Chapter 7 Meet Them

Meet Them

I clenched my fists and glared at the bird flying over the waves. The bird turned to me and broke its own wing. The bird cried before it dived under the waves. And I was supposedly be sympathetic of that little thing but I couldn't. I still thought of Lyndon's words about the prior murder case in Argao because I was there.

I AM CURRENTLY reading CareLikeGoldFish's work. The book is a mystery-thriller and even without romance, I couldn't stop reading it whole because the scenes are so familiar, it's like I've seen them before.

Just like the scene where the main character shot his friend. It's the same as what I saw there in Boljoon two months ago.

Wifi suddenly died. I blinked and came out of the room with a dark expression. I was about to go straight to the kitchen because I knew Mama was the one with the plan, but suddenly I heard laughter and someone's calling my name in the living room. I turned my head to the sofa and I saw Mama with someone, the Vine band members.

I froze in place. What is Tiden doing here?

Mama folded her arms. "Come here, Joy. They told me you know them."

"O-Okay..."

I held my own breath when Tiden and I stared at each other. I swallowed the lump in my throat. My chest heaved with excitement, but I was nervous because I knew Mama was against me being a fan girl. What if she'll know that my idols are in front of her? What will she do?

"Hi. W-what are you doing here?" I asked with a smile.

Mama's eyes narrowed. "You better talk to them and eat afterwards so you can study upstairs."

I nodded. She excused herself to Vine and went upstairs first. I waited for Mama's figure to disappear before looking at Tiden. "What are you doing here?" I asked again, glancing at Levi. He was looking down at his phone he's holding, not even giving me a slight glance. "And you know where El Grande is, Tiden?"

The last time I checked, he didn't know where El Grande's location.

He smiled then stood up and walked towards me. "June brought us here. I didn't know El Grande was in the Arbor."

"I see," I said and glanced at Levi from time to time. He didn't even look up at me, as if I wasn't in front of him. Sighing, I give up. Maybe he'll only look up when Nicole's around. "You should have told you were going to visit. I should have dressed in better clothes."

"There's no need. You're beautiful no matter what you wear," Tiden said and winked.

My cheeks heated up at his words and I looked away. Hearing him praise me in front of Levi's embarrassing. "What do you mean by this?" I asked.

He smiled. "Vine wants to meet you. Also, I can't reach your number." And his wide smile disappeared from his lips when he remembred something. Tiden coughed a bit and scratched his nape. "I'll buy you a new one," he promised.

I remembered that afternoon at the dock where he and Lyndon had a little argument. I sighed and shrugged my shoulders. "Actually, someone bought a new phone."

"Who bought it? Is it the guy?" Tiden asked.

I knew he was talking about Lyndon so I shook my head. "My other... friend."

Kervy's courting me but I always ignore his advances so maybe it's not bad to refer him as my friend. My lips twitched and decided to change the topic. "Did you asked permission from your manager?" I pursed my lips. "You are not allowed to go to a place that is not listed on your sched."

Tiden grinned and put his arm around me. "Actually, June and I were the only two who wanted to visit you but the two came along. See them?" he asked and pointed a finger to Levi and Ariel. "They didn't even say hi to you, did they? Ignore them then. June and I will tell you something."

Because he said it, I didn't try to say hi to Levi. I wanted to pay attention to him so he could see me, but it would be embarrassing if I did. Then, I faced June with a frown. "What do you mean?"

June raised his eyebrow at the tone of my voice but he didn't look at me. "Come with us to Club Fort Med. We'll be there for a few days."

"Are you serious?" I asked and huffed. "Your manager won't allow it, okay?"

"We get our permission from Maingey. She's fine with having you," June said.

I blinked twice. Am I hearing him right? I opened my mouth to ask more but someone suddenly interrupted our conversation. "June, Tiden."

I looked at the one who spoke and saw it was Ariel. He smiled as he stepped closer to us. When I saw him face to face, I froze. I wanted to ask Ariel a question but I couldn't find my own voice. I just returned to myself when June introduced me to Ariel. "This is Rishel, she's our friend. Rishel, you know him but I'll still introduce him as formality." June winked at me. "He's Ariel, our friend and one of Vine's members."

"O-Of course," I whispered and swallowed hard. I looked away when Ariel and I locked eyes. For a while, I felt uncomfortable under his gaze. "Nice to meet you," I said although it's half-hearted.

My mind wandered back to what I saw that night in Boljoon two months ago. Seeing Ariel standing in front of me while grinning widely, I could not help but to feel chill ran down my spine. If only I could erase the memory of that night, I might be more than willing to meet him.

Ariel flashed his sweet smile at me. "Pleasure to meet you too, Miss." His smile grew wide when he noticed that I avoided his gaze. The hair on the back of my neck suddenly stood up. I don't know why his malicious eyes lingered in my face before he averted his gaze. Only then I could breathe easy. "I remember you are that drenched girl in the dock." He clicked his tongue. "Such a pity. You failed to catch Levi's attention."

I blinked at what he said. Did he think I was acting to get Levi's attention so I let myself fell into the sea with that guy?

Well, I kinda liked it but who would want to throw themselves into the freezing sea at dusk?

I glanced at Levi but his eyes were still focused on his phone. Huh, I felt bitter inside. Of course. Who was I for him to give attention, right?

I denied Ariel's accusation. "It's an accident."

He just shrugged his shoulders. That silly smile on his lips told me that he didn't believe my excuse. "As for compensation, follow us in Club Fort Med," he said and looked over me from head to toe. "Tiden and June told me that you are reserved. It seems they were not mistaken." He clicked his tongue again. "Modest girl is my type."

The corner of my lips twitched at his words. I glanced at Tiden, we understood each other. He looked at me apologetically before facing Ariel. "Dude, I'll bid goodbye to Rishel first."

I thought he was going to sulk but he suddenly smiled and gestured Tiden to do what he wanted. So Tiden hurriedly looked for Mama on the second floor. I was surprised by his initiative to look for my mother since it's his first time to visit El Grande. Also, I'm afraid that Mama won't take it well knowing that Tiden had the guts to climb upstairs. That floor's where the bedrooms are so it's inappropriate for a guest to roam over there.

But Tiden had already climbed the stairs and it's rude if I ask him to come back and left my three guests in the living room. So I couldn't do anything but to wait for my Tiden's arrival and mother's decision.

I saw at the corner of my eyes how Ariel was looking at me and grinning from time to time, like he was watching a good show with me as the main character. It was disturbing so I sat beside June and made sure that Ariel could't see me directly from where he was sitting at.

"Don't hide from me, Rishel. Are you afraid?" Ariel asked, clearly teasing me.

June frowned and pulled me closer to him, tapping my shoulder to calm me down. "Stop playing pervert, dude. You can screw girls except Rishel."

Ariel laughed and shook his jead. "I'm just kidding, bro. Don't take it seriously!"

But that grin told me that he meant it when he said I'm his type. Tch. I never thought Ariel would be so shrewd. Remembering what happened two months ago, I decided to not bother with his advances and just treat him as an annoying fly although the terror in that night never left me.

"Rishel, are you alright?" June asked when he noticed my pale face.

I smiled wryly at him and nodded. "I'm fine. By the way," I said and looked at Ariel, secretly glancing at Levi's direction. "Nicole's not here."

"That..." Ariel winced.