An hour later, we arrived at the beach. It's the middle of the afternoon, and the sun blazes at its peak—perfect for a tan, a glass of wine, and a good book.

The beach is crowded, and filled with people drawn to the breathtaking view. It's divided into two sections: a public side cluttered with beach chairs, umbrellas, and sunbathers sprawled on towels, and a private side with luxurious cabanas next to a beautiful bar, green stepping stones leading to it, and a small restaurant nearby.

A beach volleyball court is situated at the centre, with a small section for a campfire just a few steps away. Sebastian booked the entire area, so it's ours for the night. However, I doubt we’ll fit. We’re about twenty to thirty people, and the space looks tight. If we do fit, it'll be a squeeze.

Thankfully, I have a resilient sister who’s always quick on her feet. Hayden has our stuff set up by the time I finish my thought—two beach chairs with an umbrella between them, partially shielding us. It’s perfect.

I give her a look of approval and sink into one of the chairs. Before I know it, she’s pressing a glass of wine into my hand, and I feel an invisible tear roll down my cheek.

"I love you too," I mumble, "Ten points to you."

She rolls her eyes and settles onto the chair beside me to start her tan. I pull out my murder novel, take a sip of wine, and dive into my version of paradise. My toes curl with excitement.

Halfway through the book, my peace is disrupted.

Before me stands a small child, not older than thirteen. He has brownish hair, caramel skin, and wears the cutest blue shorts adorned with princesses. I can’t help but smile at the sight of him.

Carefully placing the book down, I gesture for him to come closer.

"How can I help you?" I ask softly, my smile widening.

"Why don’t you have a soul?" he asks, catching me off guard.

I blink rapidly, struggling to comprehend what he just said. My mouth suddenly goes dry. "Excuse me?" I croak, coughing to clear my throat.

He looks at me with a blank expression, then at my book, and back to me. "You’re reading a book."

My nerves ease a little, and I let out the breath I was holding. I pick up the book and show him the cover. "This is one of my favourites, actually," I say, then whisper, "I really like reading."

He frowns in confusion. "My mummy says people who read that stuff have no soul."

I fight the urge to roll my eyes and lie back. "Well, your mummy is wrong."

"But my mummy is never wrong," he counters.

I can feel my smile fading, but I force it to stay up. He’s just a kid, and probably doesn’t understand what he’s saying.

"Good for her." I flash him a big smile and try to resume reading, but he lingers for another minute before running off.

Hayden turns to me, nudging her sunglasses down to give me an unimpressed look. "You could’ve been a little nicer, you know."

"I was nice. If it had been anyone else, they’d be six feet under by now," I retort.

"You and I have different definitions of nice—"

"We most definitely do," I cut in.

She pushes her sunglasses back up and doesn’t press further. I take it as my cue to get back to my book.

But of course, the little monster returns, this time with ammunition.

"Take this, mean lady!" he shouts.

Before I know it, a bucketful of sand is hurled at me with such force I don’t stand a chance. It gets everywhere, and I mean everywhere. He completely blinds me, and I know I’ll be digging sand out of my eyes for days.

He giggles frantically, clearly proud of his achievement. I can feel my composure slipping away.

"I’m going to kill you, kid!" I shout, squinting with one eye open. He grabs another fistful of sand and throws it directly into my open eye, then takes off with my book in hand. I charge after him, probably looking like a complete idiot.

He skilfully uses the crowd as cover, eventually losing me. That, and the fact that I’m half-blind, doesn’t help.

I stop in an open area and scan my surroundings. He has to be here somewhere. I prowl around like a crazed person, my wide, red eyes adding to the effect, and my hair now a dishevelled bird’s nest.

People around me stare as if I’ve escaped from an asylum. The looks they give when I ask about a missing child only heighten my anxiety. I swear some of them are ready to call the cops.

After an hour of searching, I give up. The little devil has succeeded in ruining my day.

I trudge back to my sun chair and collapse with a heavy heart. I just wanted one day to escape reality.

I slam my fist against the chair and scream, "Fuck!" to release all the pent-up frustration. People turn to look at me again, but I ignore them. Taking deep breaths, I lie down and close my eyes, hoping to fall asleep within seconds.

Hayden’s gaze burns into the side of my head. I can tell she’s itching to say something, just trying to find the right words.

"That was a lot. You okay?" she asks cautiously.

I mentally roll my eyes. "Okay? Okay? Look at me—I look like an escaped mental patient. Do I look okay to you?"

She pushes some hair behind her ear. "Stupid question, I know."

"And you’re one to talk—you just sat there while the whole thing happened."

She gives me a rhetorical look. "What did you want me to do? Fight the kid?"

I sit up and look her dead in the eye. "If it came to that, yes."

She scoffs. "You can’t be serious."

"I am dead serious. My week has been shit, and this takes the cake. You promised to make this day peaceful, but so far, you’ve let me down twice!"

She crosses her arms and raises her voice. "You didn’t seem so distressed earlier. From my point of view, you were enjoying Sebastian’s company—a little too much, if I might add," she retorts.

I shake my head, disappointed. "I should’ve known you’d let me down."

"It’s not my fault you went around picking fights with children. To be honest, you kinda deserved it."

I gasp dramatically. "You did not just say that."

"I said what I said." She turns away and lies back down as if she’s won the argument.

"My fault again, like always," I mutter to myself as I head towards the water.

Some guy randomly shouts at me to join them for a game of beach volleyball, but I ignore him—for his sake.

I stop, realising I’m not done with Hayden. I turn back to her and add, "I hope you die of heatstroke," with as much disdain as possible. Then I walk away. By the time she thinks of something to say, I’m already knee-deep in the water.

My muscles instantly relax as the waves gently brush my shoulders. I walk a bit further until the water is just below my nose.

I look back at all the people, and my heart grows heavier as reality hits me harder. All the emotions I’ve been burying all day now surface—anger and self-doubt leading the way, with their younger brother, anxiety.

A wave of regret washes over me. If only I’d taken my medication before coming here, maybe I wouldn’t be in this situation.

An eerie feeling creeps up my spine, igniting the chronic pain in my back, signalling my irritation with the world and, most of all, with myself.

I turn away from the world, face the open ocean, and take a deep breath before submerging myself into the water, letting myself sink into the depths.

The water wraps around me like a warm embrace, easing the chaos in my mind. Everything slows down, and suddenly, my last beautiful memory begins to play.

I smile, feeling a lightness in my chest. They were only brief flashes, but more than enough.

The water fills my ears, distorting the sounds, making it feel as if those voices are happening in real time.

We’re on the edge of my bed, fighting for a good view of the movie. Rocco, never one to play fair, elbows me out of the way and takes my spot. I retaliate with a wet willy followed by an elbow slam. He doesn’t stand a chance.

But, in the end, I let him win like I always do. Watching the movie wasn’t what mattered to me. It was spending time with him. Seeing the bright smile on his face was enough to bring one to mine.

Sometimes, I’d just sit there and listen to him talk. It made him happy to know someone was interested in what he had to say. In those moments, I knew I’d bring the world to him if he asked.

Muffled sounds of someone calling my name start to pull me back. I fight hard to block them out. I’m not ready to leave, not yet.

The scenes turn darker, and soon, I’m reliving the worst day of my life.

I open my mouth and scream, not caring if water gets in.

But I’m yanked out of the water, pulled back to the surface. Someone says something, but the words don’t register.

I brush them aside, shielding my eyes from the blinding light until they adjust.

When I finally look at Sebastian, my expression is blank.

His face is a mix of horror and worry. I smile a little—it’s kind of cute.

He frantically wipes stray drops of water from my face, then places one hand on my cheek and the other around my waist, as if afraid I’ll sink again.

"Nightowl..." he whispers, his eyes never leaving mine. My heart sinks to my stomach, but in a good way.

I quickly cut in, "I'm fine," I say gently, prying his hand off my waist. He gives me that same look he always does when I shut down a conversation like this, but as usual, he doesn’t argue.

I flash him a quick smile and swim past him to shore. He lingers for a moment before following.

And just like that, like a phone with a bad virus, I reset. Everything I was feeling vanishes as if someone flipped a switch, leaving me with nothing. I walk back to my chair with a spring in my step and pull out a towel from my bag.

Hayden’s still in the same spot I left her, but now she’s staring at me with the same look Sebastian gave me earlier.

She starts, "Tae-"

"I’m in the mood for some volleyball," I say, cutting her off. I towel off my hair and continue, "Let’s play."

She pauses, letting out a long sigh before relaxing. "Fine, let’s play."

I get up first, holding out my hand, which she takes hesitantly. We join separate teams, and let’s just say history was made—by that, I mean I got the ball spiked right into my face.

I crash down hard, and Hayden rushes over like a worried mother. I laugh, pushing her off. "Don’t worry, Mum, I’m okay." Soon, everyone around us joins in laughing.

She looks at me like I’m a stranger, but I just smile back. I get up, dust myself off, and carry on. She steps aside to catch her breath.

More people join in, and I have the time of my life. My team members are beasts and show no mercy. Never have I been prouder.

*******

Nights on the beach have always been my favourite. The stars here, far from town, are like nowhere else.

We gather around the pit for a little bonfire. By now, the beach is almost empty, with just a handful of people left.

Music blares and the sand vibrates under the feet of drunk dancers. It’s impossible not to have fun in such a lively atmosphere.

I nestle in the centre of the circle, close to both the speaker and the cooler box. With a wine glass in one hand and a beer bottle in the other, I’m living the best of both worlds.

Even Hayden loosens up after a few shots. Standing up with a slight groove, she starts serenading me. I cheer her on proudly, dancing along from the comfort of my seat.

The crowd eggs her on, oblivious to her crow-like voice. Hayden is many things, but a good singer isn’t one of them. Not that it ever stopped her from belting out a tune.

Realising we’re now the centre of attention, I tug at her shirt, signalling for her to sit down. "Motherfucker, sit down," I say with a smile.

She laughs, ignoring me, and sings even louder. I flick her off playfully and watch in agony. She’s a force no one can stop.

When the song finally ends, she flops back into her seat, out of breath. I hand her a bottle of water, which she aggressively declines. So, I hand her water in a beer can, which she accepts without hesitation. When she comments on the taste, I just down it to the manufacturers.

"One day, when you’re old and grey, you’ll thank me for giving you these memories. At least now, you’ll have stories to tell the grandkids," she says with no shame.

After another can of ‘beer,’ she’s back at it, somehow even more drunk. For a moment, my vision blurs, and I cut myself off. I’m not a heavy drinker, and the wine plus two cans of beer are doing a number on me.

I chug a bottle of water and close my eyes to rest.

The sound of someone approaching makes me open them. When I do, I’m more than shocked. "Suwi?" I ask, wondering if I’m imagining things. She looks like she’s dressed for a rave.

"The one and only," she replies enthusiastically.

"You’re in our hostel?"

She chuckles. "No, but I am an honorary member. When I heard you guys were having a fun day out, I decided to tag along." She finishes with a little dance. Hayden joins in from her seat.

I shake my head slightly. "Makes sense, makes sense. Good for you." I close my eyes again as the nausea hits.

She looks me over with a hint of concern. "You good?" she asks in a high-pitched tone.

"Maybe… I’ll get back to you in a few minutes."

As I try to gather my thoughts, I notice Sebastian approaching, his expression unreadable. My stomach churns, but I force a small smile.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" he asks, his voice steady but with an undercurrent of concern that only heightens my anxiety.

I hesitate but nod, keeping my tone light. "Sure, what’s up?"

He motions for me to step aside, and I follow him a short distance away. The air between us feels heavy, charged with a tension I can’t quite place. I can sense his worry, and it makes me want to retreat into myself, but I know I can’t avoid this conversation forever. The events of this afternoon were bound to come up eventually.

Sebastian shifts slightly, unsure of how to start. "I just wanted to check if you’re okay," he says, his eyes searching mine for answers I’m not ready to give. "You left too fast earlier, before I could ask."

My pulse quickens, a mix of emotions swirling inside me—reluctance, fear, and that ever-present warmth being near him always ignites. I can’t let him see too much; I’m not ready to be vulnerable. Not with him. Not yet.

"Me? I’m fine," I reply, my voice casual—almost too casual. I add a soft laugh, trying to deflect, staring at the ocean, avoiding his gaze. "Is that all you wanted to talk about?"

Sebastian hesitates, sensing my evasion, but lets it go. Instead, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out something small, holding it out to me. My breath catches—it’s the book that was stolen earlier.

"You found it!" I exclaim, my voice full of genuine excitement. Without thinking, I leap forward, wrapping my arms around his neck in a quick, impulsive hug. "How did you find that kid? I looked everywhere."

For a split second, I’m lost in the warmth of his embrace, his scent filling my senses. My heart pounds loudly, and I feel that familiar flutter deep in my stomach—the one that always comes when we’re close. But as quickly as I threw myself at him, I pull back, a deep blush spreading across my cheeks as I realise what I’d just done.

Sebastian seems equally surprised, his eyes wide, but there’s something else there too—something that makes my pulse race even faster. He doesn’t step back. Instead, he studies my face with a look that sends a shiver down my spine, as if he’s trying to read my thoughts.

"I found him hiding in the restaurant. He wanted a trade, but I refused—he was asking for too much. I thought about getting you a new book, but when I saw how upset you were this afternoon, I did everything I could to get it back. And seeing your reaction, I know it was worth it."

His words send a jolt through me, and before I can overthink it, I grab the front of his shirt and pull him closer, pressing my lips softly against his. For a moment, the world stops spinning, and all I can focus on is the feeling of his lips against mine, the way his breath mingles with mine.

He tenses at first, caught off guard, but then I feel him relax, his hand finding the small of my back as he returns the kiss, slow and tender. My heart feels like it might explode from the rush of emotions—relief, joy, fear, longing—all of it blending into something that feels too big to contain.

When I finally pull back, breathless and overwhelmed, I see the surprise in his eyes, but also something deeper—something that makes my knees weak. "I didn’t expect you to do that," he whispers, his voice hushed and full of awe, "but I'm glad you did."

Before he can say anything more, a sudden wave of nausea hits me out of nowhere. The world spins, and I barely have time to react before I double over and throw up all over his shoes.

Sebastian steps back, his eyes wide with shock as I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, mortified. "Oh my God, I am so sorry," I manage to mumble, my face burning with embarrassment. I turn to run away, but he pulls me back.

For a second, he just stares at the mess, then at me. But instead of looking disgusted, a slow grin spreads across his face, and he lets out a laugh—one that’s full of genuine amusement and warmth.

"Well........that was, unexpected," he says, his tone light, trying to ease the situation.

I want to sink into the ground and disappear, but the way he’s smiling at me—so completely unfazed and understanding—makes it impossible not to smile back, even through my lingering embarrassment.