"Oh, where did you go?" Ali asked.
I walk straight to the seat I was sitting on before. I bit my lip and got the unattended shot on our table. Ali and Bry laughed slightly.
I glanced at Erato, he has this serious look on his face while his group mate there also offered him a shot. He's standing while Jax is on his seat. My older brother and I met eyes and I immediately averted my eyes from our gaze.
"Where did you go?" asked Ali.
"Uhm, I just went home to the villa for a while."
He sniffed at what I said and nodded slightly. While in my mind what happened earlier still remains.
"Go home to your villa." Erato commanded me.
I couldn’t look at him as his hands were wrapped around my waist, partially enclosing me here in the trunk of the tree.
"Not yet."
"And why not?"
"Why not?" I asked him rudely.
He smiled without any humor. He looks at me strongly and eloquently.
"Stubborn now, are we?"
My lips protruded. I averted my gaze from him.
"It's too early to go to bed, Erato."
The truth is that I still want to be with him, even if he doesn't talk, even if he doesn't notice. As long as I can just see him tonight I'm fine.
"You're clearly tipsy. What will your father say if you come home drunk?"
I blinked and looked at the dark sea. I could see small lights, as small as the rapid beats of my heart. I don't know why it seems like it's normal for the two of us to talk here, when in fact I should be clarifying things with him.
This is all he can offer? So what are we now?
"Go home."
“I don’t wanna go home,” I protested.
I looked him in the eye but I was still disappointed. I couldn’t help but stare at him for even five seconds. The few inches gap of us isn't helping at all. I want to go crazy, am I dreaming?
He caught my gaze and I naturally avoided that. I portrayed a cold face while his minty breath captured my nose and it's intoxicating.
"Your stubbornness," he whispered.
It was as if something crawled up my neck and spread all over my whole being. I took the opportunity and lost him to escape his grasp.
He didn't call me but I knew he's following me behind.
"Jade, Jax told me that you're taking up business."
My thoughts were interrupted when Bry talked to me.
"Ahh, yes."
"That's great, maybe my sister will be your classmate."
The night went on and the talks lasted. The night ended normal more than what I've expected. I also don't get too drunk, knowing that somebody's eyeing me the whole time.
I woke up at noon the next day. Hang over hit me right. It’s not as bad as I expected. Instead of throwing up the effect of alcohol, I think I want to throw up something else. Early in the morning and the scenes Erato and I had last night were on my mind. I no longer bathed and directly switched to the two-piece, cause I'm planning to sun bathe to ease this light hang over inside my system.
The sea is a great medicine for this. I just covered my black two piece with a white maxi blazer that reaches to the floor. I got my sun screen and my shades before I went down.
I tied my hair into a messy bun because I'm starting to get irritated with this long hair of mine. I'll remind my self to have some hair appointment in Manila once Olivia is back.
The surroundings were quiet as I exited quarter. Dad for sure left at dawn. I couldn't help but think that I was the only one here. But that is different from the truth.
When I came out of the hall, noise immediately enveloped my entire system. I'm quiet surprised seeing Jax's friends having their breakfast in here, in our villa. I heard their bullies before I arrived, brother Jax's eyes were the first I saw and it was transferred to Erato who is now wearing no top.
"Jade! What a good morning!" Ali greeted me.
That caused the attention of others to get to me. Now I just noticed that almost all of them have no clothes on. I didn't immediately pay attention to Ali because Erato's sharp eyes looking at my body were what I immediately noticed.
I don't know why and how I noticed him immediately even though his other friends almost covered him up. It's just that in my eyes, he stands up the most. My smile was raw as I greeted Ali and slightly adjusted the maxi dress I was wearing to cover my body.
"Breakfast?"
"Uh, thank you. I'll just have a dip first." I replied with Ali's kindness.
My eyes went to Erato before I left the scene with their friends. I lower my shades to my eyes from my head.
"Stay away from my sister, you fool." I heard my older brother say as I went downstairs.
I couldn’t help but blush. God, I'm used to wearing this. Why am I suddenly feeling so insecure when he scanned my body? I wonder what he's thinking. Maybe not enough? Maybe that brute thinks I’m lacking?
Hell! Knowing the numbers of women he bedded, for sure I have no say. It also came from him that I was not his type because I did not meet his standard.
"Real shit," I uttered while putting my things on the sun lounger.
It's as if instead of warming my skin here, my head heats up because of the thoughts. I immediately removed my maxi dress and let it fall into the ground.
All right, I have a different plan. I will cool down first before my head explodes in the heat. I awarded a glance to the villa. They all seem busy. I squint my eyes just to see even just the shadow of Erato in there but my eye sight is bad as hell.
I just gasped and turned around to soak for a while in the ocean.