As I changed into my swimming shorts, I couldn't stop thinking of what was going on with me. Why does my heart keep pounding like that whenever I am close to Alec? I am feeling frustrated, and my brain is not able to function well when my heart is acting up.
I heard my door open, thinking it was Riel. I continued changing and didn't turn around to look.
"Neighbor, we have to have a serious talk later. I am so fucking lost."
"Lost about what? You can talk to me too."
That voice isn't Riel's. I quickly turned around and felt my face turn red. Alec is sitting on my bed.
"Oh, it's actually nothing important." I told Alec, half smiling.
Alec gave me a suspicious look, telling me he didn't believe me.
"Nothing important warrants a serious talk?" he asked.
I forced a laugh. "It's a normal thing between Riel and me. A serious conversation about nothing important." I assured Alec.
"Is Lo-Ri coming?" I asked Alec.
"Yeah. Grace got her a few selections of bathing suit and her head is spinning." Alec said as he shook his head.
I chuckled seeing Alec being frustrated.
"I think my sister has to match her bathing suit with her mood and wind direction outside. I am sure they won't take long."
"I am not concerned about that." Alec said in a serious tone.
"What is it then?" I asked curiously.
Alec explained that he was hoping to enjoy this Saturday without her but his Mom mentioned to Lo-Ri about his plan to play basketball and urged Lo-Ri to go and spend more time with him.
Apparently, Lo-Ri is very close to his Mom and just goes along with her. She isn't interested much with dating him because she enjoys her career right now as an influencer. It will not be good for her image to date or be in a relationship. With a long line of sponsors, staying unattached is the best way to maintain popularity. To pacify his Mom, they both told her they are dating but truthfully, it is all just a facade to get his Mom off his and Lo-Ri's back.
Why knowing this made me happy is beyond me. I am feelingva lot of things lately that I can't explain.
"Well, we can always go and do something else next time by ourselves." I assured Alec.
His face lit up like I said something special.
"I will hold you to that." Alec said with a big smile.
My door opened again, and this time it was actually Riel. She is wearing a towel robe that hides her swimsuit and carrying a sunblock lotion. This made me give her a confused look because she normally would only use sunblock if we were swimming for more than an hour. She knows we probably have 45 minutes at the most before Mom calls us for lunch.
She winked at me as if to tell me not to worry.
"Here are your swimming shorts, Alec." I placed a pair of shorts and a towel on the bed beside Alec.
Alec stared at Riel without saying anything.
"What?!?..." Riel confusely asked, looking at both of us.
"Should I change with you here? Alec asked, smirking.
I laughed.
Riel raised her eyebrow. "I don't mind. Go ahead. You have the same thing as Gian that I have seen already." Riel said it in a teasing manner while smiling like a fox.
I quickly ran to Riel and covered her mouth with my hand, whispering to her, "Would you be quiet, please?"
I turned around to look at Alec and noticed his demeanor changing. He grabbed the shorts and towel and slowly walked out of my room.
"I will change in the shower room by the pool." He said.
Riel gave me a bewildered look.
"What was that all about?"
I shrugged. "Don't know. You probably embarrassed him."
Riel looked at me and proudly said she was trying flirt with him, nit embarrass him.
"Why are you flirting with him?" I shockingly asked.
She sighed and scratched her temple. "It is your idea that we hook up. I am just helping."
"Oh....yeah...right..." I mumbled.
I told Riel that we should head to the pool. I reminded her to help me keep Grace from embarrassing me.
She patted my back, saying it'd be fine.
Alec was already in the pool when we got there. He was swimming laps that highlights his back muscles.
Riel took her robe off and revealed her wonderfully curved body wearing a two piece bathing suit.
"Is that new? You haven't worn that before." I asked her knowing she wore that one to seduce.
"Go swim, and leave me alone. I have work to do."
I understood what she meant by "work to do" but I ignored her and started swimming.
As I stopped at the end of the pool, I saw Alec getting out of the pool and Riel handing Alec the sunblock bottle. 'Where did she learn to flirt?'
I suddenly felt my ears burning and my jaw clenching.
I hollered at Riel. "You could have asked me before I started swimming."
Riel paid me no attention but Alec answered.
"I don't mind. I do this all the time for Lo-Ri."
'But I mind.', I said to myself.
The noise from inside the house got louder as it gets closer to us. Lo-Ri and Grace were giggling and about to join us.
I waited for them to see how Lo-Ri will react seeing Alec rubbing sunblock on Riel's back. Riel doesn't seem to be concerned that they are coming, nor Alec.
As Lo-Ri got to the pool area, she turned to Riel and Alec then gasp.
'Here we go' I said to myself. 'Drama is about to start.'
"Riel, is that the new Panama Beach brand bathing suit you are wearing?"
Shameless Riel lifted her head and nodded with a smile.
"You didn't tell me you will get that brand. I have a discount card from them that you could have used." Grace blurted.
I sighed. What Alec told me must be true. Lo-Ri surely doesn't act like a jealous girlfriend at all.
I gave up and resolved myself to the current situation. My best friend is going after Alec, and it is beyond my control.
Everyone was enjoying the cool water of the pool when Mom came out to tell us we should shower already. "Lunch will be ready in ten minutes." She said.