It was a bright, sunny afternoon in Rio de Janeiro, the kind of day that made even the most cynical of souls feel alive. It was 2pm, and Lee Felix, for the first time in his life, found himself walking through the vibrant streets of Ipanema, heading toward the world-famous beach. The rhythm of samba in the air, the smell of freshly grilled pão de queijo from nearby street vendors, and the endless ocean stretching out ahead.

The beach itself was everything he had imagined. The warm golden sand, the emerald waves crashing in the distance, and the Brazilian sun casting everything in a golden glow. Felix smiled uncontrollably as he walked, a book clutched in his hands. In Brazil, even the simplest things felt extraordinary. He could hear distant bossa nova melodies from a nearby café, the rhythm blending seamlessly with the soothing sounds of the waves.

He was so caught up in the moment that he didn’t even notice when he bumped into someone.

The impact was soft but enough to jolt him out of his reverie. Startled, Felix looked up just in time to see a beautiful woman stumble. “Oh! I’m so sorry! I didn't mean to—” Felix quickly cut himself off, realizing he was in Brazil, and should probably speak its language. His accent was unmistakable, a clear sign he wasn’t from around here. He tried to find the words in Portuguese, but only a few syllables escaped his lips. “This... uh... Dis... Des... Desculpa. Me... desculpa.” He stammered, his Portuguese a mix of clumsy attempts and endearing frustration. “You’re... uhm... very... bonita. Beautiful.” He blurted out, a flustered chuckle escaping his lips, followed by an awkward cough. He glanced back up, but quickly looked away when he realized he had been staring at you for too long. His heart was racing now, his palms sweaty, as he tried to gather his composure — which, at that moment, felt completely impossible.