemies wanting to have a battle against you. Stronger. And. Larger.” At that moment, the captain spirit in me woke up once more…and I had the urge to stand up as a leader again. And I knew Tiffany felt it too since she gripped my hand tightly. “If you want to just be two lovebirds on a boat, you better just give the ship to your First Mates.” She finished, still keeping a firm composure.

 

“Amazing motivational speech.” Tiffany complimented her older sister with an assuring smile.

 

“As long as you guys are focused now—“

 

Hyoyeon suddenly appeared on the bridge, looking a flustered. “Captains! Another pirate ship is attempting to be on close quarters at starboard!!” She announced.

 

My captain instincts fired up and made me instantly tense up, letting go of Tiffany’s hand and ran down to the deck, shouting with all my strength. “All hands on deck! Man your battle stations!!”

 

Soon, Jessica and Tiffany followed, rushing down the bridge and briskly walking towards me. When I saw Jessica, I grabbed her wrist and said, “Find Yuri and tell her that I need her right here, right now.” She nodded, running off immediately to find my first mate.

 

I turned to Tiffany, having a constant composure of seriousness and focus. I was relieved to see that she was having the same attitude at the moment. “What’s our plan?” She asked, having that battle smirk that I haven’t seen in a while.

 

Yet this time, it didn’t annoy me, it just pushed my battle spirit to be stronger.

 

~~~

 

            “Taeyeon!” Tiffany called, running towards me across the main deck. “They’re not going down easy, we need a plan.” She breathed out. I replied with a confirming nod and looked at our crew that was working hard to continuously shoot cannons while others like Yuri and Jessica fought off the enemies trying to get on board. I sighed heavily, trying to think of a plan.

 

“What do you think we should do?” I asked her.

 

I actually had a couple of strategies in mind but…I don’t know why. Something was blocking me from saying it. I was afraid that Tiffany might not agree with that plan and think that it’s completely stupid. I didn’t want to say any of my plans to just be rejected.

 

“I have no idea.” She mumbled, having an uneasy expression.

 

“What? C’mon, you defeated me dozens of times yet you have no idea?”

 

“What about you? You defeated me on my last battle. you should have more ideas than I do!” She argued back.

 

“No—Oh c’mon, you’re the one that formed the strategy of recruiting a 100-man crew just to be able to handle the ship while catching me off guard! You should have an idea, Tiffany!” I groaned. “You’re not the Tiffany I fell for! Where’s the captain of Poseidon’s Gem!? You’re not her! You’re not the one I love!” But apparently…it made me sound too annoyed and insensitive, making my own girlfriend upset.

 

“Fine!” She shouted. “Then I think we should move closer and send you, me, Yuri and Jessica over to the other ship undetected and kill their captain.”

 

“That’s risky.” I directly commented, not considering my own words. “That might result to—“

 

“That was your strategy with me on our last battle!” She retorted, raising her voice with every word. “Don’t force me to say out strategies and reject them completely without even thinking first! And! Don’t reject them when you say that you have no strategy yourself!” She yelled, showing a completely frustrated face that was even going red with anger.

 

But the fact that she suddenly went angry when I did nothing wrong, made me go ballistic as well. “I’m only giving out my opinion! Geez, why are you so easily irritated?!”

 

“Because it’s you! Arrogant pabo you!” She shouted back. “It’s normal for co-captain’s to fight sometimes but no! We’re in love with each other and we can argue but never bring out a topic like that! It’s like you questioned our love for each other!”

 

I was taken aback by her sudden burst of anger yet I didn’t understand most of it. I just blinked at her, asking, “What?”

 

She stomped her foot violently on the hardwood floor. “YOU—ARGH!!” She screamed in exasperation, hitting my arm before stomping down to the main deck.

 

~~~

 

            (Yuri’s POV)

 

            I turned to the loud scream coming from the upper deck but only saw Tiffany hurrying down the stairs while having a completely offended expression. I quickly pierced through the pirate that was in my way before running towards her. “Hey, is everything okay?” I asked. She only glared at me with teary-eyes and shook her head, pushing through me and hurried to the captain’s quarters.

 

Jessica quickly ran towards me, furrowing her eyebrows at the girl that was running away from me. “What did you do?”

 

“What? No! I didn’t do anything!” I denied immediately, raising my sword carelessly, almost injuring both of us if it wasn’t for her fast reflexes, pushing the sword back down to the floor.

 

“Watch where you point that thing, won’t you?” She scolded, sighing. “So what did happen—“

 

She couldn’t even finish her sentence since Taeyeon suddenly came running down the stairs, shouting with all her lungs, “Tiffany wait!! Listen to me!!” But she was already too late when Tiffany closed the door and Taeyeon was only halfway across the deck.

 

Jessica and I didn’t take our eyes off the scene as I said, “I’m guessing that my best friend is what happened.”

 

“I knew this would happen.” Jessica mumbled, sounding annoyed. “C’mon, we’re first mates and first mates have to do their job.” She said, abruptly pulling my wrist.

 

“What do you mean?!”

 

“We have to handle this battle ourselves, of course!” She shouted as we pushed through the battles around us.

 

~~~

 

(Taeyeon’s POV)

 

            I pressed myself on the cold wooden door, continuously slamming on the door just for Tiffany to hear me. “Fany, open the door! C’mon please?! So we can talk about this!!” I shouted, hoping that I haven’t hurt the person I love so much too badly.

 

“I don’t wanna see you!” She shouted back with a slightly quivery voice. My heart ached…I made her cry.

 

“I’m sorry, okay?! But please let me in!! I can’t make you stop crying and make you feel better unless we ‘re face to face!”

 

“Just seeing you will make everything worse for me!!”

 

Every one of those words damaged my heart but I’m not giving up. Not when she’s handling even more pain than she’s giving me. “C’mon, don’t say that! Open the door, Fany!”

 

“No! Go away!!” She continued to reject.

 

I stepped away from the door, grunting with stress. “There’s only one way to get through…” I mumbled to myself then started to charge at the door with all my strength, throwing myself at it.

 

“Taeyeon?! What are you doing!?” I ignored her and kept ramming the door down, not caring if my arm was being badly bruised. “Taeyeon!” At my 6^th crash onto the door, the locks finally broke and I fell onto the floor of the room. “You’re so—Yah!” Tiffany continued to yell at me as I pushed myself off the floor with the pain slowly erupting on my arm but I still carried on, standing up and approached the girl sitting on the side of the bed with tear-stained cheeks.

 

“No…T-Tae…stop right there.” She kept on talking, wanting me to stop in my tracks while she stood up and took one step backwards with every step I took forward. “I’m warning you.” She mumbled, still having feeble attempts to stop me.

 

I couldn’t handle the distance between us anymore…so I leaped and pulled her in my arms, holding her tightly and never wanting to let her go. “Stop—Taeng…stop…” She started with a strong voice—even pushing me away but as I continued to hug her, she let down her guard, wrapping her arms around my neck to me back before she buried her face on the crook of my neck as more tears trickled down her cheeks. “I’m not the one you love…” She cried, sobbing.

 

My heart ached so much after she said that. I can’t believe how hard my words pierced her heart.

 

I hugged her even tighter, smelling her hair before kissing her ear softly, saying, “Forget my words…forget my words, Tiffany. I didn’t mean them…I just…I was too focused on the battle…and we’re still trying to work this out. Don’t ever believe those words…I love you, Fany-ah…I love you and only you.” I whispered, meaning every word with my whole heart. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. You know that…I didn’t want to hurt you. Never wanted to and will never want to. I’m sorry, Tiffany…I’m so sorry. I promise that this won’t ever happen again. I’ll learn how to be a captain with you. I swear that I won’t involve our relationship with our roles ever again.” I continued and planted a kiss on her head.

 

The Korean-American person in my arms sniffled, pulling away to look at me. I couldn’t help but smile, seeing that she looked so adorable at this moment. Her red nose and cheeks and pouting lips made her so cute, despite the tears flowing out of her eyes. “Hi.” I smiled widely, hoping that it’ll cheer her up.

 

But it only made her face to crumple: gritting her teeth and closing her eyes to push the tears out. “You’re stupid, Taeyeon! Pabo! Idiot! Jerk!” She shouted, beating my shoulders with her fists. I didn’t mind the pain, I deserved it. I was even chuckling at the person who was unleashing a tantrum on me.

 

Finally, she stopped, returning back to her original position, leaning on me.

 

“…say you love me one more time, Taengoo…” She whispered, her voice still wavering.

 

I stepped away and cupped her face with my hands, lifting her head to meet with my eyes. “I, Kim Taeyeon, is truly, deeply, madly, passionately, completely, and hopelessly in love with Tiffany Hwang, eternally forever until I stop reincarnating.” I said with a smile. And slowly, an eye-smile finally formed on my lover’s face, allowing me to lean and kiss her gently.

 

~~~

 

            (Yuri’s POV)

 

            I continuously panted, never seeming to catch my breath. Especially with these heavy wet clothes on me, I could barely breathe properly. I think I was dying. Really. I was so exhausted and it’s like my whole life was all sapped away just because of one person.

 

“You’re still just sitting there?” Jessica asked, stepping in front of me and looking down at where I was sitting which was against a wooden crate on our main deck. I continued to pant, looking up at her.

 

“It’s your fault for rushing me to board their ship and killing their captain! I may be a fast and strong swimmer but you have no idea how much stamina that cost me!” I complained, dropping on the floor to just lie down.

 

“Well you’re the only one capable of that.” She said plainly and started to walk away slowly. “I admire you for that.” She whispered, as if she didn’t want me to hear. I furrowed my eyebrows.

 

“What did you say?” I asked, sitting up and forcing myself to get back on my feet.

 

Jessica turned around with slightly widened eyes as she shook her head immediately. “I didn’t say anything.” I half-smirked.

 

“Is Jessica Jung falling for me?” I teased. She doesn’t know how much I want my sentence to be true.

 

“G-Get over yourself, Yul.” She rolled her eyes and dashed away to the prow. I chuckled at the icy exterior she tried to put up.

 

I went to my quarters to quickly change out of my soaked clothes and just put on a breezy outfit of a white puffy polo shirt and brown leather shorts. Of course I still had both my scabbard that held my sword and my gun holster for my gun around my waist just in case.

 

I rushed to the prow, where Jessica was leaning against the wooden fence just like earlier. I put on my best smile and ran beside her. “You like looking over the ocean too?”

 

She laughed at my question. “If you’re a pirate and you don’t like looking at the ocean, you’re better off to never be a pirate at all.”

 

“R-Right.” I replied and hid my red embarrassed face. “ But.” I continued, trying to win back. “Every pirate has a different reason. Like Taeyeon, she looks over the ocean whenever she feels troubled or when she needs a place to think. What about you?”

 

Jessica smiled lightly, not taking her eyes off the crystal waves as she answered. “I look over the ocean when I reminisce. Every bit of these waters give me a memory to relive in my mind.”

 

I stared at her in amazement, finding out that we had the same reason. “…what memories do you think about?”

 

She smiled wider…but it wasn’t happy anymore. It looked like she was in pain. “My ex-lover.”

 

I gripped the wood under my right hand, trying to not burst. “O-Oh.”

 

“The day I last saw him…was when he boarded his own ship to leave me…with his arm around another woman which he announced to be his lover from now on.” She said in a tone of voice that was neither upset nor calm.

 

I was surprised that she was opening up to me about this. I didn’t even know that she was already this comfortable with me. But I’m not wasting her trust with me. I’m listening intently.

 

“I heard that he’s circling the Indian Ocean. Still involved with the woman he left me for.” She said, turning to me with another sad smile but only for a brief moment before she looked back at the deep blue ocean. “I lost my belief in love and vowed to never fall in love with another person again.”

 

At that moment, I heard a pang hit my heart. Does that mean that I can never make her fall for me?

 

“But…it seems like…there’s someone on this ship that makes my heart pound with just one touch. I don’t know how or when did it start but…” She suddenly chuckled. “I think I’m already crazy in love with this person.” She stated with a grin, facing me.

 

I was just standing there, having an indifferent expression because I didn’t know how to react. Should I be jealous that she’s in love with somebody else? Or should I hope and scream for joy because that person might be me?

 

“You have any idea who this person is?” I just continued to stare at her with a stoic face, trying to figure things out. “She’s…tall. Tan. A great swimmer and a great swordsman. And I know that because she beat me in a battle.”

 

Tall?

 

Tan?

 

Great swimmer?

 

Great Swordsman?

 

Is that me?

 

I almost lost my balance after realizing all those classifications were qualified towards me. It suddenly gave me courage and I felt a burst of strength inside me. So I woke up from my trance and stepped closer to her.

 

“Y’know, I think I know what you’re talking about.” I started. “My ex-girlfriend left me for someone else. And I found out because I actually saw her in bed in the arms of another.” I whispered, feeling the scar she left in my heart. “After that, I wasn’t able to trust anyone new so I was never able to fall in love with somebody. Until…I met someone recently.” I mumbled, already feeling the blush on my cheeks. “She’s…pretty…has auburn hair and even though she can be so cold sometimes, I don’t mind because she makes up for it afterwards by being so adorable.”

 

“H-Huh?” Jessica said to me with a surprised face. I laughed.

 

“Just like what you’re doing right now.” I blurted out with a grin forming on my face.

 

She blushed, looking back at the water.

 

Everything was silent for a while. But the silence was there in a good way.

 

Because the reason for the silence is because we’re trying to digest everything we just indirectly confessed. Even I couldn’t accept everything yet.

 

The person that I’ve loved this whole time has been having the same feelings as me. It’s been so long since I felt it. And I’m confident that nothing bad will happen with it at this moment.

 

When I finally calmed my mind and heart down, I took a leap of faith and leaned towards her, kissing her cheek. “Hi pretty girl that can be cold yet adorable and has auburn hair.” I grinned.

 

She blushed even harder, looking at me with a shy smile.

 

---

I think I didn't really do good on this chapter...^^;; Mianhaeyo. *bows*

I'm working on my writings skills for my future career so I'm still training. Please bear with me! ^^ 

 

I might update late because I have to do something next weekend. Sorry again ^^;;