To End That Situationship

Chapter 1A: The First Weekend

“Where are you?” I just passed the immigration office and am currently waiting for my luggage at the baggage claim area. My aunt is outside the airport waiting for my arrival. This is my first time traveling abroad in twenty-one years. Looking back, I never left my comfort zone—the city where I was born and raised until I graduated from college. But now, I’ve left, and I surely won't be back for a long time.

“Tita, I’m at baggage claim right now, just waiting for my luggage. Oh, wait! I think I see it. I’ll be out in a minute.” I hung up the phone as I spotted my pink suitcase. I grabbed it and headed for the exit. So, this is Dubai?

I saw my aunt standing there with flowers in her right hand and her phone in her left, likely recording my arrival.

“Welcome to Dubai!” she cried. Just as I thought, she was filming me. I laughed and hugged her tight; it had been so long since I'd seen her, and it felt wonderful to be together again.

“Let’s take a picture! I’m going to send it to your mom and dad. Say cheese!” I smiled for the camera as she snapped a few photos.

We talked the whole way to the car. She asked about my flight and if I had managed to sleep on the plane. Most of the time, she just kept telling me how happy she was that I was finally here, and, how excited she was to take me to the beach to wear bikinis together.

It was already late at night, so I fell asleep on the way to my aunt’s place. She must have realized how tired I was from the flight, which is why she let me rest. The ride from the airport took a while. When she eventually woke me up, she was holding a cup of coffee; she must have stopped at a drive-thru while I was sleeping. She handed me the coffee and grabbed my luggage from the trunk.

I stepped out of the car, and we walked together to her building and up to her flat. Her place felt so cozy. She led me to a room and told me it would be my bedroom from now on. I thanked her, took my luggage, and began putting my clothes away in the empty cabinet. I looked around and noticed that Tita had bought things for me and decorated the room herself. There was even a vanity mirror stocked with brand-new makeup. I smiled, touched by how well she truly knows me.

On the bed, there was a gift box with a pink bow and a tag that read, “For Zyrielle.” I sat on the edge of the bed and opened it; a smile crept across my face when I saw what was inside: a burnt orange bikini.

The next morning marked my official first day in Dubai. I showered and changed into a simple white summer dress. When I left my room, I scanned the living room for my aunt.

“Girl, I’m in the kitchen!” she shouted, as if she knew I was looking for her. I headed into the kitchen and found her busy preparing pancakes. I sat on the highchair and watched her finish cooking.

“How was your sleep?” she asked, handing me a plate of freshly cooked pancakes with a side of sliced strawberries.

“It was unbelievably good, Tita,” I answered and started eating. She smiled and nodded, sipping her coffee while scrolling on her phone. After a while, she excused herself and went out to the balcony. While I ate, I checked my social media. I hadn’t told everyone I was leaving the country—only a few close friends and family knew. I had posted just enough photos from the airport to confirm I’d left. I sent some updates to my parents and "I miss you" texts to my homegirls, but I didn't check the rest of my messages; I just wasn't in the mood to reply yet.

After finishing, I washed the dishes and went to find my aunt. She was on the balcony, smoking a cigarette and looking at the view below. Her flat is on the 27th floor, giving us a perfect view of the city and the busy traffic far below. When she saw me approaching, she finished her cigarette and quickly tried to wave the smoke away with her hand.

“Did you see the gift I gave you?” I nodded and gave a small giggle.

“Yes. I bet it will really complement my olive skin.” I have an olive complexion, and I always look my best when I wear my color palette. The thought of wearing a bikini in my colors made me feel confident already.

“Good, because we’re going to the beach today!” I couldn’t help but laugh with excitement. My first day in a foreign country, and I was already heading to the beach!

After our talk on the balcony, I went back to my room to get ready. I changed into my bikini and put my summer dress back on over it. I quickly packed a change of clothes for after my swim, along with some towels and sunscreen. After a quick makeup retouch, we were on the road to the beach.

The beach was about thirty minutes away. For the last fifteen minutes of the drive, my aunt and I blasted music, shouting the lyrics as we sang along. It was such a fun ride.

“It’s going to be so much fun,” she said.

“The beach is always packed on the weekends, especially since it’s the first weekend of the winter season. And one thing is for sure—there will be plenty of…?” She looked at me, and we both shouted the word at the same time.

“BOYS!” We laughed together, sharing the excitement of seeing who might be out there.

“You know, your type of beauty is very popular here,” she added. “Once you take that dress off, I swear, guys will be coming over just to chat with you.” I just shrugged and laughed. Seeing the ocean was enough to make me happy; handsome guys would just be a bonus.

When we arrived, we immediately found a spot to lay out our beach mat and bags. Once settled, I slipped off my summer dress to reveal my bikini. It fit perfectly, as if it had been tailored just for me. I lay down on the mat and applied my sunscreen, wanting to enjoy the sun without the worry of a sunburn. I pulled out a book I’d borrowed from my aunt’s mini-library and started to read while sunbathing. My aunt went for another smoke—she’s a heavy smoker, but honestly, she’s the coolest, kindest aunt I could ask for.

“Girl, get up! I’ll take a picture of you.” My aunt used to do freelance modeling and photography, so she really knows her angles. I don’t know how long we were shooting for; I hadn’t even noticed we had wandered to a quieter, far side of the beach.

While posing, I noticed a guy looking directly at me. I felt shy, but I didn't let it show on my face. I saw him glancing my way several times. Maybe he just wants to take a photo in this spot, I thought. It was a beautiful location, after all.

“Girl, you look so good!” my aunt complimented. My shyness was growing by the minute.

“Maybe that’s enough pictures for today, Tita. Let’s go for a swim!” I suggested. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the guy walking toward me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that he was headed straight for us, so I turned my back to him and asked my aunt to show me the photos she’d taken.

“Hey.” I was genuinely startled by his voice. He must have noticed me flinch.

“Oh, sorry. Did I scare you?” I wasn’t scared, just caught off guard. Even though I’d seen him coming, I was still shocked by how deep his voice was.

“No, you didn't scare me. I was just startled,” I replied, looking up at him. He was wearing a summer tank top and beach shorts. For some reason, his Ray-Bans complemented his features perfectly. He was handsome—I had to give him that.

“Okay, good. I was worried for a second that I’d frightened you,” he said. I could see my aunt smiling from the sidelines. I swear I even saw her taking small steps backward.

Seriously? Is she really going to leave me alone with this stranger?