Wishlist [txtzy#1]

Wishlist-40(sand castle)

Chaeryeong still couldn't wrap her head around why Taehyun had handed her a cup of her favorite coffee earlier that morning. He hadn't said a word about it, just left it by her side with a barely-there smirk before walking off. It wasn't just the gesture itself that left her confused—it was the subtle care behind it.

She was pulled out of her thoughts by the PD's enthusiastic voice.

"Alright, everyone! Here's what we're doing today," the PD began, his voice amplified by the megaphone. "We're hosting a sandcastle-making competition! The team that builds the biggest and sturdiest sandcastle wins. You can pick your own partners for this activity!"

Chaeryeong blinked, suddenly overwhelmed. She scanned the group, trying to decide who to approach. NingNing and Jay were already huddled together, and Jisung looked like he was still stretching lazily on the sand. Before she could make a move, she felt a presence behind her—a little too close for comfort.

"Will you do it with me?" a low, raspy voice whispered against her ear, making her shiver slightly.

Startled, she turned to see Taehyun standing there, his face calm but his proximity unsettling.

"W-what?" she stammered, stepping back instinctively.

"Be my partner," he repeated, his tone steady yet teasing.

"No way," she blurted out, her voice louder than intended. "Why would you want to team up with me?"

Taehyun smirked, stepping closer again. "If you don't, I'll throw a fit," he said, his tone playful yet daring.

"What are you, a child?" she shot back, crossing her arms as if to shield herself from his overwhelming presence.

"Maybe," he replied, his grin widening. "But trust me, Chaeryeong. If you say no, I'll make it everyone's problem."

Chaeryeong narrowed her eyes at him, trying to gauge whether he was serious or just messing with her. Knowing Taehyun, it could be either—or both. Finally, she sighed. "Fine. I'll do it."

Before she could process her reluctant agreement, a cheerful voice interrupted.

"Chaeryeong! Let's team up for this one!"

She turned to see Jisung walking toward her, his usual bright smile lighting up his face.

"O-oh, um..." She hesitated, glancing between him and Taehyun.

"You're late, Jisung," Taehyun interjected smoothly, his voice carrying an edge of possessiveness. "Chaeryeong's already partnered with me."

Jisung blinked, surprised. "Chaeryeong, is that true?"

Her lips parted to respond, but she faltered under Taehyun's piercing gaze. Finally, she nodded. "Y-yes. I already agreed."

Jisung's smile faded slightly, and he nodded, stepping back reluctantly. "Alright. Good luck, then."

Chaeryeong watched him walk away, guilt prickling at her chest.

Soon, the group arrived at the beach, the sun glistening on the waves as they set up for the challenge.

"Okay, everyone! You have 30 minutes to build your sandcastles," the PD announced. "Your time starts... now!"

Without missing a beat, Taehyun handed her a bucket. "Go get some water."

"Seriously?" she said, raising an eyebrow.

He didn't even look up. "Do you want to win or not?"

With a sigh, she took the bucket and trudged toward the waves. After filling it, she tried to carry it back, but the weight was too much. As she struggled, she tripped, and the entire bucket of water tipped—right onto Taehyun.

The moment she saw him drenched, she couldn't stop the laughter that burst out of her.

"Sorry!" she managed between giggles, though the apology sounded anything but genuine.

Taehyun stood there, his hair plastered to his forehead, his shirt soaked, and his expression stoic. "It's fine," he said, though his tone suggested otherwise. "If it's too heavy for you, we'll do it together."

She nodded, still trying to suppress her laughter, and followed him back to the waves. As she bent down to fill the bucket again, a sudden splash of cold water hit her.

"YAH! Kang Taehyun!" she yelled, jumping up and glaring at him.

"You started it," he said with a smirk, already backing away.

"Oh, you're dead!" she shouted, grabbing the bucket and chasing after him.

What followed was a full-blown water fight. Taehyun splashed her again, and she retaliated, drenching him completely. They laughed like children, the tension between them momentarily forgotten.

From a distance, Jisung watched the scene, his jaw tightening as he took in their playful interaction.

After a few minutes, Chaeryeong suddenly stopped. "Taehyun!"

"What? Did I splash too hard?" he asked, his tone shifting to concern as he stepped closer.

"No! We only have five minutes left!"

His eyes widened, and they both sprinted back to their spot. In their rush, they managed to create what could generously be described as a lopsided mound of sand with a stick awkwardly perched on top.

When time was called, the PD went around judging the castles. As their "masterpiece" was zoomed in on the big screen, the entire group burst into laughter.

Taehyun looked at Chaeryeong, his serious expression breaking into a rare, genuine laugh.

"Did we even try?" he asked between chuckles.

"I don't know," she replied, laughing so hard that tears formed in her eyes.

For the first time in a long time, it felt like the weight of their history didn't matter. At least, not in that moment.