Sylvian had come back from Japan just a few days before.
Even if he had fun during time spent in company of his grandparents, coming back home was no less exciting for him.
While his parents had chosen to stay in Japan for some more time, Sylvian had come back to Los Angeles on his own.
When he returned back, the first to greet him was Julia who was waiting to hear about his trip.
And certainly she did not forget to ask him about the pictures.
At some point during the conversation, he handed her a small shopping bag full of souviners he had bought.
"Wait. Did you really buy something for me?"
Julia peeked into the bag.
"Yes, I told you I would send you the pictures."
"Pictures are not gifts!"
He chuckled.
"Look in the bag."
Julia slowly took out a bracelet decorated with a small strawberry-shortcake charm and her excitment was easy to read on her face.
"WHAT?!"
She held it closer to examine the little charm.
"Is that strawberry shortcake?"
Sylvian agreed.
"I had in my mind that you liked them."
Julia gazed at him with an unusually happy expression.
"You remembered!"
She quickly wore the bracelet into her wrist.
"It's so adorable. I am keeping it forever."
Sylvian grinned at her reaction.
He then got another bracelet out with a small cookie charm this time.
"This one is mine."
Julia saw it but only after she saw the other bracelet that was left.
"What's that?"
"Akiel will get that."
Julia raised her eyebrow.
"Really?"
Sylvian looked at her.
"Do you want to say something?"
"Nah."
Julia smiled to herself.
The last bracelet had a milkshake charm.
Sylvian kept it back in its box.
He had got three bracelets from Japan.
Three small things to remind him of home.
The next morning, Julia proposed that they hang out during the afternoon.
She planned to meet Sylvian and Akiel close to the train station.
Yet, she was unaware of the fact that Akiel had an argument that happened a few hours before with his elder brother.
The fallout left Akiel with an injury in his cheek which he bandaged himself.
Since Julia was the first person to ask him about going out, he turned down the offer immediately.
"What is the reason for that?"
"Because I can't make it."
"That's not an explanation."
Akiel looked at his reflection on his phone.
He wasn't enjoying what he saw in the picture.
"Just go without me."
Julia was glaring at him.
"You cannot be serious right now?"
"Believe what you will."
This was the end of their conversation.
Akiel did not want to show up looking like that.
At least, this was his original plan.
Late next day, Julia showed up at the train terminal.
Summer was always her topmost season.
While she liked dressing for all seasons, there was something thrilling about summery clothes and how appealing they always looked.
She put on an adorable dress with some accessories to embrace her new bracelet.
As she got closer to the meeting place, her companion Akiel noticed her.
His glance stuck to her wrist for a moment.
"What is this?"
At this, Julia looked down.
"What do you mean?"
"Your bracelet."
"Oh, this?"
Julia raised her wrist to show what she was wearing.
"Oh, nothing special."
Akiel looked at her suspiciously.
"And why are you showing it to me, then?"
Julia laughed.
"You will find out soon."
Before he could say anything else, a guy came to meet them.
It was Sylvian.
His hair was done quite nicely, with a few strands being a bit messy.
He looked very at ease in his summertime outfit.
"Apologies. Have I kept you waiting?"
"No, not at all!"
Akiel took a glance at him.
Then, his gaze turned toward Sylvian's wrist.
He had another bracelet.
He raised an eyebrow.
"What is up with you two? Are you two in some kind of trouble?"
Julia laughed loudly.
"The answer is 'yes' actually!"
She turned to Sylvian who took out the second bracelet from his backpack.
"This is it. This one is yours!"
Akiel looked down at the bracelet.
There was a tiny milkshake attached to it.
He didn't say anything for a moment.
"What is this?"
"This is your souvenir," Sylvian answered.
"For me?"
"Of course not, for the ghost behind you!"
Akiel ignored her comment.
He pulled the sapphire ring out of Sylvian's hand.
"Thanks."
Sylvian smiled back.
"No problem."
Akiel briefly examined the ring once more before wearing it.
He did not say much, but he seemed happy with it.
Julia certainly noticed it well.
As their first stop, they visited a café not far away.
They decided to relax a bit before going around as they had enough time.
Julia ordered some cold drinks for herself whereas Sylvian was checking out the dessert menu.
"Are you going to order something?" asked Julia.
"Maybe."
"That is not an answer."
Akiel, who was sitting across the table, looked at them.
"You are both unexpectedly annoying."
As soon as she heard this, Julia turned towards Akiel.
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing."
Sylvian chuckled softly.
Once they finished their drinks, they decided to check out attractive photo booth nearby.
Julia was very much eager for that.
"Come on! We must take some pictures!"
Akiel stared at the equipment.
"Why?"
"Because we are here!"
"Why is that relevant?"
"Just get inside!"
Sylvian laughed at Julia pulling them to the booth.
They managed to squeeze into the booth and take some pictures.
Julia started choosing the decorations and poses while Akiel did not look very impressed.
"Can we get this over with?"
"Stop whining!"
The time started counting.
Julia instantly made a sign indicating victory.
Sylvian did the same, grinning towards the camera.
Akiel, however, hardly had time to change his expression before the photo was snapped.
The next images were also fooling around as well.
By the time they were done, Julia was already reviewing the snapshots from before.
"Look at this."
Sylvian leaned closer to have a look.
He started chuckling.
Akiel stared at the picture and replied, "...Get rid of it."
"No way!"
"Julia."
"It's a keeper."
She placed the printed photos on the shelf.
"They're memories. Why would you dispose of any memories?"
Akiel sighed.
He resolved not to argue further.
Next, they headed to the arcade.
The arcade was full of noise and colors.
"Wait! I want to get that one!"
She pointed toward a small stuffed animal inside the machine.
Sylvian looked at the machine.
"Do you know how to operate it?"
"Of course!"
A few attempts later, Julia stood in front of the machine glancing at it.
"....One more time."
Akiel crossed his hands over his chest.
"You have said that five times already."
"Be quiet."
Sylvian chuckled at this.
Finally, he moved forward to take the controls.
"Move already!"
Julia watched him puzzled.
"Do you really know how to do it?"
"You just watch me."
He adjusted the claw before pressing the button.
Sadly, the toy slipped right when it was about to be grabbed.
There was a moment of silence.
Julia stared at him.
"...Well?"
Akiel moved to the side.
"Now your turn."
The three friends went on with their fun at the arcade, trying different games and competing against each other from time to time.
They even tried out a VR game that turned out to be more fun than anticipated.
When they finally left the arcade, they realized they had spent much more time there than they originally intended.
As the afternoon wore on into evening, the three friends decided to go out to eat.
When they found a suitable table, they sat down and started browsing through the menu.
Julia was the first to make an order.
Sylvian was next, and Akiel was still busy with his menu.
"So, are you still thinking?" Julia asked.
"Yes."
"Just get something."
Akiel glanced at her.
"Can you wait?"
Julia rolled her eyes.
She was about to continue speaking when she suddenly noticed something on Akiel's face.
"Wait."
Akiel looked up.
"What?"
Julia leaned a little closer.
"Oh my God. I just saw something!"
"What's with you now?"
She indicated his injured face.
"What's with your face?"
Akiel touched the bandage on his face by instinct.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?" Julia asked again. "Did you get bitten by something or got haunted again?"
Sylvian chuckled at her statement.
Akiel gave her an annoyed stare.
"Can you calm down?"
Julia laughed.
But Sylvian was still focused on the bandage.
He studied it closely for a while.
"Hey! It looks like you got punched."
Akiel's face showed change.
Sylvian continued.
"Did you get hurt by someone?"
There was silence for a few seconds.
Akiel moved his hand down.
"It's not a big deal."
"So what happened then?"
"I already told you,It's nothing."
Julia looked from one to the other.
"You don't need to worry about it so much."
Akiel slid down in place.
"Why?" he did not feel like talking more about it.
Sylvian watched him again.
He knew already that nothing more important than Akiel's unwillingness to enter dialogue could change his mind.
He heard Julia starting to discuss other things.
"Okay."
Soon the talk was about the images taken before, accompanied with Sylvian's regular participation in the conversation.
Akiel sat passively and said nothing.
He appeared to be in his usual mood, but Sylvian still could not stop wondering what had really happened.
He had never seen Akiel hurt so badly.
He thought better of continuing thinking about it.
After their dinner was over, they went outside into fresh air.
It seemed like there were more people in the streets, as Julia checked her phone.
"Alright, that's it for tonight."
Sylvian agreed.
"Yeah. It was fun."
"So did I!"
Akiel glance at them.
"You two are behaving like we have not met for ages."
Julia laughed.
"Well, we did not really meet this way for some time."
Akiel remained silent.
Sylvian looked at his wrist for a moment, looking at the small cookie charm.
Then he looked at Akiel's wrist.
He was happy that he succeeded in pleasing them.
After all, he was thinking about them when buying those souvenirs.
Maybe it was enough.
It had been some time since he had enjoyed the simple afternoon like this.
No exams.
No worries.
No bad memories.
Just a summer afternoon with a friend.
Everything was finally nice.
But somehow, they found themselves at the beach on the city end.
By the time the three had reached the beach, the air had become notably cooler.
Bright city lights twinkled far away in the distance, lighting the otherwise peaceful coastal area. The moon was shining brightly above them in the night sky, casting its light over the water.
The waves were softly hitting the shoreline and then receding back into the sea.
Julia moved a little ahead of the rest and then turned to face both boys.
"Guys!"
Sylvian raised his head to look up at Julia.
"What is it?"
"Let's wish for something."
Akiel looked towards Julia.
"A wish?"
"Yes! But this time we're throwing all of it into the sea."
Sylvian tilted his head slightly.
"So how do we do this?"
Julia thought for a moment.
"Just imagine it!"
Akiel sighed quietly.
"That's absurd."
"No, you are absurd."
At long last, Julia sat down in the sand and motioned for the other two to take a seat.
"Come on. Give it a go."
The two boys looked at each other quickly before sitting near Julia.
"Okay. First, you need to close your eyes and wish for something."
Sylvian immediately agrees to follow her instruction.
Akiel hesitated for a moment before following.
"Now breathe deeply."
The sound of the waves spilled like music in the background.
"Now breathe out slowly. Imagine yourself letting go of all that bothers you, all the unpleasant memories, worries and thoughts."
Julia demonstrated herself.
"Just let go."
For a brief moment, the two guys did not say anything.
Initially, it appeared to be somewhat immature.
Though somehow, while remaining under the stars, reconciling with the sound of the ocean waves, it no longer felt so absurd.
Sylvian inhaled again.
He considered what he had seen, where he had been, and of the memories he wished to preserve.
He then exhaled slowly.
Akiel was silent beside him.
It might be possible that he had things he wished to forget.
It might be that he had things he wanted to alter.
However, he allowed himself to enjoy the present moment.
To think about nothing tomorrow.
To be unconcerned about yesterday.
Simply to exist under the same moon.
Julia was the first one to open her eyes.
"See? That was not such a big deal!"
Akiel stared at her.
"You're something else."
"You're welcome."
Sylvian smiled and kept quiet.
For a moment, there wasn't a lot that needed to be said between them.
There were some hopes that were too significant to give a voice to.
Some feelings were simply better left inside a person's head.
And some moments were beautiful just because they existed.
The ocean continued its quiet way under the moon, bringing the reflections of many lights into infinity.
Maybe tomorrow something new would come.
Or maybe some eternal things would remain unchanged.
But at the moment, these three found some little happiness.
And that was good enough for now.