chapter 7: Weekend Getaway
1514 Words
β¨ The Fantastic Four β¨
Victoria: Good morning, sleepyheads! π
Elena: It's 8:00 a.m.
Victoria: Exactly. Good morning.
Selena: π΄
Victoria: Princess is still sleeping.
Stella: Obviously.
Victoria: WAKE UP, SELENA!!
Selena: π‘
Selena: WHO TEXTS THIS MUCH THIS EARLY?!
Victoria: Me.
Elena: We know.
Victoria: Since it's finally the weekend... let's go somewhere!
Selena: Somewhere?
Victoria: Shopping?
Elena: Boring.
Stella: Movie?
Victoria: Too ordinary.
A few seconds passed before another message appeared.
Selena: What if...
Selena: We go to the beach?
Victoria: π
Elena: Now we're talking.
Stella: Which beach?
Selena: My family's beach resort.
For several seconds...
No one replied.
Three little dots kept appearing and disappearing.
Thenβ
Victoria: ...
Elena: ...
Stella: ...
Victoria: YOU HAVE A BEACH RESORT?!
Selena: π
Victoria: YOU NEVER TOLD US!!
Selena: You never asked.
Elena: She's got a point.
Victoria: I officially have the richest best friend in Oceana.
Selena: So...
Selena: Are we going?
Victoria: YES!!
Elena: Count me in.
Stella: I'll pack my things.
Selena: Great!
Selena: Meet at my house in one hour.
Victoria: SEE YOU!!
---
Exactly one hour later...
The magnificent gates of the Valencia Estate slowly opened.
Victoria's family car entered first.
She stepped out and looked up at the enormous mansion.
"No matter how many times I come here..."
"...I still can't believe people actually live here."
Elena arrived shortly after.
She looked around before smiling.
"It really does look like a palace."
Stella stepped out of another car.
"It practically is."
The three girls admired the luxurious mansion.
Crystal fountains sparkled beneath the morning sunlight.
Beautiful flowers lined both sides of the long driveway.
The perfectly trimmed gardens looked like something from a fairy tale.
Just then...
The front door burst open.
"Guys!!"
Selena came running toward them with the biggest smile on her face.
Victoria immediately hugged her dramatically.
"I've come to experience the rich life!"
Selena laughed.
"You say that every single time."
"And one day you'll finally let me move in."
"I don't remember agreeing to that."
The girls laughed as Selena led them inside.
The dining hall was already prepared.
A long dining table stretched across the room.
Fresh pancakes.
Croissants.
Waffles.
Eggs.
Bacon.
Fresh fruit.
Chocolate pastries.
Orange juice.
Milkshakes.
Almost every breakfast imaginable covered the table.
Victoria stopped walking.
"..."
Elena looked at her.
"What?"
Victoria slowly pointed at the food.
"...Can I live here?"
Selena burst into laughter.
"You ask that every visit."
"And one day you'll say yes."
Mrs. Valencia entered the dining room with a warm smile.
"My princess's friends are here."
"Good morning, Auntie!"
The girls greeted together.
Mrs. Valencia smiled.
"Good morning."
"I hope you're all hungry."
Victoria looked at the table.
"I was hungry."
"Now I'm starving."
Everyone laughed.
They had barely sat down when the sound of another vehicle echoed outside.
Selena frowned.
"Hmm?"
"Who's that?"
She walked toward the large window overlooking the front yard.
A black SUV slowly stopped outside.
The driver's door opened.
A familiar boy stepped out carrying a travel bag over one shoulder.
The moment Selena recognized him...
She covered her face dramatically.
"Oh no..."
Victoria walked over curiously.
"What happened?"
Selena slowly pointed outside.
"Him."
Victoria looked.
"...Steven?"
Outside...
Steven looked toward the window.
He noticed Selena immediately.
With his usual annoying grin...
He waved.
Selena groaned.
"My vacation is ruined."
A minute later...
Steven casually walked into the mansion as though he owned the place.
"Morning, everyone."
Victoria smiled.
"Morning."
Elena nodded politely.
"Good morning."
Stella smiled.
"Hello."
Selena folded her arms.
"What are you doing here?"
Steven raised an eyebrow.
"Good morning to you too, Princess."
"Don't call me Princess."
"I'll call you whatever I want."
Selena glared at him.
"I asked a question."
Before Steven could answer...
Mrs. Valencia walked into the room.
"Oh, Steven."
"You made it."
Selena blinked.
"...Mum?"
Mrs. Valencia smiled warmly.
"I invited him."
"You... what?"
"His parents had to travel overseas this weekend."
"I thought he'd enjoy spending the weekend with you all."
Selena stared at her mother.
"Mum..."
"This was supposed to be a girls' trip."
Mrs. Valencia chuckled.
"Oh, don't exaggerate."
Steven smirked proudly.
"Looks like I'm staying."
Selena pointed at him.
"This vacation is officially ruined."
Steven laughed.
"We haven't even left."
"Exactly."
"And you've already ruined it."
Victoria burst into laughter.
Even Elena couldn't help smiling.
Stella quietly covered her mouth to hide her laugh.
Mrs. Valencia clapped her hands.
"Enough arguing."
"You'll miss the beautiful weather."
---
Nearly two hours later...
Their luxury SUV turned away from the busy highway.
The road became quieter.
Tall palm trees lined both sides of the private road.
The salty ocean breeze drifted through the windows.
Victoria rolled her window down immediately.
"I can smell the sea!"
Selena smiled proudly.
"We're almost there."
A few minutes later...
Huge white gates slowly opened.
Beyond them...
A breathtaking beachfront resort appeared.
Everyone fell silent.
Beautiful white villas overlooked crystal-clear blue water.
Infinity pools sparkled beneath the bright afternoon sun.
Palm trees swayed gently in the breeze.
Colorful flowers decorated every pathway.
The beach stretched endlessly into the distance.
Golden sand shimmered beneath the sunlight.
The waves rolled gently onto the shore.
Victoria whispered,
"...Wow."
Elena nodded slowly.
"This place is incredible."
Even Stella's eyes widened slightly.
"It's beautiful."
Selena smiled proudly.
"Welcome..."
"...to Valencia Beach Resort."
The SUV stopped in front of the main reception building.
The moment Selena stepped out...
The staff lined up neatly.
"Welcome back, Young Miss!"
They bowed respectfully.
"It's wonderful to have you here again."
Selena smiled warmly.
"Thank you."
"I've missed this place."
The resort manager hurried over.
"Young Miss."
"Everything has been prepared."
"The villas are ready."
"Wonderful."
Selena turned happily toward her friends.
"Come on."
"I'll show you everything."
Steven placed both hands inside his pockets.
"I've already seen everything."
Selena looked at him.
"Unfortunately."
Steven laughed.
"You really enjoy insulting me."
"You make it easy."
The group wandered around the resort.
Victoria couldn't stop taking pictures.
She photographed the beach.
The pools.
The gardens.
Even the coconut trees.
Elena admired the ocean view while taking deep breaths.
"I could stay here forever."
Stella quietly admired the beautiful architecture.
"This place is amazing."
Selena proudly explained every building.
"That's the beach cafΓ©."
"Those villas are for VIP guests."
"The private beach is over there."
She spoke excitedly like a tour guide.
Eventually...
They arrived near the beachfront cafΓ©.
Several staff members carried supplies into the building.
One young man carefully lifted a heavy wooden box before placing it on the ground.
He brushed a few strands of hair away from his forehead.
The sunlight reflected beautifully behind him.
Victoria noticed Selena had suddenly stopped walking.
"...Selena?"
No answer.
Elena followed Selena's line of sight.
"Oh..."
Victoria slowly smiled.
"Our princess has frozen."
Stella looked over curiously.
At that exact moment...
The young man turned around.
He looked around eighteen.
His smile was warm and easygoing.
One of the employees called out,
"Ryan!"
"I'm coming!"
Ryan picked up another box and carried it toward the cafΓ©.
Selena was still staring.
Victoria waved her hand in front of Selena's face.
"Earth to Selena."
Selena blinked.
"Huh?"
Victoria folded her arms.
"You've been staring."
"I wasn't."
"You absolutely were."
"I was just..."
She searched desperately for an excuse.
"...looking around."
Steven snorted.
"Looking around?"
"The only thing you've been looking at..."
"...is him."
Selena's cheeks instantly turned pink.
"I was not!"
"You practically forgot we existed."
Before they could continue...
The resort manager approached with Ryan beside him.
"Young Miss."
"I'd like you to meet Ryan."
Ryan smiled politely.
"Good afternoon, Young Miss."
The manager smiled proudly.
"Ryan is the son of one of our senior employees."
"He recently graduated from high school and is helping at the resort before beginning university."
Ryan greeted everyone politely.
"It's nice to meet all of you."
Victoria smiled brightly.
"Nice meeting you too."
Elena nodded.
"Hello."
Stella smiled gently.
Selena suddenly realized everyone was looking at her.
"Oh..."
"H-Hi."
Ryan chuckled softly.
"Hello."
Steven folded his arms with an amused smile.
"So..."
"That's why you were staring."
Selena secretly stepped on his foot.
"Ouch!"
He looked at her.
"You did that on purpose."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Ryan laughed at their childish argument.
"You all seem really close."
Victoria grinned.
"We practically grew up together."
"I can tell."
Ryan looked toward the ocean.
"If you need anything during your stay..."
"Just let any of the staff know."
Selena smiled warmly.
"Thank you, Ryan."
"My pleasure."
After Ryan walked away...
Victoria slowly turned toward Selena with a mischievous smile.
"So..."
Selena immediately recognized that expression.
"...What?"
Victoria couldn't stop grinning.
"I think someone has a new crush."
Selena's face turned bright red.
"I do not!"
Steven laughed loudly.
"You definitely do."
Selena covered her face with both hands.
"This vacation..."
"...is going to be exhausting."
The laughter of the group echoed across the beautiful beach...
Completely unaware that this peaceful weekend would become one of the memories they would treasure for the rest of their lives.
- Writer
