The Prince, the Gambler, and the Sea – Part 2

The Sea

I decided to walk my way home.

I told my friend to take the money and deliver it to my front door if I won. But I doubt he would, because people would rather lose friends than money, and that’s a fact.

While walking home, I saw a street performer beside the bakery shop. I’m surprised he was allowed to be there. Maybe he was a close family member of the bakery owner, making an extra living. I looked straight and focused on the street. It’s ridiculous what people can do for money. They don’t realise that money is not meant to be worshipped. Suddenly, a thought occurred to me. I do not want to be a rich person. I don’t want to have so much money that I would find myself spending it on nonsense, on useless things. I don’t want to see people begging for the money I worked so hard for. Then it occurred to me: I am wasting the money I didn’t work hard for, too.

I hate this. I hate the logic of life so much. So much irony and so much trickery, isn’t it? I don’t want to be poor, but I also don’t want to be rich. I want to spend money and have fun. I want to find the real purpose of life. I want to see what happiness without the input of this world’s lies and selfish games.

My thoughts hummed as I shifted my gaze to the couple walking across the street. The guy’s arm was around the lady’s shoulders, and they were muttering something. As if they had developed a secret language that only they could understand. I blinked as I felt something had stung my eye. I realised the air was too dry, and I had not blinked for a while, staring at the lovely couple.

I also don’t want to fall in love because I know that love costs a lot. You go on a date and pay for the gas and food. You also pay for gifts and?flowers. Have we ever thought of giving someone an actual plant in a vase rather than picking it up and letting it sit on someone’s desk and letting it die and wither? Is that love? I thought love was about growing up. Love is not about wilting and dying. Love is beautiful. More beautiful than sunsets, a field of roses, and salty seas combined.

Sea.

That word feels peaceful. I want to know what peace is. Is it costly? Like love? Do I need to set up a proper bedroom and wait for the rain to come, brew myself a hot cup of tea, and read a good book before I can call something peaceful? I don’t want peace. Like love, it is making me curious. I take my phone out and search for the meaning of peace and love. I read the definition, and it does not make sense. Peace is a state where there is no war. Where I live, there is clearly no war or conflict. But I don’t feel any peace. And love. Love is deep affection. I don’t even know what deep respect feels like. It’s just a word like a black hole. You know it’s there, but you cannot fathom what it’s like.

So I walked my way slowly and decided to head to the nearby?sea. As I walked through the sand, my shoes were buried with every step I made. And the salty smell of the sea made me feel like I wanted to sleep without worrying someone might snatch my credit cards and phone. The sea was making me feel… sleepy.

When I came close to the sea, I let myself sit for a while. I took out my phone and opened the camera app. The moon was out and it was very pretty. I took a quick shot before putting my phone back inside my pocket. I appreciated the silent, lonely sea for a moment before lying on my back on the cold, the damp sand behind me. I examined the stars and I saw Aquarius. It’s… peace– no, this is not peace. This is science.

I sat up again, and I thought I heard someone. I looked around, and the sea was still the same. Dark, monotonous, and cold. So I laid flat on my back once again.

Then I drifted off to sleep.