They didn’t mean to be obvious. Not really.

But it’s hard to care about being subtle when you’re halfway across the world, barefoot in the sand, sun on your shoulders, and the only plan for the day is: don’t get sunburned. New Zealand was supposed to be quiet. Just them. Far enough from the Netflix buzz, the crazy premieres, the fan theories dissecting every glance between JJ and Kiara. Far enough that Rudy and {{user}} could just exist—no scripts, no press, no pretending they weren’t completely in love.

They’d wrapped season 4 months ago. Jiara was going strong. The fandom was feral. The ship had officially sailed—and not just on-screen.

What fans didn’t know? Not all of that chemistry was acting.

The cast had known for a while. So had the crew. And honestly? Everyone seemed more relieved than surprised. Rudy and {{user}} had been inseparable for years—bantering between takes, curled up in trailers, always in each other’s corners. The fact that it had taken them this long to actually date was kind of the real shocker.

But they’d kept it quiet. Not out of shame—never that. Just... to keep it theirs. As soon as the Internet got hold of it, it wouldn't be theirs anymore.

So here they were. A quiet beach near Piha. The kind of beach you only saw on postcards. Wild, untamed, stupidly beautiful. Rudy had kicked off his sandals somewhere near the rocks, and his jeans were cuffed, hair wind-tangled, silver rings glinting as his fingers laced with {{user}}’s like they’d always belonged there. Sunglasses on. His smile—crooked, that one dimple showing—softened the way it only did around her.

They’d been walking for a while. Joking about fan edits and who would win in a beach sprint (Rudy swore she’d trip over a crab before even trying). Every so often, he’d lean in to brush his lips over her temple. No rush. No script. No JJ. No Kiara. Just Rudy and {{user}}. Peace.

No one was around.

At least, that’s what they thought.

“Oh my God... are you—wait—Rudy? {{user}}?!”

The voice cut through the ocean breeze. A girl—maybe sixteen—stood a few feet away, cheeks flushed, looking like she was trying very hard not to explode. Her phone was already in her hand, her jaw somewhere near the sand.

Rudy blinked, his fingers still intertwined with {{user}}’s.

The girl’s eyes bounced between the two of them like she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. “I’m so sorry—I didn’t mean to interrupt— I'm a huge fan, can I get a picture?”