Ethan's phone buzzed, pulling him out of sleep. He groaned softly, eyes barely open as he reached for it.
"Hello?" he muttered groggily.
"Hey, handsome," came Trang's cheerful voice. "So, when would you like to pick me up?"
Ethan glanced at the clock on his phone. 7:45 a.m.
"Oh, I'll be right there," he said with certainty, sitting up.
"Yesss… I'm really looking forward to seeing you again," Trang replied sweetly.
"Awesome," Ethan grinned, then ended the call. He quickly threw on clothes, grabbed his bag, and jumped into his Audi S4. As he drove through the quiet morning streets, his mind couldn't help but wander.
That dream… it felt so real. Could I really have been Duy's father? No… it was just a dream. Probably just my mind playing tricks on me.
Shaking the thought away, he focused on the road.
—
When he arrived at Trang's house, she was already outside waiting. She hopped into the car with a bright smile.
"Did you bring your swimsuit?" she asked playfully.
"Yeah, I did. Let's go," Ethan replied with a friendly grin.
"Alright!" she said cheerfully.
"Did you sleep well last night?" she asked, glancing at him.
Ethan blinked, caught off guard for a second. "Ah—yeah, nothing unusual. I slept well."
"That's good to hear," Trang said, clearly pleased.
—
Soon, they arrived at the water park. The place was alive with excitement—children laughing, water splashing, and the sun shining bright overhead. The scent of grilled food and sunscreen filled the air. The cheerful chaos felt like summer itself.
Ethan took a deep breath, soaking in the vibrant scene. It had been years since he'd been to a water park.
"Ethan, I want a hot dog," Trang said, tugging at his arm with a playful pout.
"Alright, I'll get one for you," Ethan replied quickly, heading off to buy it.
"Thank you so much!" she said in an adorably grateful voice as he handed it to her.
Ethan smiled as she enjoyed her snack, then looked around, letting the sounds of rushing water and carefree laughter wash over him. He hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time.
"Shall we go change?" Trang asked suddenly.
"Oh, I think I'll just stay here and enjoy the view," he said with a shrug.
"Okay, then wait for me while I change," she said, walking off.
"Yes, ma'am," Ethan replied with a playful smirk.
—
Five minutes later, Trang emerged from the changing room—and Ethan's eyes widened. Her swimsuit hugged her perfectly, revealing her graceful curves and smooth skin that almost glowed under the sunlight.
"Ethan," she called with a soft laugh, catching him staring. "What are you looking at?"
Ethan was still frozen, eyes glued to her.
Trang giggled and gave his shoulder a light push. "Hey! Ethan!"
"Oh—yes, yes, Trang," he snapped back to reality.
"My eyes are up here," she teased, pointing to her face.
"Ah—right, sorry," he laughed nervously. "You go ahead and swim. I'll just stay here and enjoy the view."
"Alright then," she said sweetly and made her way to the pool.
Ethan watched as she swam with smooth, practiced strokes. Her movements were fluid, confident. She looked so free in the water—almost like she belonged there.
He leaned back, letting the sound of splashing water and distant laughter fill his ears.
For the first time in a long while, he felt calm. But deep down, the memory of that dream still lingered, burning quietly in the corners of his mind.