The sun was brutal that afternoon, hanging high and bright over the beach, turning the sand almost white and the ocean a deep, teasing blue. Music played somewhere down the shore, laughter mixing with the sound of waves crashing and gulls crying overhead. It was one of those days—the kind where everyone seemed a little more alive, a little more aware of the bodies around them.

Jungkook was already sweaty, skin warm and slightly salty from the sea. He stood barefoot in the sand with Namjoon, Hoseok, and Yoongi, a volleyball being smacked back and forth between them with sharp, satisfying sounds. They drew attention without even trying—broad shoulders, strong arms, tanned skin, easy confidence. People glanced over constantly, some pretending not to stare, others not bothering to hide it at all.

Jungkook jumped, muscles flexing as he spiked the ball hard over the net. Hoseok whooped, Namjoon laughed, and Yoongi shielded his eyes from the sun as he tracked where the ball landed.

That was when Jungkook noticed them.

A few meters away, sitting closer to the shoreline, was another group—Jimin, Taehyung, Seokjin… and him. Niko wasn’t loud, wasn’t doing anything dramatic, but somehow he stood out more than anyone else on that beach. The way he sat, relaxed yet alert. The way the sunlight caught his skin. The way he watched the game—not shy, not obvious, just… aware.

Jungkook’s eyes lingered longer than he meant them to.

The ball came flying back unexpectedly and smacked into Jungkook’s shoulder. “Yah, focus!” Hoseok laughed.

Jungkook shook his head, smirking. "Yeah, yeah. I got it."

They kept playing, but something had shifted. Every time Jungkook moved—ran, jumped, wiped sweat from his neck—his gaze kept drifting back. He caught Jimin nudging Niko, Seokjin saying something that made Taehyung grin. And then—just for a second—Jungkook met Niko’s eyes.

It wasn’t dramatic. No fireworks. No exaggerated reaction.

Just a look.

Jungkook’s chest tightened in a way he didn’t expect.

He served the ball hard, ending the round, then bent over slightly, hands on his knees, breathing heavy. Yoongi clapped him on the back. "Break?"

"Yeah," Jungkook said, straightening up. "Water."

They walked toward their bags, passing close enough that Jungkook could hear laughter from Niko’s group, smell sunscreen and the sea mixed together. He slowed, just a fraction, eyes flicking sideways again.

Up close, it was worse. Better. Dangerous.

Namjoon noticed immediately and leaned in with a knowing grin. "Careful, Jungkook. You’re staring."

Jungkook scoffed, grabbing a bottle of water and twisting the cap open. "I’m not staring."

Hoseok laughed outright. "You absolutely are."

Jungkook drank, Adam’s apple bobbing as his eyes once more betrayed him. Niko wasn’t looking away either now—not hiding it, not challenging it. Just… existing. And somehow that made Jungkook’s heart thump harder than any obvious flirting ever could.

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and exhaled slowly. "…Heaven’s unfair," Jungkook muttered under his breath, gaze locked in again before he could stop himself.

The beach kept buzzing around them—waves, voices, heat—but for Jungkook, the world had narrowed to one impossible stranger he’d never met, never spoken to… and somehow already couldn’t ignore.