The sun cast a warm golden glow over the sparkling waves as the group enjoyed their relaxing day by the beach. Laughter echoed as they splashed each other playfully. It was a beautiful reprieve from the usual chaos. It felt, for a fleeting moment, like they were family.

Hana shrieked, a loud high-pitched sound of mock outrage, as Lexi scooped a handful of water towards her.  

“You’re dead!” she yelled, already sprinting through the shallow surf in pursuit.

“It wasn’t me!” Lexi laughed, shielding her face from the incoming retaliatory attack.

After the vicious fight between the two, Soo, Hana’s younger sister, suggested the game of chicken. 

“This could get dangerous!” Hana warned, her eyes glittering with a competitive spark. She turned to the guardian of the group. “What will it take for you to be my partner?” she asked, tugging persuasively on Matteo’s arm.

Matteo’s normally olive skin now turned to a bright, undeniable pink, “What do you mean?”

“Please,” she begged.

“Fine,” he conceded, attempting a nonchalant air that utterly failed to mask his hidden delight at being chosen first.

Nearby, a much less civil selection process was underway. Jae and Seo were already engaged in a heated, low-water argument over who would be Lexi's partner Lexi.

“I’ll be her partner!” Jae declared, making his way towards Lexi.

Seo scoffed, adjusting his wet hair. “And why is that? You clearly have no upper body strength.”

“I practice 18 hours a day and have to do stunts all the time. You just sit in an office chair all day!” Jae shot back.

“I still deserve to be her partner,” Seo pointed out smugly.

“Maybe you should carry your soon-to-be-fiance,” Jae sassed, referencing the arranged marriage talks Seo’s father was pursuing.

Hana, already happily on Matteo’s shoulders, sighed, “Can you two just settle this with a flex-off or something?” It was clear they both were in great shape, but yet the argument raged on.

“What about me? I need a partner!” Soo cried out sadly from the edge of the shore.

“Oh my gosh! I’ve had enough of them,” Lexi sighed, shaking her head, sick of the childish play. “Neither of you will be my partner. Soo, get on my shoulders.” 

Seo and Jae shouted in unison, “WAIT!” Confused by what just happened.

Before she could process the situation, pure madness ensued. Both men lunged for her, simultaneously, Seo gripping Lexi’s right arm and Jae grabbing her left, both attempting to hoist her onto their shoulders.

“Jae, she’s my partner!” Seo barked, gripping Lexi’s right arm.

“You let go!” Jae shot back.

“Guys, stop–,” she tried to respond but their yelling drowned her out. 

Are these grown men acting like children? Lexi thought in disbelief. 

“I am not a doll,” Lexi yelled before snatching her arms free with a furious tug. 

She delivered a sharp, simultaneous push to both of them, sending them sprawling backward into the water with a loud, satisfying splash. Seo and Jae both resurfaced, completely drenched and sputtering water from their nose. The water seemed to knock some sense into them, leaving them aware of their childish behaviour.

“I have no idea what’s gotten into two,” she said before storming off towards the shore. Hana, slid off Matteo’s shoulders, and hurried to follow behind Lexi.

They walked for several minutes in heavy silence. Lexi hadn’t uttered a word about what happened but Hana could see the frustrations etched on her face. 

Hana’s gaze fell on a bright sign up ahead. Almost as if God himself wanted to lighten the mood, Hana thought. It was an ice cream shop.

“Ooooo look! Let's grab some ice cream,” Hana insisted. “They have mango flavor, your favorite.” Hana knew mango and a good plate of dumplings were the only two foods that could reliably pull Lexi out of a bad mood.

“Yes please!” Lexi agreed instantly. 

Got her. Almost too easy. Hana thought, relieved.

They both grabbed cones and Lexi’s personality immediately changed. “This is exactly what I needed,” she beamed, taking another bite. 

Hana hummed in agreement. Despite the boys’ disagreement, the day had been genuinely fun. But, as always, whenever they started feeling too peaceful, something always happened.

As if summoned by fate himself, a group of men, who had clearly one too many drinks, swooped in behind them.

“Hey, ladies,” one of them slurred, eyeing Hana up and down. “Need some company?”

“Ughhhhhhhh!” Hana exploded. She hated the cliche pickup lines.  

“Is that the only line men these days know how to say?” Lexi asked, disgust spread across her face.

“I’ll try a little harder,” the taller one said as he leaned closer to Lexi. “You’re not from around here are you?”

“Not sure what gave that away,” Lexi rolled her eyes. 

“Well, why don’t you let us show you around?” another one piped in.

“Hard pass,” the girls said in unison before turning around.

“Aw, don’t play hard to get,” the man closest to Lexi smirked, reaching out toward her arm.

“You can’t afford us,” Hana said, smacking his arm away. 

They always seemed to get themselves in situations like this. They exchanged a look, the familiar, weary signal that they were about to handle things themselves. Lexi turned to the one who tried to grab her arm and gave him a sweet, dangerous smile.

“Come a little closer and I’ll tell you how to pick up girls like us.”

As he eagerly leaned in, both girls simultaneously dumped their melting ice cream cones directly onto his head.

“You can’t. Now take a hint. And here is some money for your dry cleaning,” Lexi said, tossing him 100,000 won (68 usd).

“You bi–,” the man was cut off, by a hand grabbing his wrist.

“I believe they said no,” Matteo's voice was a low, dangerous rumble she'd never heard before. 

The girls turned to find him. His face was a mask, completely void of emotion, and Lexi knew that was far more terrifying than any visible anger. Behind him, Seo and Jae stood like statues. 

Seo wore a cold expression, but Lexi could see the tension in his posture. There was something about the way his hands were casually tucked into his pockets, yet his shoulders were stiff with irritation. 

He said firmly, “Are you deaf or did you not hear them the first time?”

Soo, frightened, peeked from behind Matteo's imposing figure. Jae, unlike Matteo and Seo, wore his emotions openly. He stormed past Seo, Soo, and Matteo to Lexi, grabbing her hand. His usually soft features were hardened as his eyebrows remained furrowed, “Let’s go.”

The drunken guy behind Hana made one last mistake, catching her arm as she tried to follow Lexi.

“That your boyfriend,” the tallest one scoffed at her, pointing towards the Italian man.

“Yes,” she said firmly, smacking his hand off of her and taking Matteo’s. With a cool finality, she turned her back on the men and walked away, not sparing them another glance.

Jae led Lexi away from the fading confrontation, his grip on her hand firm and reassuring. He eventually stopped in his tracks once the men had disappeared far behind them. 

“Why do you always get into trouble when I’m not around?” he asked, his face looking genuinely distressed.

“I’m fine, it wasn’t anything we couldn’t handle,” Lexi said, wanting to reassure him. 

“She’s right! Plus did you see that guy’s face? Tell me he didn’t look like he was on the verge of tears!” Hana laughed, trying to lighten the mood. 

“I’m just sad I lost my ice cream,” Lexi pouted. 

“I’ll get you another ice cream,” Jae said, walking towards the house. She could tell he was upset. 

Matteo rubbed the bridge of his nose. He looked like a furious parent on the verge of lecturing them. Lexi and Hana braced for the full force of his anger but instead were met with sincerity. 

Matteo spoke with a concerned tone, “Can you both please agree to not wander off without telling someone?”

“Yesssss Matteo,” they replied in sync.

Seo, who had been studying Lexi from a distance, caught up to her. “Just… be more careful, okay?” Something about the way he said it made Lexi pause. 

He’s not angry, but was actually worried. About me?

She gave a small but reassuring smile, “We will.”