Through my eyes||Dino

-8-

After the concert wrapped up and the lights faded, the group had a brief break before their next show. They've been working hard, and now it was the time for a bit of downtime. Chan, who had been unusually cheerful, found himself looking forward to a weekend getaway at one of the group's favorite vacation spots--a villa just outside the city.

The idea was to shoot some lighthearted segments for their reality show while relaxing and unwinding. But for Chan, the most exciting part of the trip wasn't the cameras or the content they'd produce, it was the opportunity to spend time with Sara.

He hadn't seen her in a few days, and the more he thought about her, the more he wanted to hang out with her outside the makeup room. But he didn't wanted her to feel out of place or uncomfortable, so he decided to invite Sara's best friend, Taylor, along too. That way, Sara wouldn't be the only girl surrounded by a group of thirteen guys.

When Sara received the invitation from one of their managers, she was surprised. She hadn't expected to be included, and part of her felt a little out of her depth. But then Taylor squealed with excitement, her worries melted away. 'We're going! We're going!' Taylor shouted, already packing an overnight bag.

-•-

As they arrive to the villa, Sara immediately felt a weight of her insecurities creeping in. The villa was stunning--luxurious, but not overly showy. The guys were lounging around, chatting and laughing, while the crew filmed bits and pieces of their interactions for the show. The air was light, with no pressure, but Sara couldn't help but feel self conscious. Especially when she realized that there was a pool and everyone was preparing to swim.

Sara glanced at Taylor as the group began to gather by the pool, she noticed the excited gleam in her best friend's eyes. She had a long sleeve one-piece swimsuit with swim shorts. Taylor was thrilled to be a part of this. But Sara felt a sudden rush of panic. Taylor helped her pack her bag, because they were both in a hurry, Sara packed a swimsuit and picked the first one she saw. She did not even remember having swimsuits. When Sara opened the bag she pulled out a red two-piece swimsuit that she had bought months ago on a whim--a bikini that hugged her curves in a way she wasn't ready to show off, especially not in front of a group of MEN. ' She could feel her pulse quicken, her stomach knotting. 'I can't do this,' she muttered to herself, hoping no one would hear.

Chan, however, had noticed her hesitation. She was standing by the side of the pool, looking more out of place than she had ever felt. He stepped over to her, keeping his voice casual.
'You alright Sara?' He asked with a friendly smile, his eyes curious but kind. Sara shrugged, trying to keep it light. 'Yeah, just... didn't bring anything to swim in.'

Chan raised an eyebrow 'How come Taylor did but you didn't' He thought, but didn't press further, kind of understanding the situation. He walked away briefly only to return a few moments later with a large black t-shirt. 'Here you can wear this,' handing it to her with a grin. 'I know it's not much but it will help with the whole, uh... modesty thing.'

Sara stared at the shirt. The idea of covering up helped a little, but she still wasn't sure. 'I'm fine,' she murmured, 'I just don't feel like getting in the pool.' Chan tilted his head 'Come on, Sara. You are not going to sit out. It'll be fun. You don't have to get in if you don't want to. But I can hang out with you if that makes you feel better.'

She smiled at him, shaking her head. 'No, it's fine. You go ahead and join everyone else.' But something in his eyes softened, and for a moment, she felt like he wasn't just inviting her to join for the sake of the group--because he wanted her there. Hesitantly, Sara took the shirt from him, her fingers brushing his for a brief second, sending a soft flutter to her chest. 'Alright,' she said quietly, 'I'll do it.'