Un-Danger-ed

Gregory and I were silent on our way home. The awkwardness between us undeniable. His proposition hurts more than all the wounds I had in this lifetime combined. I mean, if he really wanted me, he could've at least earn my affection. Unless, he never wanted me in the first place.

I was zoning out in the balcony of my room when Anna barged into my room shrieking in excitement.

"Hiya, girl! Your door's open so I checked if you're here already," she said as she approached me with a hug. She already changed in her floral ruffle dress. "As much as I want to ask you of your romantic getaway with Papi Greg, we have to go down already for dinner. And you change to your party dress 'cuz were partying late-ah!"

I was amused by her insurmountable party energy. I'm about to tell her I have none when she pulled a dress from her paper bag.

"I know that face, Missy! You didn't bring one, right? We've known you long enough to read your fashion..." she said, eyeing me from head to toe, "sense. You're such a happy-go-lucky type. You only bring what's necessary so I shopped for you, darlin'!"

I was about to protest when she snapped me back with thinning gaze. "No buts- go take your shower and meet me at my room for hair and make-up! You only get five!"

She pushed me to my bathroom and left.

Anna and I met Charlie at the villa's entrance where we stayed. We were all donning in our fitting ruffle dresses. We were strolling the cobblestone path walk lined with palm trees in the middle of lush green grass on our way to the resort's main building. They were busy chatting about their road trip with Leon and how they fell in love with the island. On the other hand, I was adoring the cold sea breeze, the illuminated light bulbs lighting the pathway and hanging around the trees. There were few people who walk with us. It was not peak season but the resort had a lot of guests, one way to tell that the resort was still doing great.

I was still in a trance when I bumped against a hard surface. I probably let out a dramatic ow! to amuse the girls. I stopped in the middle of my reaction when I realized it was Gregory.

He looked both so fancy and cool in his floral Hawaiian shirt with few open buttons revealing his hard, lightly-haired chest. His long hair was let down, playing with the wind. I hate him but I can make an exception for his divine face.

"Hey, are you hurt?" He held both my arms to shake me probably from my drooling. I snapped immediately when I get back to my senses. The girls were giggling behind him. "No, I'm fine! What are you doing here?"

"Well, I just ran into you, girls," he explained, "and I needed to talk to you... Please?"

Anna being our shipper, consented. "Well, we'll just leave you here. Just take her back at the restaurant in time for dinner, okay?" Then, they left.

"If this is about a while ago... You better sto-"

"No. I just want to apologize this time," he said smiling apologetically. "It was so selfish and unfair of me."

He looked away and started to walk with me. He was uneasy with my nonchalance. Honestly, I just didn't know what to say to him. "By the way, you look beautiful tonight."

I almost stopped at my tracks when he said that. I tried to hide my face away from him. He might sense my blushing. He might be the first person who said that to me that made me response this way.

"Thanks. You look great too," I muttered under my breath.

"Many people might have told you you're beautiful," he commented.

"You'll be surprised, not that many. Unless I fix myself the way people approve. I don't normally look like this," I shyly replied. "Maybe on your case," I retorted.

"Yeah, I might have used to it that it has lost its meaning," he said chuckling.

The confidence of this man made me raise my eyebrow. "Yeah, right."

He pulled me arm to face him. "Wait, are you mocking me?" laughing at my face.

And by that time, we already forgot the rift we had before.

When we arrived at the dining hall slash restaurant, warmish sea breeze and loud sea waves welcomed us. Jason reserved a table in the extended area of the restaurant, almost in the middle of the sea, away from the main area.

I tried to stop myself from the romantic feeling as we walked the narrow wooden bridge illuminated by orange light bulbs with our arms brushing. I walked a little slower to let him walk in front of me. I regretted it later when he purposely walked more slowly. He turned to me smiling sheepishly. "A little more time to appreciate this view won't hurt."

Soft quartet music could be heard as we were nearing the extended area of the restaurant. It is a wide cottage with concrete and wooden pillars and thick palm leaves served as the roof. The tiled floor reflected the warm lights surrounding place. Coupled with the warm air and the smell of good food, this dinner would be perfect. Gregory looked back at me and offered his hand as I stepped onto the elevated steps. We smiled at each other, feeling the magic of the place.

I planned to enjoy the evening, leaving all my troubles behind. Before I made that resolution, a scene before us destroyed it before it even happened.

My friends were already seated in the rectangular wooden table in the middle looking like the heavens dropped on them. They were looking at the group of people standing and talking on the other side of the hall. There they are: Jason, Uncle Roger, mum and…a beautiful looking womanly figure, dressed in loose, flowy dress with her perfect long black hair swaying with the wind. These people turned as they saw us. They immediately stopped whatever they're doing and acknowledged us. Then, the most perfect looking woman turned and greeted us with her perfect white smile. She was very familiar. Of course, once my favorite person in the whole world and at the same time, the very person my mum modeled me after --- my cousin, Alina.

My smile slowly turned into a frown as mum ran towards Greg and me.

"Look at you two! Looking perfect as ever!" mum announced loud enough to be heard by everybody and to make Uncle Roger cringe.

"Since the both of you are here, let's start the dinner," Jason announced as he dragged Gregory away from mum.

Mum dragged me with her, grabbing my arm and her nails piercing my skin. "Wow, I never thought you'll get to Gregory that fast! I'm happy you are starting to obey me," mum whispered happily.

She almost lost her balance when I held my place. "I'm sorry, mum. That's not gonna happen and Gregory already knows."

Her jaw dropped in disbelief. She held my arms tighter, sending a shot of pain. "Let's see how long are you going to hold up. Do you even wonder why Alina is here?" She pushed away my arm and went to her seat.

I saw Jason introducing Gregory to Alina. Since then, a wide smile plastered on Greg's face and couldn't take his eyes off her. I was not surprised at all. Alina has always been an eye-candy. She was indeed beautiful and charming. Most of all, whatever on the outside, it's what you'll get in the inside. She's the kindest person I've ever met. I grew up looking up to her. When Alina saw me, she ran to me and hugged me tightly.

"I missed you my Missy! Wow, you've grown beautifully," she remarked.

I couldn't possibly hate her. Among all my other cousins, she's the one who gave me special attention even she's as old as Jason. She looked at me with her eyes smiling. I hugged her back. "I missed you too!"

Jason interrupted us as our hors d'oeuvre arrived. My mum was seated at the end with Jason and Uncle Roger on her left and right. Gregory sat beside Jason facing Alina. I sat beside Alina with Anna after me and Charlie opposite her. Apparently, Sabrina wasn't able to attend since she was feeling ill.

I introduced Alina to Anna and Charlie. I thought they were unhappy with Alina but it was because of mum. They didn't expect to dine with their boss during their vacation. Then I had joined their state when Alina kept on exchanging looks with Gregory while talking to me. We might as well leave the hall for them.

With Alina's fake listening, I turned my attention to my friends.

"I might regret later losing my appetite with this great dinner," Anna whispered.

"I'm sorry," I said, also eyeing Charlie apologetically.

"Come on, everything's great except this," she said glancing at my mum while playing with the main course.

Suddenly, mum stood and raised her glass for a toast. "A toast to welcome our friend, Gregory."

We immediately raised our glasses to return the toast when she continued,

"and a toast to Roger, the future owner of the resort."

I accidentally dropped my glass on the table, spilling some water on my dress. I froze for a second until a waiter came to fix the mess. I stood and excused myself.

Instead of going to the restroom, I walked to the balcony at the back, adjacent to a small kitchen where meals were arranged. I couldn't stop shaking as I tried really hard no to cry. Then, I jumped at my surprise when Leon emerged out of the kitchen's exit.

He looked at me with so much understanding that he just hugged me silently.

"I can't cry right now," I said already sobbing while I cover my face with his jacket.

"Shh," he shushed me as he ran his large hands on my hair and almost bare back.

"Can you get me a kitchen knife?" I asked looking up at him, smiling to stop any further embarrassment.

"What?" he asked, puzzled.

I backed away from his embrace, wiped my face roughly and lean to a wooden pillar. "I'm just gonna kill my bitch mother," I remarked, feigning confidence after a short, rough cry. I was glad I didn't put on any mascara.

On my hands were an opened packet of cigarettes and a lighter. I removed one and put it between my lips. Leon was dumbfounded and tried to take it away from me but failed.

"Where the hell did you get that? And since when did you smoke?" he asked rather angrily.

"I got it from your jacket," I said while he's checking his jacket. "And I thought you stopped smoking."

"I did! I confiscated it from a worker. So, when did your start smoking?" he demanded.

"Never. But I badly wanted to try it now. Let me try and regret it later," I said as I tried to light the cigarette. I tried to remember how they did it in TV and movies, or how Dad did it with his cigar occasionally. I sucked in one long firm draw, putting a little smoke in my mouth and held it for a moment, then let the smoke out in one smooth blow.

Out of the blue, Gregory emerged out of nowhere that caught me in surprise with a trace of smoke still lingering on my face. Suddenly, my throat itched and I coughed hard.

Leon immediately snatched it from my hand and throw it into the water. "Regretting it now? That's why smoking will always be bad."

He saw Gregory and immediately went back to the kitchen after nodding to Gregory and reminding me that we'll talk later.

"They were looking for you," he finally said after he leaned beside me on the pillar.

"Can you tell them I went home to change?" I said flat-toned with a hint of annoyance.

"I see your mum is decided to sell," he finally said after a long silence.

I wanted to kill him too for being too adamant and opportunistic. He didn't even bother to ask if I was okay.

"But I want you to know that I genuinely want to help you. So, my offer still stands," he said standing in front of me now. He cupped my face with both of his hands saying, "You can go and I'll tell them you needed to change." And he left with my mind and heart confused.