STRANGE FEELINGS

The warmth coming from the sun awakened me. I can hear the clamor and babble from below. The door opened revealing Lei with her damp hair and a towel in her hand, they are probably done swimming.

"Oh, I'm about to wake you up. Fix yourself, they were eating breakfast already."

I nodded with my half close eyes, feeling a bit somnolent.

"What the hell is your problem?!" I grumbled when she throws her wet towel right on my face.

She giggled. "I told you to get up already, stop lumping around."

"You could have tell me properly," I said irately while walking through the bathroom's sink.

"You're so grumpy."

After washing my face and combing my hair, we climb down the stairs.

"Oh, Lauren and Lei, get some foods," Claire said while holding a ladle and wearing an apron.

"Woah, you cook all of these, Claire?" Lai asked as we sat on the chair.

"Yeah, Ethan and Alexandria helped me though."

Lei raised her eyebrows and turn to Ethan who's feasting on the roasted chicken.

He seemed to notice my best friend's stare. "What?"

"You know how to cook, Ethan?"

The latter wipes his lips and pouted. "You seem ambivalent, you're seriously hurting my feelings, Lei," he said in a dramatic tone. We can't help but to laugh at his childishness.

"I didn't know that you can do other things aside from screwing girls in bed."

Our chortling became louder.

"Hey, that's below the belt," Ethan retorted, acting offended. Lei just sticks her tongue out.

Now I can see why they are very close to each other, they share the same brain cells and both juvenile.

We're in the verge of eating when Asher opened a topic. "What are your plans after we graduate from high school guys? Have you decided the course you want to take?"

"I'll probably stay in the university and take a business related course."

"Architecture is the most suitable course for me, so I guess I'll take it."

"Nursing would be good."

They all answered simultenously. For a moment, I felt a pang of pity for myself. I'm envious of these people around me who are already certain with the path that they are going to take.

"How about you, Amber?" Claire suddenly asked. Our attention were fixated on her.

She rolled her eyes and look outside. "I badly want enter the fashion industry but I'm pretty sure my parents won't support me. They want me to take business course as well." She failed to hide the sadness on her voice. "Anyway, stop asking questions," she continued with a frown.

I stare at her for a moment. The downside of coming from a prominent family, the encumbrance and responsibility to maintain the leverage and sparkle of your name is in your shoulder. I shrugged my shoulders, I really need to stop meddling with other people's lives.

After we finished our lunch, we sit on the fine sand near the coast. My feat is enjoying playing with the sands when someone sit beside me, it's Pierce with a cigarette in his lips. My face immediately puckered. I moved an inch from him and cough.

"If you're just here to annoy me, better leave. I'm relishing the beauty of this island."

He chuckled and blow out a smoke before stomping the cigarette. He probably noticed my uneasiness.

"Thought you need a company," he said.

"Thanks but no thanks, I'm better alone."

"Are you that mean to everyone or just to me?"

"I'm only rude to obnoxious people," I fired at him.

"So you're saying that I am an awful person?" He asked, eyes wide and acting offended.

I laugh at his reaction. "I didn't say that, you did."

He sulked and throw a pinch of sand on my feet. "You are so mean."

Silence rose between the two of us, but it's not an awkward silence, it's more of a soothing silence honestly. With the calming sound of the wave, the laughter of our classmates while enjoying the water and the sea breeze brushing against our skin, it's indeed tranquilizing.

"But seriously, why do you seem distant and sour whenever I'm around. As far as I remember, I haven't done anything bad to you." He sounds serious.

I look at him and sigh. "You will probably get offended about this, but your arrogance irks me the most. Not to mention that you're a womanizer as well," I mumbled.

He laughs bitterly, his smile didn't reach his eyes as he gaze at me. "All of you think that I'm a good for nothing jerk who does kiss and tell."

He stands up and looks at me again. "I thought you are different from them. Guess I am wrong." His voice is lace with resentment and dismay.

Damn, I suddenly feel bad. Did I went overboard?

I want to stop him and say sorry but he's already sitting beside his other friends. I just let out a heavy sigh. Guilt is engulfing my entire system as I watch him from afar, laughing with his friends.

"He likes you." I was startled when Aeron speaks behind me. I look at him with a creased forehead.

I don't remember being in talking terms with this man.

"W-what are you talking about?"

"Sloane, he likes you, I can feel it."

My mouth fell open, completely surprised with what he just said. "Are you insane? Sloane doesn't like me, stop imagining things."

He just shrugged his shoulder. "It's up to you if you don't want to believe me. I'm a guy too, Lauren, that's why I know whenever a guy likes someone else."

I sighed. "That just doesn't make sense, Aeron. We're in the opposite sides of the pole. Sloane liking me is like counting stars, that's impossible." I explained, trying to calm down.

He looks at me with a ghost smile and walk away. What's wrong with these people really?

I shake my head and drizzle sands on my feet. "Sloane likes me? That's absurd, Aeron is out of his mind."

•••••

The evening cast long shadows on the ground. The warm orange tinge on the sky are slowly fading underneath the gloom. The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky.

I looked up at the blanket of stars that stretched to infinity. The fire is dancing in perfect harmony along with the harsh whisper of the wind. It's astonishing too see the fiery reflection on our tardy eyes. The bonfire that we made lights up the night as the calming sound of ocean waves serenades our ears in complete silence.

"Guys, let's play a game!" It was Amber who's holding a bottle in her hands.

"Let me guess, it's the cliché truth and dare again."

She rolled her eyes at Ashley's remarks. "Stop complaining, Ash. Anyways, let's switch place, we can't play the game with the bonfire in the middle."

All of us followed her and gathered in circle. I noticed the boys holding bottles of beer with them. Are they even allowed to drink liquors already?

"I know you guys already know the drill. So, let's start." She spins the bottle, and it was pointed at Ethan, with Sloane asking a question.

"Buena mano huh? Dare," he said with a snigger.

"You are intrepid, let's see." He put his fingers on his chin and smirk. "Kiss your twin."

Ethan's face immediately turned red. "What the fuck, dude? Are you crazy?!"

We all chuckled at his resentment,

Sloane just shrugged his shoulder. "No shit, Sherlock. You need to do it."

"Fuck you Sloane. Just wait for my payback." He stands up and walk towards his twin. The girls squealed as he holds his twin's face.

"I can't believe I'll be witnessing a live yaoi."

"That should be a French kiss!"

"Sweet home Alabama!"

They all teased that makes Ethan's face more crumpled.

"Dude, close your eyes. I don't want to see your ugly face while kissing you."

Evan just laughed and closed his eyes. "We're twins, you dope. If I'm ugly then you are hideous too," he retaliated.

Ethan, with his disgusted face, slowly inched towards his twin, and their lips eventually meet. I pouted when the kiss didn't even last five seconds, that should be longer.

They almost died laughing when Ethan stamp his foot and wipe his lips aggressively.

"Your lips is so rough, Evan."

"And your breath stinks, you moron."

When we recovered from the laughter, the game continues, and this time, it was pointed to Amber.

"So, Amber, do you like someone from our class?" Alexandria asked her.

She smirks. "Yes," she answered proudly and looked at Sloane's direction. They all noticed it and started teasing them. He doesn't seem to mind it though, while Amber is already blushing on her spot.

The game resumes, some ask intrusive questions and give bold dares.

"Oh, your turn, Lauren." Asher suddenly said that makes me tensed a bit, not because I'm caught up in heat, but because Lorelei is smirking at me. The rear end of the bottle is pointing at her, and the head is pointing at me.

Damn, I'm screwed, I just know that something crazy is running in her twisted mind.

I scoffed. "T-Truth."

Lei's smile grew even wider, she seriously looks like a psycho right now.

"So Lauren, if Pierce asks you to be his girlfriend, what would be your answer?"

Blood immediately rush up to my cheeks. I shoot daggers at her. Why does she keep on insisting that I like Pierce? Damn this neurotic woman.

"Come on, we're waiting, best friend," she teased.

I cleared my throat and looks at them. "Pierce is handsome, he's a good man as well. But I'm not interested in entering a romantic relationship with anyone else."

"Aw, Mr. Goody shoes was rejected." Ethan teased him that makes everyone laugh, including Pierce.

Lorelei scoffed. "That's not the answer I'm expecting. Anyways, your turn to spin," she said and handed me the bottle.

I grinned at her before spinning the bottle. Ethan laughs like a maniac when the bottle pointed Sloane and him.

He rub his hands and looks at Sloane. "Truth or dare, you bastard."

"Dare."

Ethan's grin became wider, why does it reminds of joker? Kidding.

"You dauntless moron. Now, sing your heart out."

All of us stared at him in confusion. He chuckled. "Dedicate a song to someone you like."

I think Sloane was already tipsy because he grabs the guitar from Pierce's hands without any hesitations and started strumming.

They all cheered for him, I even saw Ashley teasing her friend, Amber, who's now blushing.

Sloane closes his eyes and starts singing.

I love you, need you

need you here to stay

Girl, you're on my mind

like twenty four seven

Every single time that

I'm not with you

If you spend the night,

baby it could be heaven

Hit me on my line if

you're tryna come through

The surrounding became silent. I was surprised, not expecting that he has a beautiful voice. Our gaze were fixated on him, singing his heart out and feeling the rhythm of the song.

I feel my heartbeat

bumpin' to the bass

She give me butterflies

and they won't go away

Under the stars, she

took my hand and said

Love you, need you,

need you here to stay

His baritone voice is full of emotions, he seems adrift of the reality, his soul became one with the music. It sounds jovial enough, but listening to him sing those lines stirs an unsettling feeling inside me.

His voice sounds like a lullaby pulling me to a deep sleep. I couldn't tear off my gaze on him. He looks so ethereal on that very moment. The way his hair dances along the breeze and the way his fingers perfectly play with the strings of the guitar as he sing his heart out, it screams perfection. That time, I felt like as if space and time become the finest point imaginable.

Suddenly, he opened his eyes, his gaze meeting mine.

I'd like to give you what you need

I try, but you're makin' it hard for me

How do I make you believe?

The way he sang those words anchored my soul with tranquility.

I hate this, I don't like the fervor coursing through my veins and the tingling sensation I'm feeling while I'm looking at him, I don't like these perplexing emotions one bit.

He smiles out of the sudden, and all the aversions I had earlier fade away like a dust in the wind. As if spell bound, I sing the last words with him.

Cause I love you, need you, need you here to stay.