The Gangster Princess

Chapter 19

Chapter 19:Beneath the Sun, Beside You

Aisha Fancy Lee

The sun kissed my skin as the salty breeze danced through my hair. I closed my eyes, taking it all in. Finally. After weeks of stress, pressure, and pagod, nandito na kami sa beach ni Reid. Vacation mode: officially activated. Bakasyon na kami ni Reid—finally, after everything. Just the two of us. Well, and his friends. Pero still, it’s gonna be fun.

I looked to my side, and there he was—driving, one hand on the wheel, the other resting on his lap, casually stealing glances at me as if I wouldn’t notice.

“Excited ka naman masyado,” Reid chuckled as he glanced at me from the driver’s seat. His voice was calm, but his lips couldn’t hide that smile he always gives when he’s looking at me.
That signature half-smirk that never failed to make my heart skip a beat.

I leaned my head against the headrest and beamed. “Syempre naman. First beach trip natin ‘to, and kasama pa kita. Who wouldn't be excited?”

He chuckled softly, eyes back on the road but the smile never leaving his lips. “You’re cute when you’re this happy.

I pretended to gag. “Cheesy mo, gago.”

But deep inside? I was melting.

☽ a//z ☾

Nasa boutique kami hours earlier, shopping for essentials. Swimsuit, sunblock, snacks, drinks—lahat.
I tried to act chill, pero when I saw the perfect black one-piece swimsuit na fitted sa waist with a crisscross back? Gusto kong isigaw: This is the one!

At habang nasa boutique kami, I caught myself glancing at his friends. Okay, fine. They’re kinda good-looking. Especially the one with the jawline and tattoos—very much my aesthetic. Pero hala, lahat sila single?

Parang imposible.

Reid was standing a few feet away with his friends, waiting. And yes, they were all kinda attractive in their own way. Pero kahit pa may jawline si kuya sa left at may dimple si kuya sa right, my eyes still went back to him.

Reid caught me looking.

“Tss. Don’t look at them like that,” he muttered as he walked over. “You only need to look at me.”

I raised an eyebrow. “And why would I do that?”

“Because you like me. Obviously.”

I laughed, then tugged at his shirt collar just enough to pull him close for a kiss. His arms wrapped around me like it was instinct. Our lips met, soft and familiar.

“I love you,” I whispered against his lips.

He pulled away just enough to smile. “Wrong.”

I blinked. “Huh?”

“I love you more.”

Sabay sigaw ng tropa niya from the background, “PDA alert!”

We laughed like fools in love. And honestly? That’s exactly what we were.

☽ a//z ☾

The moment we arrived, I swear I forgot every single problem I had.

The resort was tucked between towering coconut trees and the endless stretch of golden sand. The salty air wrapped around my skin like a soft, warm blanket, while the sound of waves crashing onto the shore made everything feel so peaceful. It was the kind of place you’d see in travel magazines—except better, kasi kasama ko si Reid.