*The arena erupted in applause as she landed her final jump.* *I barely heard it.* *The crowd was on its feet. Judges scribbled scores. Cameras followed her as she glided across the ice with that stupidly graceful smile that made my chest feel tight every damn time.* *Beside me, her brother - Jackson - shot up from his seat.* "That's my sister!"*he yelled.* *I winced as he smacked my shoulder hard enough to bruise.* "Yeah,"*I muttered, unable to stop staring at her.*"I know." *I've known her for years.* *Too many years.* *Long enough to remember the gap-toothed kid who used to follow us around while her brother and I played street hockey. Long enough to remember teaching her how to skate backward. Long enough to realize somewhere along the way that she wasn't a kid anymore.* *That realization had ruined my life.* *Because she was my best friend's little sister.* *Which meant she was completely off-limits.* *At least, that's what I kept telling myself.* *The announcer called her name. The scoreboard flashed her score.* *First place.* *The crowd cheered again.* *I found myself grinning before I could stop it.* *God, I was proud of her.* *Her brother immediately pulled out his phone.* "I'm calling Mom." "Of course you are." *He wandered off toward the lobby.* *Leaving me alone.* *My eyes drifted back to the ice.* *She was taking photos now, standing on the podium with her medal hanging around her neck.* *Beautiful.* *I instantly hated myself for thinking it.* *Not because it wasn't true.* *Because it was.* *Painfully true.* *A few minutes later the event ended, and competitors started filtering toward the exit halls.* *I spotted her before she saw me.* *She was laughing with another skater.* *Then her gaze lifted.* *Straight to me.* *Her entire face lit up.* *Not unusual.* *She'd always been happy to see me.* *At least that's what I told myself.* *I raised a hand.* *She immediately abandoned her conversation and hurried over.* "Did you see it?"*she asked breathlessly.* *I laughed.* "No, actually. I closed my eyes the whole time." *She rolled hers.* "There was a chance." "Not a chance." *The medal bounced lightly against her chest as she smiled.* *God help me.* *Her brother finally reappeared.* *Before she could say anything else, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.* "First place. I'm framing the score sheet." *She groaned.* "I'm serious." *I watched them bicker and felt something warm settle in my chest.* *This family had become my family years ago.* *Which was exactly why this was such a terrible idea.* *Because every time she smiled at me, every time she called my name, every time she looked at me like I was someone important...* *I wanted things I shouldn't want.* *Things that would probably get me murdered by her brother.* *She turned toward me suddenly.* "What are you thinking about?" *I blinked.* "You don't want to know." *Her smile softened.* "Maybe I do." *For a second, my heart stumbled.* *Then I looked away first.* *Because if I looked at her any longer, I wasn't sure I'd remember all the reasons I was supposed to keep my hands off her.* *And that was becoming harder every day.*

*Knocks on your bedroom door before letting herself in.* There you are. I've been calling your phone for ten minutes. *Haruka places a stack of notebooks on your desk and sets down two glasses of iced lemonade.* Don't give me that look. You thought I forgot about those test scores, didn't you? *She sits in front of you and smiles warmly.* Summer vacation isn't ruined. A couple of bad marks won't end the world. That's why I'm here.

} with a calm look, and smirked slightly.* "Hey. Kai, your neighbor." *His voice was low, even, and without any extra softness.* "You're new around here, I noticed. Decided to stop by and say hi. Not used to having strangers next door." *He wiped his face with his palm, shaking off water from his chin.* "Those books on the porch are gonna get soaked. Let me help you carry them in — then I'll get out of your way. If you want, maybe grab a beer sometime, neighbor to neighbor." *He spoke briefly, without hints, looking straight into the eyes but without any tension. His whole posture showed calm masculine confidence — no games, no flirting, just a solid guy who doesn't like leaving things unattended.*

Marin♥️online · 11:41pm Hello 𝙺𝙰𝙸𝚁𝙰𝚅 🥀 Bro vacation started Are you just gonna sit in your house and ruin your vacations? Hello Marin ahh, I haven't thought of going out come to the beach. We'll enjoy😏 nahh, I'm not in a mood to come Really? don't you wanna see my new bikini?😏 Give me five minutes! Marin♥️ is typing... 𝙺𝙰𝙸𝚁𝙰𝚅 🥀 went out, got in his car and drove faster then a bullet train just to reach the beach

The message arrived casually, like it always did. A short invite from people who called themselves your friends, telling you they had built something impressive at the beach and wanted you to see it. A sandcastle, they said. Huge. Detailed. Something worth seeing in person. It felt nice to be included, even if a small part of you hesitated for reasons you couldn’t quite explain. So you went. The beach looked normal at first. Bright sky, soft waves, scattered laughter carried by the wind. They were already there waiting near the shoreline, standing around something half-buried in sand. They waved you over with too much enthusiasm. Their smiles didn’t quite match their eyes, but you ignored it—because you wanted to belong somewhere. The “sandcastle” was impressive at first glance. Tall, layered, carefully shaped. Then the mood shifted. The jokes got sharper. The kindness faded. You realized the invitation wasn’t about showing you anything at all. It was about getting you there. One of them pointed toward the water, saying the ocean looked better up close. Another laughed and told you to go see it. When you hesitated, they didn’t wait. Hands pushed you forward until sand turned into cold water. The moment your feet left shore, something changed. The laughter behind you felt distant. The current felt wrong—too strong, too intentional. Then a sudden pull. Arms grabbed you, not helping, guiding you farther out as the beach shrank behind you. “Hey—wait—” your voice vanished into the waves. A rope tightened around your wrist. Panic hit instantly. You turned, but the shore was already too far, figures blurred like they didn’t matter anymore. Then the water changed. The current twisted downward. Not back. Down. It dragged you under. Cold crushed your lungs. The world above disappeared into distortion. You tried to fight it, but the ocean didn’t care. Everything blurred. Everything slowed. You were being erased by pressure and silence. Your body weakened. Your skin paled, then turned bluish as oxygen faded. Thoughts broke apart. There was no rescue. Only sinking. Then light appeared. Sharp. Blinding. Impossible. It cut through the water like a blade. The drowning stopped instantly, as if the ocean itself had paused. And suddenly—you were floating. Breathing. Not sinking. Not struggling. Just suspended in a still, controlled current. The ocean felt different now. Structured. Intentional. As if something was holding it in place. That’s when you saw her. She was enormous—at least fifteen feet tall in presence. Her long silver-white hair drifted like moonlit silk. Her ice-blue eyes glowed faintly, calm but piercing. Her translucent icy-white gown shimmered like frozen water, moving with the currents. She looked ancient, unreal, like the ocean had taken form. She looked at you without surprise or hostility—just observation. Nerivara Oceandis: “…You are not supposed to be here.” A pause. Nerivara Oceandis: “Tell me why the surface keeps throwing its broken things into my waters.”

*In the distance, a group of women freeze mid-conversation.* That's impossible... *One points directly at you. Another drops the bag she was carrying.* Wait... No way... Is that...? *Their eyes widen. A stunned silence hangs in the air before one of them suddenly screams at the top of her lungs.* A BOY! A REAL BOY! *Instantly, the entire group erupts into chaos.* OH MY GOD, THERE'S ACTUALLY A MAN! *More women turn to look. Gasps echo across the street. Phones are raised. Girls begin running from every direction.* GET OVER HERE! *Within moments, dozens of excited women are rushing toward you, shouting over one another as the crowd rapidly grows larger and larger.*

*Liam steps closer to you, his silver hair catching the flashlight beam. He tilts his chin toward the dark treeline and holds out a heavy compass, his grey eyes locked on yours.* "You're the only one who didn't panic when the engine died. I'll follow your lead. But if we're going into those woods, you hold this compass—I trust your gut more than this map." *Mia fidgets with her flashlight, clicking it on and off nervously. She takes a shallow breath and moves to your side, her voice low and earnest.* "I know you feel it too—that wrongness in the air. Just tell me you'll stay close to me, okay? Please. I'll keep the light on you, but don't wander past my beam." *Jake folds his worn map with a shrug, a playful smirk tugging at his lips despite the tension. He taps your shoulder with the rolled paper and gestures ahead.* "Hey, you're the one with the sharpest eyes. Which way would you go if you had to choose? I bet you're secretly the best navigator here." *Chloe hugs her old book against her chest and offers you a gentle, reassuring smile, but her blue eyes are searching yours. She extends a small, dried lavender bundle toward you.* "Here. Hold this. It helps with nerves. I just... I want you to know I trust you. If the forest starts playing tricks, I'm sticking by your side." *Zack adjusts his headphones around his neck, letting out a quiet scoff. He reaches into his jacket, pulls out a multi-tool, and holds it out handle-first.* "Look, I'm not the sentimental type, but you've got a steady head. Take this. If something jumps out, you're my backup. Just don't break it, yeah?"

Well~ guess I saved you huh?~ gotta be careful!!~

*The music from the beach party was still loud in the distance, but the area where you stood had become strangely quiet.* *You felt someone grab your wrist from behind.* *Before you could turn around, a tall figure stepped in front of you. It was the same guy whose shirt you had accidentally spilled your drink on earlier. His dark eyes were locked onto you with an intensity that made your stomach twist.* *Kai didn’t say anything at first. He simply looked at you for a few seconds, his grip on your wrist firm but not painful. Then, in a low and calm voice, he finally spoke.* “You spilled your drink on me earlier,” *he said, tilting his head slightly.* “And then you apologized so nicely.” *His free hand slowly reached up and brushed a strand of hair away from your face. The touch was gentle, almost careful, but there was something unsettling about how natural it felt.* “I’ve been thinking about you since then,” *he continued, his voice dropping lower.* “More than I should.” *He took one step closer, closing the distance between you. His red-tinted eyes never left yours.* “I don’t usually care about strangers… but you’re different.” *A small, cold smile appeared on his lips.* “So tell me… how am I supposed to let you walk away after tonight?”

}~💕”