Other Side

Nate POV

Surfing or camping? Hmm. Maybe we can just play with the water today and do the camping on Meg’s last day here. Great! So smart, Nate!

I'm sipping my green tea while thinking about how amazing these past few days. Having Nica around and spending time with her makes me realize how different she is from her sister. Meg is driven, she plans ahead of time, and she knows what she wants. Nica, on the other hand, is very free-spirited, not fond of planning for the future but enjoying what’s in the present instead. When she opened up to me that she wanted to start a business, I showed her my full support. It’s very uncanny of her, but I’m really proud that she’s growing little by little. We've been together every day since she arrived, and I had planned out the places we would visit and things we would do. I’m getting used to her presence, and I know it will be a huge adjustment once she goes back to the Metro.

Francis calling.

Call cancelled.

Nica POV

I received a text from Nate saying that we would try surfing later. I barged right away to my sister’s room and gained a mixture of surprise and kind of annoyed reaction from her. Well, sorry, sis, I am just excited.

"Nate says we will go to the beach and try surfing! Yey!"

"Really? What time?"

"She says 3:00 PM."

It’s our first time, and we're so excited to try new sports. After lunch, my sister and I just watched movies to pass the time and talked about some random things. I know it’s weird and childish, but I felt a little annoyed that morning when she arrived. Maybe I was too focused on the idea of having the moment with Nate alone. And I felt stupid for feeling that way. I’m not even sure if what I am feeling about Nate. Actually I know, I just can’t accept it.

Nate POV

Psycho: Post Malone is playing in the background.

I just picked up Meg and Nica, and they are singing right now. Actually, since we left their house, they haven’t stopped singing till now. Good thing these two girls have a good voice, if not, I would have kicked their a*ses out of the car. Kidding.

I planned to just admire the beach first and swim a little too, but the girls with me were so stubborn and wanted to start the training right away. I just watched them since I already know how to surf.

Message

Francis: Your nephew wants to borrow your chess board.

Okay, once the wave is near, I will signal you. You need to get up right away and make sure your knees are bent. Let’s try it on the water now.

“Nate, come on now!” Nica shouted.

Reply to Francis:

You have money to buy your kid his own chess board.

"Coming!"

Third person POV

The waves are so big, but it never scare them. They just keep in mind what the trainers say. Nate did it first. She paddles a little bit to have perfect timing, gets up quickly with her perfect posture, and rides the wave flawlessly. She flashed a proud smile when she reached the shore. The sisters surf together. Their own trainers make sure to keep a close eye out to avoid any accidents. Well, the last thing you might want to happen is to have a black eye if your board snaps back and hits you in the face. Speaking of black eye, Nate was wondering if those surfers who keep on staring and drooling over the sisters deserves one. Nica was able to at least stand up, but fell after a few seconds. Her older sister, on the other hand, fell from the board when she attempted to get up. They enjoyed surfing for a good hour and decided to rest.

"It feels like the water is slapping me constantly", says Nica.

"For real, it's like I’m getting a massage from these waves." Meg agrees with her sister.

Nate POV

I just laughed while they were constantly whining. I know deep inside they enjoyed it. We’re so tired that we’re able to eat 30 sticks of barbecue and two bottles 1.5L of Coca-Cola. I’m planning that the three of us will have dinner at one of the floating restaurants in town. But they said they’re too tired, so I just promised that we would just eat at my house and I would cook for them.

I decided to drop Nica and Meg off at my house first so that we could change, and then I went to the market to buy some ingredients. Hmm, what will I cook for them?

Nica POV

I'm stretching my body right now. It’s a new experience for me, and I can say surfing is a bit different from other sports I’ve tried. You need to balance your weight, have strong, stable knees, and get along with the water too. It's fun, even though it’s exhausting. It took me several time-outs to be able to continue. I’m glad also that Meg and I were able to bond, as far as I remember, the last time we spent time together was at the beach also, with Nate. Speaking of Nate Why is she taking so long?

*Door bell

"Got it, Nica." says Meg. Thank God, Nate just arrived.

"My god, Nate, I’m starving. Why did you just arri- "

Oh, who is he?

"Sis, come here. This is Francis, Nate’s brother."

"Hi. I didn't know you have a beautiful sister, Megan," the guy says.

"Does Nate know you’re going to visit her?" Meg block him when he tried to enter the house.

"What are you doing, Meg?" I whispered. My sister is acting kind of rude right now.

"Francis, I think it’s better to call Nate first." Not a question but more of a command.

"I don’t think that’s necessary." He pushes my sister lightly and walks towards Nate's room.

We both follow him.

"Ah, Francis, right? May I know what you need?" I ask him, low-key trying to stall him. We stop in front of Nate’s room.

"Come on guys! It’s my sister’s house. I will just borrow her chess board because my son wants it. Are we good now? Can I enter her room now?" he answered impatiently.

"Oh, okay, just a chess board, I see. I guess Nate won’t mind." I sigh in relief.

"As far as I know, Nate doesn’t want anyone touching her things, and did she say you can borrow it?" Meg closed the door harshly after Francis opened it.

"Excuse me?" Now he looks annoyed.

"Sis, I think it’s fine, it’s just a simple thing."

Guys! I’m back. Where are you?

I ran to the living room and pulled Nate out so she could talk to her brother.

"What the f*ck are you doing here?!" Nate grabbed his collar and dragged him out of the house.

I panicked and tried to calm her . She’s so mad right now, furious than the last time I saw her with Charlie. I really don’t understand why she's acting this way.

"Nate, please calm down. He’s your brother. I think you’re overreacting." Nate glared at me.

"Monica, shut it." My sister scolded me.

"Don’t you dare set foot in my house again!" She closes the door, opens the fridge, and drinks a bottle of beer. Hoping it will cool her down.

"Nate, I don’t think what you did is right. Your brother just wants to borrow a thing from you. Why do you have to be rude to him? I don’t understand."

"Exactly, Monica. You don't understand. So it's better for you not to meddle with it."