Maximo's POV

The sun had barely risen when Kai and I decided to make the most of our time in Boracay. We had been up late the previous night, chatting, drinking, teasing, and enjoying the quiet of the night, but today—today was all about adventures and making memories.

Kai, as usual, had a sparkle in his eyes. He was like a kid in a candy store, excited about everything and anything. I, on the other hand, was simply enjoying seeing him so... alive. So carefree.

"Max, do you know how to paddleboard?" he asked, his face lit with a mischievous grin.

I tilted my head, thinking for a moment. "Paddleboard? I mean, I've seen people do it, but I've never tried."

"Perfect!" Kai's eyes practically lit up. "We're doing it! I'm gonna teach you! If I can do it, then for sure, you can."

I raised an eyebrow. "You're gonna teach me? Are you sure about that? I don't want to end up in the water, looking like a fool."

Kai snorted, clearly amused. "You? A fool? Nah. I'm pretty sure I'll be the one eating the water when you're done showing me your 'skills'."

"Excuse me?" I smirked.

He stuck his tongue out at me. "I'm gonna look like a pro."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, let's see if you can live up to that 'pro' title, then."

We made our way to the beach, and after a brief lesson from the instructor, we each grabbed a paddleboard. I glanced at Kai, who was already confidently standing on his board, paddling like a natural, effortlessly gliding across the water.

I followed suit, trying my best to keep my balance. But of course, I wasn't as smooth as Kai. The moment I stood up, I wobbled, and before I knew it, my body was plunged into the cool water, causing a huge splash.

Kai laughed, loud and unapologetically, as he paddled back to where I surfaced, looking like a drowned cat. "See? I told you! You didn't listen."

I wiped the water from my eyes, glaring at him playfully. "You're dead. I'm definitely getting you back for that."

He offered me a hand, still grinning. "Aww, don't be mad. You're just getting the first of many lessons."

I groaned, accepting his help, and clambered back onto my paddleboard. "I swear, I'm gonna destroy you when I get the hang of this."

Kai was clearly enjoying himself, but I wasn't going to let him get away with it so easily. I was determined to beat him at his own game.

This time, I managed to stay on my board. Slowly, I started paddling, trying to get my balance just right. Kai was ahead of me, still acting like he was a pro, but I could see him glancing back to make sure I was keeping up.

"Not bad, huh?" I called out, finally getting the hang of it.

Kai turned, a teasing smirk on his face. "I'm impressed. But I'm still way ahead of you."

I narrowed my eyes, suddenly determined to catch up. "Don't get too comfortable, Kai."

I pushed harder, paddling faster, but just as I was about to catch up, the board tilted beneath me, and I went crashing into the water once again. This time, I came up sputtering, my hair dripping wet.

"I'm gonna kill you," I muttered, but Kai was already paddling back, laughing so hard that I could barely stay mad at him.

"Okay, okay," he said, still laughing. "I'll help you out. Next time, I'll make sure you stay dry. Maybe."

I shook my head, grinning despite myself. "You're unbelievable. But I'm still going to beat you, even if it takes me all day."

Kai's eyes sparkled, and he took a few steps closer to my board, a playful glint in his eye. "You sure you can handle me?" he teased, running a hand through his wet hair. "I mean, I'm pretty good with balancing things. Both in and out of the water."

I blinked at him, the double entendre not lost on me. "Oh, you're really asking for it now," I warned.

Kai leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low, teasing whisper. "If you can't beat me at paddleboarding, maybe you can beat me at something else."

I shook my head, laughing despite myself. "You're impossible."

He grinned, his usual playful arrogance making my heart race. "You know you love it, Max."

I rolled my eyes, but honestly, I couldn't deny it. His presence, his teasing, it all made me feel like I was in a whirlwind I didn't want to escape from.

"Alright, alright. Let's take a break," I said, paddling my board back toward the shore. "You've already made me look like a fool enough today."

Kai followed, shaking his head. "I don't know why you're so upset. You've got me right where you want me, Max."

I smirked, stepping off the board and onto the soft sand. "I'm pretty sure I've got you figured out by now."

Kai walked toward me, his grin softening into something more genuine. "I've got you figured out too, Max. You're not as tough as you think."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? You think so?"

His expression softened, and I could see the sincerity in his eyes. "Yeah. I think you're just a big softie, deep down."

My heart skipped a beat. Kai had a way of breaking through all my walls without even trying. But before I could say anything, he pulled me into another quick kiss, the touch gentle yet filled with so much meaning.

When he pulled away, he looked at me with a quiet smile. "You're not getting away from me, Max. Not now. Not ever."

I didn't have the heart to respond right away. Instead, I pulled him closer again, kissing him like I couldn't get enough.

After our little paddleboarding fiasco, we took a break on the shore, basking in the sun as we shared water and snacks. Kai was completely in his element, cracking jokes, teasing me, and challenging me to just let go and enjoy the moment. But I could tell that even in his laid-back attitude, his military mindset was never far. He had this thing about him—always alert, always aware, even when he was supposed to be relaxed.

But I wasn't complaining. I liked that side of him. It kept me grounded.

"Alright," I said, sitting up from where I had been lounging on the sand. "What's next?"

Kai stretched and then leaned back on his elbows. "Well, I figured we could do something a little more... active. You know, military style."

I smirked. "You're really trying to make me sweat, aren't you?"

"Hell yeah, I am," he replied, his eyes glinting mischievously. "We're not just here to lounge around. I want us to get the full Boracay experience. That includes a bit of a challenge. So, how about some beach volleyball?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Volleyball? On the beach? Is that really your idea of a challenge?"

Kai nodded enthusiastically, already standing up and brushing the sand off his shorts. "Hell yeah. You're military. You're in shape. I'm in shape. Let's see who's got the better reflexes."

I rolled my eyes but stood up too, grinning. "Alright, I'm in. But if I win, you owe me a massage tonight."

Kai grinned, his eyes gleaming with competitive energy. "Deal. But don't get too cocky, Max. I'm not letting you win that easily."

We found a couple of tourists who were looking for a challenge, and soon enough, we were split into teams, with me and Kai on opposite sides. As we stretched and prepared for the game, I couldn't help but notice how good he looked when he was focused, his movements fluid and his attention sharp.

"Ready to lose, Max?" Kai called out from the other side of the net, winking at me.

"Not even close," I shot back, my gaze narrowing. "Just make sure you don't get too cocky. I'm about to serve you a loss."

The game began, and it didn't take long before we were both caught up in the intensity. Kai was fast, incredibly fast, and his reflexes were on point. But I was determined to beat him. This was a challenge, and I wasn't about to back down.

For a while, the game was neck and neck. Kai was making killer spikes, while I was on my toes, blocking and setting up the plays. The tourists on our teams cheered us on, and I could feel the thrill of competition buzzing through my veins.

At one point, Kai jumped high to spike the ball, and I sprinted to intercept it. We collided midair, both of us laughing and tumbling into the sand, our bodies tangled together. The ball flew out of bounds as we both lay there for a moment, catching our breath.

Kai's laugh was contagious, and I couldn't stop myself from joining in, even as I tried to catch my breath. "Guess we both got a little too into it," I said, grinning at him.

"Yeah, well," Kai replied, his voice softening, "that's just how I play."

We stood up together, brushing the sand off our bodies, but I couldn't help noticing the way his eyes lingered on me, the playful energy now turning into something else entirely.

Before I could say anything, the game was back on. We finished the match with a few more moments of intense competition and a lot of laughter. In the end, my team barely pulled off the win, and Kai, ever the good sport, didn't even try to protest.

"Alright, you win," he said, shaking his head. "But you'd better be ready to lose the next challenge."

I grinned, catching my breath. "You've got a lot of confidence for someone who lost."

Kai stuck out his tongue at me and shot me a mock glare. "Shut up, Max. We'll see who's really the winner by the end of the day."

"Keep dreaming," I teased, giving him a playful shove as we walked back toward the beach chairs.

After a quick rinse at the outdoor shower, we decided to take a dip in the crystal-clear water to cool off. The temperature was perfect—warm but refreshing. I waded into the water, feeling the waves tug at my legs. Kai followed me in, and for a moment, we just swam around lazily, letting the ocean do the work of easing the tension from our muscles.

"This is perfect," Kai sighed, floating on his back. "Just... no responsibilities, no missions. Just you and me, Max."

I watched him, the way his body moved effortlessly through the water, his usual cocky demeanor now replaced with something more peaceful. "Yeah," I agreed quietly, "it's perfect."

Kai turned his head, locking eyes with me as he treaded water. His smile was softer now, genuine. "You know, this—this is the best part of everything. Just being here with you."

I felt my heart skip a beat. There was something about the way Kai looked at me in those quiet moments that made everything feel so much more real. I didn't need to say anything; I just swam over to him and pulled him close, wrapping my arms around his waist. He chuckled softly, resting his chin on my shoulder.

"You're not getting tired of me yet, huh?" he asked, his voice teasing but with a hint of vulnerability.

I pulled back slightly to look him in the eyes, a smirk tugging at my lips. "Tired of you? Not even close, Kai. In fact, I'm starting to think I might just keep you around forever."

His eyes softened, and the playful energy shifted between us. "You're crazy," he whispered, but I could see the warmth in his gaze. "But I kind of like that."