As I looked up to see who picked up my phone from the ground, the guy with blonde hair reached out his arm to me, handing back my phone. I quickly grabbed it to dust off the sand all over my phone. "Thanks f--," "Sorry, ab--," my words were cut off because we were both speaking at the same time. I awkwardly chuckled as he spoke again, "Sorry about the phone, I didn't mean to bump into you." He said it, sounding very apologetic, but it wasn't really a big deal to me. There is no way I'm going to be mad about the slight bump that caused my phone to drop. I, myself, drop my phone all the time.
"It's okay. I mean, I drop it myself all the time," he chuckled softly, leaving a split second of silence between us. "Thank you," I finally said, and awkwardness filled me in. "Well, I have to go to my friends now, over there," I said while nodding my head and gesturing where my friends are, and I started walking in their direction.
"Oh wait, are you Hana?" The guy asked from behind. I turned around to see a tall figure with blonde hair. I didn't realize who it was until I got a good look at his face. I was partly avoiding looking at him too much earlier as it was awkward for me to do so, so I couldn't really recognize him until now.
"Yes," I said, confused, or at least trying to act confused. I know who he is. "Do I know you?" I asked, still putting on an act. "Oh, right," he said, sounding a little embarrassed, "I'm Luke. Luke Hemburg." I smiled at him as I stretched my arms out to give him a handshake. He scratched his neck, still looking a little awkward, before stretching his arms to accept the handshake.
I just realized that he's carrying a guitar on his back. I wonder if he'll play some tunes for the group later.
"It's nice to meet you, Luke," I said as I gently pulled away my hand from the shake, "But I have to catch up with my friends now. I guess I'll see you around." I started backing off while waving my hand good-bye to him.
I jogged back to where the bonfire is, but I can feel Luke's eyes following me from behind, or maybe he's even behind me right now, walking in the same direction.
Before sitting down near the bonfire, I grabbed myself a stick of marshmallows to heat up. As I sat down on a log, I felt Luke sitting next to me. I looked at him, still trying to act confused.
"It hurts me to know that they never told you anything about me," he chuckled softly, grabbing his chest acting as if it had hurt him.
I laughed at his silliness and said, "They did, actually. I just didn't realize it was you until now that you're sitting next to me." Of course, I lied. I already knew who he was, but I wanted to pretend that I did not know him. It's a petty thing to do, but it's for the sake of feeding my ego.
"It's nice to meet you, Hana. Sorry about the phone," he said as he stood up and placed his guitar at the side. I nodded at him in response.
He walked towards Michael and Emily, who were putting charcoal in the griller and getting it ready for the hotdogs and barbecue that they'd brought with them. I guess he'll try to help them set up.
I started heating up my marshmallow while enjoying the sunset breeze of summer.
As time went by, the orangey skies started to reflect on the sea in front of us. I swear, I have seen a thousand beautiful sunsets throughout my life, but this one is the type of sunset I knew I wouldn't easily forget. I fell in love with how the sea envelops the colors of the skies, it makes me want to be consumed by it as well.
"Roni!" I called out to her as I ran towards her. Roni and Calum are throwing sand at each other while holding beers near the sea.
She looked in my direction and gave me a big wave, "Come over here! We have beer!" she shouted, as I jogged towards them. I'm not coming over to them to get a beer, I was sitting beside the cooler the whole time. If I needed beer, I would've gotten myself one already.
I know that Roni will never say no to me, and I'm too embarrassed to swim on my own while they're all busy with the food. "Let's jump on the water!" I excitedly told her. She gave me a big smile, as if she was thinking the same thing.
Calum, in the background, started to take his shirt off. "LET'S DO THIS!!!" He shouted and took a chug of his beer, finishing it, and then ran towards the sea. Roni has taken off her shirt too, and followed Calum in the water while still holding a beer.
I've taken off my romper, the one I recently bought from the mall, and followed them.
I was preoccupied mostly by the fiery sunset that the sky brings. I looked around me. I saw my friends in the distance, still busy with grilling. Ashton, on the other hand, has a beer in his left hand and is shouting at us that we are being unfair by not helping.
Finally, I looked at Calum and Roni, who are constantly in an argument, but I've gotten used to it. I jumped at them to give them a huge hug, making Roni drop some of her beer in the water.
I do miss my friends more than I knew. But these two in front of me are my favorites. I mean, I can't help it, we've been hanging out since middle school.
"Aww, what a hugger!" Calum said goofily, giving me a hug back. Roni and I chuckled in unison because of Calum's remark.
"I just want to enjoy the beach and the sunset with my top two." I released from the hug, and Roni looked at me confusedly, as if she were offended as well. "Who's number one?" She asked hastily, and I chuckled at her. "Seriously, who's number one?" She repeatedly asked me while I refused to answer.
"I think I'm number one," Calum interrupted, which totally shifted Roni's attention towards him. She started chasing after him as he ran off, while claiming he is my top one best friend.
With the two at a distance, I got to spend a little more time staring at the sunset and appreciating its beauty.
How I wish life were as peaceful as it is at this very moment.