Our favorite place (Book 1 and 2)

Eight

"So we went out that night and did some catch up. Sometime later, she emailed and called me and convinced me to go back here and be part of their coaching staff." Deanna continued as she sip on her bottle of beer.

They changed venue from the chaise to the bar upstairs. Jema didn't know why she agreed to this, but she already did.

"Hmmm." She still can't believe they are talking like nothing happened!!

"But I also came back here cause... I need to do something, I need to uh.. claim something. And reclaim some.. something. Volleyball and coaching is just a sideline." Deanna said.

Jema was about to ask what was it but she shut her mouth again and just nodded in silence. She don't want to snoop into others business.

They talked until they each consumed 3 bottles of beer. By that time Jema realized that she drunk alcohol again. She remember the last time she drunk was because of her recent ex, which is by the way in here in the same "yacht" as she is.

Deanna looked at the clock near the counter. It was 10:30am. "We are near."

3 hours travel, she didn't felt the expected boredom because she was talking with Deanna the whole time. They went outside to look at the island. Deanna seems to know her way around the "yacht" because she know how to get to the top of it. When it was confirmed that they are near, they went their separate ways and get back to their rooms.

When she got there, she saw Bea and Jia sleeping, Drunk love birds, Jema said to herself. She can feel 6 eyes looking and smiling at her. Den, Ced, Maddie. She said that they are near so they got their bags to prepare for departure.

She heard Ced singing "Muling ibalik" but she just disregarded it. None of the other 3 attempted to wake up Bea and Jia, so Jema smelled revenge.

In one swift move she pulled the blanket that was covering their hugging bodies.

"WHAT ON EARTH!"
"WHAT THE FUCK!"

They both shouted and Jema was running outside before she could hear what Bea has to say more. She was running and looking at her back when she stumbled and fell. Shit, ang clumsy mo naman Jema. But, as she was expecting a hard fall, she instead fell into a soft thing, no, she fell into someone. Someone familiar.

It was soft, indeed soft, when she opened her eyes, her face is in between a pair of breast, she looked up and her eyes were met by a pair of eyes that was the same reaction as hers. Shock and embarrassment.

"JEMA.. well well well, karma is indeed digital these days." Bea said as she tried to run after Jema.

"Oh shit, fuck. Sorry. B.. uh.. Izabella, sorry. Fuck. Sorry talaga. Si Bea kasi hi.." she sat and tried to stand up.

"It's okay. I was going to ask Bea to come with me kasi." She cut Jema off and tried to help her to stand up.

Bea laughed. "Sige sige lalabas.. Eh kung kayong dalawa na lang kaya yung mag sabay?"

Jema raised her brow at Bea before looking at Deanna who is already looking at her. "Is it okay with you, Margarett?" Deanna asked her.

"Uhh. Yea. Ayaw ko den naman nang makisabay jan sa dalawang yan. Nabubully lang ako ng todo." They walked towards the exit.

"Did you just called me.." She just realized that she called her with their endearment. 'B'. She immediately cut Deanna off.

"Yes, slip of the tongue, force of habit. So shut up." Deanna chuckled and continued walking with Jema.

Bea laughed while looking at Jema and Deanna walking side by side. She went back inside they cabin still smiling. Jia raised her brows and Bea filled her with the details.

After they depart the "yacht" they were accompanied by someone who was talking to Deanna. She clearly knows her way around here. After some instructions they started to walk, by team of course. Deanna went back to her team, so is Bea. Jema, always on the side of her Ate Den in case Fhen would try to talk to her.

After 30 minutes of walk they arrived at the sweet spot of the island, their accommodation. Four houses, facing the beach, at the back is the indoor court, where they will spend most of their time here. Then at the side of it is a covered court, more like a clubhouse, where there is a pool and a place to hang out.

All of the players wowed in amusement. They went inside the court first as per the head coaches' instruction. When all was settled, Deanna stepped up the podium with a megaphone on her shoulder.

"Good afternoon everyone. This is Kuya Rod. He is the head caretaker of this island, my island." A lot murmured and a lot was shocked. Jema was one of the latter.

She. Was. The. Owner?!!

She snapped her head to Jia who was also shocked and shrugged and mouthed 'I didn't know'. She tried to look for Bea but she can't.

"In case that you need anything just let Kuya Rod or me know. Questions so far?"

"Wala ba talagang signal dito?" Bang Pineda asked.

"I like to keep it old fashioned, but sometimes kailangan ko den. There is a cell tower installed 5 kilometers from here and is running in strict schedule of 3pm to 5pm ONLY." She emphasized the ONLY word. "No exemptions. So if you need to do your online business. Do it at that time. Questions?"

"Kelan dadating yung food?" Ella De Jesus shouted and all are laughing. Knowing Ella, food is all for her. Food is life.

Deanna chucked. "I know that you will ask that Ate Ella. The food was already waiting at the beach front. We can settle ourselves first and then meet afte.." Coach O approached her and whispered something. "Coach said that we will start the training tomorrow morning. So you can enjoy muna today. Let's meet for brunch in 15 minutes."

Everybody scram and laughed as they saw Ella running towards the door almost stumbling in the process. Before Jema go to the room, she approached Deanna.

"Iba naman pala talaga ang isang Ma. Deanna Izabella Wong." She bumped her shoulder intentionally.

"Huh?"

"Ano ba talagang nangyari sayo sa states? Nagbebenta ka ata ng drugs dun eh."

She laughed on what Jema suspected. "No. Like I told you, I studied there."

"Well you must be a freaking queen to own an island, right?"

"It was a gift. From... someone special." She took her bags and walk with Jema.

"Hmm." She hummed. Well that should not hurt me. But it did. She disregard her feelings and continued. "So this is what you will "claim"." Jema air quoted.

"Yea. Hehe. She past away exactly four years ago."

"Ohh. S-Sorry. What happened?"

"It's a story for another time." As they arrived at the second house, which has a paper that says Creamline Cool Smashers. "This is you." She pointed using her mouth.

"Oh. Saan ka?"

"Third."

"Okay. Well, see you later."

"See you later, Margarett." She turned around, feeling giddy.

"See you, Izabella." She turned around, smile on her face.