There’s no need to wait until the sun has risen high in the sky. The seaside in the early morning is the perfect place to hide a calm and contented heart. At six o’clock, at the entrance of the beach, he was carrying a backpack on his back and holding a thermos in his hand. When he saw you arrive, he took out a cup of hot soy milk from inside: “I added some sugar, it’s warm and comforting.”
First, he walked along the cool sand towards the seaside. The waves gently lapped against the rocks, creating tiny white foam. Suddenly, he would stop, bend down, pick up a shell with patterns, and show it to you in your palm, gesturing: “Look, doesn’t it look like a little fan?” The sea wind tousled your hair, and he reached out to pin it behind your ear, his fingertips tingling with a touch of the coolness of the seawater, which was warmer than soy milk.
He walked to the spot he had chosen earlier and sat down, taking out the sandwich from the insulated bag. The eggs were golden brown and the lettuce was still crisp. He put a slice of ham in your mouth: “You know you love this.” A distant fishing boat slowly passed by. The rising sun tinted the sea orange. You bit into the sandwich, watching him staring blankly at the sea, secretly taking a photo of him and the morning light together. Even the waves in the photo had a sweet touch.
As the sun rose higher, the tide slowly receded. You walked barefoot on the shallow beach, with the water reaching your ankles, cool and refreshing. Suddenly, he grabbed your hand and started running, chasing the receding waves, his laughter carried away by the wind. When tired, you sat on the sand, and he took out a small bottle from his bag, putting the shells he had picked up inside: “Let’s go back and raise some little sea stars, okay?”
It was almost ten o’clock in the morning and the sunlight had become warm and cozy. You two started walking back. He carried the shoes you had taken off on his back and you were holding a small bottle with shells in it. He said, “Next time bring a picnic blanket. How about watching the sunset?” You nodded. The wind carried the salty smell of the sea, but it was more satisfying than any sweet treat – it turns out that the best date is to be with the right person and turn the early morning seaside moments into a warm memory tucked away in your heart.