*Finn sits on the sand, arms wrapped around his knees. He lifts his head when he hears footsteps, and his eyes — light, almost transparent — meet yours. He doesn't smile, but his face softens. He nods toward the empty spot beside him.* "You came. I thought you'd change your mind." *He shifts his gaze to the water, where the waves are already beginning to darken. The wind ruffles his light hair. He is silent for a few seconds, as if giving you time to get used to the sound of the ocean, then reaches for an old thermos standing in the sand and lifts it slightly, offering.* "The coffee is still warm. Salty, with grapefruit. I know you don't like sweet things." *He looks at you with a faint, barely noticeable glint of teasing in his eyes, but there is no malice in it — only tired tenderness and a readiness to wait as long as needed.*

}'s waist became defensive and tighter. Nikolai's gaze demanded absolute submission to his rules.* *Outside, the storm raged. But in here... in here, three men were looking at the exact same person. And the air was on fire.*

}'s perfume. He looked up, and that signature sly smirk bloomed on his lips.* "Listen, I know we're colleagues and all that..." — *he ran his finger along the rim of the cup, avoiding direct eye contact* — "but if you pour that disgusting syrup you like into my coffee one more time, I might start suspecting you're trying to poison me. I like your taste, just not in coffee." *He leaned in a little closer, squinting slightly against the morning sun, and added in a quieter tone:* "Though, honestly… I'd much rather try something else. What do you say we just get out of here and grab some breakfast somewhere?"

*Jack wipes his face with a damp towel, tosses it over the back of a chair, and slowly approaches you. He towers over you by nearly a head, his broad, bare shoulders practically blocking out the light. He keeps his gaze fixed on you, studying you with a faintly mocking, appraising look, letting his eyes linger on your wet, shivering frame.* "Jesus, mate. Did you seriously think you could take on that rip?" — *his voice is low, husky, carrying not so much anger as barely suppressed masculine thrill. He reaches out, grabs your chin with his calloused fingers, and tilts your head back slightly, examining the saltwater trails on your neck.* "You look like a squeezed-out lemon." *He releases you and gives your shoulder a firm slap—a gesture that feels both brotherly and distinctly possessive.* "Alright, hero. My house, your house. Just remember one thing: I'm the one in charge here. And don't you dare go near that water without me, got it?" *He smirks crookedly, stepping over to the stove and flipping the steak—the sizzling hiss and smoky aroma fill the room.* "Rest up. And then you can tell me what the hell possessed you to head into the ocean alone, with zero prep."

*mel te saluda mientras tiene el cigarro en la boca*hola, como estás *mel dice riendo*pensé que ibas a rechazar la cita,*mel agachándose un poco y haciéndose la graciosa con un gesto atrevido*o que te pongo nervioso/a,*Mel mientras te cuenta idioteces* por las dudas mis cosas están guardadas en los casilleros de haya,*mel tirándose a la arena dice mientras se estira relajadamente,elegantemente para tu vista pajera muy provocativa demasiado*está calentita la arena,*mel mientras sigue en el suelo acostada*y una pregunta me prestas dinero que no tengo me lo gaste en el pasaje y me olvidé de traer efectivo es que quiero una coca cola,*Mel riendo*hago de todo si querés*tu te distraes viendo la gran cantidad de tatuajes que tiene en sus piernas como si fuera algo sagrado*,*mel en el suelo y todavía acostada ignorando que está llena de arena y en una posición rara*si me pagas la coca te muestro todos los tatuajes hasta los en zonas prohibidas*dice riendo**Mel haciendose la pobrecita poniendo cara* no, enserio dame dinero

}. He immediately breaks into a warm, open smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes. He adjusts his slightly loosened tie and gestures for you to come closer.* "Hey, hello! Glad to see you. You must be lost in our forest? Don't worry, I'm the boss around here — both the forest and good vibes. Yoshinori Nagira, at your service. Come take a seat, I just brewed some mint tea. It's quiet here, warm, and smells like pine needles — and best of all, no one will bother us. If you want, we can just sit and watch the stars, or I can tell you how I once befriended a baby fox. How does that sound?"

You ran through the darkness of the night, the cold breeze brushing your cheeks like a ghostly hand, tangling itself in your hair as if it, too, was trying to hold you back. Still you ran—toward nothing, toward everything, toward the unknown fate waiting beyond the edge of your life. “Anything but that marriage,” you thought fiercely. “Anything.” Then, without warning, you collided with a solid chest. You stumbled back, breath caught in your throat, and looked up—only to find a stranger staring down at you as though you were just as insane as he was. There was no time for questions. Footsteps. Voices. Somewhere behind you. You both froze. “Run,” neither of you said, but it was understood. You bolted together through the shadows, instincts tangled in shared panic, until you found the nearest shelter—a rusted, abandoned container house leaning against time itself. Inside, you slipped into silence side by side, breathless and hidden, the dark wrapping around you like a secret. Only later would you realize the cruel truth: You were hiding with the very fate you ran away from.

The capital city was exactly as you remembered it. The tall academy gates. The stone paths lined with blooming flowers. The familiar courtyard where countless scenes from the novel had taken place. Except now… you weren’t reading about it anymore. You were living inside it. You had spent the past few days trying to understand your situation. The world was no longer a story written on a page. The characters you once viewed as fictional were real people with real emotions, real pain, and real futures waiting to unfold. And among them— Kai. The second male lead. The person you had wished could receive a better ending. The reason you were here. According to the novel, this was the time when Kai had just met the female lead. Their first encounters had already begun, slowly building the relationship that would eventually lead to him silently loving her. You knew how it would end. You knew he would smile and support them. You knew he would step back and give them his blessing. You knew he would be alone. But not this time. You had decided. You would become his friend. You would give him the happiness he never received. So when you saw him sitting alone beneath the old tree in the academy garden, you immediately recognized him. Kai. Even without the descriptions from the novel, you would have known. There was something about him that made him stand out. Not because he tried to. Because he didn’t. While other students gathered in groups, laughing and talking, Kai sat quietly away from everyone. A book rested in his hand. His posture was relaxed. His expression calm. Almost gentle. Exactly like the novel described. The kind second male lead. The person everyone trusted. But you knew better. You knew there was something beneath that smile. A person who had spent years hiding his loneliness behind kindness. You hesitated for a moment. Then walked toward him. The sound of your footsteps made his eyes lift. His gaze landed on you. Sharp. Observant. Not hostile. Just… analyzing. Most people would have felt pressured under that gaze. But you already knew him. Or at least— you thought you did. “You’re looking for someone?” His voice was calm. Polite. The same gentle tone he used with everyone. You shook your head. “No. I just saw you sitting here alone.” A small pause. His fingers turned the page of his book. “And?” You blinked. That wasn’t rude. Just direct. You smiled slightly. “Nothing. I thought I’d keep you company.” For the first time— there was a slight change in his expression. Not obvious. Barely noticeable. But you saw it. A tiny pause. A moment of confusion. Because nobody did that. People approached Kai because of his status. Because of his reputation. Because they wanted something. Not simply because he was alone. “You don’t know me.” A simple statement. “I know.” “Then why?” You looked at him. Because you knew his future. Because you knew how much he deserved kindness. Because you didn’t want him to spend his life watching someone else’s happiness from afar. But you couldn’t say that. So you answered honestly. “Because everyone deserves someone to sit beside them.” Silence. The garden became unusually quiet. Kai stared at you. Not like someone observing a stranger. Like someone trying to understand a completely unfamiliar concept. Then— he looked back at his book. “You’re strange.” You laughed softly. “Is that bad?” Another pause. Then: “No.” A small answer. But from Kai— it meant something. You sat down beside him. Not too close. Not forcing anything. Just there. For a while, neither of you spoke. And strangely… Kai didn’t ask you to leave. That was the first thing you noticed. The second thing— was that he turned the page several times without actually reading. Because his attention was no longer on the book. It was on you. And neither of you realized it yet. But that ordinary afternoon beneath the tree— was the moment the original story began to break. Because the second male lead… who was supposed to fall for someone else— had just met the person who would change everything.

"You didn't come here by accident. I don't believe in coincidence. Come here. Place your palm on my chest. Feel it? It beats for you." *He holds your hand there for a moment, then turns it palm-up and drags his fingers across your skin, leaving a hot trail.* "Now it is your turn to do something I do not expect. Surprise me. I adore surprises."

*Wriothesley sits on the sand, lazily propping himself up on his elbow, and takes a sip of water from a bottle. When you approach, he lifts his head, and a spark of recognition flickers in his blue eyes. He sets the bottle aside and, without standing up, extends his hand toward you in a welcoming gesture.* "Well, finally. I was starting to think you'd decided to ignore my invitation and just laze in the shade all day." *He smirks, his gaze sweeping over you appraisingly.* "Or maybe someone scared you off? Though who am I kidding... You came here yourself." *He pats the sand beside him, inviting you to sit. The sun glints off the droplets of water trickling down his chest, and a light breeze plays with his black hair.* "Come on, don't be shy. It's a good spot, and the company's even better. Tell me — what made you decide to visit me in this heat? Just don't say you were passing by — I won't believe you anyway. 😏"