Maybe The Night

The sun is down replaced by the moon. The sound of the crickets and the footsteps made by the eldest. Because until now, there is still no sign from the ladies.

"Hyung, could you please sit down? You're making me dizzy!" Harris complained as he rubs his eyes. Chris stops at his pace, turning to the boy with a fiery gaze.

"How could you expect me to sit when both of my sister and secretary is out of my sight? it would've been nice if they left a message." Chris explained and return to walking back and forth.

"First of all, We are in the province, the signal is not that strong. Second, even if there is a signal, Knowing them. they won't even bother to send one." Harris corrected earning a deathly glare from the older.

"We understand how worried you are, Hyung. Trust me we all are. But you have to calm down. I'm pretty sure they are fine wherever they went." Ethan comforted handing him a glass of water.

Chris sighed. " Have you tried asking Mang Kiko, Ethan?" He asked. The latter nodded.

"He said that Allyson might have taken them to their favorite spot of the island." He calmly answered. His sentence caught the other's attention.

"Well... It's our fault for ignoring them earlier. They might have been bored. I would do the same if I were them.'' Damien stated before taking a bite of the apple his holding.

The boys became silent by his statement. he sure is right. Why did they ignore them to play a game, when they all can play together?

"What should we do then? It's almost 8, yet they are still not here." Harris asked the eldest.

Chris look outside hoping he could see or hear something. "Let's head out, It's dark. They might get lost."

They all agreed to his suggestion and started to fix themselves. Ethan asked for a flashlight from the servants. Harris and Damien asked the places where they can possibly be. While Chris tried to reach for them by calling. But still no response.

They were about to leave the main house to search for the missing ladies when they heard huge laughter coming closer.

Ethan immediately put the flashlight in the door's direction, revealing the brunette covering her face with her arms. "Yah! put that down!" Lauren commanded which he obliged right away.

Chris hastily ran towards her sister and hugged her. "Where did you go? you made me worried." he whispered. Lauren just remained silent by the sudden behavior of his brother.

The other girls followed hand in hand, Same as Lauren. they are also surprised at the scene. "Kuya, you can let go of me now" Lauren blurted, snapping him back to reality.

"Oh, right." He let go as he started to breathe more freely.

"Why didn't you ladies told us that you will leave? You made all of us worried." Harris said in a serious tone.

All of the ladies are silent, They know that they did something bad. "We're sorry, You guys are too busy playing. So we didn't bother to tell." Allyson replied her gaze downwards.

The boys sighed in unison. "We're sorry for not letting you girls join the game too. We could've played all together." Damien added earning him a smile from Anne which he reciprocated.

"We are all at fault, But please don't do this again. I almost had a heart attack." Chris muttered making everyone laugh at his statement.

"Why are you laughing? I'm serious here." He added.

Rachel comes forward and held his biceps. "You sure are, But I think food is the solution." She said that earns her a sweet smile from him. "What do you guys think?" She asked the others.

"G!" They shouted in unison.

_______

They all decided to have a barbecue party since it's late and the cold wind suits the hot grilling. they were all divided into tasks.

Chris and Rachel were in charge of grilling meat. Anne and Allyson volunteered to help with the things that they might need. while Harris and Damien were in charge of preparing the tables.

You might be wondering what the other two are doing... Chris told them to get some firewoods for the campfire later.

Both of them are walking their way to the place they can pick some. Ethan was holding the flashlight while Lauren was holding a big plastic bag, where she will put the woods.

No one decided to speak. The only thing heard are their footsteps and the wind whistling.

Ethan keeps glancing at the brunette,

Thinking about the right time to create a conversation.

"Ahm."

"Hey."

Lauren chuckled. "Okay, You first."

Ethan smiled. "I just wanna ask where did you girls have gone to earlier." He asked as he returns his gaze at the way.

"Oh, that." The brunette blurted. "Allyson took us the other side of the island." she added making his eyes open wide.

"Other side? You mean you used a boat?" He asked with an amazed expression, making the brunette let out a hearty laugh.

"Haha, You're really great at making weird faces. Yes, we did." she replied.

"Ahh. That's good to hear, knowing that you're afraid of fishes." He mumbled but she heard it clearly.

"How did you know that?" Lauren asked, receiving an evil grin from the boy.

"Yah! tell me where did you get that." Lauren whined as he grabs his left arm.

Ethan looks at her grip, making her let go when she realized what she did. "If I tell you that I just know, would you believe me?"

"Of course not. Who would believe that?" She replied. "Too bad, It's just how it is." Ethan mocked earning him a light smack t his arm from her.

Ethan chuckled. "But seriously, You made your brother all worried back there." He stated making her sighed. "I don't know why he's so paranoid. He's like that ever since..."

"Ever since your dad died." His statement made the brunette stop at her pace."Yeah."

Ethan flashed her a weak smile. "Just try to understand him, He might just get a trauma before, That's why."

Lauren sighed. "I know, But sometimes I wanna ask him about it." Ethan turns to her with a blank stare, making her confused.

"Does he know something?" she thought.

Ethan took the plastic and told her to just stay there as he gets some firewoods.

Lauren just nodded as she lets him do the task on his own.

Many thoughts keep appearing on her mind. She is hesitating if she should just ask him, at the same time, she is afraid that she might not like the answer he will give.

______

"Alright! It's all done. Let's eat." As usual, Harris is the first one to speak when the food was served. "Yah! You're starting to sound like Ally." Lauren stated making them all laugh.

"Is that a bad thing?" Allyson pouted. "Not at all, Wifey." Lauren replied.

All of them started to put some food on their plates. While the brunette received sliced grilled meat coming from the guy beside her. "Hey, You don't have to..." She got interrupted when Ethan put a piece of it to her mouth.

"It's good, right? Now eat." He said as he continues to slice some more for him.

Lauren started to chew the food in her mouth as she watches the latter. "Ahem, I can't slice the meat." Anne blurted, It's obvious that she was calling Damien's attention.

"Why don't you just bite it? It would be much easier." He replied and return his gaze to his plate. "Tss, how sweet." Anne mumbled.

"Pfftt! Chipmunk, do you want more?" Harris controlled his laughter at Anne by asking Allyson instead.

"Haha, Nah I'm fine." She replied. " My knife is SHARP." She quoted making them all laugh while Damien remains unbothered.

"Ahem, Ahem!" Lauren coughed when she laughed. Ethan immediately handed her a glass of water. Which she accepted right away. "Are you okay?" He asked.

Lauren nodded. "Yes, Thanks." She replied with an assuring smile.

"Ouch! Why are there so many ants here?" Anne exclaimed making them both shake their heads in disbelief.

______

They all finished eating and the older couple decided to head to their rooms first. While the others said they still want to take a stroll before going to bed.

"Guys, why don't check the lighthouse?" Allyson suggested. "Isn't that too far from here?" Lauren asked.

"It's not that far. We'll be there in a few minutes." Anne replied that Allyson agreed.

"I don't think I can ride a boat again, I'll just stay here." Lauren informed. "Aww, How sad." Allyson wailed. "Haha, you guys go ahead. You still have time." Lauren added.

"Are you sure, Laura? We could just do this some other time." Harris asked.

The brunette nodded. "Aishh! I don't like repeating myself. Just go already. Shoo!"

"Alright then, Good night!" Anne stated and hugged her goodbye so as the blonde.

Soon, The four of them set their way. Leaving Lauren And Ethan behind.

"Yah! Why didn't you join them?" She asked. "Duh! I'll just be a third wheel there." He replied making her giggle.

"Are you going to bed now?" He asked. Lauren shakes her head. "Nah, I'm not sleepy yet."

Ethan look around. "Do you want to take a stroll?" He asked. Lauren smiled. "Yeah sure."