Chapter 213 - The Islet Mystery 29

Watching from the deck as the vessel pulled closer to the first island they were going to explore, the splendid beauty of the greeneries and the sprawling pristine sand warmed everyone's eyes. The sun stood high above the sailing, white clouds, sending its blinding light across the water-enclosed paradise. It's rays reached every grain of sand, making it gleam like sparkling ivory against a glaring light.

They all stepped down from the yacht with Jullien and Ryan leading the way. Scattered rows of mangroves soon spread out, and on the vast stretch of sands, footprints of different sizes of birds marked the whole area. Several species of fowls took refuge under the harmless foliage as the heat of the sun started to dry even the glossy surfaces of its rained-watered, green leaves.

Even without touching them, these beautiful creatures would suddenly burst out from its resting place to fly and escape, leaving them a spectacular view of colorful flock racing their ways into the sky. They all gasped in awe, but Chloe's squeals dominated, followed by the adult's laughter, rejoicing in the child's pure happiness.

Soon after they trudged a few miles of knee-high, seawater- covered outstretch of sand, they reached an area surrounded by gigantic trees. In the middle was a cold spring in the shape of a pan. Big boulders under the broad canopy of the surrounding trees lined the entire area, providing the tourists a comfortable place to spread out their picnic mats and tables.

Everyone, except Shiela and Allie, couldn't wait to jump into the water, to relieve themselves from the scorching heat of the sun. They remained sitting on the mattress for a while, watching the rest of them enjoying the bliss of a refreshing nature's treat. 

"Shie, I see those hurt in your eyes," Allie suddenly spoke into Shiela's ears, causing the latter's abrupt turn, which almost hit her head. She drew back for a moment in a reflex and then burst out laughing as their startled reactions replayed in her mind. Shiela laughed as well, realizing her always absentmindedness.

"Going back to your topic, yes, I am," Shiela started to confess. "I don't even think I can afford to stay in the country the moment the news starts selling out."

Allie knew it was about the wedding, and even Ryan himself confessed it to her and Ajie.

"After our vacation here, I'll consider moving out," Shiela continued, and Allie started to worry. One of the topics they discussed was Ryan's plan to let Shiela handle his businesses in the UAE.

"Shie, how about managing our business in the UAE?"

Shiela chuckled and despised the idea, but she refused politely, "I'm sorry, Lyz, but how can I move on? Ryan will also be there once in a while."

"I want to be somewhere else. Anyway, I can still run the business anywhere I am."

Allie sighed, but how could she persuade her when she, of all people, understood her better? Her thoughts started to raise suggestions on either how she would carry on her task or how she would break it to Ryan. Before she was able to decide, a voice coming from the opposite direction echoed in the atmosphere. They seemed to come up from a slope leading upward to the spring. They were all in swimwear, and judging by their looks, they must have been swimming since their hair was still dripping into their necklines and temples.

"Allyza!"

Allie's eyes got wide when someone called out her name. To her surprise, it was Andrew. Following behind him was Joanna and her team.  Allie sprang up to her feet to meet them, hugging and kissing everyone. 

"Joanna, Adrian, it's good to see you here!" Allie exclaimed happily, her loud and excited tone caught the ears of the rest who were dipping in the spring.

"We are on a break, and we choose island escapade," Joanna explained as soon as they released each other from a tight hug. 

"That's wonderful. It's such a coincidence that we also choose it here." As Allie replied, her eyes fell on Andrew, who seemed to be doing well.

"Andrew, it's good to see you happy like you are now," Allie tapped his shoulders, her eyes couldn't believe how love and acceptance changed him. She couldn't also fathom her sense of admiration towards Joanna for her patience in dealing with such a difficult person like Andrew.

The three elderlies who decided to welcome the group as a respect to the fact that Andrew was the lost son of Ajie's foster parents, waded out of the water to greet them. So did Ryan, Jullien, and Andy.

"Jullien, Andy, I would like to introduce my friends to both of you. First, this is Andrew, Ajie's brother," Allie then paused as she turned to Andrew, catching his startled but pleased expression,  then back to the two. "This is also Joanna, Andrew's girlfriend. "

Allie then looked around to find Shiela, and when Shiela met her eyes, she proceeded. "This is  Shiela here, another family member, and friend," Allie paused again to smile at her, moving afterward to look for her next subjects for introduction, "and the rest are the members of their singing band."

Catching her breath as Allie proceeded to introduce the names of the musicians, she passed the responsibility to Ryan, who laughed in seeing her flaring nostrils.

"Andrew, Joanna, and our dear musicians, I would be honored to introduce to you my best friend, Andy, and the beautiful lady here who will soon become my wife in a month. Her name is Jullien."

Shiela felt she almost died with the introduction alone that she hurried to look away. Yet, she realized she was too late because Andy had already thrown a concerned gaze at her. Deciding to carry on a fake facade, she smiled and ran her eyes to the musicians. Without much thought, as it was only an act of pretension, her eyes fell on the male lead guitarist. The man looked back, and In a snap of a second, both their eyes grew wide, followed by their squeals as they ran towards each other.

"Richard!" Shiela exclaimed, tears glistening in her eyes as they fell into a warm embrace. 

"Damn it, Shiela! I could have died in overthinking about you. You don't know how much I missed you.!"

Shiela threw herself into Richard's arms again as soon as she saw him flushing. She knew he was holding back his tears of joy in seeing her again. To save herself from her welling emotion due to how Ryan introduced Jullien, she sobbed hard into his chest, pouring out her load of humiliation and pain. Richard, in his innocence, rubbed her back emotionally and coaxed her like a child, missing the dangerous looks thrown in his direction.