A Close Second

Seventy-second

COURTNEY BEATRICE

The third day was nice.

In the spirit of vacation, Jacob and Keith really did a fantastic job putting this whole trip together. It felt like a proper getaway—something we all badly needed.

"For the love of all that's holy," Laiza groaned, "please tell me we're not going all out again and drinking our livers out."
I chuckled, flipping a page of my book while lounging by the pool, both feet up, watching the two girls beside me.

Thea sat at the pool's edge, legs dangling in the water. Her bright orange two-piece popped against her golden skin, and a pair of oversized designer sunglasses perched on her nose. She wasn't looking at us—probably scanning the pool for Aya.

Aya, meanwhile, was floating on a bright blue inflatable in the middle of the water, her red bikini a bold contrast against the plastic. Sunglasses gleamed in the sun, and a neon blue cocktail—Greg's doing—dangled lazily from her hand.

Both girls turned at Laiza's comment. Thea smirked.

"Chill, L." Sabi ni Aya dito. "We're not drinking our asses off today."

Laiza rolled her eyes, sitting down on the chair beside mine.
"And how many drinks have you had?" Tanong nito kay Aya.

Aya takes off her sunglasses. "I've had two, but I can promise you, you're not going to pick me up from the floor this time."

Laiza scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "Big promise, ganyan din sinabi niyo ni Jethro sa akin last month, and what do you know, I'm stopping you guys from jumping off furniture the other night."

Natawa si Thea, taking a sip from the red drink Nico handed her earlier. Her shoulder-length hair was clipped back with an oversized flower clamp—Aya's touch, no doubt.

"At ikaw Bunso. Tumatawa ka pa diyan." Laiza admonishes her. "Isa ka pa. Kasama ba sa nalimutan mo yung pagiging responsable?"

Thea scoffs back, acting offended. "Ouch? A little harsh, don't you think?" She says then sips her drink again. "Ikaw naman, Pres. We're in vacation."

"And that means hindi ka na magiging responsable?"

Thea grins, taking a cherry from her glass and taking it on her mouth whole, with the stem. I closed my book, now more interested in their banter than Dan Brown at the moment.

"Live a little, Laiz." Thea winked, still chewing. The mischief on her face was unmistakable.

Aya sips her drink, looking at us. "Kung si Thea na ang nagsasabi niyan sayo, L, makikinig ka na."

"You know that's what I have been doing all along?" Sandal ni Laiza sa upuan. "I'm trying to keep you guys alive enough to live."

I smiled. "Yeah, alive and living is not the same thing, L." Sabi ko dito. "Those are two different things."

Laiza looks at me, raising an eyebrow. I give her a small smile, tilting my head towards her. She sighs at me.

"How about, we'll promise to try to be on our best behavior." Sabi ni Aya from the pool. "Would that be okay sayo?"

Tinignan ko si Thea, who was looking back at us with those big innocent hazel eyes. Then she stuck her tongue out, revealing the cherry stem—now tied in a perfect knot.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Hoy, Bunso. If you're trying to convince Laiza you're responsible," I said, chuckling, "showing her you can tie a cherry stem with your tongue isn't exactly the most advisable route."

Thea grinned at me, unbothered. Laiza just threw a mini-basketball—my stress ball that Jacob had gifted me—on Thea's way out of annoyance.

I just rolled my eyes at their antics but chuckled as I watched Thea catch the ball and throw it to Aya, squealed and almost spilled her drink.