3 Idiots

14

The next morning was filled with uncertainty. Shirley had no recollection of the previous day, nor did she understand why her head throbbed so intensely. Meanwhile, Riley was anxious about what Larra might be thinking after their realization from the day before. Larra herself was equally confused about her feelings.

However,

She was acting as if nothing had happened. This only heightened Riley's fear of what might come next. The trio got ready to go to Stacy's that morning, planning to enjoy their last day of the trip. They had spent their time partying, surfing, and enjoying various beach adventures, so they decided to shop and relax for the remainder of their time at the beach.

“Let’s go, babies!” Larra exclaimed, appearing overly excited. Shirley noticed that Riley had been unusually quiet since waking up.

“What? Cat got your tongue?” Shirley teased. Riley was watching Larra apply sunscreen in front of the mirror and flinched when Shirley poked her arm.

“Huh? I... I have a killer headache,” Riley replied, rubbing her temple. It wasn’t a total lie, after all.

“Ugh. Me too. I don’t remember what happened after dinner,” Shirley said, scratching her head.

“Oh yeah. You had a bottle of beer and then got totally wasted,” Riley added, giving her a disappointed look. Shirley smiled sheepishly at that.

“I’m going to buy something for my colleagues. See you two at Stacy’s,” Larra said as she picked up her bag.

“Huh? Where are you going?” Shirley asked, confused.

“They want some Miami-special vapes. I’m going to get it. You two can head to Stacy’s; I’ll be there soon,” Larra said, already heading for the door.

“But what about breakfast?”

“I’ll grab it on the way. See ya!” With that, Larra left. Riley sighed heavily, already aware of the implications. Shirley groaned, supported her head, and walked toward the bathroom.

When Riley and Shirley met Tyler and Ron downstairs, Ron looked back, expecting Larra to join them.

“Oh, Larra left already. She had to buy something for her colleagues. She’ll meet us at Stacy’s,” Riley explained, forcing a tight smile. Seeing Ron so eager to see Larra only intensified her inner turmoil.

“Hey babe, you okay?” Tyler asked, noticing something was off after giving her a peck.

“Yeah, I just can’t shake this headache,” she shrugged. Tyler chuckled and hugged her.

“It’s okay. I’ll give you a head massage at the beach,” he reassured, patting her head. Riley nodded and smiled.

“Ugh, I miss my Rayan,” Shirley pouted, watching them be all lovey-dovey. They left for Stacy’s together, and a silence enveloped the car throughout the drive.

After grabbing a drink from Stacy’s, they settled into sun lounges near the restaurant. As promised, Tyler gave Riley a head massage, easing her headache.

“Is that Larra?” Shirley asked when she saw Larra running towards them with a beaming smile. Riley opened her eyes and looked in that direction.

Larra seemed very happy.

“Did she win the lottery?” Shirley asked, glancing at Riley, only to earn an eye roll in response. Ron chuckled, watching Larra's excitement. Although she was wearing a short sleeveless dress and looking attractive, he could only see an excited child rushing towards her friends to share something thrilling.