Break Fresh Ground

14: DAMN YOU, ARTEMIS

After a quick power nap post-lunch, we hit the mall near our plush retreat, ready to stock up on essentials. With nothing but our bodies and wallets in tow, we had to make do with a spontaneous trip. Our friend France surprised us with the getaway, leaving us little time to prepare.

We raided the stores, picking out the essentials for a weekend in paradise - comfortable underwear, stylish tops, breezy shorts, cozy sleepwear, and must-have footwear. And of course, we didn't forget swimwear, which caused a ruckus between Elliot and Violet when he reached for a two-piece suit. Violet playfully smacked his hand.

"Hindi naman porket libre 'to, bakla, bibilhin mo 'yan. Saka 'yang alaga mo, mahahalata kapag 'yan sinuot mo," Violet said.

Elliot rolled his eyes. "Edi itatali ko si baby tiger."

"Baby tiger mo mukha mo, Eli," Piper intervenes.

"Oo kaya!"

"Oo, si pink panther," Juliette teased.

Once again, Eli rolled his eyes but eventually smiled, ready to rebut. "Pink naman talaga."

I heard someone jokingly puked, it was Ivy. "Yuck! Hoy, ilugar mo 'yang kabastusan mo at baka ako mismo pumutol niyan," she threatened, clearly uncomfortable with the conversation. Eli was intimidated and kept quiet, quickly putting the two-piece back on its shelf.

I didn't pay attention to the commotion and sauntered over to the one-piece swimwear section, grabbing a sexy white cut-out bandage trikini and a knot cut-out swimsuit, tossing them into my shopping basket along with other beach-appropriate outfits and footwear. Artemis was struggling to make a choice beside me.

"How about this one?" I suggested, grabbing a green ruched tie-back one-piece swimsuit, and holding it up for her to see.

"Hindi ko kayang suotin 'yan, Scarlett. Masyadong kita ang katawan ko."

I scanned her curves, taking in her toned muscles. When my eyes lingered a little longer than I have planned, I shook my thoughts away. "Why not? It suits you."

Umiling ito. "Hindi talaga eh."

I nodded understandingly. "No problem. I'll be right back." I headed to another section and grabbed a long sleeve rash guard with shorts. "Here, it won't show too much of your body."

She smiled gratefully. "Thanks. Sorry for-"

"It's fine," I interrupted, handing her the rash guard. "I understand."

"Babe, look at this," pagtawag ni France sa akin na nilingon ko naman. "What do you think?" Itinaas nito at itinapat sa katawan niya ang blue chain linked two-piece bikini.

I nodded with a smile. "Damn, babe!" is what I have to say kasi bagay na bagay sa kaniya ang napili niya. Ipinakita niya pa sa akin ang isang crocodile green rib cross halter bikini. "Bagay sa 'yo both," I said.

"Thankie!" she said, excited.

Napalingon ako kay Artemis nang marinig kong magsalita ito. "What? Did you say something?" I asked.

She gave me a tight smile at umiling saka tumalikod at lumapit kila Violet na busy ring naghahanap ng swim suit. Sumunod ako sa kaniya at naging opinion-giver ako dahil sa mga tanong nila Violet na sinagot ko naman ng maayos.

After we bought everything we need, bumalik kami sa resort. Sa unang villa, sila France, Ivy, at Paris ang kasama ko and the rest ay sa pangalawang villa na, na katabi rin lang ng tinutuluyan namin. Sa isang kwarto na may king sized bed, katabi ko si France dahil clingy siya. Sa kabilang room naman ay may dalawang double-bed kaya tig-isa sila Paris at Ivy. Sa kabilang villa ay sila Artemis na ang gumawa ng paraan kung sino ang magsosolo at magtatabi.