Chapter 821
Her equipment had malfunctioned. She started running out of air, and to make matters worse, her leg cramped up. Luckily, her instructor noticed in time and managed to pull her back to the surface.
After that, she’d been terrified of the water for a long time—forget diving, she couldn’t even bring herself to go for a swim.
“We can try again today,” Jamison said, his gaze soft and encouraging. “I’ll be right there with you. I’m very experienced.”
Diving had become his escape from the high-pressure work he dealt with year-round. Every year, he’d take a vacation to a tropical island just to lose himself in the ocean.
When you’re fully submerged, it’s like entering a silent world. But it’s anything but boring—schools of fish drift by, vibrant coral paints the landscape, and rugged reefs rise and fall, creating a unique vista completely different from the world above. The water cradles you, making you feel weightless, and that sense of total release melts away every bit of physical and mental exhaustion.
He’d always done it alone, but now he couldn’t wait to share that stunning underwater world with the woman he loved.
Ivy was surprised. “I never would have pegged you as a diver.”
“When you’re completely underwater, your mind just goes quiet and your body feels like it’s floating. It’s the most relaxing feeling,” he pressed on, trying to convince her. “And the world down there is totally different from ours. Once you experience it with me today, you’ll fall in love with it too.”
But Ivy still wasn’t convinced.
“I have my certification and plenty of experience. We’ll even take two instructors with us. I promise you’ll be safe,” Jamison said, seeing her waver. He took her hand, his touch persuasive.
“Why don’t you just go by yourself? I’d be perfectly happy lounging on the beach all day,” she said. The thought of just lying there, feeling the sea breeze and clearing her head, sounded like heaven.
“No way. It’s too dangerous for you to be on the beach alone without me there to protect you.”
“Dangerous? It’s perfectly safe here!”
“There’s the danger of some guy trying to hit on you.”
Ivy was speechless.
“Besides,” he added, “even the most beautiful scenery loses its color without the one you love beside you. Just try it with me. I know you’ll love it.”
Seeing how insistent he was, Ivy didn’t have the heart to disappoint him and finally relented. “Alright, I’ll give it another shot. But if I get scared, I’m coming straight back up, and you can keep going.”
“Deal,” Jamison agreed, confident that once Ivy saw the vibrant world beneath the waves, she’d never want to leave.
They arrived at the dive center, and Ivy watched as even kids who looked barely in their teens set off with their families and instructors. She felt a spark of admiration, and some of her anxiety began to fade.
After a basic training session, they changed into wetsuits, strapped on their scuba gear, and headed out on the boat.
But once they reached the dive site, her nerves returned with a vengeance.
“Jamison, maybe you should just go alone. The water looks so deep here.” Though the sea was crystal clear and beautiful, fear gripped her, as if she had a touch of thalassophobia.
It was the first time Jamison had seen the ever-confident and brave Ivy so hesitant and indecisive.
“So, you do get nervous and scared sometimes,” he teased. “It’s rare to see this side of you.”
Ivy shot him a look. “Everyone has a weak spot. Don’t you? I’m putting my life on the line for you, and you’re making fun of me.”
A low chuckle rumbled in his chest. “Relax. You’re a quick study; you pick up everything fast.”
“Don’t try to butter me up.”
Regardless, she was here now. She couldn’t back out at the last second.
After Jamison slipped into the water, Ivy took a deep breath, followed the instructor’s directions, and with a surge of resolve, tumbled backward into the sea.
The moment she hit the water, all the sounds of the outside world vanished instantly, replaced by the muffled gurgle of bubbles and her own breathing.
After overcoming her initial panic, Ivy gradually began to relax. Through her dive mask, she could see everything with incredible clarity. The feeling was magical: rising columns of air, shifting patterns of light, drifting sand, and coral reefs that seemed to glitter.
Jamison slowed his pace, waiting until he saw the tension leave her body before guiding her deeper. He kept turning back to check on her, gesturing to ask how she was doing.
Ivy gave him an ‘OK‘ sign, her beautiful eyes crinkling into a smile behind her mask. Jamison smiled back and gave her a proud thumbs-up in return.
When the first school of fish swarmed toward them, Ivy’s attention was completely captivated by the explosion of tropical colors. In that instant, she finally understood why Jamison loved this underwater sport so much.
It was breathtaking.
The immersive experience was nothing like watching a video someone else had recorded. She could even see a fish glance at her as it swam past, its eyes seeming to say, Welcome to our world, stranger.
The tropical fish were dazzling, their scales shimmering like multifaceted jewels, reflecting the sunlight that pierced the remarkably clear water in a stunning display.