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Lunes, Hulyo 09, 2012

A Rose, A Ring and A Promise: Chapter 10


Chapter 10


            “You never loved Sean, Sapphire.”

            Sapphire looked at the waters lapping at her feet as she was walking along the shore.

            Em's word brought another memory back to her, something Sean said before that she didn't understand.

            “You're with me but it feels like you're not here. There are times that I feel like I really don't know you.”

            She had laughed at him and teased him then. She thought he was just being cute but after hearing Em's words, she finally understood him.

            So that's what he meant.

            “Ah whatever! I'm here to enjoy and that's what I'm gonna do! Energy level boost!!!” She shouted, making the people at the beach look at her direction. “Oops.”

            “Excellent Peptalk.”

            Sapphire turned around. “Tristan! What are you doing here?”

            “Taking a break at all the boring stuff.” He smiled at her. “Good thing I did. Otherwise, I would have missed out on that interesting outburst.”

            She laughed, embarrased. “I would have preferred that you didn't witness that.” She walked towards him, “Did you come with friends?”

            “Nah. I came with Chris.”

            “Chris? Then where is he now?”

            “Having fun of course.”

            “By having fun, you mean fun with girls right?” Sapphire grinned.

            Tristan clutched his chest dramatically, “You wound me, Sapphire. You think we're heartless playboys?”

            “Well, I don't know about the 'heartless' but you are playboys.”

            Tristan laughed. “I can't argue about that.”

            “Oh wait, you should join us for breakfast!” Sapphire clapped her hands excitedly. “Em, Amanda, Bryce, Brad, Ken and Nat are with me.”

            “If it's okay with everyone then sure.”

            “Oh I'm sure it's fine with the others. The more the merrier!” Sapphire said excitedly.

            “So you're here,” Bryce, who was walking towards them said.

            Tristan was surprised when instead of her usual bright smile and cheery greetings, Sapphire avoided Bryce's eyes. Hmm? What's wrong with Sapphire?

            Bryce seemed to have the same question because he furrowed his eyebrows. “Sapphire? Are you okay?” Then he finally acknowledged Tristan's presence by saying in a threatening tone, “What did you do, Tristan?”

            “Chill out Bryce! I didn't do anything. She was fine until–”

            His sentence was cut off when Sapphire touched his arm and looked at him pleadingly as if saying, Please don't say anything else. Then she turned to Bryce. “I'm fine, Bryce. Let's go. Everyone's waiting right?”

            Sapphire pulled Tristan along as she walked on ahead.

            Bryce looked at the two in a puzzled frown.

            “There you are Sapphire! We were getting hungry, you know,” Em said when she saw her best friend. Then she noticed Tristan. “Tristan! What are you doing here?”

            Tristan laughed. “You two are really best friends. Are you sure you're not twins?”

            “What is this crazy person talking about?” Em asked her bestfriend.

            “Oh, I said the exact same thing as you did when I saw him by the beach.”

            “Ah. Well, isn't that what a person would normally say?”

            “He isn't normal?” Sapphire offered as an explanation, grinning.

            The three of them laughed.

            “Hey what's the joke?” Brad asked from the table the rest of their friends were occupying.

            “Yeah, what's so funny?” Nat asked.

            Ken yawned, dropped his head on the table and closed his eyes.

            “Hey Ken, don't sleep here!” Amanda scolded him.

            “Would you guys mind if Tristan join us? I thought it'll be more fun with one more person in the group.”

            Everyone said they didn't mind.

            Everyone except Bryce. “Won't you miss the girls in Manila, Tristan?” He asked.

            Tristan laughed. “Not at all Bryce. I just thought I'd find someone even more beautiful here.” He turned to Sapphire. “Guess I was right.”

            “Argh, there he goes again,” Nat groaned.

            “Smooth lines as always,” Brad said.

            “I can't take this sappiness! Better go to the ladies room than listen to you, Tristan,” Em said then left.

            Sapphire laughed. “Unfortunately, my bladder agrees with Em. I'll be right back. Hey Em, wait for me!” Sapphire followed her best friend.

            Tristan watched Sapphire go with an amused smile on his lips. She's one interesting girl.

            “Sapphire is off-limits, you playboy!” Ken, who was now fully awake, warned Tristan.

            “Speak for yourself Ken and why is Sapphire off-limits?” Tristan asked.

            Ken looked at Bryce pointedly.

            Amanda, Brad and Nat nodded as if in agreement to the silent message.

             “Is Sapphire your girlfriend?” Tristan asked looking directly at Bryce.

            Bryce stared right back and gritted his teeth. “No.”

            “Does she have a boyfriend?” Tristan asked again.

            “No.” This time, it was Brad who answered.

            “In that case, she's fair game.”

            “Sapphire is not a game,” Bryce said darkly.

            Amanda looked at her brother worriedly.

            “Oh, you didn't order yet?” Sapphire's voice broke the awkward silence that surrounded the table for minutes after Bryce's statement. Em was right behind her.

            “Ah, that's right! Let's order!” Amanda said frantically.

            When the order arrived, Sapphire reached for the food but accidentally spilled the coffee in the process.

            “Ouch! Hot!” Sapphire clutched her left hand where some of the coffee splattered.

            Tristan and Bryce, who were sitting on either side of her, both reached out towards her but it was Tristan who managed to gently take her hand.

            Bryce frowned but didn't say anything.

            Tristan blew on Sapphire's hand then he grabbed the glass of cold water and carefully poured the water on her hand. “Did the pain fade?” he asked after a few seconds.

            “Yes. Thanks Tristan!” Sapphire beamed at him.

            “Next time be careful, okay?” Tristan said, “I have ointment for burns back in my hotel room. I'll give it to you later.”

            A smile began to form on Em's face at the same time as the idea on her head took shape.

            “Em, you have a creepy smile on your face,” Brad whispered to Em.

            Em smacked Brad's head.

            “Ow!” Brad yelped which made everyone on the table turn to him.

            “Don't mind us. Continue eating. I'll just have to talk to Brad for a while,” Em said then excused herself and Brad. She dragged him away from the table.

            “Why is everyone getting hurt this morning?” Ken muttered.

            To which Nat answered, “I suggest you keep your mouth shut Ken-chan if you don't want to be the next to be hurt.”

            “Wise advise, Nat,” Amanda agreed with a warning glance at Ken.

            On the other hand, Brad was currently complaining to Em for smacking his head.

            “Stop whining, Brad and listen to me.” Em said. “Plan B commences now.”

            “Huh?” Brad said confused. “What exactly is Plan B?”

            “Plan B is to make Bryce and Sapphire confess their feelings to each other.”

            “And how exactly do we do that?” Brad asked, still not getting it.

            “Look at Bryce right now, Brad. What does he look like?”

            Brad looked at the table they left. He noted Bryce's dark mood and angry glare as he glanced at Sapphire and Tristan who were talking animately to each other. “He looks pissed off. No, that's not it. He looks...” Brad eyes rounded in realization. “He's jealous!”

            “Exactly.”

            “And when he's jealous, it won't be long before he snaps.”

            “Then he will finally confess. Brilliant plan isn't it?” Em gave a confident smile.

            “I'm not sure, Em. This can backfire you know?” Brad said uncertainly.

            “Trust me, this will work.” Em said.


To be continued~

Note: Will it work? Watch out for Chapter 11 to find out! :)))

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