Nikolai

You and your two best friends had been inseparable since childhood, and when all of you finally turned eighteen, you decided it was time to celebrate with a trip to the sea. The very first days of summer break, you grabbed tickets and flew off without hesitation.

At the hotel, you had separate rooms, but right next to each other—so naturally you spent all your time hanging out together in one or the other. Two days went by in a blur of laughter, inside jokes, and lazy afternoons.

That evening, you suggested a walk. The three of you wandered through the lively streets, chatting, laughing, even buying churchkhela from a pushy but hilarious vendor who didn’t give you a chance to say no.

Eventually, without even realising it, you drifted toward the shore—and suddenly, there it was: the beach at night. Deserted. Quiet. Only a few abandoned belongings lay scattered by the water’s edge, half-forgotten.

“Let’s swim,” you grinned, already tugging at your clothes until you were down to your underwear.

Your friends hesitated. “We didn’t bring swimsuits!” “So what? There’s no one here!” you called back, teasingly. “Come on!”

They exchanged a look, doubtful. “But… someone left their stuff over there…” “Probably forgotten. Or some little kid. Forget it! Just get in!”

You waded in first, the cool water rushing higher, up to your chest. Turning back, you crooked your finger at them, eyes glinting with mischief.

And then—suddenly—arms wrapped tightly around your waist, yanking you deeper into the water.

“WHAT THE HELL?! You reacted instantly, jabbing your elbow back hard. Your friends shrieked and rushed forward to help.

The stranger’s head broke the surface, laughing even as he rubbed where you had struck him. His voice was low, teasing “Wrong guess. I’m definitely not small. And I’m not some creep either—don’t worry. Just couldn’t resist messing with the night mermaids in their underwear.” His eyes lingered on you in the moonlight, intense and unashamed, tracing your figure as he rose further out of the water. Only then did you realize just how tall—how imposing—he really was, standing so close. The night air was warm, but a shiver ran through you—not from the water, but from the way his eyes held yours. The sound of the waves crashing against the shore faded into the background; for a moment, it felt like the entire beach had gone silent.

Your friends, still half on the sand, froze too. One of them whispered, “Who is he?”

The stranger grinned, unbothered by the bruise already forming where your elbow had landed. He ran a hand through his wet hair and tilted his head, as if studying you. “Didn’t mean to scare you. Guess I got carried away. But it’s not every night you find…” His gaze flicked between you and your friends. “…company like this.” You swallowed hard, torn between irritation and something else you didn’t want to name. “Then maybe you shouldn’t sneak up on people in the dark,” you shot back, forcing your voice steady.

He chuckled. “Fair enough.” Slowly, he raised his hands, palms open as if to show he meant no harm, and then drifted a little closer. The moonlight carved sharp edges across his shoulders, his frame towering effortlessly above the waterline.

Your friends were edging nearer now, braver once they saw he wasn’t attacking. One of them muttered, "We should go back......" but her voice lacked conviction.

The stranger smirked, as though he’d heard it. “You could. Or you could stay. The water’s different at night. Wilder. Like it’s keeping secrets.”

His words hung in the air, laced with an odd magnetism. You couldn’t tell if he was dangerous—or just dangerously charming. Either way, you realised your heart was racing, and not because of the cold. The three of you hovered there in the water, the tension thick enough to taste. Your friends shifted uncomfortably, exchanging glances that spoke louder than words.

Finally, one of them sighed. “I… think we should head back. It’s late.” The other nodded quickly, as if grateful for the excuse. “Yeah, I don’t want to catch a cold. You coming?”

Their eyes landed on you, waiting. But you hesitated. The stranger’s presence was unsettling, yes—but also magnetic. Something about the way he looked at you made your pulse quicken in a way you couldn’t explain.

“I’ll stay for a bit,” you said before you could second-guess yourself.

Both your friends gave you identical are-you-serious? faces, but you waved them off. “Go on, I’ll be fine. Really.” They lingered for another moment, then finally trudged back toward the sand, still throwing suspicious glances over their shoulders. Soon it was just you, the stranger, and the hush of the waves beneath the silver moon.

He chuckled softly. “Braver than they are.” His voice was low, almost drowned out by the sea. “Or maybe just more curious.”

You crossed your arms lightly over your chest, treading water. “Or maybe I don’t run off just because a guy likes to jump out of the dark and play games.”

That earned a laugh from him—deep, genuine. He drifted closer, careful not to crowd you. “Fair enough. I should introduce myself properly then.”

Nikolai

He told you his name, though the sound of it seemed almost irrelevant compared to the way he said it—slow, deliberate, like a secret meant only for you.

For a moment, silence stretched between you, filled only by the rush of waves. You tilted your head, studying him in the moonlight. “So… what are you really doing out here? Alone. At night.”

He gave a half-smile, equal parts mischievous and unreadable. “Maybe the same thing you are. Looking for something the daytime never offers.” His eyes glinted. “And maybe I just found it.”

Your stomach fluttered at the words, though you weren’t sure if it was excitement—or warning.