everything has small beginnings

Is it crazy to accept a stranger offer to go with him halfway across the world? 

The old Natasha probably will be freaking out. She can imagine Olivia shaking her head in disappointment, or even her dad will probably be worried sick. 

But Daniel doesn't seem that bad, he listen to her ranting about her ex boyfriend for hours and seem to be respectful of her boundaries. 

Still though, seeing the way the road narrow beside her seem sketchy as fuck and she can feel herself started hypervalenting in the taxi that they took to god knows where. 

She's been asking him where are they're going, jokingly ask him if he's a serial killer even though honestly she's getting worried too. 

He snort, "I would be the worst serial killer." 

"Says the serial killer."

He shake his head, "What if you are one and you were the one who's biding her time?"

The notion is so ridiculous that she decided to be quiet and didn't answer him. 

Daniel grows quiet too, before he says, " Chris would be the worst though. I don't even think he can harm a fly."

"Wow you really thought about this huh," She retorts drily. 

"Yeah well i have to convince you somehow that I'm not one."

It's been few hours since she met him that's the thing. But Daniel seem to know her better than most of her friend circle back in LA. 

She grows to know him too, about his bandmate that he calls his family. How he meet Chris first and then Ethan. All the shenanigans they're up to in their teenage years, his weird food combination that seem to disgust both his bandmate (His food combination sounds like pregnancy craving really) the first time he played guitar and feels like he meant for it. 

She told him about Olivia, about trouble maker how Olivia has always been there through all the good, the bad and the confusing in her life. 

They don't talk about their name, about the fact that they probably playing pretend right now, about where they come from. 

And she draw comfort from it. He may know most of the things about her but he doesn't know her. Not really. 

Checking her phone it almost hit 5:00 AM. One hour till sunrise. "Where are we going?"

Daniel look nervous, also checking his phone too. "Stop hounding me! I don't know it was this far."

This guy gonna give her a headache. "Daniel!"

Ignoring her, Daniel ask their taxi driver who seem to understand, telling them that they'll arrive soon. On whatever place he's taking her really. 

She really starting to regret this. 

It's dawn when they finally arrived. She can see clearer, all the dense forest around them. It's actually rather pretty she supposes after all the bright flashing lights and the loud sounds she grow accustomed too. 

She can feels a slight cold as she realizes there's a fog that still formed around her, making the temperature drops. 

"This doesn't look promising," She says nervously, looking at the forest around her. 

"What?" Daniel frown, confused. 

"You, not being a serial killer."

Daniel rolls his eyes, "Promise not a serial killer, you can haunt me all you want if I'm wrong. Come. The sun gonna come out soon."

Hesitating, she follows him. She can see the the sky started to lighten, the forest seem to come alive, as she can hear the sound of bird chirping around her, the wind caressing her gently. 

It's magical. Truly wonderful. This whole place. 

She can feel Daniel eyes following her while she stand there, in awe. 

He only grins when she caught him staring at her, his smiles bright, "Come on. You should see this."

In a trance she nods, while he tug at her hand dragging her forward. The sight that greet her eyes took the breath straight out of her lungs. 

There's a lake, the water looks so pristine and clear, the water seem to reflect the sky, the forest, the beam of sunshine back perfectly. 

The sun seem to washes everything in golden hue, and the sky seem to stretch miles and miles away. The forest seem to be endless, surrounding the entire body of water. 

Rows and rows of wooden boat near her sight and the small Hindu temple overlooking the lake only makes this wild place more beautiful. 

The fog only makes this place more ethereal. Untouched. Perfect. 

The birds chirping become louder now as she let out a laugh. Goodness. 

"This is definitely worth it." She can hear Daniel muttered quietly next to her, but she's too busy drinking everything in, because she knows this sort of things won't happen twice, right? 

She breathes in the cool air, as her mind grow quiet and peaceful with every sound of the wind blowing gently around her. 

"It's called Lake Tamblingan." 

She turn, seeing Daniel closing his eyes. He continues, "Apparently long ago there's a plague and this lake water been blessed. And the only thing that curing the plague was this water. So they let this place fairly untouched, letting it be. The name derived from it."

She raise her eyebrows, "You seem to know a lot about this place."

"According to the internet because it's so far away from the city, it also a place to seek a peace of mind. I figured we both need it," Daniel answer without a missing a beat. 

She can feel a small smile start to graze her lips. Because it does work. This small secluded piece of heaven. 

They both stand around near the lake for a few minutes until Daniel ask her to sit in the grass meadow not far from the lake. 

Munching on the bread and the water they bought from the convenience store, she let out a sigh. 

They must have been an odd sight to the few campers that she glimpses around the meadow. Her, still in her shorts and her crop top, her hair in a messy bun at the top of her head and Daniel in his sleeveless tee. 

What are the odds that she started yesterday ready to party and end up in a middle of nowhere with a guy that she just met a few hours ago, already spilling her life story to him. 

But she doesn't mind. She treasure the feeling of the soft grass underneath her fingertips, the way the sunlight hit the leaves just right, Daniel features that seem to soften underneath the sunlight, his eyes seem to match the sight around them. As mesmerizing as the view around them. 

Daniel hums before he looks at her, fond. "Still thinking I'm a serial killer?

She can feel her lips twitching, trying her best to hold back her smile. " The jury's still out."