Ray of Moonlight

Chapter Five - Leo

Since Uncle Ray picked us up at the uni, I knew at the back of my mind that something feels off. No matter how hard I try to rake my brain about it though, I just can't find what it is that's giving me a weird feeling.

He's normally talkative and it surprised me how quiet he was on the way to the beach. He even loves pulling pranks on me but they seem to be nowhere to be found today, and the fact that we're on the beach doesn't just add up to it.

'Did I say something that might've ruined his mood?' I thought to myself as I saw him starting to get off the water.

"I'll be back." I told Diane as I ran towards the shore to caught up with Ray.

Gently nudging his forearm, I asked. "Where's the energy you have when you picked us up at the uni?"

He glanced at me shortly before answering. "The waves took them all away."

I broke into a fit of laughter. "That one was really good." I said in between my laughs.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see him just staring at me. At any other normal day, he would laugh with me. Something is definitely off. His stare is just so intense I feel like I'm getting smaller under his gaze.

His blue eyes are glued directly at me and it seems like he's in a deep thought. 'Why does it look like his eyes are getting darker in shade?' I thought as I got caught up in his eyes. I awkwardly cleared my throat which made him quickly turn away from me, blinking rapidly.

With a softer voice, I asked. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah." His voice is slightly shaking. Is he sick? "Don't mind me." He casually waved his hand off as if to make a point.

"I should tell mom. She knows everything." I started walking back to the cottage when Ray grabbed my arm, stopping me.

"You don't have to. I'm perfectly fine." He pulled up a forced smile. "Go back to Diane and continue having fun. I'm just gonna go grab something to drink." Then he walked away from me, towards the cottage.

I just watch his retreating figure until he reached the others. Just like he said, he grabbed a can of beer and drank it in one go. Seconds later, he's already laughing with them. Guess he's fine after all.

I went back to where I left Diane. "Enjoying the beach now, are we?" She glanced back at the sound of my voice, and smiled widely.

"We're done with the semester and on the beach, so I don't see any reason not to enjoy." She slowly walked closer to where I am standing. "Are you not?" she asked whispering to my ear, while sliding her finger tips from my shoulder down to my fingers.

I sharply took in a breath as my spine voluntarily straightened up. My ears slowly heating up at the contact. I pulled up a nervous smile then answered. "Of course, I am."

Suddenly, she threw her arms around my neck before shouting. "That makes the two of us." My eyes grew wide and my hands just hanged on my side awkwardly, not knowing whether I should also hug her or not.

"People would think you're my girlfriend." I managed to say despite being still in shock. She released me from the hug, but she let her hands stayed on my shoulders.

She looked straightly at my eyes and I just stared back at her. "I'm a girl and I'm your friend, so yeah, I'm your girlfriend."

"Only you would think something like that." I chuckled at how she puts it.

She tilted her head slightly to the side as if studying me. "So, you don't think of me as your friend?" she asked, slowly blinking her eyes, trying to look all cute.

'Honestly, I don't.' I badly wanted to say that to her but I can't risk ruining our friendship. On top of that, I don't want to be known as someone who wrecks relationships, though there's no assurance that if I told her that, she'd leave Noel for me.

"Hmm." I mumbled while pulling up my thinking face. "Let me think about that." I continued which earned me a slight slap at the chest.

"Unbelievable." She scoffed, her eyes slowly getting wide. "And to think that I once brought you home, let you meet my family and you're still contemplating whether we're friends or not?"

"Geez, you could pass up as a good actress." I said, splashing some water into her direction. "Besides, it's something I should decide on carefully." I jokingly added before running away from her.

I don't even have to look to know that her face is starting to turn red and I could only imagine some steam getting out from her ears. I laughed at that. "You're dead." I could hear her shout at me.

I glanced back before shouting back at her, "Only if I get caught." Then I continued running.

We ran around for a good 10 minutes before she finally surrendered, laying her back on the sand defeatedly. "Damn you for having long legs and you're not even a runner."

"It's not just my legs that are long though." I answered as I look down at her, wiggling my eyebrows.

I sat down beside her, semi-laid on my back, with both my elbows supporting my weight. "What else is long then?" she asked me before she closes her eyes.

"You know," I started. "My arms, my feet, my fingers and some other parts."

"What are those other parts?" she questioned, challenging me, as she too sat up.

She looked at me, waiting for my reply. "Some things are better left unanswered." Then I winked at her.

Before she could even reply, I heard mom calling us both. "Come on." I said as I stood up, offering my hand to her. She grabbed onto my hand and I helped her get up. The mere contact brought electricity through my arms. "It's probably time to eat."

We walked towards the cottage, still hand in hand. Upon reaching the group, mom handed each of us a plate of food. "You could just sit on the sand."

Diane thanked mom while I looked around and noticed that Ray is nowhere in sight. "Mom, where's Uncle Ray?"

"He just left." Mom answered. 'Why?' I thought to myself. As if reading my mind, mom added. "He said that he's not quite feeling well."

'I knew it.' I thought again. My gut feeling never fails me. I knew something was off with him. To think that he was more excited to be here than me yet he needs to go home earlier.

I took a seat beside Diane as we eat the food that mom gave us. "Your mom is too cool." She said once she finished eating her food.

"As if yours isn't." I replied. I've met Diane's mom and she's just like my mother. They are both pretty laid back to be considered as mothers.

"Are you sure we're not related at all? Because there are just so many similarities." She looked at me while I chuckled at her question.

"My parents just told me earlier today that I could be adopted." I answered, remembering the incident earlier this morning.

Her eyes brighten up. "Maybe I'm adopted too." Why does she look happy at the thought? Based from what I've watched and read, others would feel sad if they knew they were adopted. "What are the chances that we're actually twins?"

I laughed at how ridiculous her thought is. "I always knew you've got some loose screws somewhere." I lightly flicked her forehead. "In case you forgot, we have different birthdays."

"Oh yeah." She smiled sheepishly.

'This girl will probably the death of me.' I thought to myself as I stared at her.