Just let me take care of you for once

Scene: Late Afternoon – Private Beach Behind the Hotel

The sun has dipped just far enough to cast everything in gold. The beach stretches wide and empty, the sand soft like flour under their feet. Waves roll in, gentle and endless, sparkling in the late light. Palm shadows stretch long over towels and bags.

They've taken over a prime spot — luxury hotel umbrellas overhead, music pulsing softly from Nut's portable speaker buried halfway in the sand.

Lego is already shirtless, sprinting straight into the surf with Diamond hot on his heels. They crash into the waves like children, laughing too loud, splashing each other with zero concern for the world. Diamond's curls are already soaked, and Lego dives under, popping up like a seal, yelling, "I'M A MERMAID PRINCE."

"You wish," Diamond yells back, shoving him underwater again.

Back on the sand, Nut lounges on a beach chair like he's posing for a photoshoot, oversized sunglasses on, sipping from a coconut he insisted on having the bartender split open. He watches the others with a lazy smile, one leg propped up, bronzed skin glowing under the sun.

Hong sits beside him on a towel, back against a log, arms resting over his knees. His skin glistens with sunscreen, and his eyes are hidden behind round lenses, but he doesn't need to look to know exactly where Nut is. Occasionally, Nut taps his foot against Hong's, just enough to make contact — never too obvious, never entirely platonic.

William and Est are farther down the shoreline, walking slowly where the surf kisses their feet. William's carrying their sandals, and Est has a loose button-down fluttering open over his swimsuit. Their conversation is quiet, almost buried under the waves and laughter. Est doesn't smile easily, but when he looks at William, something in his expression softens. They're close — but there's still tension around the edges, like they're waiting to figure out which version of themselves they brought on this trip.

Tui is the only one not in the water, not laughing, not touching anyone.

He's perched on the edge of a towel, knees drawn up, arms loosely wrapped around them. His tank top is still on, although the sun is warm. He's watching the others — Hong and Nut tangled in their private rhythm, William and Est folded into a private world of almost, Lego and Diamond existing in the pure, untouchable joy of young love.

Tui smiles at them when they glance his way. He laughs at the right moments. He waves when Lego calls out, "Tui! Come swim!" But he doesn't move.

He tells himself he's fine. The beach is beautiful. That the sunset is enough.

Behind him, the hotel glows gold against the horizon. In front of him, everyone he cares about is happy.

And in the middle of it, Tui feels invisible. Quietly, politely, lovingly — left behind.

A wave crashes close, spraying his toes with cold foam. He brushes the sand from his arm and looks out towards the sun.

He stays seated.

Scene: Evening – Hotel Suite with Balcony Overlooking the Sea

The sun has long set, but the ocean still breathes just outside the wide balcony doors. Inside, the biggest suite has been unofficially declared the party room. The low table is cluttered with takeout containers, tiny ceramic hotel dishes stacked with grilled shrimp, skewers, pad kra pao, and piles of mango sticky rice.

A half-finished bottle of gin stands among empty soda cans and melting ice.

Diamond sits cross-legged on the floor, watching the game board intently. He's surprisingly cutthroat when it comes to UNO.

Lego, leaning dramatically against him, keeps peeking at Diamond's cards while claiming it's "couples' intuition."

"Draw four," Diamond says sweetly, slapping the card down like a dagger.

Lego howls. "Betrayed by my own husband!"

Nut is pouring everyone shots — badly. The tablecloth is soaked in places and no two glasses are even. He grins like a devil and shoves a glass towards Tui, who raises it reluctantly.

"Cheers to being rich, hot, and mildly irresponsible," Nut says, raising his own.

They all cheer. Even Tui smiles — genuine this time. A warm buzz of friendship is thick in the air. He's still a little distant, but tonight, the space around him feels less cold. Hong sits close by, nudging Nut when he pours too much and whispering snark under his breath when Lego starts monologuing about love and mangoes.

Est, meanwhile, is slouched into the couch cushions like gravity has won. His shirt is unbuttoned halfway, and there is a lazy flush on his cheeks. He's been quietly drinking more than the others — beer first, then a couple of shots, and now something red and dangerous that Nut mixed in a teacup.

William notices. Of course he does.

"Hey," William murmurs, nudging Est's knee. "You good?"

Est blinks at him, slowly, like his brain is buffering. "M'fine."

"You look fine," William says, but there's worry behind the smile.

Est leans forward, trying to pick up a game piece and promptly knocks it off the table.

"Whoops," he mumbles. "Gravity's aggressive tonight."

William gets up without a word and crouches beside him, brushing Est's damp hair back. "Okay, that's enough for you."

Est leans into the touch without thinking, eyes fluttering closed. "You're being bossy."

"And you're being drunk," William says gently.

The others notice but don't comment. Diamond smirks into his soda. Nut raises an eyebrow but shrugs. Hong quietly collects the empty bottles.

"I'm fine," Est says again, but it's quieter now.

"I know," William replies, and it's the kindest thing he's said all day. "Just let me take care of you for once, yeah?"

Est doesn't answer, just tilts his head towards William's shoulder. William shifts so Est can lean on him fully, steady and quiet.

For a few minutes, the room keeps laughing and dealing cards. Tui watches from across the table, the smile slipping just slightly from his face.

But in that soft corner of the couch, Est breathes a little easier. And William stays still, letting him.