The Timing Between Us

Red

Clara



I ignored my heart.

Very maturely too.

Because the moment Reig looked at me like that near the beach entrance, my brain immediately decided:

Nope.

Absolutely not.

We are not doing feelings today.

So before my heart could embarrass me further.

I quickly walked toward the girls.

“Mika!” I called dramatically.

Mika immediately smirked.

“Running away already?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure.”

I ignored her.

Pat and Jenny greeted me excitedly while carrying their bags toward the camper vans.

Apparently, our group rented two beach-view camper vans:

one for the girls,

and one for the boys.

Honestly?

It looked prettier than I expected.

The camper vans were parked just a few steps away from the shoreline, where the sound of the waves could still be heard clearly.

The exterior looked modern and sleek, with huge glass windows facing the ocean.

The moment we entered ours

I immediately felt impressed.

“Okay wait,” Jenny gasped dramatically. “Why is this nicer than my apartment?”

“Because your apartment looks like depression,” Mika answered casually.

“True.”

I laughed softly while looking around.

The camper van wasn’t too big but wasn’t cramped either.

It felt cozy.

Comfortable.

There was:

a master bedroom with large windows overlooking the beach,

soft white sheets,

warm lighting,

separate shower and toilet,

a small sink and fridge,

and a compact living area with seats surrounding a small table that could apparently transform into another bed.

The entire place smelled clean and slightly woody.

Very aesthetic.

Very “rich people healing trip.”

Pat immediately jumped onto the bed dramatically.

“I’m not leaving this place.”

“You say that now,” Mika said while opening her luggage, “but wait until sunset pictures start.”

That immediately started another conversation.

Outfits.

Accessories.

Bikinis.

The girls suddenly became louder while showing each other what they packed.

Jenny brought three bikinis.

Three.

“For what?” I asked.

“In case my personality changes.”

Valid.

Meanwhile Mika showed us her black two-piece confidently.

Pat brought floral designs.

Then suddenly

all eyes turned toward me.

“What about you?” Jenny asked suspiciously.

I paused.

“…I brought one.”

“Show us.”

“No.”

“SHOW US.”

Unfortunately, they were all dramatic.

So eventually

I pulled out the red bikini from my bag.

Silence.

Then all three screamed.

“CLARA.”

“Oh my God.”

“REIG IS GOING TO DIE.”

I immediately threw a pillow at them.

“It’s not for him!”

Mika smirked wickedly.

“But it could destroy him accidentally.”

I ignored them aggressively while my face heated.

Because unfortunately

my stupid brain remembered Reig’s message again.

Can’t wait to see you in a bikini, Rabbit.

Idiot.

Flirting menace.

Danger to society.

And honestly?

That message alone almost made me pack conservative clothes instead.

But no.

Absolutely not.

What I wore had nothing to do with Reig.

This was for me.

For my confidence.

For myself.

Not for any man.

Still

I packed a cover-up anyway.

Just in case.

After resting for a while and showering quickly, our group finally decided to eat lunch first before swimming.

Apparently the boys were already waiting at one of the nearby restaurants.

The moment we arrived

I immediately spotted them.

Four boys sitting around a long wooden table near the open seaside view.

Marco.

Jack.

Percy.

And Reig.

All of them already dressed casually for the beach.

Beach shorts.

Loose shirts.

Relaxed posture.

But unfortunately

Reig still stood out immediately.

His black sunglasses hung loosely against the collar of his white shirt, sleeves slightly folded against his arms while the sea breeze moved his hair effortlessly.

Annoying.

Why did he always look like he belonged inside a magazine cover?

The boys greeted us loudly while Marco immediately whistled dramatically.

“Wow. The girls actually dressed up.”

“Unlike you,” Jenny shot back. “You look homeless.”

“I look beach-ready.”

“You look unemployed.”

Everyone burst out laughing.

Even me.

And somehow

the atmosphere felt easy.

Comfortable.

Natural.

Lunch became loud afterward.

The restaurant specialized in Filipino seafood dishes, so the table quickly filled with:

buttered shrimp,

grilled squid,

crab,

sinigang,

garlic rice,

and sizzling seafood platters.

The salty ocean breeze mixed with the smell of grilled food while everyone talked over each other excitedly.

Stories from elementary.

High school memories.

Embarrassing moments.

Marco exposed almost everyone.

Apparently Percy cried during grade 6 graduation.

Jack once confessed to the wrong girl.

And Mika nearly punched a teacher before.

“NEARLY?” Mika defended loudly. “I controlled myself.”

“Because guidance arrived,” Jenny reminded.

Everyone burst out laughing.

Meanwhile, I was busy trying to open a crab shell without looking like I was fighting for survival.

Why was seafood so difficult to eat elegantly?

I frowned while attempting to c***k it open.

Then suddenly

the crab disappeared from my hands.

I blinked.

Reig casually pulled the plate toward him without even looking up from the conversation.

His fingers moved easily as he opened the shell neatly before placing the crab meat back onto my plate.

Naturally.

Like it wasn’t a big deal.

Like he’d always done it.

“Thanks,” I muttered quietly.

“Mhm.”

That was it.

No teasing.

No smug comment.

He simply continued eating afterward while talking to Marco about something.

But a few moments later

another peeled shrimp suddenly appeared beside my rice.

I stared at it.

Then at him.

Reig didn’t even acknowledge it this time.

He was currently drinking water while Percy told some dramatic story.

“…Did you just peel that for me?”

“You were struggling.”

“I was not struggling.”

“You looked one minute away from crying.”

“I hate you.”

He smirked slightly.

Meanwhile across the table

Mika was grinning like an i***t.

Marco noticed too.

“Oh,” he said dramatically. “Princess treatment.”

“Shut up,” I muttered immediately.

Marco placed his own plate toward Reig.

“Bro, peel mine too.”

Reig looked at him blankly.

“You have hands.”

Everyone burst out laughing again.

“Favoritism,” Marco complained dramatically.

“Obviously,” Jack answered casually while eating.

My face heated instantly.

I focused aggressively on my food afterward.

But somehow

without noticing

my plate kept magically filling up.

More shrimp.

Crab meat already removed from the shell.

Rice moved closer toward me when I almost emptied mine.

And when my drink became empty

another one suddenly appeared beside me.

I blinked.

“You ordered another?”

“You were looking at the menu.”

“I was deciding.”

“You decided.”

I stared at the iced tea beside me.

Then slowly at him.

“How do you even notice these things?”

Reig finally looked at me properly then.

Calm.

Casual.

Like the answer was obvious.

“I notice everything about you, Rabbit.”

Silence.

Marco immediately covered his face dramatically.

“Jesus Christ.”

Jenny kicked him under the table.

“Ow!”

Meanwhile I forgot how to breathe for approximately three seconds.

Because Reig

unfortunately

said things like that so naturally.

Like he wasn’t aware how dangerous his words were.

Or maybe he knew exactly what he was doing.

Which was worse.

Much worse.

So instead of replying

I grabbed my drink aggressively and took a sip.

Only for Reig to suddenly stop me.

“That’s mine.”

I froze.

Then slowly looked down.

Not my iced tea.

The entire table exploded into laughter.

“Oh my God,” Mika wheezed. “They’re becoming one person already.”

“I hate everyone here,” I muttered while my face burned alive.

And beside me

Reig only laughed softly while switching our drinks properly this time.

During all the chaos

I found myself laughing more.

Actually laughing.

Not forcing it.

Not pretending.

And every now and then

I would accidentally catch Reig already looking at me from across the table.

Like he enjoyed simply watching me exist.

It made my chest feel warm again.

Dangerous.

Very dangerous.

After lunch, the girls decided to finally change into swimwear.

The boys, meanwhile, planned to head straight toward the beach first.

“We’ll wait there,” Marco said while wiggling his eyebrows suspiciously.

“Creepy,” Mika answered immediately.

Back inside the camper van

chaos started again.

Hair.

Makeup.

Perfume.

Accessories.

Meanwhile I stared at my reflection nervously.

The red bikini hugged my body perfectly.

Not too revealing.

But definitely enough to attract attention.

Which was exactly why I wore my cover-up immediately.

“No,” Mika said instantly.

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“Clara.”

“Mika.”

Pat groaned dramatically.

“You have the body people cry for and you’re hiding it?”

“I’m comfortable like this.”

“Liar,” Jenny muttered.

I ignored them while fixing the thin white cover-up around my body anyway.

Because honestly?

I suddenly felt nervous.

Not because of everyone else.

But because of one person.

Annoying.

When we finally started walking toward the beach

the sound of waves became louder.

The late afternoon sun reflected beautifully against the water while people laughed nearby.

Then

I spotted the boys instantly.

And unfortunately...

they weren’t alone.

Two girls wearing bikinis were talking to them near the shore.

One of the girls laughed loudly while touching Marco’s arm.

The other one

was looking directly at Reig.

Not subtly either.

Wildly.

Openly.

And somehow

that irritated me immediately.

Especially when she leaned closer toward him smiling.

Something ugly twisted inside my chest.

Before I could even think properly

I suddenly stopped walking.

Then calmly

slowly

I untied my cover-up.

The girls beside me immediately went silent.

And as the ocean wind brushed against my skin

I lifted my head.

Because if those girls wanted to stare at Reig

Then maybe it was time Reig Miller remembered exactly who he kept calling Rabbit.