Four years ago...

"I'm not drinking! I haven't turned 18 yet! And John's more strict than my parents!" Ana whined.

"Yeah, right! Because you're my responsibility! Your mother entrusted you with me while you're here in Manila, Ana."

Ryan stood listening to their exchanges. "She's seventeen years old, Bambie just turned 18, John and him are 25! What is this? Babysitting?" He thought to himself. 

"Oh, come on, John, she's turning 18 next week. She's practically an adult. Loosen up man."

"Please, John, just one tequila shot! Please, please, please! Look at Bambie... nothing's wrong with her and she's just a month older than me." She gave him puppy eyes.

"Ok, just one Ana," John whispered to her ear. Then he looked at Ryan. "If something happens to her, I'd forget we're friends."

"Belle's in good hands, bro! Trust me!" Ryan snickered. "Come on, Belle, let's enjoy the night."  Then he led her to the bar...

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

It's a six-bedroom villa. Each of them get to have a room for themselves. Ana's room is opposite from Ryan's and beside Bambie's room, with a balcony overlooking the beach.

"Don't you remember him, Ana?" Bambie asked. She's lying on the bed with Elyn and Grace now, while Ana is putting her clothes in the closet.

"No!" Ana stressed. "I was busy getting myself drunk that night. Hahaha! All I can recall was I was talking to John's friend. I didn't know he was this Mr. Villareal then."

"My goodness, Bam! That was four years ago! And Ana doesn't even give a damn about men," Grace interjected.

"Oh well, ok. John said Ryan went out of the country after that and I haven't heard anything about him. John got busy setting up his business here." Elyn sat up on the bed and pondered aloud. "Ryan just got back last year after his breakup with his ex. And he visited John, so we met... and there's this one instance he asked me about Belle. And I just said 'Belle who?'. I didn't know you used that name on him, Ana! You prick!"

"What? I didn't do anything to him! Now, get out of my room! I need to finish unpacking and have some rest before we invade this island!"

The girls were giggling as they went out of her room.

I may have tried to forget him, but I can't forget the kiss that night... Ana thought to herself when the girls were gone.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"No, no, no, Belle. You had more than enough." Ryan was raising up the shot glass away from Ana. They transferred to the couch when Elyn and Grace arrived. But he and Ana were left alone when their friends went to the dancefloor.

"Ok fine! Then don't stop me with what I'm gonna do next."

"What are you gonna do?"

She leaned closer to Ryan, slowly taking her jacket off. Ryan gulped. "You know what... It's getting hot in here... I just need to take this off..." Then she threw her jacket on the couch and climbed up the table and DANCED!

"What the..." Ryan was flabbergasted at the same time amazed with this girl. She was wearing a skimpy red halter dress. He stood up and reached for her hands. He knows she a little tipsy now.

"Dance with me Ryan!" She shouted over the loud music while  swaying her hips to the beat and trying to pull Ryan up the table.

"Baby, if I join you up there, we'll be too heavy for the table. Come down please." Ryan was still holding her hand.

Baby?!

She stopped dancing and stared at Ryan then gestured that she wants to go down. Ryan lifted her on her waist and put her down.

When her feet touched the ground, she laced her arms around his neck. "What did you just call me?"

Ryan gulped. "B-baby..."

"That's it!" She reached for the shot glass and drank all the contents. She laced her left arm around his shoulder again and her right hand on his chest, stood on her tiptoe with her lips close to his ears. "I may be young... way... way... way younger than you... but I'm not a baby anymore... I'm almost 18... I'm here to explore and enjoy life... I'm not your baby... So don't baby me. Okay?" She said in her most sensual voice. Then she hurriedly poured another shot of tequila in her glass, drank it, and sipped on a lemon while staring at him. Then she went to her friends on the dancefloor.

Ryan was left speechless. For one, this girl has amazed him for her bluntness and wit. She's young but she's not innocent.

          ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"I'm taking her back to her room. She's drunk." Ana was wobbling and leaning on Ryan who's holding her on her waist. John was aiding Bambie who just came back from the restroom after vomiting, and Grace was guiding Elyn.

The club was on the same hotel they were checked in. Ana is sharing room with Bambie, while Elyn is with Grace. John has his own apartment.

"Ok man, we'll be following you right after I'm done with this brat."

"Em not shrunk... em just chipsy... (I'm not drunk, I'm just tipsy)," Ana slurred while they were walking towards the elevator.

"Yes, you are, baby. Now straighten up before I lose control of myself and kiss you back to your senses."

"Huh?" Ana was taken aback and tried to walk straight. The elevator ride feels like forever. She was leaning on the elevator wall with her eyes close because she can't look at him straight in the face.

"Come here, you silly girl." Ryan pulled her towards him resting her head on his chest. Ana felt more dizzy with what's happening. She never had a boyfriend and no man has ever been this close to her.

Next thing she felt was that she was already tucked on the bed and his lips on hers, gently kissing her. "Goodnight, Belle. It was nice meeting you."

          ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"I feel ackward..." Ana groaned. They were getting ready for an afternoon dip. They had explored the island yesterday, and went island hopping and jet skiing this morning. Tomorrow they will be snorkeling on the other side of the island. She's now wearing an aqua blue bandeau bikini.

(ctto)

"Ackward with Ryan? Hahaha!" Grace giggled.

"We can feel it, girl," Elyn added.

"I just don't know how to move or act around him. You know, we've met in the past. He saw me in my impish state. My gosh! I even flirted with him! And now he's our client!"

"Hahaha! Serves you right, Ana!" Bambie laughed at her.  

"He seems interested in you, Ana." Elyn remarked. "Or I'd rather say he's attracted to you."

"Huh?"

"Yes, yes! You noticed how he gives special attention to her?" Grace said.

"Come on girls, that's maybe because he's gonna be dealing with me with his future bank transactions."

"We'll see about that..." Bambie picked up a volleyball and headed to the door. "Swim time, girls!"

          ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"So what are you gonna do about it?" John and Ryan were sitting on the porch overlooking the beach with beer cans in their hands.

"I'm courting her."

"Whoa! Seriously?! Don't play with her man..."

"Remember when I left for the states?" Ryan cut him off. "I said I'm getting fed up with Nicole's nagging and possessiveness. We've been on the rocks already at that time. That's true. But Ana's been bugging my mind since that day I've met her."

"Oh man, I know you're a keeper. But I know of your hanky panky with other women,  too. And don't make Ana one of your 'flavor of the month.' She's different."

"I know! That what makes her special. I tried to sort out my feelings while I was away. I tried to figure things out with Nicole, but we just didn't work out. She eventually broke up with me. I think it's fate that has lead me back to Ana."

"Oh well, come to think of it. Of all the prime cities in the country, your dad opened a route here. Hahaha! And we're not getting younger anymore man. If you're really serious about Ana, then you have my blessing. But don't you ever try to hurt her. I will forget we were friends."

          ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

The girls began playing volleyball after swimming. John and Ryan were setting up the barbecue by the beach.

"MY BALL! Watch out, Ana!"

"OUCH! Ah....."

Ryan saw Ana slumped on the sand and rushed to her side.

"What happened?" Ryan was kneeling beside Ana as John and the other girls began gathering around them. 

"I think I sprained my ankle... ouch!"

"Carry on, girls. I'll take care of this." Ryan looked up to the girls. "Go on with the barbecue, John. I'm on this."

John looked at him with raised brows. And the girls stood agape with the swiftness of his actions.

Without saying anything further, Ryan carried Ana in his arms and hurriedly brought her inside the house, and sat her on the kitchen counter. He grabbed an ice bag and headed to the freezer.

"Does it still hurt?" Ryan was pressing an ice bag on her injured ankle. His one leg is propped on a chair and he placed her leg on top of his.

"Yes, it still does. Ouch!" Ana was writhing in pain.

"It's not broken, it's just a sprain, but you're not going out there anymore. I'm taking you up to your room. I'll ask Bambie to help you freshen up. You should rest your ankle. I'll come and get you for dinner later."

Ana marveled at his actuations.
"I- I think I can walk, Mr. Vilarreal."

"Drop the formalities, Ana. We're not inside the bank. I am not just your client. We've already known each other a long time ago..."

"I'll walk." She removed her leg that's propped on his and sat erect. And jumped off the kitchen counter landing on her uninjured leg. "Thank you for taking care of me, Mr. Villareal." Then she began limping to the stairs.

"Oh no, you won't, Missy!" Ryan followed her, grabbed her by the legs and carried her on top of his shoulders like a sack of rice.

"Put me down!" She wanted to wriggle herself free but she was afraid they might fall on the stairs.

Ryan just kept on walking towards her room.

"Aaaargh! You're annoying!"

Ryan deposited her on the bed and trapped her with his arms on her sides. She tried to get up and supported herself with her elbows  when Ryan leaned down bringing his face closer to hers.

"Annoying huh? You've been avoiding me since yesterday. I wonder why, Ana..." he said huskily.

"I... ah..." Ana was rattling. He was staring straight into her eyes.

Then his one hand held the back of her head and kissed her passionately. It was a lingering kiss filled with longing.

She was catching her breath when he stood up and headed to the door. He was about to go out when he looked back at her and said, "Do you remember me now... Belle?"

How can she not remember him now? 😁

Appearances do change... especially from an innocent and fun-filled seventeen year old student to a corporate employee... believe me. 😊