Chapter Text
The morning after they arrived at Taehyung’s summer house, the group found themselves on the beach. The sun stood mercilessly high, its heat heavy enough to scorch the skin. Jimin and Hoseok had already thrown themselves into the sea, while Taehyung was busy inflating a volleyball on the sand. Namjoon, after a brief pause, said, “I’ll swim for a bit,” and began moving toward deeper water.
The waves, however, were far harsher than he had anticipated. His footing suddenly gave way, his breath caught in his chest. As water rushed into his mouth, panic followed swiftly, tightening its grip around him.
“Namjoon hyung!” Jimin’s voice rang out from the shore.
In the lifeguard tower, a bronzed man in red shorts sprang to his feet, it was Seokjin. He removed his sunglasses and let them fall onto the sand before diving into the water. His powerful arms cleaved through the waves, his urgency impossible to miss.
Namjoon’s vision blurred, the world fading at the edges, when a pair of strong arms wrapped around him.
“Stay calm,” Seokjin’s voice was steady, unwavering.
He turned Namjoon onto his back and began pulling him toward the shore.
By the time they reached the sand, a small crowd had gathered. Namjoon coughed violently, expelling the water lodged in his throat.
“Are you all right?” Seokjin asked, crouching down so their eyes met.
Still shaken, Namjoon nodded. “I think… yes. Thank you.”
“Be careful,” Seokjin said gently, his hand resting briefly on Namjoon’s shoulder before withdrawing. “This place looks shallow, but the waves can be unforgiving.”
Taehyung’s voice cut through the moment. “Namjoon hyung, should we teach you how to swim?”
“I know how to swim,” Namjoon protested, but the faint, knowing smile that curved Seokjin’s lips only deepened his embarrassment.
The following day, the beach unfolded in a quieter rhythm. Jimin and Taehyung raced toward the buoys, their laughter carried by the wind, while Hoseok lay stretched out under the sun. Near the lifeguard tower, Seokjin’s friends had left their belongings. Jungkook dove repeatedly with his GoPro, and Yoongi sat in the shade, absorbed in his book. Namjoon, however, found his gaze drifting again and again toward the tower where Seokjin sat.
“Don’t just stare. Go talk to him,” Hoseok murmured.
“No… instead of talking… maybe I’ll just… do something,” Namjoon replied with a shrug, already stepping toward the water.
“What are you doing?” someone muttered behind him.
Ten minutes later, amid Jimin and Taehyung’s uncontrollable laughter, a voice rose above the sound of the waves.
“Help!”
Once again, Seokjin dove into the sea, cutting through the water with practiced strength. He reached Namjoon swiftly, but this time, Namjoon was breathing without difficulty.
“You again?” Seokjin asked, one brow lifting slightly.
Namjoon offered an innocent smile. “I think my leg cramped. I didn’t realize at first though...”
With a quiet sigh, Seokjin guided him back to shore. Jimin had collapsed onto the sand, laughing too hard to stand.
“They’re going to ban you from here.” Taehyung said between laughs
Namjoon rolled his eyes at them, then turned back to Seokjin. Their eyes met, and he smiled softly, almost sheepish.
“Thank you. Again.”
“You’re welcome,” Seokjin replied, amusement lacing his voice. “But be careful. Things like this don’t usually happen here. I took this job expecting a peaceful post.”
Laughter rippled through the group.
As Seokjin climbed back toward his tower, Yoongi spoke through his chuckles.
“That boy again?”
“Yes.” Seokjin glanced back at Namjoon once more, a smile lingering as he turned away.
“If it happens one more time, I’ll start to think he’s doing it on purpose.”
“Trust me,” he added with a quiet laugh as he reached the tower, “there won’t be a need for that.”
From the water, Jungkook waved up at him. Seokjin lifted a hand in return, the sea glittering endlessly between them.