The New me

Since I did not get to swim the whole day, I was itching to go. All the way to our room, I pestered Heather to change places with me. She reluctantly agreed when I went down on my knees. She said it was ridiculous that I was begging for it when we practically had the same amenities.

From the King-size bed to the large bathroom with marble accents, down to the TV, it was no doubt a clone of the other. This includes sunscreen and insect repellent along with standard ones like q-tips, cotton pads, toothbrushes and lotion.

But who cares? I came for the private swimming pool.

As soon as I put down my luggage, I went outside the private deck and get a view on the pool. It was the perfect size for two people. If couples were to come here then they have no problem being intimate as it was hidden by the trees.

I wonder of the taste of sea water touching my body as it's been so long since the last time I felt it but pool water is also good, I at least got to try it. It took me full two hours to get tired of playing. Then I went back on deck to dry myself when there was a deafening silence. I heard the cries of the neighboring houses the moment the lights blacked out.

It was pitched black with only the moon and the stars lighting our surroundings. My view from the tree top is better if compared to the one I stayed before. I guessed I lucked out when I exchanged houses with Heather. Little did I know that I really have been lucky that night.

The next morning when I woke up, I put on new clothes before going for breakfast. I was rubbing my stomach as I was starving when I met with the others. Lily joined us today. She was all smiles as she chatted with both brothers while subtly avoiding Heather.

"Is your tummy hurting?" Lily asked after seeing me rub my stomach, and it so happened that my hand was down below my navel.

"N-no." I quickly denied giving a slight smile.

"Sure?" She asked again.

"Yes." I told her. It was a little embarrassing to say that I'm hungry out loud.

We headed to the beach bar for lunch. I felt someone's gaze on me while walking but no one's looking when I try to look around.

This restaurant overlooks the beautiful, calm water, and it's definitely the most scenic option for eating during the day. The menu is tapas-themed, though it oddly included items like a vegetarian taco. In any case, everything we tried was great. I especially liked the goat cheese salad.

As a lover of good food, my attention was undivided once they serve us the dishes so I was late on noticing Aster's broken lip.

"What happened with you? And what's with the make up?" I said after observing him a bit more.

Even the other's who took notice of it earlier yet kept silent joined in the interrogation.

"Did you hook up with someone wild?" Liam asked straightforwardly while Luke added "Or did you bump yourself when it blacked out?"

"Did you drunk and accidentally hit your head?"Gerbera also asked.

"I did not." Aster said denying all assumptions.

"No, it's like this.." Heather relayed what happened that night.

When we exchanged houses, she informed her brother and Aster requested if he could visit. He was staying at the hillside which was a few minutes' walk to ours. He arrived shortly after Heather permitted him to stay the night as the place was enough for two persons.

They were playing Jenga, something that Aster brought with, when the electricity went off. It was Heather's turn to remove a block from the lower levels and deposit it at the top when it happened. Both went outside to check on things but then they heard the cries of the neighboring people so they knew it was black out.

Since they can't continue playing, Heather grabbed a can of beer from the fridge and went to rest on the hammock outside and try to wait for the resorts generator for backup power. Aster stayed inside and lay on the bed feeling regretful as he was sure to win the game. Moments later someone had covered his nose and mouth with a cloth and quickly trapped him between the stranger's knees. He even heard him say "Shh. Be good and I'll make you feel good." Aster was momentarily frozen when it happened so the guy overpowered him. When Aster heard a belt and zipper being opened, he regained his senses and pushed the guy away. Maybe it was the adrenaline that made him stronger than normal days, Aster held on the guy's clothed and threw punches left and right. The stranger counter attacked and shouts curses while struggling to get out of Aster's grasp. The electricity came back while both were dodging and throwing punches. Heather caught them in action when she came back then in no moment of hesitation, helped her brother. When the guy was subdued, he was reported to the management and was turned over to the security team.

"Oh my God!" Gerbera gasped hearing the story.

"Why did no one told us?" "Who was it? Who was the guy?" The brother's asked in unison.

I did not manage to say anything but my mouth was opened clearly revealing of how shocked I was.

"We were told that he was part of the resort's crew, someone from the restaurants. He confessed that he broke into the house as he was in need of cash." Heather explained.

"Which was b*******! I clearly heard his belt and zipper being opened. I did not hear nor see anything that would say he came to search the place. He was after me. What a freak!" Aster said in anger.

"It was good that your brother's with you but why did no one tell us when something this big happened?" Liam asked full of concern.

"We were asked to keep quiet and not alert anyone in case he has subordinates lurking and also to not cause panic among the other guests." Aster clarified for us.

We were silent for a few minutes because of the whole narrative when Gerbera suddenly asked, "Lily, are you alright?"

All our attention was with the pair of siblings that we did not realized that Lily had been quiet all along. Her face was a little ashen when she answered.

"I'm okay, just a little shocked on how things turned." Then she took a sip on her water.

Luke nodded in agreement as he said, "I think we all are."

"Even for us, we honestly did not see it coming." Aster said.

Whilst they were agreeing, my eyes have always been on Lily. Her eye lashes quivered, her hands shake a little and she kept swallowing. It wasn't shock she's displaying but more like nervous?

Then I recalled that the place it occurred was the one I was staying at. I somehow convinced Heather when we were going back so to the others do not know that we switched. With Aster's description of the events, I know that maybe they omitted or forgot minor details but the stranger opening his zipper meant he want to do it. And like Aster said, he did not come for their cash but he came with one thing in mind: ****.