Fever dream

Hey dear reader!! This story is totally fictional , so are even the characters and I don't own any of the photos used here . I really hope you will like this story please leave a review on the comments after reading it. Mwahhh!!

Before we get into our story let's meet our three main characters.

Danya Ivanova

18 yo

Russian- Sudanese

Kaito Rodin

18 yo

Japanese-Czech

Zdravko Gromov

18 yo

Slovak

Now shall we begin...

DANYA's POV(this whole story will be told in females lead perspective for a more realistic approach to story so you can think yourself as if youre in the story)

The Tuscan heat hit me like a solid wall the second I stepped off the air conditioned bus, heavy and rich with the scent of saltwater, pine, and baking earth. Monte Argentario was visually stunning, but as I dragged my heavy designer suitcase across the gravel path, my eyes were already doing what they always did, scanning the crowd, assessing the room.

Years of child modeling had built it into my DNA. I knew how to hold myself, how to walk, how to draw the eye without looking like I was trying. Even in a simple white linen set, with my dyed blonde hair tied up in a claw clip and my caramel skin glowing in the mid-day sun, I could feel heads turning as I passed.

"Alright, everyone! Listen up! Silence, please!"

A woman in her mid-thirties with a megaphone standing on top of a wooden picnic table gestured wildly for quiet. Beside her stood a tall, sunburnt man holding a clipboard.

"Welcome to Monte Argentario Summer Camp!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the pine trees. "I'm Elena, your head counselor, and this is Marco. Before we hand out your keycards, we are going to make one thing crystal clear right now, on Day One."

Marco stepped forward, taking the megaphone. His voice was stern, devoid of warmth. "This camp operates on strict rules. Respect the facility, respect your peers, and respect the curfew. Most importantly: zero romance. Physical intimacy, dating, or any inappropriate behavior between campers is strictly prohibited ,you are here for friendship not for flings. If you are caught, or if anyone reports you ,and yes, campers are obligated to report violations ,you will not get a warning. You will be packing your bags and boarding a bus back to the airport the exact same day. Is that understood?"

A quiet murmur rippled through the crowd.

"Now," Elena barked, flipping through her binder. "Cabin assignments! Listen for your name..."

I stood patiently until Elena called out, "Cabin 4B: Sasha Petrova and Danya Ivanova!"

I tracked down Cabin 4B—a sun-bleached wooden cottage nestled under a grove of pines. Inside, a tall brunette with sharp hazel eyes and an oversized graphic tee was already unzipping a massive duffel bag.

"Hey," I said, leaning against the doorframe with a smile. "Looks like we're cellmates."

She looked up, wiping a stray strand of hair from her face, and smiled back. "Danya, right? I'm Sasha. Honestly, thank God you look normal. I was terrified I'd end up with someone who snores or wouldn't let me smoke in peace."

"Oh man imma smoke with you," I laughed, rolling my suitcase inside and claiming the bed near the open window. "Though Marco's little speech out there was a bit dramatic, wasn't it?"

"Oh, totally," Sasha said, tossing a stack of clothes onto her mattress. "He sounded like a warden. 'Zero romance'—as if putting a hundred eighteen-year-olds together in Tuscany during the summer is going to stop anyone."

"Rules are just suggestions if you don't get caught," I winked, pulling my lip oil out of my tote.

Sasha chuckled, tossing a glossy magazine onto the nightstand between us. "I like your attitude. What kind of music do you listen to while you unpack? If you say country, I might have to request a cabin transfer."

"Don't insult me," I laughed, connecting my phone to a portable speaker. "Strictly 90s R&B, SZA, Drake, maybe some Frank Ocean and Rihanna if the sun hits right."

"Okay, yeah, we're going to get along just fine," Sasha grinned, dropping onto her bed as a smooth SZA track started playing softly through the cabin.

By noon, the heavy brass bell outside the main hall rang for lunch. The dining hall was loud, smelling of fresh garlic, pasta, and grilled vegetables.

"Table assignments are posted on the board!" Marco called out as we filed in. "Find your designated number. You will be eating with your assigned teams for the first three days!"

"What table are you?" Sasha asked, squinting at the board over a sea of heads.

"Table three," I replied. "You?"

"Table seven," she sighed. "Ugh, I see two guys over there already arguing about football. Wish me luck."

"You'll survive," I patted her shoulder and navigated through the maze of wooden tables until I spotted the number 3.

That was where I first saw them.

Sitting across from each other were two guys who clearly didn't blend into the background. One had sun-kissed skin, messy brown curls, and a lean, athletic build—he was leaning back on the bench, sporting a lazy, dangerously attractive smirk. Next to him sat a towering guy with a broad, cut frame, a sharp jawline, and cold, dark blue eyes that seemed to take in the entire room without moving a single muscle in his face.

I didn't hesitate. I slid smoothly onto the wooden bench right between them, dropping my hands onto the table with a flirty, confident smile.

"Table three?" I asked, looking back and forth between them.

The curl-haired one leaned forward instantly, his brown eyes dropping to take me in for a fast, deliberate second before locking onto mine. "You're in the right spot. I'm Kaito."

"Zdravko," the taller one said. His voice was surprisingly deep—a quiet, low rasp. He gave a slight nod, keeping his guard up, his intense gaze lingering on my face just a beat too long.

"Danya," I said smoothly.

Two other campers joined us—a quiet guy named Milan and an energetic girl named Katya—filling out the rest of the table. Elena's voice slammed through the loudspeakers a moment later.

"Attention! Before lunch is served, we are doing a quick icebreaker game to get to know your teammates. You have ten minutes to find three things you all have in common!"

The table went quiet for a second. Katya immediately began talking about sports, but I leaned forward slightly, resting my chin on my hand, looking directly at Kaito and Zdravko with a sly grin.

"So," I murmured, keeping my voice low. "Vy govorite po-russki?"

Kaito's smirk widened instantly. A spark of genuine amusement hit his eyes, and he answered in fluent Russian, his Japanese-Czech accent giving the words a unbelievably smooth twist. "Konechno. A ty somnevalas'?" (Of course. Did you doubt it?)

Zdravko didn't laugh, but the heavy, stoic line of his mouth twitched upward into a faint smile. "Ya govoryu," he said in that deep, gravelly tone, his dark eyes never leaving mine.

"Okay, good," I laughed softly, breaking the spell. "At least I know I won't be bored at this table."

"Bored?" Kaito raised an eyebrow, leaning an elbow on the wooden table, tilting his head toward me. "With us? Danya, you don't even know what you're in for yet."

"Is that a threat or a promise, Kaito?" I challenged, meeting his gaze head-on.

"A guarantee," he winked.

"Right after lunch," Marco's voice cut back in over the speakers, "we are moving to the North Meadow for our first team scavenger event! You will be working in trios within your tables. Table three: Kaito, Zdravko, and Danya will form Group A!"

Kaito shot me a look. "Looks like you're stuck with us."

"Or maybe you two are stuck with me," I replied, tossing my hair over my shoulder. Zdravko just sighed as Kaito gave me his playful smirk.

The scavenger game was fast and competitive. What was supposed to be a basic team-building exercise quickly turned into a high-adrenaline sprint through the pine forest behind the camp. Kaito was loud, constantly throwing sarcastic teases my way every time I had to dodge a branch or duck under a low barrier.

"Watch the shoes, model!" Kaito teased, grabbing my elbow to pull me out of a patch of mud as we sprinted toward the third clue. "Didn't realize we were racing in high fashion."

"Shut up, Kaito, I'm faster than you!" I laughed, breathless, my chest heaving as we dodged between the trees.

Meanwhile, Zdravko was a silent, grounded force. He didn't waste breath on jokes, but every time the dirt path turned steep or slippery, his broad hand was instantly right at my waist, steadying me with a grip that was entirely too warm, lingering just a second after I regained my footing.

"Got you," he muttered low near my ear, his deep voice vibrating right against my skin before he let go.

By the time we crossed the finish line in second place, the initial awkwardness was completely dead. We were out of breath, laughing, bumping shoulders like we had known each other for years.

When the afternoon activity wrapped up, I walked back to Cabin 4B to shower and change for dinner. Sasha was lying on her bed, scrolling on her phone, but she sat up the second I walked in.

"Okay, spill everything," Sasha demanded, pointing a finger at me. "I saw you out in the meadow. Who are those two guys you were running around with? They were very hot ,not going to lie you should pick one."

I threw my damp towel over the back of a chair and sat on the edge of my bed, a sly smile pulling at my lips as I unclipped my hair. "Well... table three turned out to be very interesting."

"Tell me!" Sasha leaned forward, resting her chin in her hands.

"So, there's Kaito," I started, tracing a pattern on the bedsheet. "He's Japanese-Czech, plays basketball, ridiculously tall, curly hair, extremely sarcastic. He was teasing me the entire time."

"And the tall buzzcut one?" Sasha nudged. "The one built like a brick wall?"

"Zdravko," I murmured, staring out the cabin window for a second as a small blush hit my tanned skin. "He's a boxer from Slovakia. He barely says five words, Sasha, but the way he looks at you? It's intense. He caught my interest fast. Pretty weird thought, I never found someone to catch my attention so fast. But this dude he is different somehow" I tilted my head thinking in a confused pout.

"Careful, Danya," Sasha laughed, though her eyes were sparkling with drama. "It's literally Day One. Don't get yourself kicked out of camp before the weekend even starts."

"I'm just observing," I smirked, grabbing my lip liner and doing my lips in front of the mirror. "For now."

Dinner in the dining hall was far livelier. The stiffness of the morning was gone, replaced by loud chatter and clinking cutlery. At Table 3, Kaito and Zdravko barely gave me space to breathe—in the best way possible. They pelted me with questions, trying to peel back my confident exterior.

"So, child modeling, huh?" Kaito asked, leaning back with a grin, tossing a french fry into his mouth. "Does that mean you're going to treat the camp paths like a runway?"

"If I do, you should be honored to watch," I shot back, taking a sip of water. "What about you, Kaito? Basketball player, right? Do you just rely on your height, or do you actually have skills?"

Kaito gasped dramatically, laying a hand over his heart. "Zdrav, did you hear that? She's brutal."

Zdravko let out a quiet, throat-heavy laugh, cutting a piece of steak on his plate. He glanced up, his dark eyes fixing directly on mine. "She's right. You talk too much, Kaito."

I laughed, looking over at Zdravko. "Thank you, Zdrav. At least someone at this table has good sense. What about you? Boxer? Should I be scared of you?"

Zdravko tilted his head, his gaze steady, heavy, and undeniably flirty. "Only if you give me a reason to be, Danya."

The shift in air was electric, subtle enough that the rest of the table didn't catch it, but strong enough to make my stomach do a quick flip.

As night fell, the camp counselors gathered everyone around the massive central fire pit near the edge of the woods. Sparks drifted up toward the dark Tuscan sky, and the ocean breeze cooled the night air.

Kaito sat on a wooden log nearby, an acoustic guitar balanced effortlessly on his thigh. Another guy from Team 2 hit a soft, rhythmic beat on a wooden box drum, and Kaito began plucking the warm, familiar chords of "Price Tag."

His voice was surprisingly smooth and soulful, filling the quiet night as the rest of the campers started singing along, swaying to the music. I sat on the grass a few feet away, wrapping my arms around my knees, listening to Kaito play as Sasha was resting her head in my shoulder.

Across the crackling fire, leaning against the dark trunk of a pine tree, stood Zdravko. He wasn't singing. He wasn't looking at Kaito, or the fire, or anyone else.

Through the rising orange smoke, his dark eyes were just zoned out, and as Kaito sang my mind was only curious what Zdravko was thinking.

The fire crackled, I just stared at Kaito who's eyes were already staring deeply into my soul, knowing deep down that this summer was about to get very complicated, very fast.

Day 2''

At 6:00 AM sharp, an ear-splitting, industrial air siren tore through the quiet morning air of Cabin 4B.

I nearly hit the ceiling, bolting upright with my heart hammering against my ribs. Beside me, Sasha let out a muffled scream, grabbing her pillow and throwing it directly at the far wall with pure rage.

"Attention, campers!" Marco's grating, loud-speaker voice blared through the PA system right outside our window. "You have ten minutes to present yourselves on the main field for the mandatory morning run! Anyone not lined up in ten minutes forfeits their breakfast privileges until lunch! No exceptions!"

"Is he actual evil incarnate?" Sasha groaned, collapsing back onto her mattress, covering her face with both hands as she let out a dramatic, muffled sob. "Danya, please tell me I'm having a nightmare. Please."

"Fake cry later, Sasha, we need to move," I grumbled, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed and shoving my feet into my running sneakers.

There was zero time for a full makeup routine. We sprinted to the tiny cabin bathroom, brushed our teeth in record speed, and splashed icy water over our faces. I shoved my blonde hair up into a messy claw clip, pulled on a tiny ribbed tank top and high-waisted shorts, while Sasha frantically looked for a ponytail holder.

"If I pass out on the trail, leave me," Sasha muttered, dragging her hand over her face as we pushed through the cabin door. "Tell my family I died in Tuscany."

"You're not dying," I laughed, taking her wrist and pulling her down the gravel path.

When we staggered out onto the dewy grass of the main field, half the camp looked like walking ghosts. Kaito was already standing near the wooden Table 3 sign, wearing an oversized grey hoodie and athletic shorts. He was leaning on one leg, rubbing his eyes like a sleepy kid, his dark, messy curls sticking out in every direction.

"Look at you two," Kaito croaked as we approached. A lazy, incredibly attractive smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as his brown eyes drifted over my outfit before meeting my gaze. "So energetic. So graceful in the morning."

"Say another word, Kaito, and I will drop-kick you right into those pine trees," I shot back, though a small smile betrayed me.

"Ooh, scary," Kaito teased, leaning down slightly to get on my eye level, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Did you even sleep, Danya? Or were you up all night thinking about how bad we lost that team game yesterday? You look terrifying without makeup , I must admit your dark eye bags give me chills"

"I don't think about losses," I murmured, stepping closer and giving him a soft, defiant glare. "And glad you are terrified little shit"

He sticked out his tongue in a mocking way as I just rolled my eyes pretty irritated of that smirk that never wiped off his lips.

"Form up! Three miles, single file!" Marco barked from the front, blowing a steel whistle that echoed painfully in my skull. "Let's go, let's go!"

As the giant pack of campers began jogging down the dirt trail toward the coast, Sasha nudged my shoulder, effortlessly matching my stride.

"So," Sasha whispered, her voice bubbling with mischief as she wiped a drop of sweat from her temple. "Did you dream about your tall, brooding boxer last night?"

"Sasha, I'm literally trying not to collapse," I laughed quietly, shaking my head. "And no. I was far too busy trying to get actual sleep before Marco's siren went off."

"Liar," she giggled, loud enough that Kaito—who was jogging a few feet ahead of us—glanced back over his shoulder with a raised eyebrow. "I saw the look Zdravko gave you at the campfire, Danya. The man looked ready to break every single rule in the camp handbook right then and there."

"Keep quiet before Kaito hears you," I whispered, shoving her arm gently.

"Hear what?" Kaito called back, slowing down his pace slightly so he was jogging backward, looking right at us with that sharp, teasing smirk. "Are you talking about me? You can just ask me directly, Danya. I'm right here."

"In your dreams, Kaito!" I yelled back, dissolving into a fit of breathless giggles with Sasha as we pushed through the rest of the run.

By the time the run finished, my legs were burning, but a hot shower and the rich smell of fresh Italian espresso in the dining hall revived us.

Once Table 3 sat down at our designated wooden bench, our assigned team leader finally introduced herself. Her name was Veronica, and she was an absolute force of nature. Despite being in her late sixties or early seventies should I say, her silvery-grey hair was swept up into an immaculate, rock-solid bun, her long nails were painted a flawless deep burgundy, and her posture was so straight it made everyone else at the table look like folded lawn chairs.

She took a slow, deliberate sip from her espresso cup, setting it back onto the saucer with a soft, crisp *clink*.

"Good morning, team," Veronica said. Her voice was slow, accent-thick, and dangerously sophisticated. "I am Veronica. Under my supervision, Table 3 will be an absolute example of discipline and excellence. I am fully aware of the camp's strict policy regarding romantic entanglements and disruptions. Let me assure you now: I have zero tolerance for foolish drama, slackers, or rule-breaking that could tarnish our standings. Am I clear?"

"Crystal, ma'am," Kaito said immediately, sitting up straight and flashing his most charming, innocent, boy-next-door smile. "We're angels."

Veronica lowered her head, eyeing him over the rim of her stylish reading glasses with complete indifference. "I doubt that, Kaito." She shifted her sharp gaze to Zdravko, who was silently eating his eggs, and then to me. "Eat up. The water races begin in thirty minutes."

The water activity was an absolute disaster. Each table was assigned a long wooden rowboat, tasked with navigating a brutal course set in the shallow waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The winning team got to dictate the dinner menu for the entire camp.

We started strong with Kaito loudly shouting rhythm calls from the back. *"One, two, pull! One, two—"* but Katya caught her oar in a heavy wave, catching a wall of water that splashed directly over Milan and stalled us completely. Table 5 surged past us, cheering wildly while the rest of us rowed back to shore, thoroughly soaked, exhausted, and defeated.

After changing into fresh clothes and eating a swift lunch, Marco ushered all houndered-plus campers into the main lodge—a giant rustic cabin with exposed timber beams—to escape the scorching afternoon heat.

"Since it is thirty-five degrees outside," Marco announced, leaning against a wooden pillar, "we will spend the early afternoon indoors playing Mafia! I want everyone seated in a massive circle on the floor right now!"

We sat cross-legged on the wide rug, creating a massive ring of teens. Elena, the head counselor, stood in the center acting as the Moderator.

"Night falls on the village," Elena called out in a theatrical, echoing voice. "Everyone, eyes closed! Heads down!"

I buried my face against my knees, resting my hands over my ears. I could hear the quiet, light rustle of Elena walking around the wooden circle, tapping three people on the shoulder to assign the Mafia, one person for the Sheriff, and one for the Doctor. A heavy, quiet silence fell over the room until Elena walked back to the center.

"Village, wake up!" Elena announced. "Night one is over. And unfortunately... Katya was brutally murdered by the Mafia."

Katya gasped, dramatically falling backward onto the rug. "I was innocent! You monsters!"

"Alright, accusations start now!" Marco shouted from the back of the room.

The circle erupted into immediate, chaotic screaming.

"It's Kaito!" a guy named Leo from Table 2 yelled, pointing a finger directly across the circle. "Look at him! He's smiling! He always smiles like that when he's lying!"

"Are you insane, Leo?" Kaito snapped, throwing his hands up in defense, looking around at everyone. "I'm the Sheriff! I literally checked someone last night! I am trying to save you idiots!"

"Oh, classic Mafia claim!" Sasha accused from across the ring, pointing a finger at Kaito. "Claiming Sheriff on round one? That is so fake!"

"I'm not lying!" Kaito yelled back, his eyes darting across the circle until they locked onto me. "Wait... look at Danya! Look at her!"

"What about me?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"She hasn't said a single word!" Kaito shouted, standing up on his knees to point at me dramatically. "She's just sitting there looking all quiet and pretty and innocent! It's Danya! She's pulling the strings! She's manipulating all of us!"

"Excuse me?!" I cut in, my voice instantly rising above the noise as I leaned forward, throwing him a sharp, incredulous glare. "Kaito, you are literally deflecting because you got caught red-handed! Don't try to pin your messy, terrible gameplay on me just because you don't know how to lie!"

"She's totally deflecting!" Kaito shouted to the rest of the room, looking around for support. "Look how defensive she's getting right now! Look at her eyes! Vote Danya out! She's the Mafia boss!"

"If you vote me out, you are throwing the entire game, you complete idiot!" I shot back, my voice loud and commanding.

A collective chorus of *"Ooooooh!"* rippled through the surrounding campers as people started taking sides, yelling over one another.

"Silence!" Elena clapped her hands loudly. "Voting time! All in favor of lynching Danya?"

Only Kaito and two of his friends raised their hands. Kaito stared at me in disbelief. "Are you guys serious? She's evil!"

"All in favor of lynching Leo?" Elena called out.

A landslide of hands went up. Leo groaned, throwing his hands in the air as he was eliminated.

The game dragged on for four intense, loud rounds. People were screaming, standing up, pointing fingers, and passionately defending their innocence. One by one, Villagers kept dropping dead. The Doctor was eliminated on round three. Kaito—who actually *was* the Sheriff—kept pointing fingers at the wrong people, causing utter chaos every single round until he was targeted and killed off on round four.

"I told you all!" Kaito dramatically collapsed backward onto the rug, groaning into his arms as the entire room burst into laughter. "You didn't listen to the Sheriff! You deserve to lose!"

Finally, only three people were left sitting in the center of the circle: Sasha, a quiet guy named Stefan, and Zdravko.

Throughout the entire forty-minute shouting match, Zdravko had barely said three sentences. He had just sat there—towering, broad shoulders leaned back against the wooden wall, arms crossed over his chest, occasionally nodding along with other people's terrible theories.

"Last vote," Elena said, grinning at the tension. "Stefan and Sasha... who do you think it is?"

"It's Stefan!" Sasha yelled aggressively. "He's been sitting there sneaking around the whole time!"

"It's not me! Sasha, I swear on my life it's not me!" Stefan pleaded, throwing his hands up. "Look at Zdravko! He hasn't said anything!"

"Zdravko is innocent, he's been agreeing with me!" Sasha countered.

They voted Stefan out.

Elena smirked, looking down at the remaining two. "And the game is officially over. The last remaining player... is Zdravko. The Mafia wins!"

The lodge exploded into loud shouts and screams. Campers threw throw-pillows directly at Zdravko, who just leaned back against the wall, a rare, low, ridiculously attractive smirk breaking across his usually stone-cold face. He caught my eye through the chaotic crowd, tossing a lazy, slow wink at me while Kaito stared at him in absolute, heartbroken betrayal.

"You?!" Kaito yelled, sitting up and clutching his chest. "You sat right next to me the entire game and didn't utter a single word!"

"You were talking enough for the both of us, Kaito," Zdravko replied softly, his deep, raspy voice easily carrying over the room's noise.

Following the game, the high energy was forcibly dialed back as Marco gathered us into small circles for a mandated quiet "reflection and bible study" hour. We sat in a circle with Veronica, who read a passage on discipline and humility while Kaito quietly mimed falling asleep behind her back, making Sasha and me cover our mouths to hide our snickers.

By 7:00 PM, dinner was served. Because Table 5 had won the morning boat race, they earned the right to select the evening menu for the entire camp. They chose a bizarre, traditional boiled cabbage and liver stew, forcing everyone to eat it or go hungry.

"This tastes like a boiled shoe," Sasha whispered, pushing the greyish meat around her plate with her fork in disgust. "Danya, I might actually cry for real this time." She spoke behind my back as our tables were next to each other.

"Eat in silence or forfeit your evening free time," Veronica warned sharply from the head of our table without even looking up from her plate.

I barely managed three bites before giving up completely, pushing the plate away.

By 8:30 PM, dinner finally wrapped up, releasing us for our allowed free time until the strict 10:00 PM curfew. The sun was beginning its slow descent over the Mediterranean, painting the sky in stunning shades of gold, violet, and deep orange.

As I stepped out of the noisy dining hall into the cool evening air, a tall shadow fell over me.

I turned to find Zdravko standing right behind me. He had his hands jammed into the pockets of his dark hoodie, his broad, athletic shoulders blocking out the setting sun behind him. His dark, intense eyes locked onto mine—direct, heavy, and unreadable.

"Danya," he said, his voice a low, gravelly rasp that felt almost private amidst the crowd.

"Zdrav," I replied, tilting my head back to meet his gaze, slipping a hand onto my hip with a confident, flirty smile. "Here to brag about your Mafia win? Or came to apologize for fooling everyone?"

The corner of his mouth twitched into a faint, dark smile. "Neither. I was wondering if you wanted to get out of here for a bit. Walk down to the water."

My heart did a sudden, sharp flutter, but I kept my composure, locking eyes with him. "Just the two of us? Isn't that a little dangerous with Marco's precious rules?"

"Only if we get caught," he murmured, throwing my exact words from yesterday right back at me. "Ten minutes. Meet me at the path behind Cabin 4. Wear a swimsuit if you want to get in."

"Give me five," I said softly, my voice dripping with charm.

I hurried back to Cabin 4B, where Sasha was already lounging on her bed, scrolling through her phone. I quickly threw off my clothes and changed into a sleek black bikini, tossing a sheer white button-down shirt over top, leaving it completely unbuttoned.

"Where are you going dressed like that?" Sasha asked, sitting up instantly with a wide, dramatic grin. "That shirt is doing zero covering up, Danya."

"Just taking a breath of fresh air," I said innocently, grabbing a towel.

"Alone or?" Her eyes widened as she whisper yelled "With Zdravko?" Sasha pressed, leaning forward. "Danya! Tell me!"

"Maybe," I winked, slipping out the door before she could tease me any further.

The narrow path behind Cabin 4 was dark, heavily shaded by tall pines, but I saw Zdravko waiting right at the edge of the sand. He had tossed his hoodie aside, standing only in black swim trunks. His broad, muscular frame was cut with razor-sharp lines from years in the boxing ring, his tanned chest glistening slightly in the twilight.

As I walked up, his eyes trailed down my body—taking in the sheer shirt, my tanned skin, long legs, and flat waist—before snapping right back to my face. The sheer, silent intensity in his gaze was enough to make the air feel thin.

"Ready?" he asked quietly, his voice dropping an octave.

"Lead the way," I replied, holding his gaze.

We walked side by side along the quiet shore, the gentle waves of the Tyrrhenian Sea lapping against our bare feet. The warm water was a stark contrast to the cool evening breeze. Away from the bright floodlights of the camp, the coast was completely silent, serene, and hidden from view.

"You don't talk much during the day," I said, breaking the quiet as we walked deeper into the dark curve of the cove. "Are you always this quiet, or do you just find everyone else annoying?"

Zdravko looked down at me, a soft, heavy chuckle rumbling in his chest. "Most people talk just to hear themselves speak. Kaito, for example."

"Kaito's fun," I countered, throwing him a playful, light nudge with my shoulder. "He keeps things interesting."

Zdravko stopped walking abruptly, turning his body to face me entirely. The dark water lapped around our ankles. He towered over me, his shadow falling completely across my body.

"I didn't say he wasn't fun," Zdravko murmured, taking a step closer until there were only inches between us. "But I don't care about talking to everyone, Danya. I only care when I actually have something to say."

"And right now?" I asked softly, tilting my head up, looking directly into his dark brown eyes. "Do you have something to say to me, Zdrav?"

Zdravko didn't answer right away. His gaze dropped to my lips for a heavy, breathless second before meeting my eyes again.

Instead of answering out loud, he turned and waded deeper into the sea, the dark water rising to his waist, before turning back around and holding out a broad hand toward me.

"Come on," he said softly, his deep voice carrying over the sound of the ocean waves. "The water's warm."

I waded into the dark sea after him, the warm water wrapping around my waist as the sheer shirt floated up against my skin. The initial coolness of the night air evaporated, replaced by the rhythmic sloshing of the waves against our bodies.

"Not afraid of the dark, are you, Danya?" Zdravko asked, turning to face me. A dangerous, teasing spark glinted in his dark eyes as he cupped his hands and sent a sudden, heavy splash of sea water straight into my face.

"Hey!" I gasped, wiping the saltwater from my eyes, completely catching my breath. "Oh, you are going to pay for that, Zdrav."

I lunged forward, launching a wall of water back at him. He barely flinched, just laughing—that low, deep, rare laugh that made my stomach do flips—as he splashed me again.

"Is that all you've got?" he taunted.

"I'm a former child model, not weak!" I yelled playfully, stepping deeper and throwing my whole weight onto his broad shoulders, trying to push his head under the surface. "Drown!"

Zdravko didn't even budge. His frame was solid rock. He braced himself, laughing as I tried to wrestle him down, before his broad hands shot out and wrapped firmly around my waist. In one swift, effortless movement, he lifted me clean off my feet.

"Who's drowning who?" he murmured into my ear, his voice raspy as he carried me deeper into the ocean.

"Zdrav, put me down!" I giggled, my legs kicking uselessly through the water.

He didn't put me down until we were far out into the cove. Out here, the ocean floor dipped sharply. I stretched my toes downward, but there was nothing beneath me—only open, dark sea. Zdravko, however, at six-foot-four, was standing comfortably, the water reaching just below his chest. My five-foot-seven sf felt pretty height mogged.

Panic mixed with adrenaline hit me, and I instantly wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling my body flush against his. My legs wrapped instinctively around his waist to keep afloat.

"I've got you," Zdravko said softly.

The playfulness evaporated into thin air.

His large hands rested heavy and warm against the small of my back, holding me tightly against his wet chest. I could feel the steady, thumping rhythm of his heartbeat beneath his skin. My hands rested against the back of his neck, my fingers tangled in his damp dark hair.

"You're standing," I whispered, my voice barely carrying over the lap of the waves. "I can't reach."

"You don't need to," he replied, his gaze dropping to my lips. "I won't let you drop."

We stayed like that for a breathless, suspended moment ,suspended in the quiet darkness of the Mediterranean, the camp lights flickering like distant fireflies far down the beach. His dark eyes flicked up to mine, intense, possessive, and completely raw.

Slowly, Zdravko leaned in. "Can I?" His eyes flickered at mine as I nodded slowly in agreement. His lips brushed against mine soft at first, testing the waters, tasting like saltwater and heat before deepening into a brief, electric kiss that sent a surge of electricity straight through my chest.

Just as his hand slid up my back to pull me closer, a bright beam of light flashed over the dunes further down the shore, accompanied by the distinct sound of crunching gravel and distant, laughing voices.

"Did Marco say curfew was ten or ten-thirty?"a voice shouted near the cabins.

Zdravko's head snapped toward the shore, his grip on me tightening instinctively as he shielded me with his body. The spell broke instantly.

"We have to go," I whispered, my heart hammering against my ribs, this time out of sheer terror of getting caught.

Zdravko immediately waded back toward the shallow water, setting me down as soon as my feet could touch the soft sand. We scrambled out of the water, breathless, the cold night breeze hitting our wet skin. We grabbed our towels, frantically drying off in the shadow of the pine trees, shivering as we pulled our dry clothes over damp skin.

"Split up," Zdravko said in a low, rushed tone, slinging his hoodie over his shoulder. "Go around the laundry cabin. I'll take the main path."

"Don't get caught, Mafia," I murmured, throwing him one last look before slipping into the shadows of the tree line.

I kept my head down, keeping my footsteps quiet on the needle-covered dirt as I circled around the back of the staff building. I was less than fifty feet from Cabin 4B when a flash of light hit me directly in the face.

I froze, squinting against the blinding beam of a heavy-duty flashlight.

"Danya?"

The light lowered slightly, revealing Elena standing on the path, a clipboard in one hand and the flashlight in the other. Her sharp eyes scanned my wet hair clinging to my neck and the towel draped over my arm.

"It's nearly curfew," Elena said, her tone laced with suspicion as she stepped closer. "What are you doing out behind the staff cabins alone?"

I forced my posture to relax, slipping into my practiced, effortless charm, tilting my head with an innocent, exhausted smile.

"Sorry, Elena," I said smoothly, keeping my voice calm. "My head was spinning from that insane Mafia game earlier. I just needed a quick night swim down by the shore to calm my mind before bed."

Elena stared at me for three long, agonizing seconds, searching my face for any sign of a lie.

"The ocean is off-limits after eight," she said sternly, though her expression softened just a fraction. "And floating around in the dark alone isn't safe. Head back to your cabin immediately. If I see you out here after ten, you'll be on a bus tomorrow."

"Understood. Goodnight, Elena," I said politely.

I didn't turn back until I pushed open the door to Cabin 4B, slipping inside and locking it quietly behind me. I let out a massive breath I didn't realize I was holding, leaning my back against the wooden door as my chest heaved, my lips still tingling from the taste of saltwater and Zdravko.

The bathroom door swung open, and Sasha stepped out, wrapping a towel around her damp hair. She froze, taking in my wet, tangled blonde hair, my flushed cheeks, and the way I was practically collapsed against the doorframe.

A slow, devious grin spread across her face.

"Oh my God," Sasha gasped, dropping her toilet kit onto her bed and rushing over. She crouched down in front of me, her hazel eyes wide with excitement. "Danya! What happened? You look like you just survived a crime scene—or an intense rom-com moment."

"I almost got caught by Elena," I whispered, holding my chest as I let out a breathless laugh. "She flashed her giant light right in my face near the staff cabins."

"Shut up!" Sasha covered her mouth, her voice hushed but squealing. "Did she see who you were with?"

"No, we split up in time," I said, finally pushing myself up from the floor and tossing my damp towel onto the back of a wooden chair. "Zdravko told me to take the back trail while he took the main path."

Sasha practically bounded onto her bed, crossing her legs and patting the mattress next to her. "Okay, details now. You walked to the beach, you split up... what happened in between?"

I walked over, sitting on the edge of the mattress, my skin still tingling from the cool sea air and the memory of his touch. "We went into the ocean, Sasha. Far out. Where my feet couldn't even touch the bottom."

"And?" Sasha leaned in closer our noses almost touching as her big eyes looked at me, dying of anticipation.

"He held me," I murmured, staring down at my lap, a small, helpless smile tugging at my lips. "He just lifted me up like I weighed nothing. He told me he wouldn't let me drop... and then he kissed me."

Sasha gasped so loud I threw my hand over her mouth. "Danya!" she squeaked behind my palm, pulling my hand away. "He kissed you?! On Day Two?!"

"It was just a short kiss," I admitted, my cheeks burning. "Saltwater, dark night, waves... it just got us. But then we heard people coming down the dune and we had to run."

"Okay, listen to me very carefully," Sasha said, her tone suddenly shifting from excited gossip to dead-serious strategy. She grabbed my shoulders, staring into my eyes. "If Elena even suspects you two are a thing, or if someone saw you leaving the dining hall together, you are both dead meat. Marco is looking for any excuse to send people packing."

"I know," I sighed, running a hand over my face. "I told Elena I just went for a swim alone to clear my head, but she was looking at me like she didn't buy it 100 percent."

"Which is why you need a decoy," Sasha said, her eyes flashing with a sudden stroke of genius.

"A decoy?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes!" Sasha snapped her fingers. "You need to start flirting with Kaito. Out in the open. Heavy, obvious, playful flirting."

I stared at her, completely stunned. "Flirt with Kaito? Are you insane?"

"Think about it, Danya!" Sasha argued, leaning forward, her voice a sharp, persuasive whisper. "Everyone already sees you two bickering and bantering all day. If you start smiling at Kaito, sitting next to him, teasing him where the counselors and other campers can see, nobody will ever suspect you and Zdravko were kissing in the ocean at night! They'll all think you're into Kaito."

"That's..." I paused, digesting the idea. "That's actually crazy enough to work."

"It's foolproof," Sasha grinned, a mischievous spark in her eye. "It covers your tracks with Zdravko, keeps Marco off your back, and let's be honest ,it's not like flirting with Kaito is going to be hard for you. He's already obsessed with getting a reaction out of you anyway."

I looked toward the cabin window, the dark Italian night stretching outside. The thought of playing with fire teasing Kaito in broad daylight while keeping secret, dangerous midnight moments with Zdravko sent a wicked rush of adrenaline straight through me.

"So," Sasha smirked, crossing her arms and tilting her head. "Are you going to play the game, model?"

I slowly looked back at her, a confident, irresistible smile spreading across my lips.

"I'm going to win it,but what if they sent me and Kaito home then?" I whispered.

"Girl you didn't understand my point I think. You will be playing with both , just flirt and be touchy with both make the others think it is just your nature"

And with this in mind I fell asleep so I could rest a little from this messy and busy day.

Day 3

The morning sun was already scorching by 8:00 AM as we filed into the dining hall ,after that morning run the breakfast felt like a trophy. Marco was standing near the front podium, his megaphone resting on his hip as he cleared his throat to deliver the day's schedule.

"Listen up!" Marco barked over the clatter of breakfast trays. "Today's schedule: immediately after breakfast, all teams report to the beach for a high-intensity dodgeball tournament on the sand! Following lunch, you will have mandatory cabin rest until five o'clock. At five, chore duties begin! Team 1: laundry. Team 2: dishwashing. Team 3: wood gathering for the weekend bonfire, Team 4....Dinner is from eight to nine, followed by one hour of free time before strict ten o'clock bed check. No exceptions!"

Sasha gave my elbow a sharp nudge in my back and I turned my head to face her. "Phase one," she mouthed silently.

I took a quiet breath, smoothing down my cropped tank top before sliding eyes toward Kaito, who was leaning against the bench, half-heartedly buttering his toast.

"Kaito," I purred softly, leaning across the table until my face was only inches from his, dropping my voice to a sweet, intimate murmur. "Could you pass me the jam? Please?"

Kaito paused mid-stroke, his dark eyes snapping to mine in sheer surprise. Normally, I'd tell him to move so I would get it myself or make a sarcastic remark. He blinked, a slow, delighted smirk breaking across his face as he picked up the jar and handed it over, his fingers deliberately brushing against mine.

"Anything else I can get you, model?" Kaito teased, leaning back with an exaggerated, charm-heavy grin. "You're unusually polite today."

"Maybe I just realized you're useful," I winked, taking the jam and tossing a subtle glance across the table.

Zdravko was sitting directly opposite us. His heavy, dark eyes moved from Kaito's lingering hand on mine up to my face. His expression didn't change, he remained a stoic wall, but the faint crease between his brows betrayed a momentary confusion. He took a slow sip of his water, saying nothing, playing it totally cool.

By 9:30 AM, the heat on the beach was relentless. The counselors had marked out a giant dodgeball court in the soft, burning sand.

"Pair up within your teams!" Marco ordered, blowing his whistle. "Offense and defense!"

Before anyone could move, I stepped straight up to Kaito, sliding my hand onto his forearm with an easy, confident laugh. "Kaito, you're playing defense for me. You're six-foot-two make yourself useful as a shield."

Kaito's eyes lit up, clearly loving the sudden attention. He threw an arm around my shoulder, pulling me into a brief, playful half-hug. "I got you, Danya. Nobody touches you today."

Across the court, Zdravko stood near the backline. He adjusted his wrist wraps, his dark eyes tracking Kaito's arm draped over my shoulder. He didn't say a word, nor did his expression crack, but the raw intensity radiating from him was palpable. It made my pulse flutter, he was definitely feeling the sting, even if his pride wouldn't let him show it.

We played hard, laughing and diving into the sand. Every time Kaito blocked a shot for me or threw a lightning-fast ball, I cheered for him loudly, throwing my arms around his neck in dramatic celebration, letting the counselors and other campers see every bit of it.

When lunch rolled around, I completely switched the script.

Instead of sitting next to Kaito, I slid right into the tight space on the bench next to Zdravko, brushing my shoulder intimately against his broad arm.

"Zdrav," I murmured smoothly, turning my body toward him and looking up through my eyelashes. "Pass me the water jug?"

Zdravko tilted his head down, his cold eyes searching mine for a long, heavy second before he picked up the pitcher and poured it directly into my glass. "Here."

"Thanks," I said softly, resting my hand lightly over his knee under the table for a brief, electric second before pulling it back.

Kaito watched the whole exchange from across the table, his eyebrows shooting up in amusement as he rested his chin in his hand. Even Veronica ,sitting at the head of the table, looked back and forth between the three of us over her reading glasses, her sophisticated posture stiffening in pure confusion at the shifting dynamic. But somehow she seemed amused.

At 5:00 PM, Team 3 headed into the dense pine woods behind the camp for our wood-gathering duty. The late afternoon sun filtered through the tall trees in golden shafts of light.

I turned the chore into my personal playground.

When a heavy log was too awkward to lift, I'd turn to Kaito with a pout. "Kaito, help me with this?"

"On it," Kaito would laugh, stepping in right away, flexing his arms dramatically just to make me chuckle. He was fully leaned into the game, thoroughly enjoying the sudden, flirty competition.

Five minutes later, when carrying a bundle of dry kindling, I'd stumble slightly into Zdravko's path. His broad, steady hand would shoot out instantly to catch my waist, pulling me firm against his side.

"Careful, Danya," Zdravko's deep, gravelly rasp echoed near my ear, his thumb tracing a tiny circle over my hip before letting go. He wasn't backing down either, he was curious, quiet, and watchful, playing along just to see how far I was willing to push this dangerous game.

By 8:00 PM, dinner was wrapped up, and we had our single hour of free time before the dreaded 10:00 PM bed check.

As we walked out of the dining hall, Kaito suddenly fell into step between Sasha and me, his eyes gleaming with an unhinged, rebellious excitement.

"I have a plan," Kaito whispered, leaning down so only our group could hear. "A real plan."

"What kind of plan?" Sasha asked, her eyes instantly wide with curiosity.

"A post-curfew party," Kaito grinned, a dangerous, thrilling spark in his eyes. "After Marco does his ten o'clock cabin check and the counselors go back to their quarters, everyone comes to my cabin. I've already snuck in snacks, soft drinks, and music. We're playing Truth or Dare."

"Kaito, if Marco catches a group in your cabin after curfew, we aren't just getting yelled at—we're getting put on the first flight home," I warned, though a slow, wicked smile spread across my face.

"Which makes it exciting," Kaito winked, leaning in closer to me. "Are you brave enough to show up, model? Or are you scared of a little late-night trouble?"

I glanced over my shoulder. Zdravko was walking a few feet behind us, watching Kaito and me whisper together, his hands shoved deep into his pockets.

I looked back at Kaito, my eyes flashing with absolute mischief.

"Try me, Kaito," I whispered back. "We will be there pretty boy"

Dinner was served at 8:00 PM, and the mess hall smelled surprisingly incredible. The kitchen staff had prepared fresh sushi rolls, jasmine rice, and teriyaki chicken.

As Table 3 settled down at our usual spot, the flirty tension from the afternoon didn't cool down ,if anything, it boiled over.

"Open up," Kaito said, picking up a spicy salmon roll with his wooden chopsticks, holding it across the table with a smooth, playful grin.

I leaned forward over my plate, tilting my head, and let him feed it to me, taking a small bite while keeping my brown eyes locked directly on his. "Mmm. Not bad, Kaito. Though I think your chopsticks hand is a little shaky."

"Shaky?" Kaito laughed, resting his elbow on the table, leaning closer. "I'm steady as a rock, model. You're just trying to distract me."

"Is it working?" I purred, taking a delicate bite of my rice.

From the head of the table, Veronica set down her teacup, her perfectly manicured burgundy nails tapping against the ceramic. I expected a stern lecture on camp decorum, but instead, a slow, amused smirk softened her usually stoic face.

"Honestly, you two," Veronica chuckled, her voice thick with sophisticated sarcasm. "If you are going to flirt so openly over raw fish, at least do it with some decorum. Kaito, your posture is atrocious."

Kaito gasped dramatically, putting a hand over his chest. "Veronica! You're supposed to be on my side!"

"I am on the side of proper etiquette, Kaito," Veronica replied smoothly, taking a slow sip of her tea. "And currently, Danya is running circles around you."

Before Kaito could fire back, a heavy, dark shadow shifted beside me.

Zdravko—who had been quietly eating his chicken—picked up a piece of California roll with his own chopsticks. Without saying a single word, he reached across my chest, holding the piece right in front of my lips, his dark eyes intense, unreadable, and completely mesmerizing.

"My turn," Zdravko said. His voice was a low, raspy rumble that cut right through the table's laughter.

My breath caught in my throat. The contrast between Kaito's bright, teasing energy and Zdravko's quiet, heavy dominance sent a sudden rush of warmth straight down my spine. I didn't hesitate, I leaned in and ate the piece from Zdravko's chopsticks, my lips grazing the bamboo tips.

"Better than Kaito's?" Zdravko asked, his eyes dropping to my mouth for a brief, breathless second before snapping back up.

"Much better," I murmured, my voice dropping an octave.

Kaito narrowed his eyes playfully, leaning back with an exaggerated groan. "Hey! That is blatant favoritism! Veronica, did you see that?"

"I see a very entertained table," Veronica noted dryly, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "Carry on, children."

By 9:00 PM, dinner wrapped up. Sasha and I hurried back to Cabin 4B to prepare for the night ahead. While I unzipped my duffel bag, pulling out a stash of chocolate bars, gummy candies, and sour strips we'd snuck into our suitcases from home, Sasha locked the cabin door behind us.

"Okay, dump those into a tote bag," Sasha whispered excitedly, sitting on the edge of her bed as I shoved the sweets into a shoulder bag. She leaned forward, her hazel eyes sharp and serious. "Danya, listen to me. Tonight is the night."

"The party?" I asked, adjusting my crop top in the small mirror.

"No, the plan!" Sasha urged, pointing a finger at me. "When the party winds down, or when you get a quiet moment with Kaito and Zdravko alone, you have to lay out the deal. Tell them about the fake-flirting decoy strategy. If you don't establish the rules now, they're going to start clashing for real, or worse—one of them is going to mess up in front of Marco or Elena and get all three of you sent home."

I paused, looking at my reflection, my tanned skin, blonde hair, and the flirty spark in my brown eyes. "You think they'll agree to it? Sharing the spotlight?"

"Kaito loves the game, and Zdravko loves you" Sasha smirked, crossing her arms. "Trust me. Lay it down clearly. They'll bite."

At 10:00 PM sharp, two heavy knocks echoed against our cabin door.

"Room check!" Marco's voice boomed from outside, accompanied by Elena's sharp footsteps.

Sasha and I shoved the tote bag under a pillow, jumped into our respective beds, and pulled the covers up to our waists, pretending to read.

The door unlocked and opened. Elena stood in the doorway with a clipboard, her flashlight beam sweeping over our neat beds. Veronica stood just behind her shoulder, giving us a subtle, knowing nod.

"Everything in order in 4B?" Elena asked, scanning the room.

"All good, Elena," I said smoothly, offering a sleepy smile. "Just getting ready for sleep."

"Good. Lights out in five minutes. Do not leave your cabins," Elena instructed sternly.

"Goodnight, girls," Veronica added quietly.

"Goodnight!" Sasha and I chorused.

The door clicked shut, and the heavy sound of their footsteps retreated down the gravel path. We waited in complete, motionless silence for fifteen agonizing minutes, watching the digital clock on my phone tick from 10:05 to 10:20 PM.

"Clear," Sasha whispered, throwing off her covers.

We grabbed the bag of sweets, slipped into black hoodies over our shorts, and quietly unlocked the door. The night air was cool and crisp, the camp bathed in the dim silver light of the moon. We crept along the tree line, ducking behind the wooden washhouse whenever distant flashlight beams swept across the main path, until we reached Cabin 2A ,Kaito's dorm.

I gave three soft, rhythmic taps on the lower wooden panel.

The door pulled open instantly. Kaito stood there in a dark t-shirt and grey sweatpants, a mischievous, thrilling grin breaking across his face as he pulled us inside and locked the door behind us.

"You made it," Kaito whispered, taking the tote bag of snacks from my hands. "Welcome to the underground."

The cabin was dimly lit by warm fairy lights strung along the bunk beds. Sitting on the floor in a massive circle on throw pillows and blankets were Zdravko, Katya, Leo, Diego, and Luis. A small speaker in the corner was playing low R&B beats, low enough not to carry through the thick pine walls.

Zdravko was leaning against the bottom frame of a bunk bed, wearing a dark sleeveless tee that showed off his cut, muscular arms. The moment I walked in, his dark eyes locked onto me, tracking every step I took as I crossed the room.

"Alright, sit, sit!" Katya whispered loudly, patting the rug.

Sasha and I slid into the circle. Naturally, I dropped down in the tight space right between Kaito and Zdravko. Kaito's knee brushed against mine on the left, while Zdravko's broad, warm shoulder pressed firmly against my right side.

"Rules of the game," Diego said, sitting cross legged with an empty glass soda bottle in his hands. "No backing out, no wimping out. You take a truth, you answer honestly. You take a dare, you do it or you drink a shot of hot sauce from the mess hall."

"Fair," Luis grinned. "Spin it!"

Diego spun the glass bottle on the smooth wooden floorboards. It whirled rapidly before slowing down, pointing its neck directly at Katya.

"Katya!" Diego smirked. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth, obviously. It's round one," Katya laughed.

"Weak!" Leo called out. "Okay, truth: who in this camp do you think is the worst dresser?"

"Easy. Marco," Katya wheezed, making the whole room dissolve into hushed, stifled laughter. "Those cargo shorts are a crime against humanity."

Katya took the bottle and spun it hard. It whirled around and landed straight on Kaito.

"Kaito!" Katya grinned wickedly. "Truth or dare?"

Kaito leaned back on one hand, throwing a confident glance my way. "Dare. I don't do boring truths."

"I dare you," Katya said, leaning forward, "to whisper the filthiest thing you can think of into the ear of the prettiest girl in this room."

A chorus of quiet "Oooooohs!"rippled through the circle.

Kaito didn't hesitate. He turned his body toward me, sliding an arm behind my waist, pulling me an inch closer. He leaned down, his lips brushing against the shell of my ear, his hot breath sending a shiver straight down my neck.

"If we weren't in a cabin with six other people," Kaito murmured, his voice dropping into a raspy, sinful whisper, "I'd have you pressed against that door right now, model."

My heart did a sharp, violent thud against my ribs. I pulled back slightly, locking eyes with him, keeping my flirty composure with a sharp, wicked smile. "Is that the best you've got, Kaito?" I then looked at him up and down biting my lips slowly. "It was good, though not very impressive"

Next to us, Zdravko's jaw clenched tightly, his dark eyes burning into Kaito's arm still resting behind my back.

Kaito spun the bottle next. It whirled twice and pointed right at me.

"Danya," Kaito smirked, his brown eyes sparkling with victory. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," I said smoothly, tossing my blonde hair over my shoulder. "I'm not a coward."

"Alright," Kaito's smirk widened. "I dare you to sit on Zdravko's lap for the next three rounds of the game."

The room went dead silent for half a second before Diego and Luis let out hushed, frantic cheers. Sasha covered her mouth, her eyes wide with absolute excitement.

I turned my head to look at Zdravko. He hadn't moved a muscle, but his dark eyes were heavy, intense, and completely open. He uncrossed his broad arms and tapped his thigh once.

"Come here, Danya," Zdravko murmured, his deep voice sending a jolt through the room.

I swung my legs over and slid straight onto Zdravko's lap, straddling his thigh. His large, warm hands immediately caught my waist to steady me, his grip firm, possessive, and heavy. The sheer heat radiating off his muscular chest pressed against my back was overwhelming.

"Comfortable?" Zdravko whispered near my ear, his thumb tracing a slow circle against the skin exposed by my crop top.

"Extremely," I whispered back, leaning my head against his chest.

I grabbed the bottle and spun it hard across the rug. It spun around and stopped, pointing directly at Luis.

"Luis!" I called out, turning my head slightly on Zdravko's shoulder. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare!" Luis grinned.

"I dare you to let Katya do a blindfolded makeup routine on you using whatever Sasha has in her bag," I ordered.

The next fifteen minutes were pure, chaotic comedy. Katya tied a dark bandana over her eyes and smeared bright pink lip gloss and dark eyeliner all over Luis's face while he tried not to scream in laughter, Diego recording the entire disaster on his phone.

When round three finished, I stayed right where I was on Zdravko's lap. Nobody complained, and Zdravko certainly didn't let me go, his hand remaining locked firmly against my hip.

The bottle spun again, landing directly on Zdravko.

"Zdrav!" Diego grinned, leaning in. "Truth or dare?"

"Dare," Zdravko said, his deep voice grounded and steady.

"Oh, man," Diego rubbed his hands together. "I dare you to give Danya a kiss... but not on her lips. Pick anywhere else, and make it last ten seconds."

The air in the cabin turned thick and electric. Sasha leaned forward, holding her breath. Kaito watched intently, his eyes fixed on us, his smirk fading into sharp curiosity.

Zdravko didn't hesitate. He shifted me slightly on his lap so my body was turned completely toward him. His large hand slid up the back of my neck, his fingers tangling into my blonde hair, gently pulling my head back to expose the long curve of my throat.

He leaned down. His lips pressed softly right against the warm spot just below my jawline.

One... two... three...

My eyes fluttered shut. His lips were hot, firm, and agonizingly slow, moving down toward my collarbone.

Four... five... six...

I let out a tiny, breathless gasp, my hands gripping his broad shoulders tightly as a wave of goosebumps broke out across my entire body.

Seven... eight... nine... ten.

Zdravko slowly pulled back, his lips brushing against my cheek before his dark eyes met mine. He was breathing slightly heavier, his dark gaze piercing right into my soul. The entire room was dead quiet, everyone captivated by the sheer, unfiltered heat between us.

"Time's up," Kaito's voice broke the silence, his tone sharp, though he forced a light chuckle to cover it. "Game's moving."

The game continued for another thirty minutes with dares getting wilder—Diego had to do twenty push-ups with Katya sitting on his back, Sasha had to confess her most embarrassing middle school crush, and Luis had to wear his hoodie backward for the rest of the night.

By 11:30 PM, the energy started to wind down. The risk of Marco doing an unexpected late-night walk became too high.

"Alright, guys, we need to head back before we get caught," Katya whispered, standing up and stretching.

"Yeah, morning run is going to kill us if we stay up any longer," Diego agreed, checking his phone.

One by one, Katya, Leo, Diego, and Luis slipped out the cabin door, disappearing quietly into the dark pine shadows.

When the door clicked shut, only four of us remained in the softly lit room: Kaito, Zdravko, Sasha, and me. I had finally shifted off Zdravko's lap, sitting between the two boys on the blanket.

Sasha stood up, smoothing down her shorts, throwing me a fast, meaningful look.

"Well," Sasha said loudly, stretching her arms over her head. "I am exhausted. I'm going to head back to Cabin 4B and go to sleep. Danya... don't stay too long."

"I won't," I nodded.

Sasha slipped out the door, locking it behind her, leaving an intense, heavy silence in the room.

Kaito sat cross-legged on the floor, resting his elbows on his knees, his brown eyes flicking between me and Zdravko. Zdravko leaned back against the bunk bed, his dark eyes steady, watchful, and focused entirely on me.

"Alright, model," Kaito murmured, breaking the quiet with a soft, curious smirk. "Sasha gave you a look before she left. What's going on? I think you got something to tell us huh?"

I took a deep breath, looking back and forth between the two of them, Kaito with his dangerous, magnetic charm, and Zdravko with his quiet, overwhelming intensity.

"We need to talk," I said, my voice calm, confident, and sharp. "About what's happening between the three of us."

Zdravko tilted his head slightly, his deep voice rumbling. "What about it?"

"Marco and Elena are watching everyone like hawks," I began, leaning forward, resting my hands on my knees. "The no-dating rule isn't a joke. If anyone catches wind that something is happening whether it's me kissing Zdravko in the ocean last night, or Kaito whispering in my ear during a party ,we are all getting put on a bus home before the weekend."

Kaito's eyes widened slightly at the mention of the ocean kiss, throwing a fast glance at Zdravko, who didn't deny it, just keeping his gaze fixed on me.

"So," I continued, holding both their gazes. "Here is the plan. We play a cover-up game."

"A cover-up game?" Kaito asked, raising an eyebrow, a spark of genuine interest lighting up his features.

"Yes," I explained, looking between the two of them. "Publicly, in front of the camp, the counselors, and Veronica, both of you start flirting with me out in the open. Loudly, boldly, and constantly. We make it look like this ridiculous, chaotic free-for-all where everyone is guessing and nobody can figure out who I'm actually interested in. That way, it just looks like loud camp drama, and nobody,especially Elena , will ever suspect anything real or quiet is happening behind closed doors with either of you."

Kaito let out a low, delighted laugh, shaking his head as a brilliant grin spread across his face. "So we just throw total chaos in Marco's face until his brain short-circuits?"

"Exactly," I smirked. "You confuse the whole camp in broad daylight. And in private? Away from the counselors, during late nights or quiet moments... we keep our dynamic. The three of us. No jealousy, no stupid fights, no getting caught."

Zdravko listened silently, taking in every word. He shifted forward, resting his broad forearms on his knees, his dark eyes searching mine with intense curiosity. "And you think you can handle having both of us playing with you in front of everyone, Danya?"

"I know I can," I said softly, stepping closer into their space, looking between them. "The question is... can you two handle sharing the spotlight? Or are you too scared of the rules?"

Kaito looked over at Zdravko, a competitive, thrilling smirk spreading across his face. "A dual-flirting cover operation right under Marco's nose? Danya, that is evil. I love it. I'm in."

Zdravko stayed quiet for two long seconds, his heavy gaze resting on my face, before the corner of his mouth twitched into a faint, dark smile. He reached out, his large hand gently catching my chin, holding my gaze.

"If this keeps you from getting sent home," Zdravko murmured, his deep voice vibrating right against my chest, "I'm in."

I looked between the Japanese-Czech basketball player with the wicked smirk and the Slovak boxer with the lethal gaze, a confident, unstoppable smile breaking across my face.

"Then let the game begin," I whispered getting up.

Kaito pushed himself off the floor with a fluid, athletic grace, taking three quick strides across the room until his back was firmly blocking the wooden cabin door.

I stopped in my tracks, raising an eyebrow at him, a amused smile playing on my lips. "Kaito? Planning on holding me hostage?"

"Not hostage," Kaito murmured, his dark brown eyes sparkling with a mix of mischief and genuine heat. He leaned back against the wood, crossing his arms over his chest, tilting his head down at me. "Just collecting my down payment on this little deal of ours."

"Your down payment?" I asked, stepping right into his personal space, tilting my chin up.

"Zdravko got a kiss in the ocean last night," Kaito purred, his voice dropping an octave as his hands moved from his chest to gently clasp my waist, pulling me flush against his body. "And then he got to press his lips against your neck for ten seconds straight during Truth or Dare. I'm a fair guy, Danya, but I don't like being behind on the scoreboard."

Before I could fire back a sarcastic reply, Kaito's grip shifted. In one smooth, swift motion, he turned us around, pressing my back flat against the cool wood of the cabin door. His tall frame towered over mine, his hands coming up to rest on the door frame right beside my head, trapping me completely in his warmth.

"Just so I feel equal," Kaito whispered against my lips, his hot breath brushing my skin.

He didn't wait. He leaned down and captured my mouth in a deep, electric kiss. Unlike Zdravko's slow, intense heat, Kaito's kiss was bold, urgent, and possessive and I liked it, his tongue teasing past my lips, his fingers tangling into my hair, pulling me closer until there wasn't a single inch of space left between us. My hands instinctively slid up his chest, gripping the fabric of his dark shirt as my head swam from the sudden rush.

A heavy, quiet throat-clearing broke the air behind us.

"Alright, Kaito," Zdravko's deep, raspy rumble echoed from across the room. "That's enough."

Kaito slowly pulled back, his lips lingering against mine for one last breathless second before he met my eyes. He was breathing heavily, his smirk wider and more victorious than ever.

Over his shoulder, I looked at Zdravko. He was still sitting on the blanket, resting his broad forearms on his knees, watching us with a heavy, unblinking gaze, though the subtle twitch at the corner of his mouth gave him away.

Kaito let out a low, breathless chuckle, stepping aside and unlocking the door latch behind him.

"Now the score's even," Kaito winked, throwing a teasing glance back at Zdravko.

I shook my head, letting out a quiet chuckle as I smoothed down my top, my lips still tingling from Kaito's kiss.

"You two are unbelievable," I whispered, throwing one last flirty glance between my options.

I slipped out the door into the cool Tuscan night, closing it quietly behind me, ready for the absolute chaos tomorrow would bring.