Chapter Text
You’d been in the Maldives for barely 2 hours and already you felt calmer than you had in months.
The ocean stretched endlessly in front of the beach house, water so clear you could see straight down to the pale sand and coral patches even from the deck. Your friends were inside arguing about where to go for lunch and cutting fruit, but your attention had been on the water since the moment you got to the beach house.
The Maldives was supposed to have some of the best scenery in the world, and the idea that there might be turtles, rays, or octopuses just metres from the house had you practically vibrating with excitement.
You leaned into the doorway.
“Guys I’m going snorkelling,” you announced.
One of your friends, Adelina, looked up from slicing mango. “Already?”
“Yes already,” you said, grabbing your mask and snorkel from the table. “There’s literally coral right there and I refuse to waste time.”
“You’ve been here for like two hours mate.” Adelina said, rolling her eyes in mock annoyance.
“And?”
She laughed. “Okay then, when you come back we'll all go for lunch.”
You slipped into the water from the deck ladder, the sea cool and soft against your skin. Your hair was tied back loosely, though some hair was already escaping around your face.
The water felt incredible.
You floated for a moment before putting your mask on and dipping your head beneath the surface.
Immediately you spotted some small fish weaving through the water, tiny flashes of silver darting between the rocks.
You swam slowly along the reef, scanning every crevice carefully.
A few minutes later you surfaced again, pushing the mask up onto your forehead so you could breathe properly.
That’s when you noticed him.
The beach house next door had a balcony that overlooked the water, and leaning against the railing was a guy watching the ocean.
At first you just noticed the obvious things.
He was tall.
Shirtless.
Broad shoulders, arms resting casually on the railing like he’d been standing there a while.
His hair was dark and curly, His expression peaceful and happy.
And even from the distance you could tell he was very hot.
You dipped back under the water again, pretending to focus on the reef, but curiosity got the better of you after another minute.
When you surfaced again, he was looking directly at you.
Your stomach did a weird little flip.
For a second neither of you moved.
Then he lifted his hand and waved.
It looked almost instinctive, like he’d realised he’d been caught staring and decided acknowledging it was the least awkward option.
You laughed softly and waved back.
He smiled immediately.
Even from where you floated you could see the change in his face—his smile wide and warm.
He leaned a little further over the railing.
“Is it good down there?” he called.
You pushed your mask fully onto your head.
“Yeah!” you said, treading water. “There’s loads of fish around here.”
He nodded like he was considering that information seriously.
“Anything exciting?”
You grinned.
“I’m hoping to find an octopus.”
He blinked.
Then laughed.
“An octopus?”
“Yes.”
“That’s very specific.”
“Well they’re really cool,” you said defensively, smiling. “They’re ridiculously intelligent.”
He rested his forearms on the railing, clearly settling into the conversation now.
“Okay, fair enough,” he said. “I respect the ambition.”
There was a small pause.
Then he asked, “You staying in that house?”
You glanced back over your shoulder.
“Yeah, just for the week. Holiday with friends.”
He nodded.
“Same.”
“Are you with friends too?”
“My family,” he said.
You tilted your head slightly.
“Are they all hiding inside while you stand on the balcony spying on me or...?”
He laughed again, louder this time.
“I wasn’t spying.”
“You definitely were.”
“I was just observing.”
“Observing?”
He shrugged slightly.
“You were the most interesting thing happening out here.”
You raised an eyebrow, amused.
“Oh really?”
“Yeah,” he said casually. “The fish weren’t waving back.”
You tried not to smile too obviously at that.
“So how long have you been watching?” you asked.
He hesitated just long enough that you knew the answer probably wasn’t flattering for him.
“A few minutes.”
You laughed.
“That’s slightly creepy.”
“Only slightly?”
“Depends,” you said. “Did you see me nearly swallow seawater earlier?”
His grin widened.
“Maybe.”
“Oh my god.”
You covered your face briefly with your hand. “That’s so humiliating.”
“To be fair you recovered well.”
“Thank you,” you said sarcastically.
He watched you for a moment, something softer in his expression now.
“You really like this stuff, don’t you?”
“The ocean?”
“Yeah.”
You nodded immediately.
“Obsessed with it. I’ve always loved marine life.”
“What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever seen?”
You thought about it.
“Probably a nurse hound shark in Cornwall,” you said. “But I really want to see an octopus in the wild. They’re like weird little geniuses.”
He smiled slightly at how animated you sounded.
“I feel like you’ve definitely given this speech before.”
“Oh I absolutely have.”
“Do your friends enjoy it?”
“Not at all.”
He laughed again.
Then after a second he asked, “So what happens if you do find the octopus?”
You shrugged.
“I celebrate.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I tell my friends ‘I told you so’ dramatically.”
“That’s it?”
“Well do you want fireworks or something mate?”
“I feel like an octopus sighting deserves fireworks.”
“Well if I find one I’ll let you know.”
He nodded thoughtfully.
“I’d like that.”
You adjusted your mask again, floating a little closer to the reef.
“I should probably keep looking though.”
“Right,” he said.
Then he hesitated slightly before adding,
“Good luck with the octopus.”
You smiled.
“Thanks.”
"Wait—" He called out, raising his arm to get your attention.
You turned instantly, your gaze accidentally falling on his muscular arms.
"What's your name?"
"Oh I'm Y/N"
"I'm Jude!" He replied, a smile growing on his face.
"I'll see you around then Jude?"
"Yea, I hope so"
You smiled shyly trying to make sure he didn't realise how much of an effect he had on you, then you dipped back under the water and swam toward the coral again.
When you finally climbed back onto the deck of the beach house later, your friends immediately noticed the grin on your face.
“Did you find your octopus?” Abby asked.
“No,” you said, grabbing a towel. “But…”
“But what?”
You hesitated, "Nothing nothing, I just, I met this guy and we had a really nice chat so—"
Your friends smiled knowingly, "And why did you want to bring that up mate?" Adelina said with a knowing grin on her face.
"Stop, he was just really sweet and stuff, I actually noticed him like, looking at the sea and then I pretended I wasn't just staring him and then I wanted to see him again cuz he was really like—" You pause cringing at the next few words spilling out of your mouth.
"Like what girl?" Sophie said, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"This is going to sound a bit stupid but he was like really hot, like kind of unreal, anyway um— when I resurfaced to look at him again he was staring at me and then he waved and then we just talked about like snorkeling and stuff and his smile was so sweet oh my goodness. I hope I see him again!"
Sophie giggled a bit as she went to the side to grab your towel of the chair, "Okay well, here's your towel girl. We decided to eat lunch at this restaurant, it's like a fifteen minute walk from here."
You grab the towel and start drying your hair, trying to fight the smile as your mind fixated on Jude. Maybe you would see him again, Who knows?