Leonel patted Ren's back. "Take your time. You can grieve however long you want."
". . ." Ren wasn't in the mood to party and be merry. If not for Evie's plea, he wouldn't have gone.
"Hey, guys!"
Ren's lifeless eyes flicked to the girls who had only come after changing for a whole hour.
Sumeri took the lead and donned in a two-piece pink swimsuit with a matching tied front triangle bikini top in a floral swirl print, showing her full cleavage. While her thong bikini accentuated her round and firm buttocks.
Isolde was behind her, wearing a white swim skirt bikini that looked good on her tan skin. Like the practical ingenuity of a workout skirt, this flirty style was actually a hybrid micro-mini skirt and classic bikini bottom in a one, cute package that would let her move all day freely.
But the two women's alluring beauties didn't interest Ren.
His eyes were all on Evie, like he couldn't see anything but her. And when his gaze fell from her face and realized what she was wearing, he took a sharp breath,
Evie was wearing a halter-neck bikini, a type of swimwear that had straps tied around the neck. The ample busts she had hidden most of the time bounced with her every step, making Ren panic, not knowing where to place his eyes.
Once Evie had become closer, joining the other girls on the shore, her back was exposed to Ren, showing him the sexy line of her spine that ended to her butt . . .
Noticing the movement of Ren's gaze, Sumeri covered her mouth with her hand and laughed with satisfaction. "You're probably a lot more excited than you imagined, ey?"
Ren closed his eyes and coughed into his fist to get that lump out of his throat.
Leonel looked at Ren and wiggled his eyebrows. "I see that your grieving has come to a short end."
"It's not like that," growled Ren and elbowed Leonel on his stomach. The latter buckled but laughed all the same with a thumbs up.
Ren ignored him and went to Evie's side.
Evie looked everywhere except Ren's eyes.
"Why are you wearing that? I thought you packed the school swimsuit?" asked Ren, irritation lacing his voice as he tried to capture Evie's elusive gaze.
Evie was getting dizzy from the rising heat in her body. She knew that her face was a tomato by now.
"I . . . I thought that . . . you would like it," she whispered.
Her worry replaced her embarrassment when she heard the slight irritation in Ren's tone earlier.
She met his gaze and burst out, "Don't you like them?"
Was all her effort in vain? And instead of pleasing Ren, she made him irritable instead?
Ren could barely breathe upon seeing the worry that filled Evie's cute, flushed face. He covered his nose when he felt the heat rise in the pit of his stomach.
Close call. He almost got a nosebleed.
"I . . ." Instead of answering, Ren took off his jacket and placed it over at Evie. He embraced her from behind and leaned closer. His hot breath caressed her ear when he whispered, ". . . only if we're alone . . ."
". . ." Evie almost lost consciousness when the heat got into her head. There was even steam rising from her face.
Ren quickly grabbed Evie by the shoulder and turned her to face him before he zipped his jacket without a word.
After making sure that Evie was all covered up, Ren nodded in satisfaction.
At that exact moment, another voice shifted their attention from behind them.
"Hello, guys. You're here too?"
Ren and the others were surprised when they saw that it was Silvia and Ragnar, with Pamela, Lucia, Rosie, and the usual gang of Golden Phoenix donned in different styles of swimsuits behind the pair.
They were sparkling and blinding. A lot of men stumbled on their feet, forgetting that they were still on earth -- not in heaven.
Leonel covered his nose and looked to the side. "The view is so good. I don't know where to look."
Roz only shot him a side-eye.
Silvia and the girls from Golden Phoenix all pulled Evie, Sumeri, and Isolde towards the waters to play, leaving the guys on the shore.
"I thought you weren't coming?" Leonel teased Ragnar.
Ragnar sighed. "Don't remind me," he said and went to the sunlounger and decided to sleep.
Ragnar was wearing a Hawaiian shirt and shorts, and his attitude told them that he wouldn't swim. The frown on his face screamed that he was dragged here against his will.
Meanwhile, the girls walked along the beach, kicking off their slippers and letting the warm sand caress their feet. Their toes sank deep into the wet grains before they went into the waters and played with an inflated ball while the guys stood there, mesmerized at the view.
"I'm so glad I came," muttered Leonel with tears in his eyes.
"Is that so?" Roz wasn't interested and went to the bar. "I'll get us something to drink."
Roz went to the row of tents, where waiters in uniforms awaited the guests for their command.
There were also tents for minibars, cafés, restaurants, and spas.
In the bar, while waiting for his drinks, a woman suddenly sat beside Roz.
"Hey there. Want to go somewhere fun?"
Roz stared at the woman with a blank face.
The woman wore a giant summer hat. Her green hair was cut short and curved on her neck. She had large sunglasses that almost covered half her face, and her one-piece green neon swimsuit framed her slim form.
When Roz didn't react, the woman brought down her glasses and grinned. "It's me, Lira."
Roz's stoic face didn't change, and Lira rolled her eyes. "You're no fun."
"What are you doing here? I thought that you were going back to the province."
Lira shrugged and sipped the shake that the waiter handed to her. "I'm here because my manager asked me to lay low. I've still contracted with an A-list company after all, and they owe me a vacation after all the years I have served them."
"And you happen to be here because?"
"Isn't it obvious?" Lira sweetly smiled. "It's because you texted me that you'll be here."
". . ." Roz's face crumpled.
Lira's smile dropped. "Can you at least pretend to blush or be surprised?"
"As I said . . . you don't owe me anything. You don't need to make it up to me anymore." Roz grabbed the drinks the bartender handed to him and left.
Lira watched Roz's back and muttered, "Mu . . . what a rude kid." Her pouting face then melted into a silly smile, and she held her cheeks and shook her head left and right.
"But it suits him very well."
----
A/N (Doesn't consume coins)
Our love for sushi prevailed! 🤣
But don't expect too much. Female readers like my writing about snu-snu chaps, I just don't know about the males. 😅
If you're uncomfortable reading those stuff and you feel like it would ruin the whole story, I will put a warning at the start of the chapter so you can just skip.
Anyway, it will still happen around 441 chaps.