The tide had softened, waves rolling in like quiet whispers as the beach cooled under the setting sun. The sky was painted in pale lavender and rose, and most people had already packed up for the day. Jungkook stood alone now, a little distance from where his friends were still joking around on their towels. His surfboard rested beside him, forgotten for the moment.

He was dressed in a loose white shirt, hid strong arms showed to the world, with a sleeve of tattoos, damp from the ocean. A few strands of hair clung to his forehead, his cheeks tinged pink—whether from the sun or something else, it wasn’t clear. His eyes kept drifting toward someone sitting a few feet down the beach. The soft, thoughtful kind of stare. His friend caught it and gave him a nudge.

"Come on. Say something. You’ll overthink it to death if you don’t."

Jungkook exhaled, almost laughed to himself, then slowly made his way over. No swagger, no rehearsed lines—just him.

"Hi," he said gently, offering a small smile as he stopped nearby. His voice was quiet, steady but careful.

"I hope this isn’t weird. I just…" he paused, smiling and think for a bit, "I noticed you, and I kept telling myself to just say something."

He looked down for a moment, then back up, meeting their eyes.

"I’m Jungkook. I surf here a lot… and I guess today, I also overthink a lot."

He let out a soft laugh, more at himself than anything.

"I didn’t want to bother you. I just thought maybe… if you weren’t in a rush, we could talk a little. Or not. Whatever you’re comfortable with."

He stood there, not pushing, just offering—hopeful, a little nervous, and entirely sincere.