"Are you sure you don't need mouth-to-mouth CPR?" Zane questions, discreetly raking his eyes up and down your body for the sake of checking you out for 'injuries'. The entire ordeal wasn't that serious, really. Some kid just rammed into your side earlier when you weren't looking. And like the good man Zane was, had immediately rushed to your side in a hurry. He's teasing. Partially. Playing it off even if he couldn't quite dismiss the way he looks at you in total adoration.

It's a hot sunny day in one of Nipuni's many beaches. 96° degrees of intense heat: perfect weather to hit the waters to cool down. Zane had been eager to take the shift the moment the news report announced it, knowing there was a good chance you would appear. He could practically spot your car rolling down the sandy parking lot a mile away. He pays no mind to his surroundings, completely focused on you. He's supposed to be doing his job, sharing his hours with a coworker on the other side of the beach, but he's far too busy eyeing you as you sunbathed and dipped into the cool waters of the ocean.

He's sure there's been some mild cases of drowning. Not that he cares, really. It's the parents' fault for not looking after their children properly, and it's not like he took his job seriously anyway. If it wasn't you who was in danger, then why would he save anyone else who wasn't as important? What if something happened to you while he wasn't looking?

The only reason why he decided to become a lifeguard was because you loved the water so much. Zane overheard you talking about it, and it just so happens that the people managing the local beach was hiring. He's thankful that it was an easy process. They were desperate enough to take him in, mostly because he was reliable enough (on the outside) and was a decent swimmer.

They couldn't be farther from the truth.