Chapter 4

The unexplainable bitterness that succumbs to my being made it so hard for me to swallow the soft velvet cake in my mouth. For someone who claims to have cake as their all-time favorite dessert, it’s odd that I couldn’t enjoy the sweet flavor that’s currently exploring in my tongue.

“Anyway, I’ll go ahead. I just dropped by to deliver the cake as a welcome gift for you,” Cassandra said, her white set of teeth were showing as she smiled sweetly at Jack. The subtle touch she made on his arm didn’t escape my eyes.

This girl is getting way too comfortable being touchy to him, I thought bitterly. Well, he’s not flinching so obviously, he likes it too!

I mentally rolled my eyes. She’s obviously just using the cake as a reason to see Jack. ‘Cause how the hell did she lasted for almost an hour here if she just dropped by to give us the cake? Desperate bitch!

“Thank you, Miss Cassandra. I’ll walk you to the inn,” Jack volunteered and I wanted so badly to oppose but I don’t want to sound mean. And who am I exactly to do that, anyway? And why am I having such mean thoughts these past few days? 

The lamp posts are only available on the seaside so it’s pitch black outside along the pathway leading to our home. But she got in here on her own! Can’t she go home by herself, too?

“You can call me Cassy outside work, Jack!” she laughed elegantly while playfully hitting his muscular arm. “And I wouldn’t decline your offer! Gosh, it’s so dark outside. The town’s mayor needs to do something about this matter. Maybe I can request a few light posts in his office.”

“That’ll be helpful.”

I snorted sarcastically, watching them walked out of the doorway. Jack slightly pulled the door close as their flashlight illuminated the dark pathway. Cassy my ass!

I let out an irritated sigh before rising to my feet, walking towards the small center table to clean the utensils we used while eating the cake. I also brought the box with me to the kitchen and stock it in the fridge.

She’s probably gonna invite him in her room and he won’t decline, that’s what I thought until I heard him entered the house not even five minutes later.

I was in deep thoughts the whole night in bed. Before Jack, I remember having so much respect and admiration for Cassandra as she is one of the kindest woman in town. She's very helpful, intelligent, and successful. I looked up to her a lot and this irrational dislike I suddenly felt towards her is so disturbing for me.

The whole weekday passes by swiftly. Rest day for me is optional during the Sundays. I could close the shop the whole day or went to work and have a double pay. Well, I decided to treat myself to the beach for today because it's been a while since the last time I took a dip. And that was when I found Jack on the cove.

"Nina!" Alicia shouted while hopping on the sand merrily on her way to me. She's wearing the same baby pink dress while carrying a cute little basket in hand. 

"Hello, Alicia!" I bent down a bit and pat her head.

"Nina, I brought some mango!" She showed her basket to me that is containing three ripe mangoes. 

"That looks yummy! I made some egg sandwich," I also showed my basket to her, which is a bit larger than what she's carrying. We'll be having our own little picnic at the beach today. 

Alicia insisted to have it done behind the rock formations where we found Jack. I rejected her idea at first but she was so persistent. To attend to her whim, we'll be taking the other route to reach the cove. There's a safer way to get in there but we have to walk further on the coastal road...under the hot and remorseless sun.

"You didn't invite Jack?" 

"Uhm...I think he's busy. You know Jack, he doesn't run out of things to do. It's like his schedule is always packed," I reasoned out when I perfectly knew he takes a half-day during Sundays.

When I left the house, he was having a siesta on the bamboo lounge outside 'cause my mom was watching her favorite local drama in the living room. It's also his rest day at the inn but he went out to go fishing this morning. It's also a half-day work for my mom during the weekends so everyone's currently home.

"I can't walk anymore, Nina!" Alicia whined beside me. The cloudless sky just added to the heat.

"We're almost there. And this is your idea!"

"It's not my idea to take this way instead. We could just easily cross the rock formations to get there!" She wailed continuously and I widened my eyes at her.

We reached the cove ten minutes of whinings later. The water level is a little high today, it reaches half of the cove sand so we settled close to the rocks.

"Do you want to eat first or you wanna go swim- nevermind," I said, shaking my head as I watched Alicia munch on the egg sandwich I made. Her cheeks gone puffy as she shove more bread in her mouth.

"I'll go take a dip," I announced and she nodded casually, still with her mouth full.

I stripped off the yellow sundress from my body, leaving me in my generic black two-piece. I buy most of my clothes from a thrift shop but they look just as nice like the branded ones. 

I soaked my body in the crystal clear water of Whale Bay. It was cold, contradicting the scorching sun and effacing the unlikable heat I was feeling a few minutes ago.

"Alicia, come join me here!" I shouted but the kid was too busy wolfing down the foods in the basket. I laughed silently.

"I can join you instead," a deep voice said and I looked around to find a tall, topless man standing gloriously at the top of the cove. My eyes widened a bit.

It was Leandro, the ex-mayor's son! 

My lips curved into a force smile. This man is known as the black sheep of their family, the complete opposite of his good-natured father. The police found a few kilograms of cocaine in his car after the guy got into a drag race accident. He's always a part of group riots too. Or sometimes, he's the one starting the mess! He's been sent to jail multiple times but the strong connection he has couldn't keep him inside of the cell.

And to top it all, he's an ex-suitor of mine!