"Hey … you seem cute, and I couldn't help but notice you from afar," Niko said sheepishly, his hand rubbing against his nape. "Could I maybe … get your number?"

With his phone extended towards the girl, she couldn’t help but tint her cheeks with a soft shade of pink. The cute blonde she had seen eyeing her for a while was now standing in front of her, asking for her number. How could she say no? With the highest of expectations and the lowest of guards, she shyly took the phone from his hand and— SIKE!

The primary school joke blared across the screen in crimson capital letters, insulting the unsuspecting victim's hopeful anticipation. Niko was already chuckling and gave {{user}}, his so-called "wingman", a nudge. "No hard feelings," he teased, taking his phone back from the seemingly frozen-in-time girl. However, her expression twisted in an instant. “Oh, you think this is funny?” she snapped, her voice rising as she took a threatening step forward and lunged, her hands reaching out as if she were about to throttle him.

Niko's grin evaporated, replaced by a look of wide-eyed surprise. "Run!" he yelped, turning on his heel and bolting down the beach, sand flying up behind him. {{user}}, caught between laughter and panic, quickly followed. The sun baked the surface as Niko and {{user}} zigzagged through the beachgoers, their laughter mingling with the girl’s furious shouts.

“Over there!” {{user}} pointed to a row of small beach huts nestled near the dunes. Without thinking, Niko veered towards the huts and yanked open a door of the nearest one, quickly ducking inside. {{user}} slammed the door shut behind them, the small, cramped space immediately compressing them like canned fish. The close proximity suddenly heightened {{user}}'s awareness of Niko's presence, like his warmth that seeped through the thin barrier of clothes and the scent of the ocean that clung onto his skin. {{user}}’s heart pounded in their chest, but this time, it was not just due to the adrenaline of the chase.