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"I would to go Australia. Do it!"
"I'm going on a trip with the members! Do it!"
"I want to take a vacation. Do it!"
And... that's how the eight men ended up on Tamarama Beach, located in Sydney, Australia. Much to Minho's dismay, of course. Don't get him wrong but this wasn't his ideal idea of having fun with his members. He would much rather go camping and cook outdoor meals for them, which wouldn't happen since nearly everyone would hate on that, calling him a "grandpa trapped in a hot guy's body".
He couldn't deny it was a splendid day though. The beach was sunny and bright, not a sight of dark clouds, just warm rays of light. The hot golden sand under Minho's feet sparkled under the high blue sky. The waves of the great surfers beach was calm and easy. Gentle waves roll on the sand before dissolving into white foam. The air smelt faintly sulfuric, the combination of sea salt and seaweed mixed into broken down marine algae. Distant cries of seagulls could be heard. Beside him, Felix called back at those rather irritating birds, going "couw couw couw".
"The breeze his perfect! This is life!" His loud boyfriend boomed beside him, nearly making his ears bleed from the sheer volume.
Jisung had already let go of his hand for the beach's promising enjoyment. Felix and Hyunjin ran beside Jisung, hooking their arms on Jisung's shoulders and waist.
"Jagi-" Minho called out.
"Leave him be, Felix and Hyunjin's got him." A sturdy hand rested on his lower back, Bang Chan, the man looked all the weight on his shoulders were off.
Minho couldn't help smile back. It was rare peace. "Yeah. They know not let anything happen to him."
The sun blazed overhead as most of Stray Kids splashed and fooled around in the water. Minho opted out of the chaos, deciding to stretch out on a mat beneath an umbrella instead. It was fun in it's own way. From here, he could watch his favourite people, something he would never admit out loud, have fun together.
Jisung squealed as Bang Chan carried him up onto his shoulders to fight Felix who was on Hyunjin's. The two pairs wrestled above, hands tightly gripping each other as they swayed back and forth. Changbin stood close behind Bang Chan, firmly gripping onto Jisung's waist, making sure he wouldn't fall. Minho smiled softly. Everyone was impossibly cute today.
"Are you going to stay here forever?"
Jeongin startled Minho, making him look like a frightened cat.
"When did you leave the water?" Minho asked, turning to face the other man.
Jeongin reached out to the cooling box, grabbing a chilled bottle of H20, grinning at the elder as he took a sip. "While you were busying staring at Jisung hyung."
Minho could only scoffed. He swatted at Jeongin ass, "Get outta here."
The other chuckled, "Come on. Join us. Have fun with us instead of glaring at the water."
"I rather not die today. You need for Stray Kids." He reclined back on the beach.
"Yeah? And we need you with us right now." Jeongin pressed his fist on Minho's chest. "Plus don't four of us have life guard license?"
The latter's eyes softened, "Yeah?"
"Yeah, hyung."
WIth that, Jeongin tugged his stiff hyung up to his feet. Liquid cat surely. Together, they made their way towards the water.
"Oh, by the way..."
"Hmm?"
"When will you propose to Sung?"
Minho promptly smacked the younger.
Minho dipped at feet into the unusually warm water. At least his ordeal wasn't accompanied with the typical freezing waters of Australia.
"Look who decided to join." Seungmin said, splashing at Minho's direction.
He immediately shook the droplets off his body, glaring at the man who had attacked him. "Have a death wish, puppy?"
"Here." Jeongin interrupted the cat-and-dog duo, passing the floaty he had been relaxing on earlier. "You can come out deeper with us with this, hyung."
Minho gladly took it, "Thanks Ayen-ah."
He climbed aboard his floaty, allowing Jeongin to take him to where the wrestling kids were.
"Jagi?" Jisung looked astonished to see his aquaphobic lover this far out.
At the same moment, Felix took the opportunity to push Jisung overboard from Bang Chan's shoulder.
"Oof-"
He fell into Changbin, butt right into the other's face, bringing them both under. Minho's heart nearly stopped at the sight, fist gripping the floaty tightly, scrapping into the rubber a bit too much.
"Jisung-!" Minho called under his breath.
The duo immediately re-emerged, laughing.
Minho blinked repeatedly before letting a sigh of relief. Thank god they were both okay.
For someone afraid, Minho spend a ridiculous time in the water. His floaty stayed steadily beside his energetic mates. Somehow, his heart felt at peace. He didn't feel as frightened right now. He didn't know if it was the calm waves that barely ripped or it was the presence of his trustee friends, but he was grateful either ways.
The weather was changing as evening slowly approached. The sky was darker and the tide would slowly rise. Bang Chan, being the ever cautious leader, suggested for that everyone would leave in thirty minutes time.
The waves were getting stronger, pushing everyone closer to shore and again away from it. No one cared though, it wasn't time to leave yet.
Out of a sudden, a strong wave passed. It threw Minho out of his world axis and he tumbled over. He gripped onto his floaty, nails biting in the same tearing spots from earlier. The pressure of currents penetrated the floaty, bursting it, leaving Minho with nothing. Time stopped. Panic filled Minho's brain. He instinctively held his breath as he went under. It felt freezing now. He couldn't bring himself to kick like Bang Chan had taught him a few years prior. His breath was running out. He needed to breathe but he couldn't go back to surface.
"Move! Kick!" His mind screamed.
He went up once, gasping for air, and went under again. He didn't take air but instead water. A burning sensation enveloped his lungs.
"Help! Someone!" He gargled as more water pushed in.
His vision started to blur and his started to struggle with his kicks lesser. With one final surfacing, he closed his eyes, tears springing out. He didn't want to die like this.
Everyone was laughing about the refreshing wave, oblivious to Minho's situation. They were jumping about at every new coming wave, diving in with their eyes closed. Felix, ever one to act crazy in his homeland's water, joined along with those who dared with him. He stroked his wet hair back, turning back to the members, "Saw that? I know I'm amazing."
"Careful there, you sound like a narcissist Lix." Bang Chan chuckled.
Seungmin rolled his eyes, "Don't let the angel fool you."
Jisung gushed about the coolness of his fellow members. He flailed his hands cutely in front of Felix's face.
In the corner of Felix's eye, he saw a hand going down in the dark blue waters. He shoved Jisung aside, causing the other to fall into Hyunjin's arms. His eyes widened as he recognised the hand.
"Minho hyung!" He screamed, immediately power swimming towards the drowning man. His muscles strained at the speed he went.
The scream immediately caught every members attention, snapping their heads in the direction of Felix's voice. They immediately swam towards Minho as well. Changbin towing both Seungmin and Jisung towards shove first so that their bodies won't that eaten by the waves like Minho. Jisung had tried to reach out his lover impulsively but Jeongin helped Changbin secure the unstable man. Rule number one was never attempt saving someone if you aren't safe first.
Felix was the first to reach, followed by Bang Chan and Hyunjin. They all grabbed onto the half-limp body and lifted his head above water. Minho immediately sprang up at the air entering his respiratory system. It hurts so bad, yet it felt good. He wasn't dead. A sob escaped his lips. He wasn't one to break into his dongsaengs but he knew he deserved this cry. Minho wrapped his arms around Bang Chan immediately, burying his face into the older's shoulder. The man held onto Minho firmly, supporting him and keeping his head above the water.
"Hold on, Aegi. We're going to get you onto shore okay?" He said, his voice calm but filled with concern.
Felix and Hyunjin helped Bang Chan support Minho as they carefully made their way back to the shore. Minho coughed and sputtered, still struggling to catch his breath. He shut his eyes tightly but the tears never stopped. Bang Chan felt a tiny warm stream ran down between the space where him and Minho were pressed at. The latter was still shaking with fear. They both knew they would never bring it up.
They reached the shore. Their wet feets all scrambled on the sand, legs shaking from muscles strain and the fear that they nearly lost their best friend. Hyunjin and Felix gently laid Minho down on the sand, while Bang Chan knelt beside him, checking his condition.
"Minho, Aegi-ah," Bang Chan called out, gently shaking his shoulder. "Can you hear me?"
Minho's eyes fluttered open again, but he seemed disoriented and out of touch with reality. He stared at the members with a distant look, struggling to focus his vision.
"Channie..." Minho whimpered.
"Focus on me. Look at me," Bang Chan urged, his voice gentle but firm.
Minho eyes drifted to Bang Chan, "hyung."
Bang Chan smiled, relieved to see a hint of recognition in Minho's eyes. "I'm here. Can you tell me how you're feeling?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"My throat and nose hurts..." He coughed.
Bang Chan nodded, understanding the pain Minho was experiencing from the saltwater and struggles of nearly drowning. "I know, it's going to hurt a little. But you're safe now. Just breathe, in and out, slowly."
Jisung fought away from Jeongin's grip and ran towards the body on the sand.
"Min-!" His sobs pierced through the sound of the waves in the background. He practically fell right beside, embracing his lover tightly. "You scared me!"
Minho's arms found their way onto Jisung's body, wrapping him tightly, his fingers traced comforting circles on the younger's back.
The other members gathered around. Seungmin wrapped a towel around the duo, "Here." Warmth settled around them both, grounding and comforting.
Jeongin spoke up, his voice tight with worry. "Hyung, are you dizzy?"
Minho shook his head weakly, "No, Ayen-ah."
"Do you remember what happened?" Bang chan gently cupped Minho's face in search to identify anything wrong with the other.
"I drowned." It response came out hoarse and soft.
Bang Chan nodded, his expression a careful blend of concern and reassurance. Remembering what had happened was good news. "Yes, you were on your floaty. But then a wave hit and you ended up in the water," he explained.
Changbin knelt beside them, worry heavy in his voice. "You were underwater for a good few seconds, Minho. You scared us all."
"Sorry." Minho murmured.
Bang Chan shook his head instantly, dismissing Minho's apology. "Don't be sorry. None of this was your fault. Never will be."
"I'll punish the sea for you! Give it a punch." Hyunjin exclaimed from the side.
The others nodded in agreement, offering pats of support. Tension in their faces slowly drained away into relief. Minho was okay and that's all that mattered.
Seungmin squeezed his arm gently. "We're just glad you're okay, hyung."
Minho hummed. It was weird for Seungmin to be so opening affected, but he knew deep down that the other cared just as much despite his aloof personality. The survival show told. He lifted a hand and patted Seungmin's head, "Yeah. I'm fine. Stop crying."
Seungmin immediately wiped his eyes away, "I'm not crying."
"Sure." Minho replied faintly.
They stayed there for another few minutes, sitting there quietly, letting time sew back the thin thread of peace they lost earlier.
"This is why I hate water." Minho announced.
"Yeah," Seungmin chuckled wetly, "You can't do anything in it."
Everyone let out soft laughs at that.
"I guess that's enough of the beach today?" Bang Chan asked. He made a mental note to force Minho to see the doctor before dinner.
A chorus of "Fuck, yeah" filled the evening ambience.
Minho and Jisung walked bundled together in the centre of everyone. The shore was beautiful at sunset. Warm colours that filled the sky earlier, shifted into a cool indigo. The waves were crashing harshly now. Humans really belonged on shore of the beach.
Eventually they fell a bit behind, leaving the other members out of ear shot.
Minho whispered, "We'll never marry in a beach."
"I hope not." Jisung left a chaste kiss on Minho's lips. "Also, propose to me first before talking though."