ROBBY

Across the raging flames of the bonfire, Robby watched the twins squealed at something that Mia said. She was apparently telling them a story and they listened to her attentively as they held out sticks of hotdogs and marshmallows to the fire.

Robby continued to watch her nieces shrieked and threw themselves on Mia, their hotdogs falling to the sand. She laughed as she fell on her back with the twins on top of her.

Robby smiled to himself.

They adored her. Just as much as he did. The only difference was, the twins can readily and openly expressed just how much they like her.

He couldn't.

Pocketing his smile, Robby tore his gaze away from the trio.

He would have sat down with them during the bonfire when the twins insisted that he should. But Mia has been giving him the cold shoulder ever since that almost kiss at the beach. He didn't have to be a genius to know that she was mad at him. Not that he blamed her. But Robby wasn't certain if she was mad at him because he didn't kiss her or because he was crazy enough to even think that he could kiss her. This, he still needed to figure out. It would have been easy if Mia was talking to him - but she refused to. She was avoiding him as much as she could. And Robby had a gut feel that it will be harder to win her over this time around.

He really shouldn't have let his emotions get the best of him. But she looked so damn beautiful that afternoon as she watched the sun set with him. And at that moment, Robby wanted nothing in the world but to kiss her. He wanted to tell her how he felt. For a minute or two, he was willing to risk it all. But just when he was about to spill his guts, Marco's voice rang in his ears, asking him to look after his sisters while he was away.

It hit home. He couldn't break his friend's trust. He couldn't betray Marco.

It took every ounce of self-control to stop himself from kissing Mia the other night. He wasn't surprised when she gave him the cold shoulder afterwards. If he read everything correctly - and he really hope he did, Mia must have felt something for him too.

Felt. His mouth went dry at the thought.

Whatever feelings Robby thought Mia had for him before the almost-kiss seemed to have disappeared the same time that he pulled away from her that evening at the beach. She has been cold and distant eversince the incident. She wouldn't even look at him.

He knew he should be happy because now, he wouldn't have to worry about avoiding her anymore. She was already doing a great job avoiding him. He should congratulate himself. It was after all what he wanted. To distance himself from her so that they won't fall for each other.

The situation should have been an advantage to them. To him at least. The only problem was, he had already fallen.

" Robby "

His train of thoughts were broken by the sound of Mia's voice. She was standing in front of him, an unreadable expression on her face.

" Marco wants to speak to you, " she thrusted her mobile phone to him and left the minute that he took it from her.

" Hey man, " Robby said when he placed the phone to his right ear.

" How's the vacation going? "

" Not too bad, " Robby replied easily. He could see Mia looking at him through the flames.

" Hope my sister's not giving you a rough time? " Marco wanted to know.

Robby almost laugh when he heard this.

" No, " he said as he watched Mia helped the twins with another stick of hotdogs and marshmallows. He knew she was straining her ears to listen to his conversation with her brother.

" I'm just checking if everything's alright, " Marco continued. " I didn't like the idea of Iza leaving her all alone there. I'm relieved that you invited her over. It gives me peace of mind knowing she's with you. "

Robby swallowed hard.

" Don't worry, " Robby said after a moment. " She's fine here."

" Appreciate it, man, " Marco said. " You know that you're the only person that I trust around my sisters."

" I know. " Robby mumbled in a defeated voice. " I know, man. "

Fifteen minutes after the call ended, Robby walked over to where Mia was seated. Irene had just sent the twins to bed leaving only the adults in the beach. The two other couples were happily  strolling by the shore leaving Robby and Mia alone by the bonfire.

" Mind if I sit down? " He asked tentatively after handing Mia her phone.

She shrugged as she reached over to put the edge of her stick through the fire. " It's your beach,"

Right. Robby thought as he sat beside her on the beach mat.

They was a long strained silence between the two of them. And it didn't look like she was going to initiate conversation.

Robby didn't exactly know what to say. He knew no matter what he'd say, she will bite his head off, like what she's been expertly doing the past days.

" Marco wants to know if you're alright, " Robby began, bracing himself for her retorts.

She didn't disappoint him.

" Well you're so good at watching out for me, " she said sarcastically not bothering to throw him a glance. " So you should be fine in Marco's book."

Robby frowned." What's that supposed to mean?"

" It means Marco would be so proud of you for looking after his sister. " she replied curtly." That's what you've been doing all this time, right? "

" I...well.." Robby's frowned deepened as he fumbled for words. " Look, Mia...it's not what you think...I mean...what I'm trying to say is-"

" It's fine, Robby. " Mia cut in as she angrily tossed the stick that she was holding to the fire. " There's no need to explain. "

Robby took a deep breath before speaking.

" Mia, " He tried again as he turned to face her. " Please look at me. "

Stubborn as she was, she didn't.

" Mia, please. "

She let out an exasperated sigh before she finally indulged him.

Her eyes were blazing in anger and if looks could burn, Robby was certain he would have been smoldered to ashes.

" I don't understand why you're so angry, " he started slowly. " You're Marco's sister, of course I'll look out for you. What is so wrong with that? "

Robby realized he said the wrong words when he saw Mia's face broke into a scowl.

" Alright, alright, " he said raising his hands in surrender. " I'm sorry. For whatever it is that I have done, I'm sorry. "

" You're sorry? " Mia echoed in an incredulous voice. " You're sorry for whatever it is that you have done?! "

Robby looked at her helplessly not wanting to open his mouth for fear that Mia will take it against him once again.

Mia opened her mouth to say something but closed it after a moment.

" This is pointless." She muttered shaking her head at him.

She jumped up and started to walk away from the bonfire leaving Robby staring after her in bewilderment.

" Mia, " Robby scrambled to his feet to catch up with her and reached for her arm. " Please wait. "

" For heaven's sake, Robby! " Mia pulled her arm away from his hand and glared at him. " What do you want from me?"

They quietly stared at each other for a long time, their eyes visibly expressing emotions they couldn't hide. 

Robby can see Mia's shoulders trembling in anger and frustration, her hands balled into fists.

He swallowed hard.

He wanted to tell her a lot of things. He wanted to say things that he shouldn't say. But he didn't know where to begin. And he didn't know if he should.

" I want things between us to be okay. I want things to be the way it was before..." he trailed off.

" Before what? " Mia prodded her forehead creased.

" Before I almost kissed you, " he blurted out without thinking and then silently cursed himself for his tactlessness.

But Mia didn't flinch. " Why didn't you? "

Robby's eyes widened in surprise, caught offguard by her quick response.

" Did you want me to? " He asked hoarsely.

There was a small part of him that hoped she liked him more than another brother.

Alright, he was lying. Damn it.

He wanted her to like him. Really like him.

" I guess you'll never find out, " Mia snapped and strode off towards the house leaving him dumbfounded.

Robby clenched his jaw as he stared after her in bewildernent.

Was she angry because he didn't kiss her? Because that's how it felt like. But he could be reading Mia all wrong. She could be mad because he dared to kiss her, his best friend's sister.

Robby groaned in frustration as  he placed his hand on his hips and stared at Mia's retreating figure.

He was fucked.

----

Robby groggily opened his eyes and slightly turned his head to look at the clock sitting on his night stand.

He groaned when he realized that he overslept.

Rico and he had a few beers last night. Well, Rico had two, he, on the other hand, had more than he should have.

He pulled himself up and felt the blood pounding at the back of his head and cursed loudly. He hated hangovers.

He made his way to the kitchen and prepared himself a coffee. The housekeeper informed him that everyone left early that morning to visit a nearby town and most likely be back by nightfall.

Robby groaned silently when he realized that he was left behind.

They were scheduled to check out a new nature park in the next town.

Rico must have known he was unlikely to wake up early considering the state he was in when they called it a night.

Bringing his coffee with him, Robby settled himself by the porch which overlooked the beach.

He grimaced when he recalled how he drowned his frustration with Mia over bottles of beer last night. He knew Rico was curious but he didn't ask. Even if he didn't, Robby knew his older brother had already figured it out.

As he took a sip of his coffee, Robby saw some movement by the shore. He squinted his eyes to see what it was.

Who it was.

Mia.

She didn't join his family's excursion today. Robby realized as he studied the lone sight before him.

She was seated on the beach with her back facing him, her head bent over. He didn't need to see to know what she was doing. She was most likely doing what she loves to do best, drawing.

A part of him was tempted to walk over where she was and talk to her. But a bigger part of him knew it was best to leave her alone for now. He was not exactly in a good condition to start a decent conversation with her anyway. His headache was making it hard for him to think clearly.

He spent the next hour staring at her lone figure. There were several moments when he was tempted to walk over where she was but he would end up deciding against it at the last minute.

It was almost noon when she finally pushed herself off the sand and headed towards the direction of the house.

Robby realized she was headed to his direction; she needed to pass him by to reach the back door.

He felt his mouth went dry when she neared him and braced himself for the encounter.

" Good morning, " Robby greeted when she stepped foot on the porch.

If Mia was surprised to see him, she didn't show. Instead she narrowed her eyes at the sight of him.

" Beautiful day, " Robby continued as he tried not to notice how sexy she looked in her beach shorts and tank top.

" Good morning, " Mia mumbled not bothering to stop and continued to walk inside the house.

The screen door closed with a loud bang making Robby wince.

It's been two days since the bonfire and Mia has continued to give him the cold shoulder. They only have 2 days left before they head back to the city and Robby knew they couldn't go on like this.

Like lightning, it suddenly hit him. He suddenly knew what he needed to do.

" Mia, " he chased after her. She was already halfway the stairs when Robby caught her arm.

She turned, an annoyed expression on her face. " What?"

" Can we talk? "

" There's nothing to talk about, " Mia said curtly and made her way up the stairs, leaving him  trailing behind her.

" Then why are you mad at me? "

" I'm not mad at you " she shot back as she made her way down the hall not bothering to look at him.

" Then why aren't you talking to me if you're not mad at me? "

She ignored him and continued walking down the hallway.

" We can't go on like this, Mia. " Robby continued as he followed her. " Please talk to me."

" I told you there's nothing to talk about, " she said flatly.

Robby knew that if he didn't make a move now, she will slip away from him again.

" Mia, " Robby grabbed her arm to make her turn around.

She gasped in surprise. The sudden movement made her drop her drawing pad and art pens on the floor.

" What is wrong with you, Robby?! " She cried out.

He saw her eyes flashed in anger as she broke free from Robby's grasp. She bent down and started collecting her things.

Robby sighed and crouched down to help her.

" I'm sorry. I just wanted to talk to you, " He said quietly. " I know you're mad at me. And I just want to sort things out between the two of us."

Mia stopped what she was doing and glared at him, probably trying to decide wether to give him the light of day or not.

Suddenly, she dropped the pens that she was holding and stood up folding her arms across her chest. 

" Fine. Then talk,"

Robby stood up and looked at her squarely in the eyes. He felt his heart pounding against his chest as he watched her. He could see anger and frustration etched on her face and he knew this was his last chance to make things right.

" I'm sorry, " Robby began in a quiet voice.

" Exactly what are you saying sorry for? " She snapped, her eyes unblinking, her lips pursed in an angry curl.

" For whatever it is that you want me to be sorry for, " he murmured as he moved closer to her.

He was really sorry. For everything that made her mad or annoyed with him. For everything that she said he'd done or hasn't done. He'll say sorry for anything just to get her back to talking to him once again.

But Mia didn't say anything. She just continued staring at him quizzically. Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breathe. He could hear her murmuring.

He couldn't make anything out of it but  it sounded as if she was...counting?