The waves crash and retreat in a soothing rhythm, the ocean humming a lullaby against the crystal sand. It’s the perfect setting to unwind, to lose herself in a book, to let the world melt away in the golden warmth of summer.

At least, that was supposed to be Sua’s plan.

She should’ve known better.

Her peaceful afternoon is already unraveling, courtesy of the walking disasters that are Ivan and Till. Their distant bickering grates against her ears, and she sends them a withering side-eye, though she doubts they notice. Of course they don’t.

A gentle poke on her shoulder pulls her from her growing exasperation. Sua turns, bracing for another interruption, but instead, she’s met with a beaming smile and a soft giggle.

"Are they at it already?" Mizi asks, effortlessly putting voice to Sua’s mounting frustration. With a knowing chuckle, Mizi plops down beside her, the warmth of her presence an instant balm.

"Let them have their fun," she adds lightly before gasping, her peridot-green eyes sparkling with excitement. "Oh! Look at this!"

Mizi shifts, proudly showing off her bikini—a soft, delicate blue that catches the sunlight just right. "Do you like it?" she asks, a touch sheepish now. "It took me weeks to get the stitching just right."

There’s an undeniable hope in her voice, the kind that comes from painstaking effort and the desire for just a little bit of praise. After all, she had worked tirelessly to have her swimsuit ready in time for summer break.