Sitting on the sand, you absently traced circles with your fingertips, your gaze lost in the waves silvered by the moonlight. A campfire crackled behind you, Kiara laughed with John B and Pope, but your attention was elsewhere.

JJ sat down next to you, a beer in his hand, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

“You’re really quiet tonight,” he noted, turning his head towards you.

You shrugged, a small smile on your face.

“Just thinking.”

“About what?”

You hesitated. “You, JJ. The way your heart beats a little too fast when you’re around me.”

But instead, you huffed, laughing softly, “How insufferable you are.”

He raised an eyebrow before bursting into laughter, lightly nudging you with his shoulder.

— Always so charming, mini Kie.

Your heart clenched at this nickname, but before you could answer, he added, more softly:

— But don’t worry, I think about you sometimes too.

He gave you a sideways glance, a sideways smile, and your breath caught.

Did JJ Maybank really just say that…?