52
The crew didn't return back to the guest house until it was dark, and everyone kept talking about how exciting, riding the ferris wheel had been as they walked back to the guest house.
Josh and Tahti, who had walked ahead of the guests, were surprised to see Janine, who was seated at the entrance of the guesthouse. "Janine? Why are you here?" Josh asked as they approached and she rose with a smile.
"I came to help out."
"Thanks, but is that really it?" Josh asked, knowing his little cousin better than to come over to assist.
"No. I was bored so I wanted to join." She replied and he exhaled.
"You should go back home, Janine. You'll bother the guests..." Josh was saying and Tahti nudged him.
"Why are you being so mean?" She asked before she turned back to look at her. "Did you fix the bike?"
"Sure."
"Who's the prettiest among us all?" Someone yelled from the crew as they approached and without having to turn to see who it was, Tahti knew it was Jennie.
"Hey the ferris wheel was..."
"Tahti, who's that guy?" Janine asked with her eyes glowing as she stared at someone. Tahti followed her eyes to see she was staring at Demir and she turned back to look at her as if to warn her, but changed her mind on seeing the sparkle in her eyes. It had just been like when she had seen Demir for the first time
"He's my junior."
"Hey, do I look like I grew up cooking?" Herley asked.
"He's not a theatre major student? Whoa...I should transfer to your university." Janine replied and waked towards him, once he was in front of the guesthouse.
"Hi, I'm Janine Daniels." She smiled as she stretched out a hand for a handshake.
He looked down at her hand for a minute, before raising his eyes to take her hand.
"I'm Demir Wilson."
Tahti noticed Janine's smile widened and Demir could not take his eyes off her.
Like, are you serious? She wanted to ask. A while ago, he sounded like he'd missed her and here he was, flirting with another girl, right in front of her.
"Tahti, can you help me out?" Josh asked and she turned to him, a little thankful for the diversion.
"Of course."
"Did you have dinner?" She heard Janine ask, on her way inside to get some vegetables. "Not yet." He replied.
"Then, we can have dinner together."
"Hey, could you show us some of the pictures you took at the park?" Jasmine asked, on their way in and Josh glanced at Tahti, before he turned back to them.
"I..."
"It's okay. You should show them. I'll get the vegetable." She applied and headed for the kitchen as they rose to crowd him.
"My tab is inside, though."
"We'll wait out here, then." Chris replied, before he walked in to fetch his tablet.
The guys were waiting outside for him when he returned with the tablet and they settled down to view the pictures they had taken earlier.
"How are you so good at taking pictures, Josh?" Jasmine gushed, on seeing the pictures.
"You're such a good photographer..." Ramiel started. "But I didn't look good in this one." "They are also good."
"I'll send them to your emails later on." Josh said.
"Sure, thanks." Chris said and Josh handled the tablet to them and was out of about to walk towards the kitchen to assist Tahti, when April walked over with a smile.
"Here." She said and handed him a bottle of multivitamins. "I got this at a store, a few metres from here. You must feel a little tired, after all the pictures you had to take at the amusement park, so got you this." She replied.
"Oh, thanks."He replied as he received it.
"It's nothing. I just want you to remember I gave you this." She replied, with a smile which he returned back, wondering why she said that.
Sol and Derek on the other hand were grilling meat over an open fire at a corner in the yard and Sol kept turning at intervals to check on Jennie, who'd been drinking with Herley, for a while.
"Let's click glasses." Jennie said and Herley raised his glasses to click against hers, before she downed its' contents.
"Hey, you have been drinking without eating anything." Herley protested as he dropped his bottle.
"Come on, let's drink some more." She smiled, picking up her bottle to take another gulp and Herley shook his head and she lowered the bottle, a couple of seconds later. Apparently she'd had too much to drink.
"Sol, meat." Jennie yelled out and Sol turned to back to look at her.
"It's almost done."
"You're not even helping out." Herley scolded as he rose to walk towards them and Sol returned to her attention to the meat, before it got burnt.
"Sol, do you need any help?"
"No. It's fine." She replied and Herley turned to Derek, hoping he could give him a moment so he could be with Sol.
"What about you? Do you need any help?" "Just stay back. You're bothering us." Derek retorted and Herley eyed him, upset.
"Just stay back.You're bothering us." He micmicked and returned to his seat. "Hey, just sit quietly and don't bother Sol. Just keep drinking."
Sol sighed as she turned back to see Jennie drinking again and she feared she might get a black out if she kept thinking.
"This smells nice." April said as she made her way towards the them.
"It's almost ready." Sol told her and April picked up, a slice of the grilled meat and raised it to feed Derek, who turned away.
Disappointed, she turned round to see Herley, who opened his mouth on seeing the treat she was holding, a gesture which she understood well. Rolling her eyes, she walked over to deposit it in his mouth.
Tahti returned outside to sort out the vegetables they'd be having for dinner that night. She kept glancing at Demir and Janine, from time to time to find her grinning from ear to ear every single time.
"Do you like the moon?" Janine asked and she turned her head in time to see Demir lower his head from looking up at the sky.
"Yeah." He replied.
"Do you like the crescent moon or the full moon?"
Her attention was diverted, for a second when the crew cheered and she turned to see it was because the meat was ready.
"I just like it..." Her attention returned back to Demir when she heard him say. "..if it comes with a lot of stars."
As if he knew she was looking at him, his eyes moved to lock with hers for a split second, before she lowered them to resume sorting out the lettuce, wondering why she felt upset, even after they had nothing to do with each other.
"Are you jealous?"
Her head whipped round to see April settle herself beside her.
"What are you talking about?" She asked as she tore her eyes off her friend, trying to sound like nonchalant about the situation. "Demir has a new target now."
"I don't care." She lied, and was grateful she was turning her back to April. She would have been able to tell she was lying.
She expected the would leave but she was surprised when she hadn't moved in muscle. "What is it?" She asked, on turning to see April's arched brow.
"Why do you keep avoiding him?" She asked and she threw a glance at Demir, who'd resumed his conversation with Janine.
"When did I avoid him?"
"Don't lie. For God's sake, I need to know what is going on, to keep things in order,okay? Everyone is here to have a fun time. You two, keep ruining the fun."
She was right, though. Even though no one had said anything, she knew they'd noticed the awkwardness between her and Demir.
"I'll be careful." She replied and April leaned closer in conspiracy.
"So tell me, did something happen with him in the ferris wheel?"
"No." She said. "We were just looking at the view."
"You're such a bad liar."
"Nothing happened, okay? So, stop jumping into conclusions."
"Is it because of Josh?" April suddenly asked and her eyes moved to Josh, where he was seated with a few of her course mates.
"He's charming. I wouldn't mind if you went after him, but why not Demir?"
"Demir has a girlfriend." She blurted, without thinking.
"What?" April yelled and Tahti was quick to clasp a hand over her mouth, before someone heard her.
"Be quiet, would you?" She bit out through clenched teeth and April pointed to her hand before she slowly lowered it.
"Really? Who?" She asked, with eyes glowing with curiosity.
"I don't know but he does. So stop talking about us like that." She replied.
"But that's impossible...Demir has a girlfriend for real?"
"Shut up." She told her, before she rose to walk towards the kitchen to return the sorted lettuce. Joshua met her halfway and took the tray from her.
"You were quite fast."
"Yeah." she smiled.
"They look like newlyweds." Herley whispered to a tipsy Jennie, before clearing his throat to yell. "I wish you guys a happy marriage."
"You are so ridiculous."Jennie said and April walked over to give her a tap on the head, hoping it would reset her brain.
"I feel you are the clueless one."
"But I wanted to know. How did you come to know Tahti?" Ramiel asked as Josh smiled.
"We were childhood and neighborhood friends." He replied and the gang cheered in excitement.
"Childhood and neighborhood friends? I love stories like that.Friends, first love...stuff like that...It sounds like a romantic drama." Jasmine said.
Tahti rolled her eyes, wishing she hadn't come. "Come on, it's not like that." She replied.
"It's true that Tahti's my first love." He suddenly said and that sent Tahti's head jerking up to look at him, shock written all over her face.
"Like seriously?"
"I think you too should get married." Herley cheered and Tahti nudged him in the guys, which sent him bending over in a chuckle.
"Are you drunk? Why would you say that?"
"It's the truth though." He replied and she glanced at Demir, who wore a grim look on his face, looking like the news had upset him. Sighing, she turned to take back the tray from him before walking in.
