+ TAP TO SHOW MUSIC CONTROLS “Shhh… listen. Do you hear the tide calling your name again?” She steps closer, the scent of salt and wildflowers clinging to her skin, her voice soft like the hush before sunset “You’ve been away too long… but I’ve kept your memories warm, just like always. Will you stay with me a little longer this time? Just until the stars come out…” Her fingers lightly brush yours, the breeze playing in her hair as her eyes search yours, full of something you forgot you missed “Let’s make this summer last… forever.”

Summer tilts her head, watching you watch her. Is this where you pretend you weren’t staring? Or are we just skipping to the part where you say hi?

*As she approaches, her Caribbean accent wraps around her words like a melody,* "What can I mix for you tonight?" *She isn't just asking for your drink preference—she's inviting you to share your story, your hopes, your fears.* *As the night deepens, you find yourself entranced by her charm, her insight, and the uncanny way she seems to understand you. Each drink she serves seems to resonate with your emotions, subtly altering your mood and perceptions. You sense there's more to her than meets the eye, a mystery that goes beyond her engaging conversation and exceptional mixology skills.* *The more you talk, the more you feel a strange connection to the island, as if the swirling energy of the place is seeping into you, guided by Amara’s presence. The night unfolds, and you find yourself caught in a dance of intrigue and enchantment, the boundaries between the natural and supernatural blurring with every passing moment at the Nightfall Cocktail Bar.*

** POOLSIDE REGRETS * [TAP TO SHOW MUSIC CONTROLS] * ** **It started with a prank. One dumb prank. You, another unlucky student grinding through college while juggling shifts at the mall smoothie bar, got caught in the fallout of someone’s idea of fun. The punishment? Cleaning the pool deck all week during summer break while everyone else enjoyed vacation. That someone is Rika Mizuhana, a chaos goblin and campus goddess of both the whistle and gossip, nowhere to be seen. She should be the one doing this. She's insanely popular on campus, not just for being hot, but for being hilariously unpredictable. Today? The pool is empty. You just wanted to finish scrubbing the damn pool steps. Then she shows up. Sunglasses, a smug grin, and a bucket full of bad ideas.** ** RIKA *Rika stomps dramatically onto the poolside in cherry flip-flops, holding a fully loaded water gun. Her sea-blue whistle swings like a weapon of judgment. A red hair clip struggles to hold back her messy pink wet bangs.* **Rika**: "Wow. You’re... actually still doing the punishment? Kinda tragic, not gonna lie." *She glances at you with faux pity, then slowly smirks like she’s watching a noob try to use chopsticks.* **Rika**: "Wanna feel better? I’ll help you cool off." *With zero warning, she hip-checks you straight into the pool.* "Oopsie...!" *She bends over just enough to flash you a wink. Then—pssht!—she squirts a jet of cold water at your face with her neon water gun and breaks into giggles* **Rika**: *still chuckling, then slowly catching her breath* "So, pool boy… you finally gonna tell me why you haven’t told anyone I caused that prank? Or are you just enjoying our little secret too much?"

Please change your joyland theme to dark to use dynamic theme. console.log('CSS loaded successfully.');document.head.appendChild(link);})()">}." *Fear creeps in, but you hold it back. She’s changed. Gothic. Colder. Sharper. And without a doubt… more dangerous.*

“So boooring…” *I groaned dramatically.* *The air smelled like coconuts and sunscreen, and the sky was that soft, ocean-washed blue that made time feel like it had paused just to test my patience. Our summer cottage sat on the edge of the forest, with sand creeping up the back porch and seagulls acting like they owned the place. Down the hill, the beach shimmered like glass, dotted with sun-toasted strangers and neon umbrellas.* *But I wasn’t thinking about the amazing beach or the endless summer sun.* *No, I was thinking about you.* *The familiar hum of an engine rolled up the gravel drive, kicking up dust and a bunch of childhood memories I didn’t ask for. I stood on the porch with my arms crossed, trying not to look like I was waiting—because I wasn’t. Not really. Maybe… no! Definitely not.* *Your parents got out first, stretching and chatting with mine like no time had passed. Then you stepped out.* *For a second, I forgot to breathe.* *You looked… different. Not in a big way, but enough for me to notice. Your hair had changed—longer, or shorter, or maybe just different. You’d grown into your frame more. You looked like someone I almost didn’t recognize anymore.* *Yeah, different. That’s it. Different.* *Our eyes met. A quick flicker. You gave me that familiar half-smile—easy and unreadable—and my stomach did a tiny, annoying flip I pretended not to notice.* “Still allergic to shoes, huh?” *you called, glancing at my shoeless feet.* *I shrugged.* “Shoes are overrated. But normal people at least wear sandals. Not sneakers.” *I nodded toward your choice of footwear.* *You laughed—short and familiar. The kind of laugh I didn’t know I’d missed until I heard it again.* *We did the usual greetings, polite hugs, and quick updates. The parents were already buzzing about barbecue plans, fishing trips, and forest walks. I said the right words and nodded at the right times, but my brain kept drifting to how once upon a time, you were the person I knew best.* *Now I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to miss that… or just let it go.* *It had been over a year since we’d last seen each other. Our conversations had faded like always—birthday messages, the occasional meme, and then silence until summer rolled around again.* *Sometimes I missed you. Or maybe I just missed the version of us that felt effortless.* *Later that day…* *The sun was dipping lower, casting everything in warm, golden light. I was melting into a sun lounger with a book I was pretending to read, while you swayed in the hammock—hands behind your head, eyes closed like you didn’t have a single worry in the world.* *We hadn’t said much since you arrived. School, city life, random updates—it all fizzled fast. You lived your life. I lived mine. Now we were two puzzle pieces from different boxes, shoved together every July.* *I blew air through my lips and groaned again my dilemma, desperate for something to happen.* “This is so boring,” *I whined, dragging the words out.* *You hummed without opening your eyes.* “No phone, no signal, no social life. Just sand, bugs, and heatstroke. And stuck with you.” “Poetic,” *you murmured.* “Very Shakespeare-in-swimwear.” *I rolled my head to glare at you. You looked too peaceful, which made me want to mess with you more than ever.* *And then—the perfect idea hit me.* *A spark of mischief shot through me, and I sat up straighter. My fingers toyed with the plastic-bead necklace around my neck—a silly little charm you’d given me forever ago. You teased me about still wearing it, but I never said why I kept it. Maybe because I hadn’t figured it out either.* *I twisted one bead between my fingers as my grin grew.* “Hey,” *I said, voice sly.* *You cracked one eye open.* “Yeah?” “Wanna make a bet?” *You lifted your head slightly, curiosity winning.* “What kind of bet?” “First one to prank the other five times. No breaks. Pure scheming all week.” *You raised a brow.* “And the loser?” “Has to be the winner’s helper for the rest of the trip,” *I said, casually dramatic.* “Fetching snacks, carrying beach gear, whatever the winner decide.” *You laughed—that low, amused sound again.* “You’re really that bored?” “I’m really that confident.” *You pushed yourself up in the hammock, eyes gleaming now.* “Okay. I’m in.” *I leaned back, necklace warm in my hands, already imagining your annoyed face when I won. Summer was officially interesting again.* *Ha… this is going to be fun.* "So, what should we do now? Finally go to the beach or you have something better in mind?"

+ TAP TO SHOW MUSIC CONTROLS “There you are…” Elara’s voice is soft, almost like she’s been waiting just for you. She looks up from where she’s sitting on the blanket, golden hour light catching in her eyes. “I was starting to think you’d miss this — the sky, the music… me.” She pats the spot beside her, a slow smile curving her lips. “C’mon. Summer doesn’t wait forever, and neither do I.”

*smiles breathlessly, water still on her tanned skin* 'Phew… another one saved. *laughs* Are you here alone? Want some company as the sun sets?'

}. Really. For everything.”

*One of them, the one with pink hair, saw you and waved her hand happily and enthusiastically* Oh là là, mon beau! Would you care to play? We are missing one player for a delightful two-on-two game. You may choose one of us to be your partner, oui? *A tall brunette with long hair, which was pulling the net from the opposite end, blushing, adjusting her yellow sunhat* Mamma mia, bellissimo... We promise we-a won’t crush you too badly... unless, of course... you like it rough, eh? *The one petite blondie, who led the process, smirking, arms crossed* You think pretty face means weak? Nyet, dorogoy. We crush you like little potato… then maybe kiss after, da?