After having fun in the water.

the group gathered outside it, sitting on the hot sand.

Eliana was standing there with a watermelon in her hand, a smile playing on her face.

"Guys, you are not tired, right? Because it's time for Watermelon Splitting!"

The group looked at her.

Amon's eyes lit up. Though he really wanted to laze around now and didn't want to use his body, the thought of someone holding a wooden stick and blindfolding themselves, struggling to break the watermelon… that looked fun. It wasn't as if it would be him who needed to do it.

Amon flinched. 'Why are they all looking at me?' he thought gravely. Just now, he thought all he needed to do was watch the game and then eat the watermelon. But somehow,

"I am in." He got up on his feet, brushing off the sand on his wet boxer.

Marcus also got up. "Doesn't sound bad. I can do it within seconds."

Lian nodded. "Yes, it will be fun to play."

Seraphina agreed as well. "Then who will blindfold and break it?"

Aisha replied immediately. "For someone like me, I can break it easily by focusing on smell. So I won't."

Arnold waved his hand lazily. "I won't do it. Keep me out of it."

Now everyone remained silent. Eliana thought for a while. "We need someone who is not good at it. Most of us can easily break it. We need someone who will have a hard time."

The moment those words left her mouth, every pair of eyes fell on Amon. They turned in his direction as if he were the perfect candidate for it.

"Guys! This is not right. You should not choose me lik—"

"Okay, it's decided. Amon will be the one to do it." Eliana did not let him finish.

Aisha smirked. "I agree with you."

Marcus grinned. "I am more than okay."

Lian just smiled. He didn't answer, but anyone could tell he wasn't against it.

Arnold just shrugged, telling them to do whatever they wanted.

Seraphina just nodded calmly.

'It seems I don't have a choice,' Amon thought dejectedly.

Amon was now standing with a wooden stick thick enough to break the watermelon.

His eyes were tied with a black fabric a blindfold.

Just a little further away from him, they had kept the watermelon. Of course, they placed it only after he was blindfolded.

Behind him, the rest of the group stood at a safe distance some excited, some amused.

Eliana clapped her hands loudly. "Okay, Amon! We'll guide you. Just listen carefully!"

Amon gripped the stick nervously. "Alright… let's get this over with."

Immediately.

Marcus shouted, "Amon! Three steps to your left!"

Amon turned. "Left?"

"Yes, yes! Left!" Marcus insisted loudly, practically vibrating with evil joy.

Lian quickly panicked, waving his hands. "N-no, Amon! Don't! That's the wrong way!"

Amon froze mid-step. "Huh…?"

Aisha barked out a laugh. "Marcus, stop giving him fake directions! You're going to make him hit the sand! Though I guess I don't mind that."

Marcus smirked. "What? I'm helping! This is team support!"

Eliana stomped her foot. "Marcus! Let me guide him!"

Seraphina's calm voice cut through. "Amon. Don't listen to Marcus."

"Oi!" Marcus snapped. "Why does everyone assume I'd lie?!"

Aisha deadpanned. "Because you already did."

Amon groaned. "Can someone, anyone, just tell me where the damn thing is?!"

Eliana quickly pointed. "Okay, okay! Amon, take two steps forward!"

Amon stepped forward confidently.

Marcus coughed loudly. "More to the right! Steer right! Unless you want to hit the sea!"

Amon jerked right in panic.

"Hey!" Seraphina finally yelled. "Stop listening to him!"

Aisha covered her mouth, holding back a laugh. "Amon… you're going completely off track."

Eliana shouted again. "Amon! No! The other way! Left! LEFT!"

Amon spun in circles. "Which left?! You guys are confusing me!"

Marcus burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Look at him! He's lost!"

Amon waved the stick wildly. "I swear! If I hit one of you, it's your fault!"

Aisha smirked. "You won't. You're too bad at this."

"HEY!"

"Amon!" Eliana yelled desperately. "STOP MOVING!"

He froze.

"You're facing the sea," she said flatly.

Amon stiffened. "What?! Why didn't anyone tell me earlier?!"

Marcus was bent over laughing. "Because it was too funny!"

Amon cursed under his breath. "You bastards…"

Eliana inhaled deeply. "Okay. Reset. Turn around—slowly."

Amon turned.

"Good. Now walk straight. Only three steps."

Amon walked.

The group watched with amusement.

"He might actually get it…" Lian whispered.

"Hopefully." Seraphina nodded.

Marcus smirked, opening his mouth.

"TURN RIGHT!" he yelled.

Amon jerked violently. "Wha—?!"

Aisha and Eliana simultaneously screamed, "NOOOO!"

Amon panicked, stumbled over the sand, and lost his balance. He fell on the sand.

"Hahahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

Both Aisha and Marcus burst into laughter.

Arnold was also enjoying it from the other side.

Amon got up. This time he wouldn't listen to him.

'No, I will listen to him.'

Amon spun on his feet and dashed in the direction from where Marcus's laughter was coming.

"Hahah— wait?!" Marcus was shocked because Amon was already close to him.

"Damn you bastard!" Marcus lunged back as the wooden stick hit the sand where Marcus had been standing.

The group watched in amusement and backed away, giving both of them space.

"Oi! Why are you guys not telling him anything?!" Marcus yelled while running, as Amon ran after him.

"Hehehe~ Because it looks funny," Eliana answered while laughing.

Everyone was enjoying it, including Amon.

"Tch!" Marcus clicked his tongue and ran toward the watermelon. Then he jumped above it, landing further away.

Amon's wooden stick came down and struck it.

Crushed!

'What did I just hit? Did I hit the watermelon?'

"Yeahhh! You did it, Amon! And in an amazing way!" Eliana applauded while clapping her hands, others laughing beside her. Marcus stopped running and glared at Amon.

"Damn you."

Amon smirked and took off his blindfold. "It was fun. Now let's eat."

---

The group carried the watermelon pieces toward the shade of a large palm tree. Its wide leaves cast a cool shadow over the sand, offering relief from the heat. They settled down in a loose circle, still laughing and shaking their heads at what had just happened.

Amon sat down with a loud exhale, dropping beside Seraphina before his legs gave out completely. She sat gracefully, her white modest swimsuit slightly damp, golden eyes catching the soft filtered sunlight passing through the palm leaves.

She held a slice of watermelon in both hands, nibbling it quietly.

Amon took his own slice and leaned back on his arms, stealing small glances at her.

She looked beautiful. Even more so when relaxed like this. No academy pressure. No examiner's eyes. Just… Seraphina being herself.

He smiled. "That was… something."

Seraphina blinked and looked at him softly. "You mean you chasing Marcus with a stick?"

Amon coughed. "That was a tactical move."

A tiny smile tugged at her lips. "Of course. A strategic retreat and aggressive pursuit."

Amon narrowed his eyes playfully. "Are you teasing me?"

"I might be." Her golden eyes sparkled slightly.

From a little distance, Eliana, Aisha, Lian, and Arnold were busy chatting, leaving the two of them a small pocket of quiet.

Amon took a bite of watermelon. Sweet juice dripped down his fingers.

"Sera," he said softly.

She turned to him.

"You… had fun today, right?"

Seraphina looked down at the slice in her hand for a moment. Then she nodded slowly. "Yes. I did. It's been a while since I laughed so much."

Amon felt something warm in his chest.

She added, almost in a whisper, "And… you enjoyed a lot as well."

Amon smiled. "Well, it's hard not to be. You're sitting next to me."

Seraphina's eyes widened slightly. A faint pink color crept up her ears and the tips of her cheeks.

She looked away, pretending to bite her watermelon. "You say unnecessary things too casually…"

'She's too cute!' Amon thought.

"But they're true," Amon said, leaning a little closer. just enough for her to notice, not enough to make it uncomfortable.

Her heartbeat echoed lightly in her chest. She could feel it.

"You're… different these days," she murmured.

"How?"

"You talk more… or say you are… flirting too much."

Amon chuckled softly. "Maybe it's because of the person I'm with."

Seraphina's lashes lowered. "Is that so…?" She didn't know how to respond to it.

Before she could hide any further, Amon tapped her shoulder gently with the edge of his watermelon slice.

She looked at him, confused.

"What are you doing?"

"Feeding you," he said with a teasing grin.

Her face heated instantly. "I— I can eat on my own."

"I know," he shrugged. "But this is more fun."

She stared at him for a moment,. Then very lightly, she leaned forward and took a small bite from the slice he held.

A delicate, soft bite.

Both froze for half a second.

Amon's heart skipped.

'I just wanted to tease her. I never thought she would actually take a bite.'

Seraphina looked down, cheeks warm. "It's sweet," she whispered.

Amon swallowed. "Yeah… really sweet."

Aisha, from a distance, suddenly yelled, "Oi! You two aren't flirting, right?!"

Amon casually leaned back, refusing to react. "Nope!"

Seraphina turned her face to the other side, avoiding her gaze.

Amon grinned to himself.

Today was turning out better than he ever expected.

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