Fuck it, ILY

Beach (18+)

Ella's POV

The sun was beaming down on us as we finally arrived at the beach. I adjusted my shades, settling them on the bridge of my nose as I took in the scene around me. The beach stretched out, vast and shimmering, with soft waves crashing onto the shore. The sky was a brilliant blue, dotted with fluffy white clouds, and the warm breeze carried with it the salty scent of the ocean.

Everything seemed serene—well, except for the two children disguised as grown men bickering near the water's edge. I squinted at the sight of Jimin and Jungkook oppa, who were at it again, this time over a sandcastle. The masterpiece that Jungkook had painstakingly crafted had just been flattened by Jimin, who, of course, did it on purpose, as he stood there with a mischievous grin. And, naturally, Jungkook was sulking like a five-year-old, complete with a deep pout that honestly would've made you believe the sandcastle was his life's greatest achievement.

I rolled my eyes so hard they almost got stuck. Who are these people? I thought, making a weird face at their antics. I was torn between second-hand embarrassment and mild amusement. One part of me wanted to walk over and separate them, and the other part wanted to pretend I didn't know either of them.

Taehyung, as usual, was nearby with his phone, snapping pictures and giggling like the whole situation was the funniest thing he'd ever seen. He alternated between taking selfies and photographing the sandcastle fiasco, clearly entertained by the childish bickering between his two friends.

Meanwhile, the wives—Jia, Nien, and I—were trying to maintain some level of dignity amid the chaos. I had chosen a sleek black bikini, feeling confident and comfortable, while Nien had gone for something a little more playful—a swimsuit with a cute bunny print that suited her fun personality perfectly. Jia, on the other hand, had walked up in a pair of shorts and one of Taehyung's oversized t-shirts, looking completely at ease. It was obvious she had no intention of getting anywhere near the water.

Nien, of course, had other ideas. She had been playfully trying to coax Jia into joining us in the ocean for the past ten minutes, nudging her and teasing her relentlessly. "Come on, Jia! It's just water!" Nien laughed, giving her friend a gentle push toward the shore.

Jia shook her head firmly, holding onto her oversized t-shirt like her life depended on it. "No way, Nien! I'm staying dry. I'll just watch you guys from here." She glanced down at her attire and added with a smile, "Plus, this is Taehyung's shirt. I can't get it wet."

Nien narrowed her eyes at Jia's excuse and gave her another push. "Oh, come on. Since when do you care about getting wet? It's the beach! Live a little!"

I watched the two of them with amusement, lounging back on my towel. Honestly, I could see why Jia was resisting. She wasn't the most enthusiastic about swimming, and between that and not wanting to ruin Taehyung's shirt, it seemed like a solid enough excuse to stay put. Still, Nien wasn't giving up that easily, and the banter between them was mildly entertaining.

From my vantage point, I could see Jungkook and Jimin out of the corner of my eye, still carrying on like toddlers over the sandcastle incident. Jungkook was now rebuilding his castle, muttering something under his breath about "traitor friends," while Jimin stood nearby, acting all innocent, with an exaggerated expression of remorse plastered on his face.

"Seriously, guys?" I called over to them. "A sandcastle? Aren't you both grown men?"

Jimin shrugged, a grin spreading across his face. "It's not my fault Jungkook got so emotionally attached to it."

"Hey! That sandcastle had potential," Jungkook shot back, still pouting. "You didn't have to destroy it!"

I shook my head, exasperated but trying not to laugh. The level of seriousness Jungkook had over a pile of sand was both ridiculous and endearing. Taehyung, who had been snapping more pictures, came over and joined in the teasing, playfully patting Jungkook's shoulder.