“Whoa! You guys came together! I can’t believe it!”
“Tss!” I huffed, shooting a death glare at both my best friend and my brother a death glare the moment David and I entered the cottage. “Drop the act, Jack, will you?”” I rolled my eyes.
“Hey! You came with a handsome doctor next to you so, why do you have that long face?” She asked, pretending to be oblivious of what was going on.
“Come on, Jackeline Augustine, don’t pretend to be surprised because I know you’re not — you and your boyfriend are not! As if I didn’t know you planned all this!”
“Huh! Planned what— what are you talking about?” I wanted to smack that fake shocked reaction on her face especially when she placed her hand over her chest, but God—- she’s my best friend!
“What are you talking about— my foot! You left me! You and Dale planned all this! You didn’t wake me up earlier so you could go alone together! You knew I had flat tires and I don’t know how to fix them and yet you still left me!”
“Ohh… we left you a note, didn’t we?” Dale asked, trying to suppress his grin but he couldn’t.
“You did —”
“And we called David to come and pick you up,” I was stopped when Jack mentioned David.
“Ahh… so you really planned all this to make David come, pick me and for us to come here together?”
“Yes, that way you save money on gas too,” Jack replied with a shrug.
“Jesus Christ! Save money on gas— seriously?” My eyes went wide that they almost jumped out of their sockets.
“Uhuh!” Dale nodded. “And besides, don’t you think it would be awkward if there were three of us inside the car?”
“What the heck — why is it going to be awkward? It’s as if you’re going to have sex inside the car!”
“Yes!” Jack exclaimed and I suddenly felt horrified. “How can we do the things we want to do if we have an audience? How can we make out, make love and —”
“Oh, God — enough!” I screamed at the top of my lungs to stop Jack from continuing her sentence. “Jeez! You should have told me you didn’t want an audience that’s all! Gross!”
“Come on, Sam, it’s as if you never did those things, duh!”
“Yes, we did! We kissed, we even made out, but we never had sex in his car, duh!” I blurted out. “Did we?” And then suddenly glanced in David direction who seemed shocked by what I said, but then gave me a naughty smile afterward which got me confused.
At that moment, I still didn’t realize what I said until I looked at Jack and Dale who wore the same expression as David.
“Why? Why are you looking at me like that?”
They didn’t say a word, but that was enough for me to realize what I did.
-‘Jeez! A fish wouldn’t get caught if he kept his mouth shut!’- I hitched my breath for a few seconds as I waited for what they were about to say.
“Well, well, well… so you did the same thing too!” It was Jack who couldn’t hide her grin as she clapped her hands.
“Oh… I – I was just —” I wanted to explain but I was interrupted.
“It’s okay, sis, you don’t have to explain, we understand,” And just like his girlfriend, Dale teased me with a wink.
-‘Damn this mouth!’- I mentally slapped my mouth and cursed myself for suddenly remembering that memory David and I had some years ago.
I bit my lower lip, trying my best not to look David in the eye as I felt so awkward and embarrassed at the same time. At that moment, I even felt my face suddenly turning into a thousand shades of tomato. But even so, I still need to put my face up and pretend it didn’t affect me at all.
“Why, what’s wrong if I suddenly remembered those moments?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nah! Nothing is wrong with that! Who said remembering such a happy moment like that is wrong?”
“Yeah, who said it was wrong to remember those things?” I finally heard David’s voice and I slowly turned to look at him. “I’m glad you still remember,”
My mouth hung open when he winked at me.
-‘Why does he seem happy?’-
“I – I think I’m going to change my clothes and see the view outside after, excuse me,” The only explanation I mustered in my mind just to run away from the embarrassment that was slowly creeping into my bones.
I grabbed my luggage and immediately looked for the available room in the cottage.
“Hey, are you not going to have breakfast first before hanging out in your room?”
I closed my eyes as soon as Jack asked. I know she was teasing me by emphasizing the words hanging out.
“No, thanks, you can have it all! We already got something to eat on the way here.” I replied still looking for my room.
“You’ve already eaten —”
“Which room is mine here?” I cut her off on purpose because I know she would just take the piss out of it again.
“The second room to your right,”
“Okay, I got it, thanks!” I almost jumped to the room she mentioned and quickly pushed the door to open as I really wanted to hide my face from them.
“Whew!” I breathed a sigh of relief as soon as I closed the door behind me. “Why can’t just those memories stay in the past? Why do I have to remember them? Haist!”
I started to unpack my things and pick up the best outfit for going around the beach later.
~~~~~`~~~~~`~~~~~`~~~~~
“Hmm… I guess I made the right decision on coming here.” I blurted out in awe as I walked along the beach, playing with the fine, white sand on my feet.
It’s been a while since I last took a vacation and went to the beach. I honestly don’t even remember when that was. Well, maybe because I was too busy taking care of my daughter and preparing myself to see David again which I ended up being broken on the first day of our meeting even though everything hasn’t started yet.
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re going out after unpacking your things?”
“Jesus Christ, David!” I screamed in shock when suddenly David appeared in front of me out of nowhere. I was still holding my chest when I looked straight at him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” He apologized, flashing me a boyish grin.
“That was the same line you gave me yesterday at the supermarket.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, and I wonder… is this your new habit?” I asked, making him confused and looked at me puzzled.
“What habit? What do you mean?”
“Is this your new habit — to always startle me every time you see me?”
“Oh…” He said with a chuckle. Even he was surprised when he realized what I meant. “I’m sorry, but believe me, I didn’t mean to do it,”
“Okay, fine… but why do you always have to talk behind me when you can call my name and talk in front of me?” I kept asking but the only response I got was a hearty laugh.
I continued walking and playing the white sand with my feet while he walked next to me along the beach.
“Do you mind if I ask you something?” I asked again after a few minutes of walking with him in silence.
“Nope, go on,” The smile he gave me meant he was serious with what he replied.
I secretly took a deep breath before opening my mouth again.
“I’ve just noticed that you don’t seem to be going to work much lately, I mean, it’s just surprising because now you have more time for things like this … you know, going to parties and taking a leave for a vacation like this which I remember being the opposite of your mindset a few years ago.”