In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 71

"Val, magsuswimming lang tayo sa beach bakit kailangan ko pang nakaayos ng ganito? Kulang na lang pagsuotin mo ako ng heels para na akong lalaban ng pageant!" Dei complained as they made their way towards the beach area of the hotel.

Valerie made her wear the black bikini she gave her earlier then blow dried her hair to make it look fluffier. Val also made her wear very light make up and sprayed on a body mist that made her tanned skin appear more glowing than usual. She finished the look with a short bohemian cover up and sandals.

They went to the outdoor bar by the pool to order fruit juices before heading to the recliners by the beach. They settled down side by side and just chatted away.

"Val, ang awkward ng feeling na pinagtitinginan tayo  ng mga tao dito. Para tayong iaauction!" She hissed at Val who just lay down prettily on the recliner after removing her cover up to reveal her deep red bikini underneath. Dei kept her cover up on.

"Bes, relax. Huwag mo silang pansinin. Remember we are on a mission here. Isang tao lang ang focus nating makapansin ng pagiging dyosa mo. The rest deadma lang." Val answered coolly.

"Wala naman dito si RJ. What's the point of doing this?" She asked again in a low tone.

"Then we just enjoy the scenery and the sun. It's that simple, bes. You used to be the queen of calm kapag nasa beach. Anyare?" Val threw back at her and she became quiet after that.

"Oo nga naman. Tama si Val bakit ba ko nagpapanic eh hindi naman si RJ ang ipinunta namin dito sa beach. We are here to unwind and relax." She thought so she wore her shades and lay down as well on the recliner and closed her eyes.

She was dozing off when she felt someone sit on the recliner to her left. Val is on her right reading a book.   She opened one eye to check who it was and was surprised to see the woman clinging to RJ earlier at the lounge sitting beside her, eyeing her from head to toe. She is wearing a really sexy baby pink bikini as she sat there on the recliner. Dei sat up abruptly.

"Hi! Sorry nagising yata kita. I just wanted to see you up close. You're Dei Mendoza, right?" The woman asked her in a neutral tone. Valerie heard what the woman said and also sat up to see who the woman was. Dei gave Val a silent warning through her eyes.

"Yes, I'm Dei. Sorry but I don't think we've met before." She said politely.

"Richard told me about you. By the way, I'm Anne. I'm sure naikwento na nya ako syo..." The woman said.

"Sorry but RJ and I have not really talked much about his personal life so..." She said tentatively, not really sure what the woman is pointing at.

"Really? Well you see, he and I go way back. We share the same profession and our families are close ever since..." Anne said. Valerie's eyebrows shoot up but Dei signal her to not intervene.

"Okay, that's nice. But I'm wondering what that has to do with me? Pwede mo naman akong diretsuhin kung ano ang pakay mo sa paglapit sa akin. You don't have to regal me with you and RJ's back story." She answered evenly.

"Richard thinks he likes you but I know that he still has feelings for me. I want him back so I was hoping you would step back and not confuse him." Anne told her straightforward. Dei was flabbergasted.

Dei must admit the woman either is really deeply in love with RJ or she just really has an ego the size of the West Philippine Sea. She smiled sweetly at the woman but before she can reply a male voice cut through their conversation.

"Anne, anong ginagawa mo dito? Are you bothering Dei? Please leave her out of our personal issues." RJ suddenly appeared between them and lightly pulled Anne up from where she was seated.

"Richard! We were just talking. I just want to meet Dei up close, no need to be defensive." Anne said with a hint of irritation in her voice. RJ turned to Dei with a look of apology.

"Dei, I'm sorry,.." He started but Anne interrupted him.

"Why are you apologizing?  I'm sure Dei understands why I wanted to talk to her. No harm done here, right Dei?" Anne asked her sweetly but her words are dripping with venom. Anne moved closer to RJ as if staking her claim. Dei felt the irritation brewing inside her but she kept her cool. Instead she turned to RJ with a smile and reached up to the ribbon holding her cover up closed and said:

"Anne is right. No harm done here, RJ. I know exactly where my place is. So if you will both excuse me, I will just take a dip in the sea. I'll just see you around RJ and nice to meet you...Anne." She said as she took off her cover up to reveal her sexy black bikini.

She almost laughed out loud at the look of consternation written all over Anne's face and at RJ's dark gaze as she and Val walked away towards the direction of the water. She gave Val a conspiratorial wink and they run like kids the rest of the way.

"Bes, hindi mo na pala kailangan ng training in summoning your inner dyosa. Kusa na syang lumulabas in times of need! Ibang Dei ang nakita ko kanina dun , ah! Tameme si ate girl pagkakita sa bikini body mo. Hahaha!" Val laughingly commented.

"Val, nakakahiya na pinatulan ko sya! Alam ko naman na she is just staking her claim over RJ." She answered with a grimace. They saw Anne storm off leaving an exasperated RJ sitting alone in the recliner.

"Well, she is just the ex so you are on equal footing here. She should know her place, too." Val pointed out.

A few moments later, RJ approached them as they were chasing the waves by the shore.

"Dei, pwede ba tayong mag-usap?" He asked with a somber expression on his face. Dei nodded lightly.

They walked side by side towards a secluded side of the beach away from the crowd. Dei sat by a flat boulder as RJ cleared his throat.

"Dei, I just want to apologize again for what I said last night and for what Anne did a while ago..."He started.

"RJ, I mean it when I said that its fine and I understand. I already anticipated how you would react to my revelation so I was ready for it. With Anne, hindi ko na kailangang malaman ano man ang meron kayo dati dahil hindi mo obligasyong ipaalam sa akin. Magkaibigan lang tayo." She answered calmly. RJ frowned.

"Dei, I already told you that I like you and hindi nabago yun despite what happened last night. I admit I overreacted and I'm really sorry. I just really have trust issues that I need to work on. I hope we can work together para maintindihan natin kung anong nangyayari between us." He explained earnestly.

"RJ, I also have my own trust issues and hindi talaga madali para sa akin na mag-open up sa iba about how I really feel." She answered softly.

"I know and I really appreciate you telling me..." He answered back while staring at her eyes intently.

"So how do you propose we do that?" She asked him while looking straight to his eyes. He has this dark look in his eyes as he stared back.m

"Have dinner with me tonight...but you should put back on first your cover up."