Friends. Group vacation

Scene: Late Morning –  Dining Area

The scent of fresh fruit, warm bread, and softly scrambled eggs fills the shaded terrace where a long breakfast table has been set up. The sea glimmers just beyond the railing, sunlight dancing off the waves. The breeze lifts corners of linen napkins and tousles freshly styled hair.

Nut is setting plates out with sleepy precision, his eyes still half-lidded. Hong, leaning against the doorway, is sipping orange juice and squinting toward the light like he resents being awake at all.

Diamond hums as he slices mangoes, his mood still bright from the night before. Lego stands beside him, quiet and steady, occasionally nudging a fork closer or brushing his hand against Diamond’s as they work.

Tui sits at the far end of the table, already in his chair, coffee in hand. He’s watching the sea — but his eyes flicker briefly to the side when he hears raised voices approaching from the hallway.

Then —

Footsteps. A door opening a little too hard.

William and Est appear, walking fast down the  hallway toward the breakfast area. Their voices are tense, clipped.

“ — I’m not saying he’s not your brother,” William says, “I’m saying this is supposed to be our time.”

Est walks ahead of him, shirt half-buttoned, hair still damp from the shower. “He’s already on his way. What do you want me to do, tell him to turn around?”

“Yes,” William snaps. “Actually, yes.”

“Will,” Est turns, exasperated. “He’s my family.”

“He’s a problem,” William says, quieter now, but his voice cuts deep. “We both know that. You just keep pretending it’ll be different this time.”

The group falls gradually silent as the argument enters earshot. Hong and Nut exchange a look. Diamond pauses with a knife in midair. Tui lowers his mug slowly.

Est’s shoulders tense. “He’s not here to cause trouble. He just wants to see me.”

William scoffs under his breath. “He always ‘just wants’ something.”

Est stops at the edge of the table and glances around at the others. His jaw tightens. He mutters, “Morning,” to no one in particular and pulls out a chair stiffly.

William hesitates for a second — then sits down too, one seat away from Est. His hands are clenched on the edge of the table.

The atmosphere is delicate. Like thin glass, humming.

Nut clears his throat lightly and reaches for the coffee pot. “Uh… croissants?”

Hong hums sleepily, as if trying to dilute the tension with nonchalance. “Only if someone hands me one.”

Lego finally speaks, softly, glancing between the two. “Do you want us to set another place? For your brother?”

Est nods once, not looking at anyone.

William doesn’t say anything. But his eyes don’t leave Est.

And Tui, silent at the end of the table, is staring into his cup like it holds answers. His grip is a little too tight.

The ocean keeps rolling in the background. Calm. Unbothered.

But something sharp and uncertain has now joined them at the table — and none of them are quite sure how the morning will unfold.

Scene: Late Morning –  Entrance Driveway

The sky is brilliant and cloudless as Est steps out of the hotel, his jaw tight, hands shoved into the pockets of his loose pants. He doesn’t hear the ocean now — not over the dull pounding of tension in his chest. The gravel crunches softly under his sandals as he walks toward the driveway.

He had told the others he’d go alone.

He didn’t want William there — not because he didn’t care, but because it would’ve made everything worse.

There’s the hum of an engine.

A sleek, unfamiliar car pulls into the circular drive, sunlight glinting off the windshield. Est stops just short of the last step and watches as the car slows to a halt. The door swings open.

Out steps his brother — confident, sharp-featured, wearing sunglasses and a jacket far too heavy for this weather. His smile is that kind of familiar: too charming, too smooth. It’s the smile Est grew up learning to mistrust.

But what surprises him isn’t the smile.

It’s the passenger door opening.

Out steps a girl — tall, composed, wearing a flowy cream dress and perfect eyeliner. Her hair is swept up, and when she glances around, her expression is neutral but calculating. She places one hand gently on Est’s brother’s arm.

Est blinks.

“…You brought someone?”

His brother lowers his sunglasses a little. “Of course I did. She’s my girlfriend.”

There’s a beat of silence.

The woman steps forward, offering a small smile. “Hi, Est. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Est hesitates, his mouth half-open. He looks between them, then gives a short nod. “Right. Uh. Welcome.”

His brother claps him on the shoulder, his touch light but just a little too firm. “I thought it’d be nice. You’re always saying I should bring someone normal around.”

Est forces a tight smile. “Yeah. Just didn’t know that meant here.”

His brother just grins. “Don’t worry. We won’t stay long. Just wanted to say hi, see your little beach retreat. Looks nice.”

The girlfriend glances toward the villa. “It’s beautiful. You all staying together?”

“Yeah,” Est says cautiously. “Friends. Group vacation.”

His brother’s grin stretches wider. “Cute.”

Est feels something shift behind his ribs. It’s not anger yet — just the familiar feeling of being handled. Measured. Read like a script.

But he nods politely and says, “Come in. I’ll… introduce you to everyone.”

As they walk toward the villa, Est’s eyes briefly flick to the girl at his brother’s side.

Something about her feels familiar. Like the outline of a face in a dream he can’t quite recall.

But he pushes that thought away.

For now, he has enough to worry about.