"Hey! Dive! Get it up!"
A young cute female shouted with her frilly blue sundress that was slightly dirty from some mud as she eyed a beach volleyball falling slowly to the ground.
"Tsk."
With a click of his tongue, a tall slightly tanned guy who stood shirtless heard her girlish scream and dived at the ball, rolling in the mud as his hand connected with the ball and narrowly passed over the net.
His lean muscles flexed as he stood back up with a slightly bored look on his face. Alas, his slightly bored and indifferent look only turned on the ladies that stood by the area and watched the ongoing match.
With another rush of their cheers and screams, the match continued with Layla's team in the lead due to Ling's unfair height advantage.
"Little girl! Play properly! We need to win!" Claire slapped Chris's back who stood in the front row with an annoyed look on his face.
"Sigh," Chris sighed and looked at the lean handsome tanned guy who was currently at the back, tossing the ball up and down as he readied himself to serve it.
*Peep!*
Estea, who was playing as the referee, whistled and Ling directly tossed the ball the moment she whistled!
'Ugh, what a drag.' Chris sighed and looked at the incoming ball as he readied his body and dived toward the ball to get it up again.
He didn't know why the hell did Claire wanted to win against Ling no matter what, but… all he knew was he had no interest to involve himself in their fight.
Alas, he had no choice.
…
10-10, Chris looked at the scoreboard as a few beads of sweat dripped down his face, his chiseled face looking strangely hot to the viewers as he focused on Ling who was getting ready for yet another serve.
He didn't know when he had gotten his stupid ego involved that he wanted to win. What a drag indeed…
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIt was a final match point. They weren't playing by any professional rules and thus, there was only one set, and that to the one who gets 11 points first wins. As simple as that.
But, like a professional server, Ling flexed his muscles and grinded the ball between his veiny hands as he got ready to serve. His eyes looked straight at Chris with no desire to lose.
The bored look in his eyes had already long gone too, changing with the same excited glee he had when he professionally treated Max's wounds.
*Peep!*
Estea blew the whistle again and Ling instantly tossed the ball upwards, jumping a little in the air as he whipped his hands strongly.
With a sudden burst of strength, the ball flew towards Chris directly, making an arc in the air as it flew erratically, changing directions in between.
It would have been a really difficult serve to save against for a newbie like Chris. Alas, filled with Alfred's professional memory, he easily calculated the trajectory and positioned himself for an easy block.
Both teams only had five players with the girls acting as the captains. But… Chris knew that in this fun beach volleyball, the captains were the weakest.
He positioned himself in such a way that the moment the ball hits his hands, it will directly fly towards Layla instead!
As expected… Ling intercepted the ball midair, tossing it back towards Chris's team!
Alas, the pretty hot pink-haired beauty was pretty good at Volleyball and she easily picked up the ball, passing it towards Chris instead.
'Nice!' Chris bent his knees a little as he jumped over the net, whipping his hands forward and hitting the ball with all of the strength he could muster.
The ball easily broke the defense of weaker members of Layla's team as it bounced playfully in the opponent's court.
Signifying the end of this arduous and fun beach volleyball game.
"Chris!!" with a rush of another cheer and screams, Chris landed back on his feet as he smirked at Ling, finally feeling his rushing adrenaline settle in after seeing Ling gritting his teeth in annoyance.
He felt pretty popular as the girls around him gave him a lot of attention and now he had even won against such a strong opponent!
However, the day was still young and there were many more things to enjoy in the cheery beach that was filled to the brim by many tourists and youngsters of various ages.
"Let's go to the beach house," Taylor announced while getting up from his seat as his stupid cronies shouted and cheered at his claim.
Of course, not all followed, but quite a lot did since in the house it was much cooler and had many drinks and appliances.
"We are going in as well?" Chris turned towards the small group he had made friends with, well, mostly they were the neutral fellas since others were too bothersome to make friends with. Not like he was interested to do so anyway.
"Hmm, well, it's a nice idea since the sun is quite scorching today." Estea wiped some sweat off her face and sighed.
"Aww, pinkie is tired already? I pity your future~" Claire giggled playfully as she winked at Estea.
"Miss, you have no right to say that." Ling sighed deeply as he looked at the teasing nurse that was perched comfortably on his back.
"Shut up. I won, you will listen to whatever I will say!" Claire pouted like a little kid.
"Anyways, Chris, you haven't yet enjoyed the most interesting part of this beach yet!" Layla ignored Claire's tantrums as she faced Chris and told excitedly.
"Is that what I think it is?!" Tom jumped into the conversation, looking at Layla with visible excitement.
"Oh?" with an intrigued look in his eyes, Chris turned towards the two in anticipation.
"Water sports!"
"A woman!"
Both announced together, however, the activities they suggested were miles apart from each other as Chris and Layla looked blankly at Tom for his suggestion.
Water sports was an amazing and logical solution because well, Mariana Beach was well known for its adrenaline-rushing and exciting sports like scuba diving, parasailing, jet skis and even skydiving!
Of course, skydiving wasn't allowed to everyone and needed a short training course before one can attempt it.
However… what the hell was wrong with Tom's suggestion?!
Sensing their piercing glares and weird looks, Tom tilted his head and sighed deeply, "Look Layla, I know it's not a topic, I as a gentleman should discuss here. But, honestly, I pity this guy."
"Pity him? Why?" Layla gave a weird look and asked.
"I mean, look at this guy, he is decently handsome, a little smart, and even an awakened. But… sigh, it just hurts me to see him like that."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Like what? Be clear, dumbass."
"What? You forgot why he fainted yesterday?"
"..."
As soon as Tom said that, a strange silence filled the room while a big embarrassed look crept up Chris's face.
He remembered at which miserable and honestly stupid moment he had chosen to unlock memories of Alfred… it was when a sexual intercourse scene was being played on the TV…
Layla's weird look got even weirder as the usually cheerful and talkative cutie suddenly became mum like a mummy.
No matter how matter he thought of it, Chris couldn't find any words or reasons that could save him from this predicament. And thus, he averted his eyes and used his right to remain silent.
Of course, under the jarring mocking laughs of Claire and suppressed giggles of the rest.
"It's fine man, you told me you weren't from here. It might not have been as common there or maybe the girls there weren't pretty. Anyways, I am here, I will help you hook up." Tom placed his hands around Chris's shoulders in a friendly manner as he proceeded to brag.
"Uhh, thank you but no thank you." Chris looked at him with twitching eyebrows, "I already have a girlfriend, and no, I am not a virgin." he explained calmly.
"Well, it's okay Chris." Tom sighed deeply and patted him, "As they say, 'denial is the first step towards acceptance.'"
"..."
Chris sighed and looked at the rest of the group for some hope of getting help, alas, all he got was a gloating look from Ling and Claire while suppressed giggles from Estea and Layla.
"Uhh, anyways, Layla, let's follow your suggestion." Chris quickly changed the topic and the rest also buried it deep thinking that the handsome lean awakened was just embarrassed, which he indeed was.
Alas, even after that, it was impossible to escape from Claire's taunts and mockery…
…
However, just as he sat on a beach chair drinking some chilled beer, his phone vibrated with a jarring loud ringtone that Chris had never heard before.
It was a message… a message that Chris had never expected to receive whole his life…
// Sir Christopher. You have been selected as the top priority emergency contact by Catherine, mobile number 9178XXXXXX //