As we ride the rented vans to the airport, the team keeps thanking Micah.
"Having a Diamond Dad sure got benefits, Diamond Girl," I teased Micah as I ruffled her hair. "He even paid for the team's expenses."
"Didn't you pay for it already? How come her Dad paid for it?" Susan looked at me as she put down the book Aether recommended, Atomic Habits.
"She even has that huge hat and oversized sunglasses," I thought before responding. "Well, I did, but Mr. Lopez kind of reimbursed me," I replied as I looked at Micah, grinning, "It looks like the brat really got some rich parents!"
"Stop calling me that. I... I didn't have many friends growing up, so Dad was jumping for joy when I told him we were going to the Philippines. He basically asked how many we were and showed all the bookings for the hotels and transportation the next day," Micah said, not looking me in the eye. She apparently loves her shoes too much; she keeps staring at them.
"What's with your shoe? Trying to brag it's Jimmy Choo?" I asked Micah.
"No, I just want to say thank you. My father told me everything"
I was shocked. Should I sue her father for breaking the agreement?
"We did it not because we saw you crying. We did it for our future, for our sake," Aether said as she passed me the travel itinerary.
For some reason, the random seat arrangement decided that the three of us sit beside each other. And here I am, sandwiched between the two women.
Rick, on the other hand, was fuming mad because he was beside the driver, alone, and had to keep looking back at us to join the conversation.
"Hey, Sir, are we there yet?" I asked Rick, as he was not his usual talkative self today.
"Shut up! Use Apple Maps, you nerd!" Rick replied while the rest of us laughed at his demise.
—
"Ahhh. So this is what vacation looks like. Look, Mom. See the boat over there? You won't get aboard it, but I will." I pointed to a colorful boat with the words "Mandaragat" on the side.
I suddenly felt a slap hit on the back of my head.
"Stop teasing her. Hi there, Mrs Crawford. My name is Micah, and I am one of the employees under Aether. How are you?" Micah is wearing a floral dress, flip-flops, and a huge hat. Completing her fashion outfit is a tote bag that says, "I ♥️ El Nido."
"I'm fine. Son, you didn't tell me you have a very beautiful young woman on your team. Is she single?" Mom asked, and Micah's neck and cheeks reddened like tomatoes.
"Why should I? Are you not satisfied looking at yourself in the mirror, Mom?" I beamed, gaining a few thumbs down from Rick, Arthur, and the rest of the boys.
"Well, yes. I'm getting old now, you know. Micah, dear. Thank your Dad for letting the team take 2 relatives each. My son and I are the only people living in the house, so we have no one else to take the slot," Mom said, holding Micah's hand.
"It's okay, Mrs. Crawford. My Dad is just really happy to have everyone unwind here," Micah said, showing a smile I'd never seen before.
"Well, Mom, I gotta go. Take your time with that brat. Love you!" I ran off, as I could see Rick starting to butcher the lechon. "Wait for me, you greedy monkey!"
I can see Martha, Aether, and Joy getting the sauce ready. Apparently, the correct and best way to enjoy lechon is to serve it with a sauce made from pig's liver. The boys, though, apparently heard from the locals that it's vinegar with a lot of chilies and red onions. I don't care, as I'm fighting to have a piece of that glistening and crispy pork skin Rick has been eyeing since we arrived.
—
"Ahh, bliss. Should we close the company and work under Diamond Dad instead?" Arthur jokingly said as the men enjoyed the massage the hotel offered.
"Stop ruining our minds, you evil man!" Rick said, "It's not a bad idea, though—Ouch! Who threw that towel?"
"You deserve it, creep," Brad said as I gave Jake a thumbs up.
"Hey guys," Randy suddenly turned his head and said, "They have an archery range around here. I heard the boss likes playing."
"It's not Aether. It's this old geezer over here. Aether apparently picked up on his hobby but has more time than him now," Bamboo interrupted while telling the masseur, "Yes, there, there"
My eyes lit up "An archery range! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" I stood up, working on my form.
"Hey, man, don't forget the girls are just on the other side of the curtain," Rick said, holding his laughter.
"And so?" I asked, with my arms crossed on my chest
"And don't forget we took everything off before the massage started," Arthur chimed, completing the sentence.
I looked down. My face paled, and I shouted, "Ahhh!"
—
"Where am I?" I combed my hair with my fingers, trying to determine my location.
"A swamp? I thought I was on vacation?"
Yes, I am. But why am I suddenly here?
"Roar!" I suddenly grimaced, hearing the shout across the woods. "What is it this time?!"
I started to run. I stepped on a leech, and I fell on my back. "Argh! My back!"
The creature was speeding up. It looked like a lion, but it was in flames.
"I, Depression, will devour you, along with my Brother, Despair!"
Like a huge cobra, a second creature slithered across the dirty, murky water suddenly appeared in my vision.
"Great, another one," I muttered as I ran. It's difficult, though, as the viscous water slowed me down.
"Why swamps, of all things!" I cried and looked into the cloudy sky, wondering why I had to suffer from a cardio exercise I didn't ask for.
YOU ARE READING
Unending Nightmares
Random"Unending Nightmares" is a story where the main character suffers from nightmares and dreams he cannot explain. This changes, though, when his nightmares become reality.
