7 Her friends in province

"You knew him?" Kathy asked.

"Yes. He is the CEO of the hotel where I am working." Kathy looked at her with a meaningful smile before looking at Mr. Lancaster, smirking.

"Drop the formality. We're not at work. Tyler will do." Lanie nodded.

After a few minutes, they decided to swim. Kathy was wearing her red bikini. While the two boys wear shorts only. Lanie busied herself with her phone and food.

When she put her phone down, she watched them swim. Kathy waved at her so she nodded and slightly smiled at her also. She laughed when Kieffer splashed water on her face of Kathy. Lanie looked at Tyler, he was near the falls... watching her. Lanie just averted her gaze at the food in front of her.

Meanwhile, Kathy and Kieffer swim towards Tyler who is watching Lanie eating nachos at the cottage.

"So, you disturbed us just to go here because of her?" Kathy smirked at Tyler.

"Yes, Lil sis. Althea said that Lanie will spend her day offs here. So, our Mr. Lancaster also dragged us here when I was supposed to have an important meeting today." Kieffer answered Kathy. Kathy laughed because she did not know if her brother was grateful or sarcastic toward Tyler.

A few minutes, they joined Lanie at the cottage. They put the food they bought on her table.

"Picture!" Kathy shows her camera.

"I'll be the photographer." Lanie volunteered and she agreed. Lanie pointed out great spots to her and took pictures of her there. Kathy also insisted on taking a picture of her but she disapproved.

"Brother! Can you take a picture of us?" Kieffer goes to them and takes the camera.

"Wait! You will wear that?" she pointed out Lanie's clothes.

"Yes. Why?"

"Strip." She commanded.

"WHAT?" Lanie shouted shocked. Kieffer only laughed.

"Kathy," Tyler warned the reason why Kathy pouted.

"But I am wearing a bikini; you should be in a bikini, too! Please?" Lanie gave up. She will strip.

She took off only her shirt. And her black bikini bra was exposed again. She heard Kieffer cough and Tyler... cursed?

"Yey! We can take pictures now!" Kathy said happily. They posed until Kathy was satisfied. After that, she wears her shirt again; she's not comfortable with Tyler's gaze.

Other people came. Some of them are familiar to Lanie. It was almost 4 p.m. when she decided to go home.

"Going home?" Kieffer asked.

"Yeah. My grandma's waiting for me."

"We will also go! Wait for us!" They fix their things and change their clothes in the small bathroom near their cottage. Lanie didn't change her clothes because it was already dry. She'll just wash up at home. While walking, they bump into a group of friends; She thinks they will also swim. They are familiar to her. Some of them are her batch mates in college.

"Lanie?" She looked at the person who called her. Her brows furrowed, and she couldn't believe that she was in front of them.

"Jake?" she said when she finally recognized him. He is with his friends. She also saw Alex, Pauline, and Jules.

"Omg! It's you! Long time no see!" Pauline hugged Lady. Alex and Jules's fist bump her like they were used to doing before. She looked at Jake who was seriously staring at her. Jake looked at the person at her back.

Lady chuckled to get his attention, "How are you?" She asked him with a genuine smile. Jake signed and hugged her tightly. They are Lanie's good friends here in the province. Jake is one of her trusted people here. They were exes but they were good.

"When did you arrive?" he asked when he withdrew the hug.

"Noon."

"Are you staying... long?" She saw the sadness in his eyes as well as longingness. She missed him. She missed them.

"Just two days." She said, they just nodded and smiled... sadly.

"We will visit you tomorrow. Catch up." Pauline said.

"Ah! By the way! These are Kathy, Kieffer, and Tyler. They are tourists from Manila." She said. They greeted each other before they parted.

Kathy and Kieffer walked first then, Lady and Tyler. Jake looked at her again and signed. Lanie chuckled.

"It's good to see you, Jake."

"I missed you," he said with a sad smile. Tyler stiffened a bit.

"So, I am. I'll see you tomorrow." He hugged her again before he went with his friends.

"Hey! Let's go!" Kathy shouted that's why they walked fast. Kathy holds her in her arms. Clinging herself to her.

"Who are they? They seem kind. And I guess, they missed you badly. Like, I saw sadness and happiness in them when they saw you."

"They are my good friends here."

"What about Jake?" Lanie looked at her and then at their path. She is starting to see their car on the road.

"Jake was my boyfriend." Kathy looked at her in shock. The two guys also looked at her.

"Oh my gosh! I knew it!"

"Why did you two break up?" Kieffer asked before opening his car.

"Maybe, we're not meant to be. But we're good. We were in a relationship for 4 years."

"Awww! What a waste. " Kathy reacted.

"It was not. We were happy in that 4 years relationship. He was my first love, though. And, our break-up? That was a mutual decision." Lanie smiled at them.

"How old are you when he becomes your boyfriend?"

"Hmm. 20? 2nd-year College?"

They finished putting their bags in the car and they were ready to leave. Kathy opened the back door and said her goodbyes to Lady. She looked at Tyler.

"Take care. Drive safe." He tsk-ed, "How about you?"

"Our house's nearby," Lanie said before turning her back and starting to walk.

****

When on their way home, Kathy fell asleep in the backseat.

"Is that him?" Kieffer asked. Tyler remained silent.

"And that guy was Lanie's boyfriend. This is quite hard but at the same time interesting. What do you think?" Tyler only sighed. His grip tightened.

"She will find out soon who he is. When that moment comes, I hope things will still go according to our plan." Tyler said after a few minutes. Kieffer only nodded at him before checking his sister at the back.

"Did you see him?" Kieffer suddenly asked. Tyler nodded.

"It was on his neck, a bolt of lightning. It was sealed like Harry Potter's scar on his forehead."