“Anyway, about mountain climbing… come on, Sam, join me! I won’t be a burden, I promise, even if it’s my first time I’ve tried.”
“David…” I sighed. I still seemed to find it so hard to agree, but then eventually I nodded. “Fine, but make sure your girlfriend won’t pull all my hair out after it!” I jokingly warned him.
“She won’t!” he assured me, grinning.
We continued to walk along the shore and across the white sand until we agreed to go back as I felt slightly hungry. We had breakfast on the way here early this morning, but it felt like my intestines had digested them so quickly as revenge for nearly two hours of walking on the beach.
I could feel the sweat dripping down my back and the sticky feeling all over my skin. And as usual, we were welcomed once again with mischievous gazes and grins from my brother and my so-called best friend who hadn’t left the cottage since earlier.
“You’re sweating! Is it hot outside?” Jack’s first question when she saw me drying my sweats with the towel I had taken from my room.
They were in the kitchen and she was preparing some snacks when we came back.
“Oops! My bad, I’m sorry for asking the obvious,” she chuckled. “Oh, anyway, I know you’ll be hungry when you get back so, I prepared some snacks here especially for you because I want you to enjoy the moment and be happy,” she winked as she handed me the plate along with the utensils.
I almost puked not only from her expression but especially what she said.
“What the heck—” I murmured as I watched her pour the orange juice into my glass, but when I couldn’t hold it back… “Are you insane? What are you blabbering about?”
“Nah! I’m just saying you must enjoy the moment and —”
“Argh! Jeez! Have you already had breakfast this morning because you seem hungrier than me?” I cut her off, but she responded with a chuckle.
“Haha… you have to eat, girl, because trust me, you’ll need it,”
“What do you mean I’ll need it?” I asked… I started to get confused as to what she meant by that.
“You will need it because we will have some exhausting activities later that will definitely drain you not just physically but emotionally.”
“Tss! Such as?” I rolled my eyes.
“Such as… swimming, running and some other activities people usually do when they are at the beach!”
I stared at her in disbelief, asking her in silence the word… ‘really?’ I stared at her for I don’t know how long until David came to my view and put a slice of mango pie on my plate. He has that confusing grin even when he poured the juice into my glass. Confusing because he didn’t butt in or even say a word in that conversation.
Jack had so many confusing words and expressions that morning I couldn’t understand, but I chose to ignore them.
I had my snacks with David sitting across my seat while Jack watching how we ate. Dale was busy on his phone typing something I don’t know not paying attention to what was going on around him.
When everyone was getting ready to go into the water for a swim, I had the chance to corner Jack before she could get out of the living room.
“What were you talking about this morning while we were in the kitchen? What do you mean I have to eat because I might need it physically and emotionally?”
“Huh? What was I talking about — I don’t know what you mean,” she shrugged, pretending to know nothing.
“Fine, keep on pretending,” I folded my arms in front of my chest. I also started to put on a false front of being mad so I could get the truth out of her.
“But it’s true —”
“Do you want me to cut your tongue or do you want me to go home and leave you guys here?” I paused to see her reaction and when I slowly got the one that I wanted… “Jackeline, you know I’m not in a mood for this childish act! I already talked to you about it — he’s in a relationship and I’m not stupid to make the same mistake! You are my best friend and you should be the one who knows and understands those things, whether they are good for me or not!”
And for the act to succeed, I pretended to turn around and walk away.
And tada …!
I was just taking my second step when she called my name and grabbed my wrist at the same time.
“Sam …”
I slowly turned to look at her.
“I didn’t mean anything by what I said earlier. I just want you to be happy while we’re staying here, that’s it!”
I didn’t say anything, I just stared at her.
“Sam… ”
“Just because you want me to be happy, you keep pushing me to the man who’s already in a relationship!” I exclaimed, still in a serious mood.
“Because, like you, I know he still has feelings for you.”
“But you know he already had Tanya!” I celebrated for a while after hearing what she said but then I remembered that it was wrong.
“He doesn’t love her,”
“How can you say something like that?” My voice came out a bit loud as I was surprised by what she replied.
“I know he doesn’t love her because if he does, why did he agree to join us here in the first place knowing he already had someone waiting for him? And not to mention, he chose to be with us — I mean, with you who is his ex-girlfriend!”
“I also have the same questions, Jack, but it’s none of our business! It is his life, his personal matters, so you better stay out of it.”
“Are you just going to watch him like that?”
“What?”
“Are you just going to watch him walk away again? Aren’t you going to tell him what you feel?”
“I have no right to feel this way!”
“Nope! They’re not married yet and believe me, David still has feelings for you — he’s still in love with you.”
“Jack —”
“And if I were you, I would grab this opportunity to get him under my pants —”
“Jesus Christ, Jackeline!” I cut her off, my eyes widening in shock and awkwardness at the same time.
“Why not? Like I told you, he’s not married yet —”
“Shut up!” She didn’t get to continue what she was saying as I immediately covered her mouth with my palm. “Don’t you dare say a word or even open your mouth to him about this!” I warned her, slowly taking my hand back.
“Hmm… I’ll try,” she shrugged and quickly ran out of the living room and out of the cottage.
“Jackeline!” I screamed as I was left in my spot.
“Come on, the weather is cooperating with your feelings, it’s nice to go swimming!”
“Jackeline!” All I could do was to whisper-yelled her name in the air as she had already gone out of my sight.