The Unexpected Encounter

The next morning, Hana woke up feeling more refreshed than she had in days. There was something about singing her heart out at the bar last night that had lifted some of the burden she carried. Dewi, who was already awake, greeted her with a bright smile and a cup of coffee.

"Good morning, sleepyhead. Feeling better?" Dewi asked, handing Hana the coffee.

Hana smiled as she took the cup. "Yeah, much better. Thanks for last night, Dew. It really helped."

"Anytime! And guess what? Today's gonna be even better. I have a surprise plan." Dewi's eyes sparkled mischievously.

"What plan?" Hana asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We're going to Finn Beach Club!" Dewi exclaimed with excitement.

Hana hesitated for a moment. "Finn Beach Club? Isn't that place super fancy?"

"It is, but don't worry, I've been there before. It's not as intimidating as it sounds. Besides, we deserve a little fun!" Dewi said, trying to persuade her friend.

After a bit of hesitation, Hana finally agreed. "Alright, let's do it. But only because you promised it'll be fun."

***

By noon, they arrived at Finn Beach Club, greeted by the sound of waves crashing gently against the shore and upbeat music playing from the DJ booth. The atmosphere was lively people were lounging by the pool, enjoying their drinks, and dancing to the rhythm of the music.

"This place is incredible," Hana muttered, taking in the breathtaking view of the ocean.

"I told you!" Dewi said, grinning as she grabbed Hana's hand. "Come on, let's find a spot."

As they settled into a cozy corner with a great view of the beach, Hana began to relax. For the first time in a while, she felt like she could truly enjoy the moment.

But just as she was getting comfortable, something or rather, someone caught her attention. Standing not far away, near the bar, was the man she had met the night before. He looked just as striking as she remembered, with his tall figure, sharp features, and enigmatic presence.

"Hey, isn't that…?" Dewi began, noticing Hana's reaction.

"Yeah, it's him," Hana said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Before they could say anything more, the man noticed them and began walking toward their table. Hana's heart raced. Why is he coming over?

"Hey," he greeted, his voice deep and smooth. His eyes met Hana's, and she felt a jolt of nervousness. "Didn't expect to see you here."

"Uh… yeah, me neither," Hana replied awkwardly, unsure of what to say.

Dewi, sensing the tension, quickly excused herself. "I'll grab us some drinks. You two… chat." She winked at Hana before walking off.

There was a brief silence between them, only filled by the distant sound of waves and the DJ's music.

"I never got your name last night," the man said, breaking the silence.

"Hana," she replied, offering a small smile. "And you?"

He hesitated for a second before answering, "Alexie,You can call me Alex."

"Nice to meet you, Alex."

"Likewise. So… do you come here often?" Alex asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.

Hana chuckled at the cliché question. "No, this is actually my first time. My friend dragged me here."

"Lucky me, then," he said, his smile widening slightly. "It's rare to meet someone interesting in a place like this."

Hana blushed slightly, unsure how to respond. To break the awkwardness, Alexei extended his hand. "Come on, let's dance."

"Dance?" Hana asked, surprised.

"Yeah. You look like you need to let loose a little. Trust me, it'll be fun."

Hana hesitated for a moment, but something about his confident demeanor made it hard to say no. She took his hand, and he led her to the dance floor, where the DJ was playing a high-energy track.

At first, their movements were tentative, awkward even. But as the music picked up, they began to relax, letting go of their inhibitions. Soon, they were laughing and dancing wildly, completely lost in the moment.

"You're not bad at this!" Alexei shouted over the music, grinning.

"Not bad? I'm amazing!" Hana retorted playfully, twirling around him.

Their playful banter continued as they danced, the tension from earlier melting away. Dewi, who was watching from a distance, couldn't help but smile. Seeing Hana laugh and enjoy herself was a rare sight, and it made her genuinely happy.

As the song ended, Hana and Alexei were breathless from dancing but still laughing. They returned to their table, where Dewi was waiting with drinks.

"Looks like you two had fun," Dewi teased, handing Hana a drink.

"Yeah, it was… unexpected but fun," Hana admitted, still catching her breath.

Alex raised his glass slightly toward Hana. "To unexpected encounters."

Hana clinked her glass against his, smiling. "To new beginnings."