I gasped at that. How did he know? Is he hiding something from me? I didn’t reply.
“Yes,” I answered honestly because it really bothered me. I bit my lip. “She asked me if it would be okay for me if you court her someday.”
Phoenix nodded at that, pursing his lips, “And? What was your answer?”
I shrugged, “I don’t know. I told her it was up to you.”
“I see.” He heaved a sigh and I felt his hands reaching to stroke my hair. “Sereia, Maria is just my childhood friend.”
I gritted my teeth and pushed his hands away from me. “Oh, you don’t need to explain to me. I’m not your girlfriend or anything. It’s normal. She’s a girl, and you’re a boy. And both of you are available.”
I don’t know why but I feel betrayed and disappointed. He got me with his looks and his constant teasing. And I’m really affected by this.
“I’m sorry, I’ll do something about this soon. I’ll tell her that I don’t like her.” He said, trying to reason out to me.
I faced him, “You don’t know that he likes you, do you?”
He fell silent and drew his breath.
“I knew it. She’s been giving me signs and I’m not stupid.” He blurted out.
“Oh, really? But if you don’t like her back, why do you still keep on hanging out with her?”
“Because I don’t want to destroy our friendship.” He said.
I look at him in disbelief? “She’s hoping for you to make a move, Phoenix.”
Now that I know his side, I suddenly felt pity towards Maria. I know exactly that feeling of hoping for someone to love you back.
His jaw tightened. “And I’m not planning on making a move on her. She’s a friend, and she’ll only stay that way. I guess I have to make myself clear to her soon.” He said firmly, then raised his eyebrows at me, “Why are you angry by the way? Are you jealous?”
I shook my head, “No, why would I be?”
“Awe, admit it, you were jealous.” He said, poking my cheeks and I rolled my eyes at him.
“Don’t worry, princess. I only want you.” He said, winking at me. “Plus, I already told you that I’ll change your heart right?”
I snorted at that, ” Stop fooling around Phoenix.”
“I’m not fooling around, Sereia. I’m serious.” He said. “I’m serious to you.”
“Yeah, sure you are.” I dismissed him, but he held my hand.
“What should I do to make you believe that I’m not messing around?”
I shrugged. “Nothing. You don’t have to prove it to me because you’re only messing with me.”
He sighed disappointedly and just walked away.
I mean, I’m right, aren’t I? He’s really not serious. I shouldn’t be swayed by his words. I’m only here to convince him to change his mind, and he said he’ll change my heart. I don’t even know what will happen now.
Just then, he turned around and grabbed my chin to kiss me. “Will this be enough?”
I pushed him away, wiping my lips, “You have to prove harder than that, Phoenix.”
*****
The next day, Lola Nanding appeared at my door with a worried look on her face.
“What’s wrong, Lola Nanding?” I asked.
She released a nervous smile as her smile faltered. “Maria came and demanded to see you.”
I furrowed my eyebrows at that, “Why?”
She shook her head, “I advise you not to go and talk to her now. I’ll just say that you’re asleep.”
Wait, what is Maria doing here now and why does Lola Nanding act weird?
Is this something related to Phoenix?
I stood up and faced Lola Nanding. “No, if she needs to see me then I’ll ask her.”
She sighed and nodded her head.
Descending the stairs, I headed to the door where I saw Maria standing, glaring at something.
She looked angry as I could practically see steam coming out from her head.
I feel annoyed seeing her for some reason.
“Hello, Maria. What brings you here early in the morning?” I asked calmly.
Hearing me, she faced me. Her look suddenly changed and she sent me a raised eyebrow, almost testing me.
“What did you tell Phoenix?”
I raised my eyebrows at her, “What?”
She sighed, now standing up and meeting me in the eye.
“Phoenix just suddenly dropped me as a friend and told me you and he are in a relationship. You did something for him to refuse me, right?” She asked, crossing her arms in front of her.
“I didn’t,” I said, lying.
She gnawed her teeth irritatedly and scoffed at me. “I know you and him are still not a thing and you made him avoid me.” Advancing towards me, her hands landed on my hair and she gripped it tightly and dragged my hair.
It all happened so suddenly that I was surprised at first and when I regained composure, I clenched my teeth and fought back. I also grabbed her hair and pulled it hard, making her yelp in pain.
She came here to fight. Well then, I’ll fight back.
She muttered a curse and pulled my hair harder and I groaned in pain. Lola Nanding seemed to hear the commotion as she scurried over hurriedly and yelled in horror at the sight.
“Sereia! Maria! Stop fighting!” I heard her yelling but we didn’t stop.
“You stole Phoenix from me, you slut!” She screamed at me, still pulling my hair.
“No one stole anything from you. He was never yours, to begin with!” I yelled.
Damn, I can’t believe I am fighting over a boy.
I hated Maria but I never expected a catfight to happen.
She inhaled deeply and stopped when suddenly, I felt her cold hands meeting my face, slapping me.
I gasped in shock.
Oh, really. It’s on now. I don’t back down.
I was about to slap her face to get revenge when strong hands stopped me.
“What’s going on here?” I heard Phoenix’s voice booming from beside me.
He stared at the both of us, who looked like a mess with our hair all tangled up. Maria’s hands were removed from me and she cleared her throat, breathing heavily. I threw daggers on her way, now out of breath.
Phoenix raised his eyebrows when the both of us didn’t respond to his question. “What is this mess? Explain to me.”
I scoffed and dared to stare at him, “Your childhood friend came here to look for a fight so I gave her one.”
Maria looked at me pointedly and gave Phoenix a small smile. “No, she’s lying, Phoenix. She hurt me.”
This lying bitch. Making me the bad guy now?
I scowled at her. Really, what is this bitch made of? It has been a while since I met a girl like her. It’s really frustratingly irritating.
Phoenix sighed and looked at us disappointedly.
“I’m so disappointed in both of you.” He said and looked at Maria with a frown. “Especially you Maria. Lola Nanding told me what happened. You came here to pick a fight with my girl.” He stated and continued.
“I treated you as a friend. My sister. What’s wrong with you? Aren’t you forgetting what I just told you?”
Maria released a dark chuckle at that, “Really. Are you really choosing this girl over me after our friendship?”
“Yes,” Phoenix answered without thinking of it. That made me smile and smirk at Maria in victory. She just glared at me.
“You have a strange taste in women, Phoenix. I watched you find women all over the world for all these years. You could have had me.” She said hopelessly.
Tsk, is she seeing herself right now? She’s almost begging him to choose her. What a pity.
“I don’t want you,” Phoenix answered.
That made Maria shut up.
Lola Nanding came over and hugged me.
“Are you okay, my dear?” She asked, caressing my hair.
I sent her a weak smile, “I’m good, Lola Nanding.”
She bit her lip and sighed, “I should have let her meet you.”
“It’s fine. Things happen. It’s not your fault.” I assured her.
I saw Maria approaching Phoenix but Phoenix stepped back.
“Can we talk, Phoenix?”
Phoenix shook his head, “No, there’s nothing left to talk about. This incident just made you look crazy, Maria.” He said.
Maria nodded. “I’m sorry, I just acted on impulse-”
“You don’t have to explain.” Said Phoenix, cutting her sentence off.
“Leave now. I don’t want to see your face ever again. You just caused trouble. Please leave before you lose the remaining respect I have for you.” He said, calming himself down.
Maria bit her lip and gulped. She looks like she’s on the verge of tears but she’s holding herself back.
Huffing in anger, she hissed. “Fine, you douchebag. I’ll leave. I’ll make sure not to return here if that’s what you also want”
Turning around, I smirked at Maria and we watched in silence as she walked away and closed the door shut.
Phoenix turned to me and saw me smiling.
“Thank you for saving me back there, Phoenix,” I said. “Now what does it feel like after two beautiful women fight over you?”
He sighed at my snide comment. “This is a serious matter, Sereia. Stop grinning like a fool. You’re also at fault since you fought her back when you could have talked to her calmly.” He said, looking at me pointedly.
I shrugged, ” I just did what I had to. She came here like a madman and attacked me. I don’t have time to talk to her calmly, Phoenix.”
He just pressed his lips together tightly and nodded, “Fine. But you have to compensate for it.”
I gaped in shock, “What? Why?”
“I have a business trip to go to today. And I want you to come with me.”
I raised my eyebrows at that, “And? What does that have to do with me?”
He ran his hands through his hair and rubbed his neck. “Well, it’s a little gathering so that we could strengthen our relationships…and they decided that we should have our girlfriends by our side.”
I nodded at that and urged him to go on, “Okay? And? What do you want me to do?”
He shrugged, “I don’t want to be alone. Can you pretend to be my girl for this trip?”
I thought about it for a second, weighing on my decision. “You can bring Maria with you.”
He raised his eyebrows playfully, “Awe, are you still jealous?”
“No.”
“Then prove it. If you’re not jealous, come with me on this trip.”
I glared at him. He really has a way of manipulating things in his favor. “What about Lola Nanding? Who will take care of her here?”
“I’m fine here, Sereia. I’m still strong. And my friends in the neighborhood are here.” Grandma Nanding said from behind him and Phoenix smirked at me, mouthing “you have no choice.”
I sent a look at him and he pouted, “Plus, I’ll miss you if you’re not with me.”
Biting my lip, I looked at him one last time and sighed, “Fine.”
“Perfect! Now pack your things! We’ll be there for two days.” He said excitedly. He grinned at that and threw his hands around my shoulders. “You’re the best! No wonder I like you that much.”
I just shook my head at him, feeling like I just made the wrong decision. Nevermind.
*****
When we were all packed and ready, Phoenix drove his car towards a private resort in Samal Island, where he said that one of his business partners owned it.
Since we were from Gensan, it was a six-hour drive and we arrived just in time for lunch. I was wearing my green summer dress and put on the sunglasses that Phoenix bought for me.
When we arrived, we went to Hudson’s Villa.
I paused. No way…why are we here? I muttered a curse, wanting to go home but it’s too late now.
A familiar man in a suit greeted us in the entrance and bowed at us before smiling, “Mr. Phoenix Mason Hill?”
Phoenix nodded. The man saw me and smiled, “Miss Sereia? Why are you here?”
“Oh, he knows you? Have you been here before, Sereia?” Phoenix asked, curious.
I released a shaky laugh, “Oh, I’ve been here a few times.”
He shouldn’t know it, would he? Damn. Of all the resorts, why here? So does this business partner that he was referring to was…him?
I shouldn’t have gone to this place! I shouldn’t have said yes to this trip!
I sent the man a look and the man seemed to get my signal as he left us alone.
Just then, when we entered, we saw three guys and their girlfriends beside them, chilling by the seashore and tanning themselves.
“You’re always really late, dude.” Said guy number 1 as he went to greet Phoenix first and tap his shoulder. He has shades on and a blue aloha shirt, looking like a model. He has a pretty girl by his side, looking like a model too with foreign genes.
“What can I say? We drove all the way from Gensan.” Phoenix added. He was hugged by the other three guys and was asking for his life update. I just stayed by his side awkwardly. The guys seemed to notice me and raised their eyebrows at Phoenix.
“She’s my …” He stuttered.
“Girlfriend.” I butted in, finishing his sentence for him. “I’m his girlfriend. I’m Seria by the way.”
Phoenix smiled at me, slinging his arms on my shoulder.
Seeing these handsome guys with beautiful girls beside them, I don’t want to embarrass Phoenix. The guys offered a polite smile and came to me to shake my hands. They even look happy and laugh at Phoenix.
“It’s good that Phoenix has a love life now. I’m amazed how you tamed his playboy life. Just kidding bro.” Joked the guy with the shades on and blonde hair and offered his hands for me to shake.
“I’m Dax.” He shook my hands. “You’re beautiful, by the way.”
“Thank you.” I accepted his hands and shook them.
“Wow, Phoenix here really partied hard last time so we were shocked when he disappeared in the city.” He pointed at Phoenix, shaking his head and offering his hand to me. “By the way, I’m Luke.”
I shook his hands, sensing his boy next door aura.
The other handsome man came and introduced himself. “Hey there Sereia. I’m Leroy.. The coolest, the nicest, and the most handsome in this group.” He had some piercings on and some tattoos that made him look like a bad boy type.
I smiled at all of them and examined their faces. They’re handsome, I gotta give them that.
Now that the three of them are introduced, I was about to feel relieved when the last guy came out from the beach house and approached us. His expressionless face was still the same.
I gulped. Oh no, he’s really here!
He first saw Phoenix and greeted him with a handshake. When he saw me, his eyes changed.
His eyes glued on me, “Sereia? Why are you here?”