Ophelia (Overseas Series 1)

Kabanata 3

#OpheliaKab3

I looked at Lukas with clear betrayal on my eyes. "What the heck are we doing here!?"

I felt like the sound of waves and the smell of the sea were taunting me. Spend more time my ass! The party that was on my mind was a party on a freaking club situated on a land, not on a freaking sea! Lukas looked at me, evidently amused with my dilemma.

"I told you, grinch, you wouldn't like what party I am going to, but... here we are!" Lukas explained na may kasama pang pagkibit-balikat at pagkumpas ng dalawang kamay. Kulang na lang ay sabihin niya ang salitang, "surprise!"

What if tumaob ang yate? I don't know how to swim yet. Magpapaturo pa ako sa future husband ko kasama ang mga future anak namin. What if mamatay ako sa hypothermia? Wala pa akong jowa na magbibigay sa akin ng warm hugs. What if mapadpad ako sa isang isla? Omaygad! Hindi ko dala ang camping knives ko!
With how his eyes are squinting right now, he clearly knows and is currently judging the thoughts that are on my mind. His amused face was then replaced with a concern gaze towards me.

Isang malaking buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko. I need to calm myself and gather all these what ifs and put them at bay. Hindi ako ipapahamak ni Lukas. I trust him and I am sure as hell that he won't let me get inside his car in the first place if he knows that we are nowhere safe in this freaking party. As if to assure me, Lukas put his hands on my shoulders, crouched at me, and seriously looked at me in the eyes.

"Hey, Lia, listen. The yacht won't sail, it will remain anchored on the deck. There will only be less than ten people on board, a captain who owns this yacht is one of them. Okay?" Lukas assured me.

"Okay," I retorted, much calmer now. I gave him a small smile, telling him that I am really okay.

Lukas' hands on my shoulders slowly enveloped me with a hug as his chin rested on my head. He's still crouching, tho. "I'm sorry because I got happy playing with you for a minute," he suddenly said. I chuckled. Tita Lyla raised this gentle giant well.

"Grinch?"

"Hmm?"

"Just enjoy tonight, okay? I have more time at my dispense to go to a lot of places with you, right before you... you go home." I simply nodded because I cannot find the right words to say. Kanina pa to ah? Is it the night ambiance that made us somehow emotional with my departure? We banter as our friendship's love language, that's why in rare moments like this where he shows his affection and vulnerability to me, I could really say that I am lucky to see this side of him where only a few has the privilege to witness.

He then let go of me, but he looked at me, seriousness not leaving his face. Kinabahan ako kaya hindanda ko ang aking sarili sa kung anuman ang kanyang sasabihin. "By the way, grinch, have I told you that a murder already happened around this area?"

Before I could have the chance to punch him, natatawa nang tumakbo si Lukas papunta deck kung saan nakahanay ang maraming yate. Uggh, lucky with my bestfriend my ass! Now I can't stop thinking about the murder! Before a huge wave of what ifs murder edition cloud my mind, nagmadali akong sumunod kay Lukas. Aba! Mahirap na!

The yacht's captain was thoughtful and kind enough to tour me around the yacht and told me kung saan makikita ang mga life jacket, salbabida, emergency kit at marami pang ibang safety equipment na feeling ko mga crew lang dapat ang nakakaalam. Nonetheless, the gesture made me sane.

"Thank you," I told Lukas as we made our way to the main part of the yacht kung nasaan ang party. For sure he gave the captain a heads up na gawin iyon para mapanatag ako sa gabing ito. He smiled and gave me his favorite greeting gesture— neck hug plus hair crumpling. "We'll just stay here for an hour, okay? You have to be home before midnight so that you can still rest well for your class this Monday." I frowned hearing the word Monday. I'm really not a huge fan of Mondays.

Lukas chuckled. "And I promise that I'll try my best not to drink so that I can still drive you home and you don't have to be the one on the wheels," he declared. I rolled my eyes because I highly doubt so. Maniwala ako sa iyo, Anderson! I heard another small chuckle from Lukas. His hand that was on my hair suddenly went to my whole face and used it to playfully push me. "You grumpy grinch!"

Bago pa ako makasagot, loud cheers alongside the waves of the sea was heard. Sa tingin ko ay kasisimula pa lang nila. Lukas held my hand and led the way towards the people who are circling a table full of drinks and foods. He was welcomed with fist bumps from the males, beso from the females, and a simple nod from another male in the far corner.
Lukas knows everyone here. It was evident with how he introduced each one to me, which I concluded are all his university friends from Stanford. I sadly cannot remember their names, tho, not like I need to. I won't even see them again, I think?

"Really!? Please tell me you're joking! Damn Asian genes!"

I let out a soft chuckle after I heard the girls gasps and reactions when I told them that I was just 3 years younger than them, assuming that they're the same age as Lukas.

"I'm sorry but I really thought for a second that Lukas wasn't on his right mind bringing a minor in this party!"

"Hey, I heard that!" Lukas shouted from another corner in the room which made everyone laugh and continue to pour more drinks for them, and juice for me. At first they teased me about not drinking and told me to flash the news already that I'm still a freaking teenager, well, a rebel drunkard teenager at that. But when I told them that I still have a class tomorrow and I don't want to be a rebel drunkard teacher, they immediately understood but they still left a glass of beer beside my juice, just in case, I want to feel like 'rebelling.'

Needless to say, these people right here are spitting personalities of Lukas Anderson. Speaking of, I excused myself and went to him because it's already over an hour at kung gusto ko pang gising habang nasa byahe, we really need to be on our way.

I found him standing beside the railings and talking to the man who just simply nodded earlier and whose name I unfortunately can't remember anymore. I don't have to check if Lukas did drink because seeing how red his neck is at the moment, I just knew that he already had more than a few drinks. It was kind of expected, tho, that's why I want us to leave already and be on our way home. Ayokong magdrive ng madaling araw! The road is eerily quiet and a drunk Lukas isn't helpful at all with my overthinking and paranoia over road accidents!

"Excuse me," I carefully said to catch the attention of Lukas and the uhm... man. Their eyes both darted at my hand that was tugging the hem of Lukas's shirt, pulling him a little bit farther from the railings. He's standing too close! What if umalog bigla ang yate? Baka mahulog pa siya!

"Shit!" Lukas loudly cursed, probably realizing that he did drink, breaking his so called promise to me. It was okay, tho. He said he'll try, he never said he won't. He looked at me with eyes pleading me to forgive him. Do I really have to? I mean he has all the rights to drink tonight, kung wala nga lang ako, sigurado ako na nag-walwal na ang lalaking 'to— Lukas is a heavy drinker and has a high drinking tolerance in which Tito William and Tita Lyla isn't really pleased of. It's probably one of the reasons why they encouraged me to be with him tonight.

Having high tolerance in alcohol doesn't mean it's a license for you to drink as much as you want until you pass out and have a terrible headache the whole next day. I'm an advocate for drinking responsibly and moderately! Lukas should watch out for his alcohol intake. Nakakaawa ang kidney niya. "No wo—"

"Shit!"

I was surprised when I heard another cursed from Lukas. And I was more surprised with the way he looked at the man with a forehead creased beside him. Lukas look definitely says I-am-sorry-bro.

Uhmm, but why?

"Shit! I mean, I'm sorry, dude, I won't cussed in front of you ever again! I promise!" Lukas blabbered to this 'dude'.

"Just please drive Lia home for me?"

"Ay, gago!?"