Day 1: SBI/TR

Prompt: Beach

It wasn't supposed to end this way.

With the sound of the waves crashing, and the sand warm beneath her feet, it was the setting of a tropical paradise. As she gazed over the water at the setting sun, watching the sky's reflection shift from blue to orange to red, she pondered her imminent death.

She was too young to die. Only 21 years old, and barely an adult, and just starting her bright career as an esports player. She still had many goals to accomplish, like completing her 1 v. 3 and beating Ye Xiu. Her father and Guoguo would be devastated.

It occurred to her that she would die alone. Guoguo had gone off to get drinks, Mumu had gone gift shopping with Mo Fan, and Ye Xiu and the rest of the boys were indoors playing on the computer. And her? She was still on the beach, choking on a piece of goddamn watermelon.

She wheezed trying to get in any air, and she could feel herself getting dizzier by the second. Her weak pounds on her chest and stomach did nothing to dislodge the fruit from her throat. Giving up was not something that Tang Rou was good at, so even as she looked to the water to memorize one last beautiful sight, she continued to weakly thump at her chest with one hand and grasp at her neck with the other.

Something splashed at the water. At first she thought it was a dolphin, until she realized that it had blond hair. Had Baozi been swimming for all this time?

"XIAO TANG! ARE YOU CHOKING?!"

He rushed over to her side, and as her vision turned spotty, it was all she could do to move her hands to her throat in the universal choking sign.

"HANG ON!"

He bent her over so that she was facing the ground, and swiftly brought the heel of his palm to her back a few times. When that failed to work, he reached around her to make a fist at her belly button and covered it with his other hand. With a fluid movement, he squeezed in and up. Tang Rou coughed and the watermelon cube flew out of her mouth.

She sputtered and coughed for a few moments, desperately trying to suck in oxygen while Baozi collapsed exhausted onto the sand.

When they had both calmed down substantially, Tang Rou turned to the blond player. "Baozi," she said, still a little breathlessly. "Thank you for saving me."

He rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. "Hehe, I'm just glad you're okay."

"No," she said seriously, "Thank you." She bent down where he was still sitting on the sand, and brushed away some blond bangs before kissing the top of his forehead. "Really."

She rubbed her throat and laughed hoarsely. "I am never eating watermelon ever again."

Tang Rou began to leave to go process her near-death experience and Baozi, still sitting on the ground, absent-mindedly touched his forehead where she had kissed it.

As she left, she didn't notice that his face was as red as the setting sun.

EDIT: Resources for if you or someone is choking: (delete the _ )
www._wikihow_.com_/Perform-the-Heimlich-Maneuver
www._healthline_.com_/health/heimlich-maneuver#steps

Note: It is possible for you to perform the Heimlich on yourself! Don't be overdramatic like Xiao Tang and if you can help yourself, quickly do so!