Serendipitous Encounter

**Point of view:Athena**

I woke up as the alarm jolted me from my dreams, the bright sunlight spilling across the room while the cheerful chirping of birds greeted the new day. I stretched lazily and made my way to the balcony, a familiar routine I had come to cherish. The birds gathered around as I scattered some feed for them, their melodious tunes intertwining with the gentle rustling of leaves. What a wonderful way to begin the day. And today, it's Sunday—a day John and I had set aside to clean the north side of the beach.

After my morning routine, I decided on an outfit: white shorts paired with a baby pink crop top and yellow sneakers. I know, it might sound like a strange combination, but that's just me when it comes to fashion. With a laugh at my own quirkiness, I left the dorm. Given that it's the weekend, I was certain that John was still snoozing away. It's my responsibility to rouse him from his slumber and get him ready. I had breakfast for both of us in tow as I made my way to his place. Thanks to the spare key I had, I entered his apartment and drew back the curtains, letting the sunlight filter in.

"Rise and shine, Johnny!" I declared with a grin. "Come on, wake up, dude. We've got work to do." John groaned but managed to stir, heading for the shower while I laid out breakfast. The sun was blazing today, and considering the heat, we slathered on sunscreen generously before we left for the stunning blue expanse of the Mexican ocean. Armed with trash pickers, gloves, bags, and other cleaning supplies, we embarked on our mission.

Our first task was to conduct an awareness session on the importance of keeping nature clean. As expected, most people seemed oblivious to our words, engrossed in their leisurely beach activities. Unperturbed, we shifted our focus to cleaning. Hours slipped by, and before we knew it, it was lunchtime. I managed to pull John away to Jinny's Kitchen, and we indulged in a satisfying meal. Energized, we spent the afternoon meeting new people, recording content for my YouTube channel, and soaking in the ambiance of the beach.

With renewed determination, we returned to our cleanup duties. Splitting our efforts, I took on the northeast part of the beach while John tackled the northwest. Time seemed to stretch on as we meticulously collected discarded debris. The sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows as evening approached. It was then that a disheartening sight caught my attention. A group of young men, appearing to be American tourists, carelessly tossed bottles and cans onto the pristine sand.

My frustration surged, and though I tried to reason with them, they were dismissive of my pleas. Just when hope seemed scarce, an unexpected ally arrived in the form of a elderly woman, around 65 years old. She, too, was American, and she confronted the litterers with a stern voice. Scolding them, she managed to shoo them away. I was both amazed and grateful for her intervention. I thanked her profusely, but she humbly redirected the gratitude. "You should be thanked, my child, for your dedication to Mother Nature. Bless you." With those words, she departed, leaving me with a heart warmed by her understanding.

As the day progressed, the beach grew emptier as people started leaving, leaving behind a cleaner shoreline. Having completed my section, I decided to assist John. Yet, while en route, a glimmering object seized my attention. Lying in the sand was an amulet, partially buried and obscured by mud. Intrigued, I picked it up and washed it clean in the lapping waves. Its brilliance took my breath away; I had never seen anything quite so enchanting. Unbeknownst to me, a subtle force seemed to beckon me towards it.

Just as I was absorbed by this discovery, John's voice cut through, calling for my help. I sprinted in his direction, my curiosity momentarily shelved. When I reached him, my eyes fell upon a sight that stole my focus entirely—a man, with a perfectly sculpted body, lay ***** on the shore. It was apparent that he was hurt. Without second thought, my legs guided me toward him, and I found myself cradling his head in my lap. I could feel his slow, rhythmic breaths against my leg.

A voice broke through my reverie—John's, questioning my actions and suggesting we call the authorities. I hesitated and shook my head. "No, not yet." Determined to offer aid, I asked John to fetch a towel and a first aid kit. In the meantime, I glanced down at the man before me, his features handsome like those of a Greek god. The temptation to reach out and touch his chiseled abs was strong, but I scolded myself for my inappropriate thoughts. "Athena, what are you doing? He's an injured person," I muttered, struggling to focus on the situation at hand.

Yet, a mischievous notion flickered through my mind. Could a gentle kiss hurt? It seemed harmless, and so, without further contemplation, I leaned in and pressed my lips against his. His breathing remained steady, and I felt a sense of connection in that fleeting moment. Suddenly, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps, jolting me out of my impulsive reverie. Reality crashed back in, and I berated myself for my actions. What had I been thinking? I had just given away my first kiss to a complete stranger.

[End of Chapter 3]

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