The noisy groups in each cottage and on the sand I watched as I walked there. I looked in the bar area but I also immediately thought that I can't buy because I have nothing else to bring but myself. I'm low-key smiling to those people that's meeting my eyes.
Are they here? Maybe they went away.
Mentally, I just kept walking there and tracing every cottage, hoping to see them. But not even a shadow of them did I really see. I thought of going into a souvenir shop to entertain myself but by an unexpected chance I saw Cali - Erato's cousin.
My eyes lit up immediately when I looked at him at the cashier who seemed to be giggling at the woman at the counter.
"Cali!" I called him.
He looked at me quickly and I noticed the quick frown of the woman he was talking to. Cali stood up straight and faced me leaving the girl with no attention. I felt awkward at the side of my head, maybe this one even thought I was flirting with Cali.
"Hey what's up?" My forehead furrowed because he didn't even seem surprised that I was here.
"Uhm, hi. Just wondering around. You're with ..."
I passed because I didn't want to direct the question and mention Erato right away.
"Ah, I was just ordered to buy Ice." I cocked my head and think about what he just said.
"But ..."
I can't continue what I'm saying because it looks like no one sells ice here because this shop is full of souvenirs.
He smiled and turned to the woman again to say goodbye. "Thank you, miss. I already know where." He uttered. He even winked to the woman and that's when I knew what he's up to. Erato and him are really the same.
"Let’s go? I’m with your brother."
He simply guided me once hit on the vape he was holding. I held my breath so that it would not be inhaled and I nodded and gently followed him. As we walk, we simply talked about things. Our other topic is a few close friends. Take note, woman.
"Are we even on the right path?"
I laughed as we walked into the darkened part of the resort.
"Don't you trust me?" He mocked.
"I don't." I was joking with him.
He was right because soon I could hear a noise in the distance. An upbeat song is capturing the whole place. I didn't know there was such a thing at this resort. Just open space and a bit far from where there are a lot of people. I bit my lips looking at them, they are all men. Maybe less than 10 people are in there.
Even before we noticed, I could see Erato's eyes that seemed to be threatening a deluge. I averted my gaze from him and pretended I didn’t care if he was angry or not. Until we were finally able to get closer and we gradually grabbed their attention.
Soon, older brother Jax's noise was left on the air because he seemed surprised with Cali and me.
"Fvck! Where did you go bro?" Said one there.
"Where's the ice? ” another asked.
"It melted." Cali’s simple answer.
"Son of a bitch." One even scratched his head for Cali's useless reason.
"She brought an ass not an ice.." One laughs as he hands out the exact shot to older brother Jax.
Everyone fell silent and turned to him. The quiet place felt suffocating. I couldn't seem to breathe for a moment. I cleared my throat to ease the awkwardness in my body. A man next to me whispered and I knew immediately what he heard based on his expression. Everyone continued talking as if nothing had happened.
"Here Jade." Cali leads the way. Others greeted me and I returned the greeting to them.
I stepped aside from my older brother and he looked at me silently. My smile was sweet on him contrary to his expression I could not paint. On the other hand my knees almost trembled at the thought because I could feel Erato's sharp looks at me. "
I'm bored in there, don't lecture me."
I said to my older brother as a friend of theirs I also knew returned the smile. I was even offered a shot of it and without hesitation I thought of attempting to accept it. But before it could be passed into my hands, a voice immediately stopped him.
"Ali, don't mess up the shot." Erato said.
I didn't expect those to be his standards, it's better than what I've expected. I feel like these two can't get along because of the friends around them.
"It's okay dude, Jaxon just finished too."
It simply says so. Since I'm wise and hard headed as fvck, I just shrugged my shoulders and accepted the drink. I quickly gulped down the drink and wiped my lips while glaring into Erato's eyes.
I know I'm fvcked up as of the moment and if they think that this is a disadvantage, I'm taking it as my advantage. Hello! Free drinks! Plus I get to see Erato the love of my life.
Though it's just a bit awkward because I'm the only girl here but I'm fine as long as I'm with Erato. Oops, I mean as long as I'm with my brother.
I laugh inside my head, funny because I feel more safe when I'm with Erato than when I'm with my brother or I'm with anyone else. Is it to ironic? The only person who keeps on hurting me is the reason why I feel so safe? Why is that?
"Hi Jade." I looked to my right and saw a man approached me, one of the group maybe.
"Oh hi!" I greeted him enthusiastically.
I heard a loud noise of an object and everyone's attention diverted into it. I looked at the scene and saw Erato in the moment of standing up in his seat. My mouth parted as I look at him, is he leaving?
"Bro where are you heading to? We are still having some fun here." Another man called him.
he signaled the stick between his fingers without saying anything and with his back facing us. My system immediately know what to do. It was clearly to run after him.