The long silence suffocated Runa and made her numb.
If her father came to her house, she had to find a reason why she was outside the house, nearing curfew. Runa closed her eyes and tried to catch her breath. She was racking her brains, trying to come up with a good reason, when her father spoke again.
"No. I'll call her tomorrow," said Chris. "Let her rest tonight."
Runa felt a sting of relief in her chest at hearing those words.
Chris and Sophia talked about some other things after that, about work and plans to clean up Runa's mother's grave, and finally, they left.
Runa waited for about fifteen minutes before coming out of her hiding place.
What are they really doing here at night? If only to speak, didn't her father have so much space at his disposal in that palace-like main house?
The thought kept bothering Runa all the way down the slope to the highway behind the family property.
She found Mandy's car parked by the side of the road, and when Runa came in, Mandy threw her a box of snacks.
"Ouch," Runa rubbed her arm.
"Runa!" cried Mandy. "Oh my God, why did you take so long?! I thought you were a pervert who got into my car. I almost attack you with my pepper spray! Why didn't you call me—"
"Mandy," said Runa. "Inhale."
Mandy covered her mouth and took a deep breath from her nose before blowing the air through her mouth.
Runa sat down and fastened her seat belt and stared at Mandy. "Sorry," she said. "There was a little… problem."
"You almost got caught?" Mandy asked, worried.
"Well… kind of," Runa smirked. "Let's go."
Mandy started the car's engine, but she didn't step on the gas pedal. She gripped Runa's wrist. The worried look had not left her face.
"Are you okay? Should we just cancel it?"
"I've been through the woods behind the house, past the cemetery, sneaking around like a thief in my own house." Rune chuckles. "And now you asking me to come back?"
Mandy laughed and released her grip. "All right then," she said. "But you have to promise that if anything happens because of tonight's event, you have to tell me. I'll take responsibility for it."
"Thank you."
"Say it."
"What?"
"Say what I usually tell you."
Runa pursed her lips with a smile. "You are the best."
"I know."
They both laughed as the speeding car hit the asphalt.
Merville Beach was packed with vehicles, and Mandy couldn't get into the Delmara parking lot, so she parked at the end of the empty lot. They had to walk about five hundred meters until they reached Delmara.
The huge bonfire with dancing flames caught Runa's attention as soon as she arrived. There were many familiar faces here. Almost all the Sunbrillo students had come to the beach party tonight.
From her conversation with Mandy along the way, Runa knew that tonight's party would be filled with famous singers, DJs, and bands. So it's only natural that the beach is so crowded with visitors.
Mandy took Runa near the bonfire. There, Runa's friends gathered with their partners, and they cheered together when they saw Runa.
"You come!" Bella screamed in excitement. "Is this the day when the apocalypse will come?"
"This is the day Runa will learn the true meaning of having fun," said Mandy. She snatched a bottle of beer from a nearby cooler and handed it to Runa, but pulled it back. "Oh, I forgot. You don't drink alcohol."
Runa smiled wryly. If only Mandy knew what Runa was hiding in the old house behind the university. "No," said Runa. "I'll just order a juice."
"Let's take a photo!" Bella shouted, holding up the phone. "This is a day worth celebrating!"
"A, a, a!" Mandy shook her head as she lowered Bella's hand that was holding the cellphone. "No taking pictures whatsoever. You can't immortalize Runa's presence here. Pretend she doesn't exist, or she could get in trouble."
"Ooh." Bella looked disappointed, but she nodded and put her phone back in the small bag she was carrying. "You look stunning, Runa. I like your clothes," said Bella sincerely.
"Thank you." Runa smiled and Bella waved goodbye before she left them to return to her boyfriend's lap.
"Honestly, I almost scold you when I saw you show up in that ugly parka," Mandy mumbled. "Good thing you took it off and left it in the car."
"Yes. Even if I don't, you will surely force me, at all costs, to take it off."
"Absolutely."
Runa wore a bralette of Mandy's choice, combined with high-waist shorts and white outer lace that revealed a faint silhouette of her curves. The outer lace hung down the length of her shorts.
Runa felt uncomfortable in this outfit because it was too revealing, and even though the bonfire was quite warm, she still felt cold.
After ordering juice, Mandy took Runa to sit near the stage, which was close to the bonfire. Visitors thronged the place, watching a famous male singer singing one of the hit songs with his guitar.
Mandy swung her arms and sang along with the others, while Runa enjoyed her drink while looking at the faces present here.
Then her eyes met Arden's.
The man sat in a group with his friends on the far side of the stage. They were smoking and each holding a beer bottle. Arden's friends were engrossed in conversation and laughing. Then someone sitting beside Arden patted his arm and made Arden turn his head, taking his eyes off of Runa.
Runa blinked and looked away. She looked down at her feet in the sand. Her heart was pounding. Just like at the funeral. Only this time… Runa didn't feel scared.
Of course, Arden is here, Runa thought. It will be strange if he and his friends didn't come.
"What happened to you?" Mandy asked.
Rune looked up. The song has been sung, and now the singer is talking about his first love.
"What?"
"Why is your face so red? Are you drunk?" Mandy snatched the drink from Runa's hand and sniffed it. "Is the juice mixed with vodka?"
"No." Runa took her drink back. "I just… feel cold."
"Do you want to move? How about we sit near the bonfire?"
"No need."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah."
Runa should have just said yes when Mandy asked her to move because not long after, Arden and his friends sat near them.
Mandy looked through Runa and grumbled at the noisy crowd. But her annoyance did not last long because soon their friends joined them and distracted Mandy.
Meanwhile, Runa…
Runa couldn't think anymore, especially when her nose smelled a fragrance that she had recently become familiar with.
"I thought this kind of thing is not your cup of tea."
Runa turned and found Arden sitting beside her. He took a drag until the ember burned brightly, then released a plume of smoke into the air.
Runa gulped, remembering the taste of cigarettes on her lips.
Arden tilted his head, his hands wrapped around his knees. "You want it?" he asked, moving the cigarette in his hand. A small smirk appeared on his lips.
Runa gave a 'are you crazy?' look and Arden's grin grew wider. He took another puff of his cigarette, then dropped it on the sand and stepped on it until the ember die out. After that, he took the cigarette butt and put it in his jeans pocket.
"Why'd you turn it off?" asked Runa. Judging from the length of the cigarette, it looked like Arden had just lit it.
"I don't wanna torture you." Arden gave her a grin until his eyes narrowed and smile lines formed at the corners of his eyes.
Runa sighed and refrained from smiling too, even though it was super hard to do.
And suddenly everyone around them stood up. Runa looked around in confusion until Mandy tapped her on the shoulder.
"Runa, come on! Ed asked the crowd to pair up and dance!" Mandy cocked her chin at the singer on stage, who was calling for the audience to dance while he sang one song he dedicated to his wife.
"Ooh-"
Mandy reached out, but Runa felt her other hand being grabbed. Runa turned and found Arden's fingers wrapped around hers.
"Dance with me," said Arden.
"Hey, she's my partner," Mandy protested. "Find someone else."
Mandy and Arden exchanged glances. Each of them held one of Runa's hands, making her a kind of trophy grab.
Then Bella appeared and grabbed Mandy's arm and whimpered. "Mandy, my boyfriend disappeared somewhere. Do you want to be my partner?"
Mandy glared at Bella, but she couldn't say no. With a long loud moan, she removed her hand from Runa. "You. Behave. I'm watching." Mandy pointed a finger at Arden and threatened him before leaving them alone.
For the first time in her life, Runa felt nervous. It was the kind of nervousness that made her movements awkward, and she kept pressing the tip of her thumb with her index finger.
Now Runa was standing opposite Arden, only inches apart.
"Have you ever danced?" asked Arden.
Runa looked up, and as soon as her gaze met Arden's, she couldn't help but sink into his charm. "A long time ago… with my dad."
Arden arched a crooked smile at hearing Runa's honest answer.
"Do you know any of the common gestures people dance to?" he asked again.
"What?"
Arden stretched one hand forward. "Hugging his partner's waist." He raised his eyebrows, bringing out the lines on his forehead. "May I do it?"