the truth(21)

The sun hung high in the sky, its golden rays shimmering over the crystal-clear ocean. The sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the air, accompanied by the laughter of beachgoers enjoying the warmth of summer.

Michael and his friends stepped onto the soft, golden sand, the grains warm beneath their feet. The salty sea breeze blew through their hair as they took in the sight before them—an endless stretch of beach, bustling with life.

Ethan (grinning):

"Alright, guys, we're finally here! Time to enjoy summer vacation to the fullest!"

Lisa (adjusting her sunhat):

"Took us long enough. The drive here felt like forever."

Marie (stretching her arms):

"Well, we made it, so let's make the most of it!"

Emily smirked as she turned toward Michael, her competitive nature kicking in even during a beach trip.

Emily:

"You're not planning to just sit around and bask in the sun all day, are you, Michael?"

Michael (grinning):

"Of course not. I plan on dominating every beach activity we do today."

Alex (laughing):

"There it is. Michael's competitive spirit doesn't take a vacation."

Ethan (nudging Lisa):

"You ready to have some fun, or are you just gonna sit under an umbrella all day?"

Lisa (crossing her arms, smirking):

"Oh, don't worry. I'll show you what I've got."

The group made their way closer to the shoreline, setting down their beach towels and bags. The girls excused themselves to change into their swimsuits, while the guys simply stripped off their shirts, revealing their swim trunks.

A few minutes later, the girls returned, each wearing their swimsuits. The moment they stepped onto the sand, the guys instinctively glanced their way—only to pause, their eyes widening just a little.

Emily wore a sleek, red bikini that accentuated her toned figure, her confident expression never fading. Marie had opted for a light-blue swimsuit that matched the color of the ocean, while Lisa wore a black bikini, her long hair tied up in a ponytail.

Michael, Ethan, and Alex exchanged quick glances before returning their attention to the girls.

Michael (grinning slightly):

"Well, I have to admit, you're looking pretty stunning today, Emily."

Emily blinked, momentarily caught off guard. A slight blush crept up her cheeks, but she quickly recovered, crossing her arms.

Emily (smirking):

"Hmph. Of course I do. I always look amazing."

Marie looked toward Alex, waiting for some kind of reaction. Alex, who normally had a smug or playful expression, actually seemed a bit flustered as he rubbed the back of his neck.

Alex (clearing his throat):

"You, uh… you look really nice, Marie."

Marie, not expecting the compliment, turned red almost immediately. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and looked away.

Marie (muttering):

"T-Thanks."

Meanwhile, Lisa noticed Ethan staring at her for a second longer than usual before he gave her a relaxed grin.

Ethan:

"Didn't expect you to pull off that look so well, Lisa. You actually look kinda cute."

Lisa's entire face burned, and she turned away, huffing.

Lisa:

"D-Don't say stuff like that so casually, idiot."

Ethan laughed, clearly enjoying teasing her.

Ethan:

"What? I'm just being honest."

Despite their flustered reactions, the mood remained lighthearted. After all, today was meant for fun.

Ethan stretched his arms before cracking his knuckles.

Ethan:

"Alright, what's first? Volleyball? Swimming? Sandcastle competition?"

Michael (grinning):

"We do it all. And of course, I'm winning every event."

Emily rolled her eyes but smirked.

Emily:

"We'll see about that."

The first game was beach volleyball. The teams were split:

Michael, Alex, and Lisa

Emily, Ethan, and Marie

The match was intense, with both teams refusing to back down. Michael's agility allowed him to make quick plays, while Emily countered with her sharp reflexes.

Ethan:

"Heads up!"

Ethan spiked the ball, but Michael dashed forward, diving into the sand and saving it at the last second.

Michael (grinning):

"Not bad, but not good enough!"

With a swift counter, he set up the ball for Lisa, who, despite her initial hesitation, jumped and spiked it over the net. The ball hit the sand on the other side.

Lisa (smirking):

"Point for us!"

Marie:

"No way! That was so fast!"

After a long and competitive game, Michael's team emerged victorious.

Alex (grinning):

"Told you, we don't lose."

Emily (pouting):

"Next game. Let's see if you can keep that winning streak."

The second event was swimming. Naturally, Michael took it as a race. He, Emily, and Ethan lined up at the water's edge, ready to see who could reach the buoy first and swim back.

Ethan:

"You're not winning this one, Michael."

Michael (grinning):

"We'll see."

Marie counted them down.

Marie:

"Three… two… one… GO!"

The three of them sprinted into the waves, diving into the water. The race was close, but as expected—Michael won.

Michael (smirking as he walked back onto the shore):

"Another victory. What's next?"

Lisa (grinning):

"Building sandcastles. Let's see how creative you are, 'genius.'"

The sandcastle contest turned into chaos, with Michael trying to construct a towering fortress while Ethan built something that looked more like a pile of sand than a castle.

Emily:

"You guys are horrible at this."

Marie:

"Agreed."

Lisa (pointing at her castle):

"Mine is obviously the best."

Alex:

"Fine, fine, we'll give you that one."

As the sun began to set, the group sat on their towels, watching the horizon turn shades of orange and pink.

Ethan:

"Man, today was fun."

Marie:

"Yeah, we should definitely do this again sometime."

Lisa (sighing happily):

"It's nice to just relax like this."

Emily turned toward Michael, a smirk on her lips.

Emily:

"So, how does it feel to have the perfect beach day?"

Michael (grinning):

"Like I expected. Perfect, because I won at everything."

Emily (rolling her eyes):

"Of course."

Alex (laughing):

"Never change, Michael."

Ethan (stretching):

"Well, summer break just started. We've got plenty more fun ahead of us."

Marie (smiling):

"Let's make this the best summer ever."

Lisa:

"Agreed."

Michael (smirking):

"No objections here."

As the group packed up their things and headed back, they couldn't help but feel excited for the adventures that awaited them.

This summer was just beginning.