“Aw!” I winced in pain the moment I tried to get up from the bed. My hand automatically went to my head as I also felt a slight dizziness that morning. But even though I felt like I was nauseous that I couldn’t explain, I still tried to get up and sat on the edge of the bed.
“Aw?”
“Jeez — Jackeline!” I almost jumped out of the bed as my hand automatically went up to my chest when Jack suddenly spoke to my left. “You startled me! What are you doing here?”
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. To check up on you, what else? And what is it again — Aw? Is that all you can say — aw?” She asked, eyeing me warily. She had her arms folded in front of her chest.
“Why? What’s going on?” I asked innocently and her eyes widened like saucers.
“Whoa! Shouldn’t I be the one to ask you that question — what’s going on, Sam?”
“What do you mean?” I asked her, I started to get confused too.
“Oh, wow! So, you’ve forgotten what happened last night?” I stared at her puzzled as I tried to remember what happened but that only caused the damn headache I was feeling to get worse.
“I’m sorry, I’m trying to remember what I did, but the only thing that comes into my mind is going to the bar last night and after that …” I paused and looked at her with a more confused expression. “Wait, I seem to remember talking to David at the bar last night.”
“Yeah, Dale told me that David was the one who brought you back to the cottage last night. He also said that you passed out because you were too drunk. So do you remember him and what happened last night?”
“No, the last thing I remember clearly was talking to him and Gerry, but I can’t remember what we were talking about.”
“And who is Gerry?”
“He was one of the bartenders at the bar.”
“Haist!” She sighed making me look at her with a deep frown.
“Why, what happened last night? Do you know what happened last night?”
“Haha! I don’t know, why don’t you tell me?” She gave me a shrug. “The only thing I know is that David came to your rescue.”
“Jack!”
“Hep! Again, shouldn’t I be the one asking you that question? And by the way, why did you go out without telling me? You went to the bar and you didn’t invite me? Aw! How dare you! I thought you were my best friend?”
I rolled my eyes.
“I was about to tell you and actually, I was about to call you last night before going out —”
“Then why didn’t you call me?”
“It was because I was stopped by your beloved boyfriend who happened to be my brother!”
“But you should have insisted on calling me or you should have screamed! I would have definitely heard you even if I was inside the room!”
“Oh, believe me I tried but he immediately jumped in front of me and covered my mouth!”
*
“Did he really do that?” She didn’t seem to believe it but as she looked at my face, she eventually did. “I will talk to him!” She said in which I just responded with a chuckle. “Anyway, you should get up and your breakfast is ready. Now I know why your brother was eager to prepare breakfast for you, huh!”
I wanted to laugh but my head wouldn’t give me the chance.
“You should get up now so, you can take some pain killer in the kitchen. I’m heading out now because I still have to talk to your brother.” She was about to leave but I remember about David.
“Jack, wait!” She turned around and looked at me with furrowed eyebrows. “You said David was the one who brought me back to the cottage,”
“Yeah, Dale told me. I was also asleep when you and David came and Dale was the one who helped him last night.”
“Alright, but where is he now?”
“I’m not sure but I guess he already went back to work.” She said nonchalantly.
My mouth hung open at what I heard but I closed it quickly and bit my lower lip. I have no idea what happened to us last night and what we talked about but why did I suddenly feel like I was the reason he left when we all agreed to go home together tomorrow.
Maybe Jack noticed my sudden change of mood and expression as she walked back and sat next to me much to my surprise.
*
“Sam, it’s alright,” She said taking my hand and giving me an assuring smile. “Even Dale doesn’t know why he suddenly decided to go right back to work. But we thought maybe it was because there was an emergency or something happened at his job that he was leaving in a hurry.”
“Yeah —”
“Actually, I was waiting for you to wake up because it got me really curious what happened between you and David last night. You went back asleep and Dale said he left right after tucking you to bed.”
“Did he say anything before leaving?”
“No, he didn’t mention anything and Dale didn’t ask him either.” I bit my lower lip as I felt my head starting to hurt again. “Anyway, we will go home tomorrow and you will definitely see each other again and by then, you can ask him what really happened.” She patted me on the shoulder before getting up. “But for now, you have to get up so you can have breakfast and also drink a pain killer.”
I simply nodded in response.
“Come on, we’ll wait for you in the kitchen.”
“Yeah, I will just wash my face,”
“Alright,” She said before leaving the room.
And there I was left confused and with my mind hanging in mid-air. I really wanted to know what happened but I couldn’t even remember how he got to the bar and how he knew I was there… what we talked about, how I ended up in bed and why he left all of a sudden. He didn’t even wait for me to wake up.
“Whew!” I sighed loudly. “Whatever! Why do I care if he left without telling us why he had to leave? It’s his decision and it’s not as if he owes us an explanation, duh!”
After reminding myself about my place in David’s life, I got up in bed and walked towards the bathroom to do my morning routine and headed immediately to the kitchen to have breakfast and take a pain killer to relieve my headache due to hangover.
I found my brother and Jack on the kitchen counter. Dale was hugging Jack from behind and just guessing their body language, I think he was apologizing for what he did last night… for stopping me to call her.
“I’m sorry,” I heard him say and I couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.
“Tss!” I heard Jack snort and that was when I giggled behind them as I slowly pulled out the chair and got myself seated.
I laughed even more when I glanced at Dale and caught him glaring at me. I just gave him a shrug and let him continue wooing his girlfriend. It was his fault after all.
———- ‘ ———- ‘ ———- ‘ ———- ‘ ———-
After having breakfast and taking a pill for my headache, I decided to stay in the cottage and hang out on the terrace with a breathtaking view of the white sand and crystal clear water in the distance.
Dale and Jack went for a swim and as usual since they were now okay, what else could happen next? He made me a cup of coffee before the two of them ran to the beach.
I leaned on the metal railings still wondering what happened last night and no matter how much I tried to push it out of my mind, I still couldn’t help but think about David. I was thinking, maybe I said something that offended him or did something embarrassing in front of him.
I’ve been there thinking for almost an hour but nothing comes to my mind.
“Is zoning out your new hubby?”
“Jeez!” I almost dropped the mug in my hand from the shock when Dale came out of nowhere. “What the heck, Dale?” I asked him with a growl. I also couldn’t help hitting him on his shoulder.
“Ouch! What did I do? I just asked if zoning is your new hubby, what is wrong with that?” He asked, pretending to be innocent.
“What is wrong — my foot!” I narrowed my eyes at him. “You scared the shit out of me!”
“Oops! I’m sorry,” He put his arm around my shoulders as he chuckled.
I gave him one last glare before letting his arm on my shoulders and finally looking at the beautiful scenery before our eyes.
“Why are you here? I thought you said you two were going to explore the beach?” I asked him after a few minutes of standing and watching the people running and swimming on the beach.
“Yes, but I decided to go back for a while and hang out with you.”
“Hang out with me or talk to me?” I raised an eyebrow as I gazed up at him.
“Both,” he winked at me smiling. “Why don’t we take a seat?”
I followed him and sat down across his seat on the outdoor wooden table and chairs.