Secret Rendezvous

YOU AND I

My Princess, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I had a strange feeling when I read the note. I kept it safe and secured. I can make use of it later on. I have this gut feeling Storme is up to something. Is he sincere or is it another trap? Storme may plan something against me again. So, before he can plan anything, we must leave before the little devilish demon wakes up. I need to be one step ahead of him. I called the front desk, letting them know we’re checking out. I’ve called my driver Leon to pick us up from La Casa Buena Hotel. I walked back to the room to wake up Nadine and Stella. We still have time to enjoy our last day of vacation. I think of wakeboarding. I know for sure my friends will have fun.

“Nadine, Stella, wake up! Let’s eat breakfast,” I shook their shoulders forcefully to wake them up.

“Besh, it’s too early yet. Let us sleep in for a few more minutes,’’ Stella protested.

”Please.”

“Get up, Bestie!” I screamed in Stella's ear, playfully tickling her nape.

“Summer, it's too early,” said Stella, pushing me away,” stop it! Stop rocking, wobbling the bed!”

“I won’t stop if you don’t get your ass up.”

“Okay, okay. You're such a brat! Just five more minutes,” Stella whined sleepily.

“Amazing! Amazing! What a miracle! For the first time in history. You’re-an-early bird-today, Beshie. We should celebrate,” Nadine blurted, who was pretending to be asleep. “I didn’t sleep well. Get up now and wake up the boys. We are checking out now,” I announced.

“Didn’t you say we are staying here until tonight?” Nadine mouthed. “I changed my mind. There’s not much to do here, anyway. We can go sightseeing,” I explained, “or wakeboarding?”

“Wakeboarding sounds fun!” Red responded as he entered our room, followed by Bren wobbling like he's drunken.

“Brennen, are you up? You're teetering. Are you alright? Did you sleep well?”

“I’m awake and I’m fine. No, no, I did not sleep well. Red was snoring too loud.”

“Beb, since when did you snore? I haven’t heard you snore ever. Bren, are you sure it’s Jared?”

“Bren's dreaming! It was Stella snoring and drooling, not me.”

“Luningning! Didn’t I tell you not to sleep together?” “Yuck Red! I did not drool. I hate you, brother. I shouldn’t have called you outta here,” Stella grumbled.

“I will not have slumber nights anymore if you guys can’t follow my simple rule. It’s not for me. We are still teenagers and we should be careful. How did you guys buy the alcohol? Judging Bren right now? He got wasted didn’t he?”

“Bestie, I swear. We did not. We fell asleep in the veranda after we had a couple of drinks last night.”

“You sure? Bren seems to have a hangover. What time did you guys sleep?”

“Almost dawn, maybe three o’clock?” Bren looked around the room, looking amazed at the furniture.

”This place is magnificent! Oh, Skye, the food was great last night.”

Brennen and Jared hardly call me Summer. Both of them have always addressed me as Skye since our childhood years. Most of the time Bren is the one who calls me Skye because Red already got used to calling me 'beb.' Nadine calls me ‘beshie’ and Stella ‘bestie.’ Dhrim is the only one who calls me ‘Summer.’ We don’t have a nickname for each other, although he’s my close friend too. Then I heard Nadine pestering Bren again.

“Everything looks wonderful and tastes good for you, Brennen. If the food can talk, they’ll tell you-you're a sight for sore eyes,’” Nadine mumbled. Brennen ignored Nadine’s comment. It sounded more of a joke rather than an insult. It fascinated Bren. He inspected each fixture, and then the picture frame caught his attention. I did not notice from last night. It was on top of the entertainment console beside the video player and the television. Bren stopped, held it with her hand, and stared at the photo.

Then he blurted . . . “T-this . . . t-this girl here looks like you, Skye. Look at these guys!” Bren called out in astonishment. Hearing Bren clamored, Nadine and Stella get up from the bed in a split second. They look like Sadako with their messy hair covering their faces. My zombie witch friends snatched the picture frame from Brennen. Stella got out balanced, knocking the frame down to the floor. Luckily, the room has a carpeted floor. The frame busted open. Stella's face turned white, panic-stricken as she straight away, picked up the frame inspecting. Nadine grabbed the frame and the photo from Stella. In a trice, she sprinted towards me.

“What’s wrong, Nadz?”

“Forget it. Let’s get out of here. Is breakfast ready, Beshie?”

“Uh-huh. Let’s go eat gang. The food is getting cold.”

“Great! I’m so starving,” Bren jabbered away from us to the dining area.

“What are we having for breakfast?” asked Stella.

“I don’t know. I did not order breakfast. They delivered the food barely ten minutes ago.”

Nadine followed Bren, tapping his hand burly when he grabbed a piece of bacon on the table.

“Since when you’re not starving, piggie foodie?” Nadine emphasized Bren’s love for food as if he was a glutton. In a second, the suite is in an uproar. Nadine and Bren started bantering over food.

“You two stop! You’re acting like kids. It’s just food. Nadz, let him be.”

“You're spoiling Bren every time, Beshie.”

“Are you jealous, Nadine? What can you do? Skye loves me,” said Bren, giggling.

“You wish! I will never be jealous, not in a million years.”

“If you say so,” answered Bren, making himself comfortable eating at the dining table.

“Are we still on for wakeboarding? Is it overnight?” asked Red, changing the topic.

“Up to you guys. Overnight is doable. Let’s go dig in so we can reach there before lunchtime,” I said, scooping myself a bowl of chicken Arroz Caldo.

“Beshie, why don’t we just stay here?”

“Well, I can call Papa. Let's see what my father can do.” “Or we can check out other places. How does Panicuason Hot Springs sound?” Bren intruded.

“Sounds fine to me,” I agreed with Brennen’s suggestion.

“Oh! I heard it’s nice over there. We can go overnight at the camping site. What you think, Beshie?”

“I’m down to it!” said Stella without thinking twice. I guess she’s ready and brought ample of clothes. Who would think she didn’t bring a bunch of clothing with her gigantic travel luggage.

“I’m on it! Overnight?”

“No! No, no overnights, Beb. I don’t have any extra clothes. Stellar only told me to come to drop by. I’m not prepared for a weekend stay.”

“Oh, it’s okay, Beb. We can drop by at your apartment since it’s on the way.”

“Should we call Dhrim,Beb?”

“Oh yeah! I don’t see why not.”

“We should rent a villa,” Jared said while taking a bite of his omelette,”This tastes so good. What do you call this?”

“Benedict omelette,” I answered.

“So, Beb,what do you suggest? A villa or cottage?”

“We could rent a villa overnight, but since no one is up for it. A cottage should be good enough. Right?” I said, slurping my chicken Arroz Caldo.

“Haller! Summer to earth. Earth to Summer. Jared, we’re here!”

“What’s wrong with you, Nadz? Finish your food so we can go.”

“Yo!” she stares at me and gazes at Jared. “You two are talking like you own the world and there is no one around you. If we don’t know how close you two are or if I am Storme. I will think you guys are dating,” Nadine voiced out with a hint of jealousy.

“Are you jealous, Nadz?”

“No way! I’m not.”

“Deny it all you can. I can smell the fume.”

“Are you out of your mind, Summer? He’s like a brother to me.”

“Oh, my goodness! Ouch! Beb, Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! Gosh! Your brother zone?,” I chortled, teasing Red, shaking my head. I know Jared likes Nadine since we were in intermediate.

”Bestie, you and my brother must stop calling each other with that ‘beb’ endearment of yours. Just sayin’ maybe Storme comes along? He might not like the idea of you two having a pet name for each other,” Stella explained, finishing the last piece of bacon on her plate. “I can call Red ‘beb , bebe, baby.’ Who cares? What is it to Storme, Stella?”

“Just sayin’, Bestie.” “Oh, come on, Stella. We ain’t livin’ in the old-fashioned world. Even friends have pet names. Besides, we can’t change nor forget that easily. We’ve been friends since forever and we ain’t used to calling each other by the first name.”

“It’s only a suggestion. My opinion remains an opinion if no one reacts to it. No biggie. I think Storme likes you, Summer. He wouldn’t do such a prank,” Stella expressed her thoughts looking at Bren. Then she asked, “That boy's strategy, so the girl notices you. Am I right, Bren?”

“Why do you ask me? Ask your brother Jared or Dhrim they are the experts, not me. Don’t you think, Nadz?”

“I believe so,” Nadine answered without looking at Bren. I caught Nadine keep glaring at me. “You want to say something to me, Nadz?”

“I couldn’t agree more to Stella. I think she’s right,” Nadine said, smirking.

“See, Bestie? Devin Storme Buenavente likes you!”

“Why do you have to keep reiterating that Luningning? Me and Storme, believe me, it's bad news and if we do end up together, it will be tragic.”

“Enough pestering Summer, Stella. I’ll be right back, you guys eat first.”

“Where are you going?” Bren asked. “Call of nature,” Nadine answered. Nadine seems worried and her smile was so fake. We’ve known each other for so long and I know when she’s hiding something from me. She looked flabbergasted when she picked up the picture frame earlier. I did not see the photo clearly because she already dragged me to the dining table. Did she see something I shouldn’t?

Nadine did not allow me to go back to the room either. She excused herself briefly and went back to the room. She already had my weekender bag ready with her when she came out of the room. Nadine packed my belongings along with hers before joining us again for breakfast. We finished our sumptuous breakfast. Jared and Bren went back to their room. Just in time we were ready to leave, Leon called. He's parked outside the hotel waiting. for us.

“Hurry, gang! The driver is in the lobby waiting for us.”

When we were about to leave the room Storme was standing in front of the door with a bouquet of peach roses with him.

“Sunshine! You’re leaving?” Storme spoke in a rather weary tone of voice. “Get out of my way!” I bellowed in rage.

“You’re still mad at me?”

“Who wouldn’t?"

“I said, I’m sorry.”

“I said your sorry is not enough!”

“Hi, Storme!” greeted Stella and Nadine in unison.

“Hi girls!”

“Where are you guys going? You can stay here whenever you want,” Storme stated.

“No thanks! I’d rather leave than stay here. Thread snakes, frogs, fake centipede, what will be next, Storme? You will put poison on my food?”

“Why would I do that?”

“I don’t know, maybe you like me out of life? That’s what you're good at putting me in trouble.”

“Hey, Beb, what’s going on here?” Red asked curiously, grabbing my weekender from me.

“Nothing, Beb. Storme here is about to leave.” Red carried my bag in his left hand and reached for my right-hand intertwining with his. I saw how Storme's face changed into a beast. Is he jealous? Maybe he does like me, like what Stella said. Time to play more lovey-dovey with Red.

“Beb? You call him ‘beb’, Sunshine? Are you guys dating?” Stormes’ voice is as firm as a rock.

“So, you are Storme. Devin Storme Buenavente?” Red greeted Storme nicely.

“Yes, and you are?”

“Red Villaluna. Nice to meet you, dude!” Red extended his arms with his hands clenched in a fist.

I got nervous. Stormes fuming in anger like the first day we saw each other in the university. I sighed in relief when they did a fist bump. Dhrim, Red, and Bren greet each other the same way or sometimes chest bump. I thought there would be a fight. I felt relieved when Storme and Red seemed to be okay with each other.

“Why don’t you join us, Storme? We are about to leave and go to Panicuason hot spring.”

“Yeah, Storme, come with us. It will be fun,” Stella added, pulling Nadine and Bren with her,” we’re going first. See guys in the lobby.”

“Alrighty,” I answered. I thought Storme would leave, but he stood there and asked, “What are you going to do in a hot spring, Sunshine? You’re hydrophobic.”

“It’s none of your business,” I answered, sardonically rolling my eyeballs at him.

“Flowers for you,” Storme handed me the bouquet but Red pushed them away from me. Storme looked so pissed off with Red.

“Why are you giving me flowers?” I asked, pulling away from Red.

“You used to like peach roses, Sunshine. Don’t you?”

“That was a long time ago,” I snapped while I snatched my bag from Red looking for my inhaler.

“Dude, keep those roses away from her. She’s allergic to pollen,” Red interjected.

“Why are you so protective of my girl? She’s mine, dude! Don’t tell me you two are dating?”

“What is it to you, Storme? If I say, yes, we are dating. Oh, we are a couple. Whatcha gonna do?”

“I’m telling you, Skylene Summer Almeda. You better break up with him right now!”

I don’t know why, but I wanted to giggle right there and then. Storme likes me, perhaps, loves me like before. A smile of happiness glitters inside me. I have to hide my feelings towards him. Remember Summer, you are to make him fall and leave him after. I continued to annoy Storme, toying with his feelings.

“Why is that so? Who are you to tell me to break up with Red? We’ve been together for so long and you will tell me to break up with him? No way!”

“Yes, way! You will.”

“Because?”

“Because you’re mine. You know that since we were kids. You belong to me. You and I.”

“There is no you and I, Storme. There will never be us. Get it? So, please leave.”