Beach

The four of us stood at the edge of the beach, the gentle patter of raindrops on the sand providing the soundtrack to our unexpected adventure. My hair had become damp, sticking to my forehead, while Emma's sunglasses were speckled with glistening raindrops.

As we took in the view of the beach ahead, it felt like fate had dealt us a cruel hand. Why does things like this keep happening? This was meant to be our grand summer escapade! But instead of the anticipated sunshine, the heavens had opened up, releasing a relentless downpour upon us.

The plan had appeared flawless earlier in the day. Since none of us had our driving licenses yet, we enlisted John's uncle to ferry us to the beach. The sky stretched above us, a flawless, brilliant blue canvas with not a single cloud in sight, as we embarked on our journey to the shore.

During the ride, we talked everything we were going to do once we reached there, all the while relishing the unfolding scenery outside our windows. The landscape resembled a constantly shifting painting, with rolling hills cloaked in vibrant green and shimmering gold. Farmhouses and barns were scattered along the roadside, lending a touch of rural charm to the view. You'd never get the chance see such a view living in the cities, so it turned out to be quite the new experience. Trees lined the roadside, their leaves rustling in the breeze, and the occasional bird soared gracefully across to our ears. We were going to swim in the sea, bask in the sun, and create unforgettable memories together. 

"I've got a few errands to run. I'll be back to pick you guys up once I'm finished. Enjoy yourselves!" John's uncle informed us as he parked the car. We unloaded our belongings from the vehicle, and with a friendly wave, John's uncle drove away. Little did we know just how much fun we were about to have.

As we had arrived early, the beach was relatively uncrowded. We quickly set up our beach mats on the soft sand and positioned the large umbrellas to provide some shade. However, our hopes for a sun-soaked day were dashed in an instant.

Just as we had settled in, the first droplets of rain pelted my cheeks, catching us completely off guard. Within moments, the rain intensified, soaking us to the bone and extinguishing any notion of a sunny beach day like a mirage.

We rushed to gather our stuff again and took shelter under a wooden canopy just beside the beach. Good thing it had a few benches and tables, providing some comfort. Many of the other beachgoers hurried to their cars to escape the rain.

John's face twisted with guilt, and he began to apologize. "I'm really sorry, guys. I didn't check the weather forecast. I thought today would be perfect."

I patted John on the back, attempting to console him. "Don't worry. We're not blaming you. And who even checks the weather forecast in the summer, right?"

"Yeah, Reol's right, John." Emma added, giving her towel a brisk shake as she continued drying her hair, "We just got unlucky."

But John couldn't shake off his remorse. He shook his head, raindrops mingling with his hair. "No, guys, this was my idea. I should have been more careful. I promise I'll make it up to you all in the future."

We stood there, our gazes shifting between the shore, the distant horizon, and the ominous, almost black sky. The sun, if it had ever been there, was now hidden behind heavy clouds that showed no sign of budging. I turned to the group. "So, what's the plan now, guys?"

Emma spoke up first. "I think we should head back home. If we stay here in this rain, we might catch a cold or something."

John nodded in agreement, looking somewhat relieved by the suggestion. "Yeah, that might be the safest option. I'll call my uncle to get over with his work, so that he can pick us back up."

Just when we were on the brink of giving up on our plans for the day, Adica's sudden enthusiasm injected a glimmer of hope into our group. "Or," she suggested with a grin, "we could stay and make the most of it." We all turned our attention toward her, taken aback by her newfound optimism in the face of our less-than-ideal situation. "What do you mean, Adica?" I asked curiously.

She had this really mischievous smile on her lips, something I'd never seen to grace her expressions. "Well, think about it," Adica suggested with a grin. "The beach is completely deserted. We can do whatever we want without any interruptions."

Emma's eyes lit up with excitement, and she seemed to embrace the idea with the speed of a light bulb flicking on. "You know what, Adica's onto something here. Opportunities like this don't come around often. What do you say, guys?"

I shared a quick glance with John. Outnumbered, and influenced by Adica's not-so-pressable enthusiasm, it was clear that our plans were about to take an unexpected turn. Moreover, it wasn't like we had any other pressing plans for the day.

With a shrug and a reluctant smile, I agreed. "Alright, let's make the most of it, then."

The rain showed no sign of relenting, thoroughly drenching us, but we paid it no mind. The empty beach stretched out before us, an open invitation to adventure. We kicked off our shoes and ran towards the water, letting the waves crash over our feet. Adica led the way, as if her laughter was being carried away by the wind. As we eased into our rainy beach day, Adica hatched a hilarious sandcastle competition, each of us vying to outdo the others.

I scooped up handfuls of wet sand, feeling its cool, gritty texture between my fingers, and began to shape it into a whimsical, lopsided tower. With a flourish and mock grandeur, I declared, "Behold, the Leaning Tower of Pudding!" There was a moment of silence, as the three of them stared blankly at my creation for a solid three seconds, and then, as if on cue, we all burst into uproarious laughter.

Next in line was Emma, saying that she's planning on constructing a sandcastle that was meant to resemble a fearsome dragon... but in the end, it bore an uncanny resemblance to a blob with wings of a baby bird. We all erupted into laughter again. Adica claimed to be sculpting a sand turtle, but the result looked more like a misshapen rock than a creature of the sea. She frowned, her face clouded with a momentary gloom, and then stood up to get a better look at her creation.

"It's really though when it's raining like this." Adica sighed, giving up on working on any details of the turtle. Meanwhile, John, as if some kind of sandcastle maestro, worked diligently on an actual sandcastle, and even added tiny seashell windows. While we were occupied observing John's sandcastle masterpiece, Emma stealthily got behind the castle into the water. "I'm not gonna let you win, John!"

Intent to splash water onto the castle and claim victory, Emma readied herself for the surprise attack. However, just as she prepared to execute her plan, an enormous wave surged in from behind, crashing over her and propelling her onto the sandcastle with a resounding thud.

When the water had finally receded, Emma lay sprawled on the sand, her face resting right on top of John's castle, which now lay in ruins. After a spirited debate about whose sandcastle was the worst, we decided that they were all equally terrible and burst into laughter again. The rain seemed to wash away any worries, leaving us carefree and joyous.

By the time noon rolled around, though you couldn't quite tell due to the persistently cloudy sky, our stomachs were protesting loudly. None of us had packed anything for lunch, and all of Adica's homemade snacks had already disappeared into the abyss of Emma's insatiable appetite during our journey. Given our current state, none of us had the desire to venture into a restaurant. Instead, we opted for a plan B – buying pre-made lunch boxes from a nearby corner store.

Naturally, we couldn't decide who would make the soggy journey to the store. Emma proposed a fair solution: a game of rock-paper-scissors to determine the unfortunate soul.

I sighed, knowing my luck all too well. "Alright, let's get this over with."

The game commenced, and as expected, I lost. Even though it's a game of luck... or maybe it's just my luck, who know? With resigned acceptance, I trudged through the rain-soaked streets towards the departmental store.

Inside, the store's fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting an eerie glow on the shelves stocked with snacks, drinks, and random beach supplies. I grabbed four lunch boxes, trying my best not to let my wet clothes leave puddles on the floor.

At the counter, I handed over some wet bills, which the cashier accepted with a forced smile. I couldn't help but feel a bit guilty for bringing the rain indoors.

With our lunch boxes secured, I made my way back to our beach spot, my clothes now even soggier than before. Upon my return, I found the rest of the group huddled around a table beneath the canopy, giggling like a group of mischievous children.

I walked over to them and placed the boxes in the middle of the table with a triumphant smile. "Feast, my sandy friends! For I have brought sustenance from the outside world!" I closed my eyes, expecting some laughter or at least a giggle of some sort. However, when I opened my eyes, I was met with blank stares, as if my words had sailed right over their heads. "Just pass the food already. I'm absolutely starving!" Emma exclaimed impatiently.

"Alright..." I puffed, falling straight on my chair. After giving it a second thought, I realized just how cringe that sounded.

We had just finished our makeshift lunch, and rain was finally beginning to let up.  John and Emma had taken to scouring the shoreline for seashells. It seemed like an impossible task, but Emma's luck defied the odds as she triumphantly held up a handful of large, gleaming shells.

She approached Adica and me, extending her cupped hand to show us her catch. "Look what I found! Aren't they beautiful?"

The raindrops creating shimmering patterns on their surfaces. Adica and I exchanged glances, deciding to join Emma in her quest, hoping to uncover more treasures hidden by the waves.

As we approached the water's edge, the waves lapped at our feet, and the sand squished beneath our toes. Each step sent a spray of water into the air, and we laughed as we tried to dodge the incoming waves. However, Adica had a different plan in mind. With a glint in her eye, she tugged on both my and Emma's shirts, signaling that she wanted to wade further into the water. Given that the waves had significantly mellowed, we followed her lead.

The further we went, the water took on a refreshing chill, like a secret held by the ocean depths. Adica couldn't resist the urge to splash water at both Emma and me, and before we knew it, we were all caught up in a water fight. The icy water soaked us to the bone, but the exuberant laughter that rang out along the shoreline made every shiver and shudder worthwhile.

John, a few steps away from us, called out excitedly. "Hey, guys, come over and take a look!"

He had been hiding something behind his back. In an instant, he unveiled a large, vibrant red crab firmly grasped in his hands. The sight of the crab startled Emma and me, and we jumped in surprise. The crab's claws waved menacingly, but good thing that it was securely trapped in John's grasp.

But what happened next, to be honest... I wasn't ready for anything like that at all. Just as we were recovering from the shock, Adica, as her attention got diverted for a moment, lost her footing and tumbled forward into the water. It all unfolded in a heartbeat, too swift for any of us to react in time. She disappeared beneath the surface, and a few bubbles emerged where she had been. We watched, waited, yet only just bubbles emerged on the surface... but she wasn't getting up. Emma, thinking fast, yanked Adica out of the water and dragged her to the shore. Adica lay sputtering, soaked and coughing, her face pale.

I stood there, my legs feeling like they were encased in ice. I turned to John, expecting him to lend a hand, but what I saw in his eyes chilled me to the core. His gaze was locked on the waves, his face contorted in terror. His lips moved, but no words came out.

"John! Snap out of it!" I shouted, gripping his shoulder and shaking him forcefully.

Finally, he blinked, and his vacant expression shifted to one of sheer panic. "Adica! Is she alright?"

I turned back to see Adica still lying on the sand, coughing and breathing heavily. Her eyes fluttered, her fingers grasping at the wet sand.