A/N: Before I start the chapter I just want to say sorry for the lack of updates. My life has been ridiculously crazy these past few months and I cannot even begin to find the time for myself let alone find time to write. I hope you understand. Anyways, on to the chapter…

The smell of the ocean filled your nostrils as you stepped out of the car. You had no idea where you were, but it didn't matter. The beach was empty and before you could take a step closer to the beach suddenly Bobby went sprinting on to the sand with a loud whoop. You stood by the car in shock until Bobby's manager laughed. "You two have fun," he said warmly to you. "Bobby has my number. Call me when you're done." He smiled as he got back in the car and you bowed as he pulled out of the small shoulder of the road. 

You zipped your jacket up a little more and shoved your hands deeper into your pockets before slowly making your way towards Bobby. He had reached the edge of the water and was squatting just above where the water the sand. When you reached his side you crouched down next to him and glanced over at him. He had his eyes fixed on a point in the ground and his eyes formed half-moons as he smiled to himself without looking at you. Your eyes traveled down to the spot where he was looking. There nestled in the sand was a small, smooth seashell that shone iridescently in the winter sun. He reached down and dislodged it from the damp sand. He brushed off the sand with his fingers and held it in the palm of his hand. "Pretty, isn't it?" he murmured. He took your hand in his and let the shell slide into your palm. The shell was worn smooth by the waves and it was warmed from Bobby’s hand. It blinked and flashed its small light at you and you smiled.

“Yeah, it’s beautiful,” you replied. Bobby smiled at you and it seemed to warm your face like his smile alone let off heat. You slid the shell back into Bobby’s waiting hand and he shoved both his hands back into his jacket pockets.

“Come on,” he said softly as he offered you his hand. You took it and he pulled you to your feet. As you were about to pull away your hand, Bobby gripped it tighter and put it into his jacket pocket with his fingers still wrapped around yours. After the initial shock wore off, you could feel your cheeks warm at the small gesture. Bobby’s hand was warm and that warmth seemed to travel down your arm to keep your entire body warm. Bobby didn’t look down at you but you could see a small smile toying at his lips from his profile. “I always told myself I would come here with my girlfriend,” he murmured almost quiet enough to think he was talking to himself. “The ocean is beautiful. We would come here and walk along the beach until the sun began to set, and just as it sunk behind the horizon there would be a moment where I would know I would be with her forever,”

You were surprised at Bobby’s sudden bold confession from within him, and yet you couldn’t help but feel pleased that he had chosen to bring you here with him on his birthday. “I know you’re not allowed to date,” you began, “but don’t you get lonely?” you asked. “Of course you have your members and everything, but don’t you want to look for someone to spend the rest of your life with while you’re young? You won’t be with iKon until you die.”

Bobby smiled a small, little, sad smile as he stopped and faced out towards the open ocean. "I know I won't be with iKon forever, but it is a nice thought. But to answer your question with another question, who doesn't want someone to share their lives with? Sharing your life with someone is as close as you'll get to not being alone. We're all alone because we can't change the fact that we're our own person, but I don't want that to be me forever. You know?" 

You looked over at Bobby and this time he met your gaze. "Yeah," you murmured. "I know." With Bobby there, you sometimes couldn't tell if you felt less or more alone than you ever had in your life. After that the two of you just ran around the beach, wrote in the sand, took pictures, and inspected tide pools until the sun began to sink behind the horizon. 

You and Bobby sat on a bench just above the sand and watched the sun slowly disappear. The silence between you wwas comfortable and warm despite the cold weather. Neither of you said anything and nothing was needed. Just being together was enough. And yet, you couldn't help but have that usually feeling of doubt you often had when you were with Bobby. Was this friends thing going to work out? And if so, would the two of you be able to handle the repercussions? When would you see him again? The sun dipped behind the horizon and you shivered at the sudden lack of heat. 

Bobby looked down at you in concern and pulled out his phone to call his manager. Before you knew it you were in the car home, in the doorway off your apartment complex, hugging Bobby goodbye, thanking him for the day, and watching his van drive off. 

You went straight up to your aparrtment and fell face down into bed. Your tears were salty like the ocean andd that made you even more unsure of what to do.