By late afternoon, they were boarding a short flight to Phuket, armed with backpacks, sunglasses, and matching excitement. The Kamala Beach Resort was tucked away in a quiet part of town, its private stretch of beach lined with swaying palm trees and cabana-style villas.
The car came to a smooth stop outside the Kamala Beach Resort, its tires crunching over the white gravel drive. As the doors swung open one by one, the salty breeze of Phuket greeted them like an old friend—warm, breezy, and tinted with sunscreen and the faint scent of coconuts. The roar of the nearby waves and the chatter of tourists created a hum of life that wrapped around the resort like a pulse.
Dunk was the first to step out, stretching his arms above his head after the short flight and drive, his shirt rising up to expose the curves of his tiny waist. His eyes sparkled as he took in the familiar sight of the beach resort sprawled across the coast—modern white buildings with clean wooden accents, lush greenery, and winding paths that led straight to the beach where foreign tourists sunbathed under striped umbrellas.
The second his feet touched the ground, two staff members in crisp uniforms spotted him and hurried over with practiced smiles.
"Welcome back, Khun Dunk," the taller one greeted warmly. "Everything has been prepared just as you requested. The suites are ready and the keys are at the front desk."
Dunk gave a small bow of gratitude. "Thank you. You're the best."
Joong stepped out of the car next, squinting at the sunlight before slipping on his sunglasses. He whistled low. "Damn, Dunk. You weren't kidding when you said your family's resort was one of the best. This place looks like it belongs in a movie."
Phuwin, already out and snapping photos of the building's architecture, chimed in. "It *has* been in a movie, I think. Some romance flick."
Fourth leaned over the roof of the car, grinning. "Let's not get distracted by aesthetics. P'Dunk, how many rooms are we talking about here?"
Dunk turned around, casually slipping his hands into his pockets. "Three suites."
"Three?" Joong raised a brow. "Not separate rooms?"
"Nope. Three *suites*," Dunk clarified with a smirk. "One for each couple."
Fourth's face split into a grin so wide it almost hurt. "You really planned this like a honeymoon."
"Honeymoon, aria?" Gemini couldn't help but blush. "Ai bah!"
Pond elbowed him lightly. "So, who's sharing with who, or is that already obvious?"
Dunk just looked at them all knowingly, and chose not to answer when Phuwin shot Pond a look.
As soon as the elevator doors slid open and the boys stepped into the wide hallway lined with elegant wooden panels and soft lighting, Fourth could barely contain his excitement. He turned to Gemini with a squeal of joy and threw his arms around him, rocking them both side to side.
"We get to share a room!" Fourth grinned, eyes wide and gleaming. "Like, a *real* room! Not a dorm, not some bunk beds—*a suite*!"
Gemini chuckled, surprised but not resisting the sudden hug. "You're acting like we just won the lottery."
"This *is* the lottery," Fourth replied dramatically, stepping back just enough to hold Gemini's arms. "You, me, a private room, ocean view—do you know how rare this is?"
But before Fourth could spin into another happy rant, Pond cut in, crossing his arms and giving them both a stern look.
"Alright, that's enough. Don't get too excited," he said in a mock-serious tone. "You guys are still *kids*. Don't cross any lines."
His voice was calm, but his tone held more of a teasing edge than a warning. The others knew Pond well enough to spot the lack of bite behind his words.
Fourth immediately stuck his tongue out. "We're both nineteen, P'Pond. We're adults!"
"Yeah, but some of us still have functioning brain cells," Pond shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Phuwin, who had been quietly enjoying the back-and-forth, sidled up next to Pond and gave him a knowing smirk. "You sure you're the one who should be giving out moral lectures?"
Pond turned to him, pretending to be affronted. "I'm just trying to keep things in order."
"Oh, *I'm* sure," Phuwin said, nudging him lightly with his shoulder, a sly grin on his lips. "We'll see who keeps things in order tonight."
Pond's ears turned faintly pink, but he didn't respond. Joong and Dunk exchanged amused glances behind them, while Fourth giggled and tugged on Gemini's hand.
"I love this trip already," Fourth whispered.
Gemini smiled, lacing their fingers together casually. "You just love causing trouble."
"And being in love," Fourth added with a proud little flourish.
At that, Dunk turned back, walking backward as he faced them. "Okay, lovebirds. Let's all just get to our rooms before the hallway becomes a drama stage."
A smiling staff member led them down the third-floor hallway, past intricately carved wooden wall panels and lantern-style sconces that gave the resort a warm, golden glow. The suites—304, 305, and 306—were neatly lined up beside one another, and the moment their doors clicked open, the boys stepped inside with wide eyes and gasps of amazement.
Each suite was huge, designed with a tasteful mix of modern comfort and tropical elegance. Floor-to-ceiling windows offered panoramic views of the ocean, and the scent of the sea breezed in through the balcony doors. The rooms boasted plush beds, cozy lounges, and bathrooms so big they could fit a small party.
"Damn," Joong muttered under his breath as he scanned the space.
"I'm never leaving," Fourth declared as he flopped backward onto the bed.
But Dunk clapped his hands once. "Alright, don't get too comfortable yet. Change into your swimwear and lets meet back out here in ten. Beach time before the sun disappears!"
Fourth cheered, already yanking open the suitcase he and Gemini had wheeled in. "Let's go!"
Ten minutes later, the six of them reconvened in the hallway, now dressed in a mix of board shorts, sleeveless shirts, and flip-flops. They looked like a page torn out of a vacation magazine—sun-ready, laughter-lined, and glowing with the thrill of freedom.
"Ready?" Dunk asked, flashing a grin as he tucked his sunglasses into his collar.
"Race you there," Fourth declared—and then took off down the hallway.
"Fourth!" Pond called after him, but he was already gone, feet slapping against the tiled floor.
Laughing, the others followed at a more reasonable pace, the warm Phuket air welcoming them as they stepped outside and made their way to the beach.
The sand was soft and golden beneath their feet, stretching wide and clean all the way to the blue, shimmering horizon. The tide was low, the water calm, and a few groups of tourists dotted the shore, either lying under umbrellas or wading in the surf.
Joong tossed his towel onto a lounge chair and immediately ran toward the waves, kicking water as he went.
"Tag team him!" Fourth shouted, chasing after Joong with Gemini hot on his heels.
Joong let out a half-yelp, half-laugh as the three of them collided in the shallow water, splashing each other and falling into the surf like clumsy sea creatures.
Not to be left out, Pond and Phuwin jogged in after them, with Dunk bringing up the rear, slower but smiling wide.
The afternoon turned into a blur of joy.
They formed messy teams and tried to tackle each other in waist-high water, occasionally forgetting the rules to just splash whoever was closest. Fourth and Gemini tried to bury Joong in the sand, but he escaped halfway through and chased them down the beach. Phuwin and Pond teamed up to dunk Dunk—ironically—into the water, though he got his revenge by sneaking up behind them and dragging them both into the waves.
As the sun dipped lower, casting long golden rays across the sea, the boys finally collapsed in a tangle of limbs and wet clothes near their lounge chairs. The sky had turned into a masterpiece of orange, pink, and violet, reflecting off the gentle waves like glass.
Joong sat beside Dunk, both of them staring out at the horizon, breaths steady, smiles still lingering.
"I needed this," Dunk said softly.
Joong turned his head just enough to look at him. "We all did."