The sun was bright. The sky was blue. The sand was soft and warm.
Three vans pulled up to the private beach. Section E piled out first. Families followed. Baby Grazel in Grace's arms, wearing a tiny pink swimsuit and an even tinier sunhat.
Ci-N ran straight for the water. Then ran straight back out.
"COLD! COLD! COLD!"
Rakki laughed. "It's the ocean, idiot. It's not a pool."
Drew pulled out his wallet. "I bet 5000 pesos Ci-N falls in the water before noon."
Mayo raised his hand. "I bet 1000 he falls in before eleven."
Kit nodded. "Same."
Ci-N turned around. "I CAN HEAR YOU!"
No one cared.
Everyone spread out across the sand. Blankets. Umbrellas. Coolers. Eman brought three coolers full of food. Grills were set up. Music played from Edrix and Rory's speakers.
Jasfer and Keizer sat under a big umbrella. Drinking something cold. Watching everyone.
Jeana and Serina set out snacks. Talking and laughing.
Jane and Kyle claimed a spot near the water. Jane already had her camera out.
Percy and Aries started a volleyball net. Yuri helped.
Keigan and Keiren ran around with a beach ball. Screaming happily.
Grazel sat on a blanket. Staring at the sand. Touching it carefully. Then throwing it.
Grace laughed. "She likes it."
Denzel smiled. "She's our little beach baby."
Jay walked down from the van. Wearing a white swimsuit cover-up. Hair in a loose braid. Sunglasses on.
Keifer followed behind her. Carrying the bag. Already shirtless. Tan. Fit.
Jay reached the blanket. Dropped her cover-up.
Underneath was a soft blue bikini. Simple. Elegant. Perfect.
Keifer froze.
His eyes went wide. His mouth opened. No words came out.
Jay turned. Smiled. "You okay, baby?"
Keifer swallowed. "Yeah. Fine. Totally fine."
Ci-N ran past. Stopped. Looked at Keifer. Looked at Jay.
"Dude. You're drooling."
Keifer wiped his mouth. "I am not."
Mayo and Kit ran over. "Keifer's face is RED!"
Kit nodded. "Like a tomato!"
Rakki walked by. "Leave them alone. Let him appreciate his fiancée."
Jay laughed. Took Keifer's hand. "Come on. Let's swim."
Keifer followed. Still stunned. Still blushing.
The water was cool but nice. Jay splashed Keifer first.
He blinked. Water dripping down his face.
"You did that," he said.
Jay nodded. "I did."
Keifer splashed her back. She screamed. Laughed. Splashed again.
Soon they were both soaked. Laughing. Chasing each other in the water.
Percy watched from the shore. "They're like kids."
Jane took photos. "They're in love. Same thing."
Grazel sat at the water's edge. Letting tiny waves touch her feet. She giggled every time.
Grace sat beside her. "You like the water, baby?"
Grazel clapped. "Ninang! Ninang!" pointing at Jay.
Jay waved from the water. "I see you, baby girl!"
Eman announced it. "Sand castle competition! Teams of two!"
Everyone split up.
Jay and Keifer were one team. Jane and Kyle. Percy and Yuri. Aries and Ella. Calix and Mica. Grace and Denzel (with Grazel supervising). Mayo and Kit. Rakki and Ci-N (who argued before starting).
Drew judged. "I bet on Jay and Keifer!"
Ci-N yelled, "YOU CAN'T BET AND JUDGE!"
Drew shrugged. "I can do anything."
They built for thirty minutes.
Jay and Keifer made a castle with towers. A moat. Tiny flags made of sticks and leaves.
Jane and Kyle made a modern mansion. Jane designed it. Kyle built.
Percy and Yuri made a wall. Just a wall. Percy said it was "minimalist."
Mayo and Kit made a heart-shaped castle. Obviously.
Ci-N and Rakki argued the whole time. Their castle fell twice. Ci-N fell into it the third time.
"I'M COVERED IN SAND!"
Rakki laughed. "Serves you right!"
Drew announced the winner. "Jay and Keifer! By a landslide!"
Jay cheered. Keifer kissed her. Sand on both their faces.
Percy organized teams. Section E vs. The Rest (families and friends).
Section E team: Percy, Aries, Keifer, John Felix, Calix, Yuri.
The Rest team: Jasfer, Keizer, Kyle, Angelo, David (he predicted every move), and Drew (who kept trying to bet mid-game).
Jay sat on the sidelines. Cheering for Keifer. Loudly.
"GO KEIFER! GET THAT BALL!"
Keifer looked at her. Smiled. Then served the ball so hard no one could return it.
Jane screamed, "THAT WAS FOR JAY!"
Keifer didn't deny it.
The Rest team tried hard. Jasfer was surprisingly good. Keizer had a strong arm. Kyle had height.
But Section E won. Barely. 21-19.
Percy hugged Keifer. "We did it, bro!"
Keifer nodded. Looked at Jay. She was clapping. Proud.
Ci-N decided to explore the rocks. Looking for shells.
He found something else.
"AAAAHHHH! CRAB! CRAB! CRAB!"
A small crab had latched onto his toe. Not hard. Just holding.
Ci-N ran in circles. Flapping his arms. The crab held on.
Everyone watched. No one helped.
Rakki laughed so hard she fell over. "IT'S JUST A BABY CRAB!"
Ci-N finally shook it off. The crab ran back to the rocks.
Ci-N pointed. "THAT THING TRIED TO KILL ME!"
Drew yelled, "I BET HE SCREAMS LOUDER THAN THE CRAB!"
Mayo nodded. "He did. Definitely."
Ci-N pouted. "You're all mean."
Rakki walked over. Put her arm around him. "You're cute when you're scared."
Ci-N's face turned red. "I... what?"
Rakki walked away. Smiling.
Everyone looked at each other.
Drew whispered, "Did she just...?"
Mayo whispered back, "I think so..."
Kit grinned. "Finally."
Eman outdid himself. Grilled fish. Barbecue chicken. Rice. Vegetables. Fresh fruit. Even homemade lemonade.
Everyone sat in a big circle. Eating. Talking. Laughing.
Grazel sat on Grace's lap. Eating tiny bits of banana. Smiling at everyone.
Keifer sat next to Jay. Their legs touching. Sharing a plate.
Jay fed him a piece of chicken. He ate it. Then fed her a grape.
Jane took a photo. "DISGUSTINGLY CUTE!"
Keifer ignored her. Jay stuck out her tongue.
Full stomachs. Warm sun. Soft sand.
People napped on blankets. Percy fell asleep first. Then Aries. Then Yuri.
Keigan and Keiren built a sand volcano. It collapsed. They rebuilt.
Grazel fell asleep on Denzel's chest. He didn't move. Didn't want to wake her.
Jay lay on her back. Sunglasses on. Hands behind her head.
Keifer lay beside her. Turned on his side. Watching her.
"You're staring again," Jay said without opening her eyes.
Keifer smiled. "You're worth staring at."
Jay turned her head. Looked at him. "Smooth."
Keifer leaned over. Kissed her. Soft. Sun warming their skin.
Ci-N fake gagged from somewhere. "Get a room!"
Rakki hit his arm. "They're on a beach. There are no rooms."
Ci-N rubbed his arm. "You're so violent."
Rakki smiled. "You like it."
Ci-N's face turned red again.
Jane became full photographer mode. "EVERYONE! SUNSET PHOTOS! NOW!"
Everyone gathered by the water. Sun setting behind them. Orange and pink sky.
Jane arranged them. Families together. Section E together. Couples together.
"Jay and Keifer! Center! Look at each other! Not at me!"
They looked at each other. The sunset behind them. The water at their feet.
Keifer touched Jay's face. She smiled.
Click.
Jane checked the photo. "Okay. That's the one. That's going in a frame."
Kyle hugged her. "You're good at this."
Jane grinned. "I know."
Everyone together. Mariano family. Watson family. Fernandez family. Section E. Grazel in front.
"Say BEACH!"
Everyone yelled, "BEACH!"
Click.
Perfect.
Jane posted it to the family group. Jane: Best beach day ever.
Jeana: Beautiful!
Serina: Frame this immediately.
Jasfer: My princess looks so happy.
Keizer: Everyone looks happy.
Sun almost gone. People packing up. Tired but happy.
Jay and Keifer sat on the sand. Watching the last light.
Jay leaned on his shoulder. "Today was perfect."
Keifer kissed her head. "Every day with you is perfect."
Jay smiled. "Even when we argue?"
Keifer nodded. "Even then. Because we fix it. Together."
Jay looked at him. "I love you."
Keifer looked back. "I love you more."
They kissed. Sunset behind them. Waves in front.
Ci-N yelled from the van. "LET'S GO! I'M TIRED AND SANDY!"
Rakki yelled back. "STOP WHINING!"
Everyone laughed.
Jay and Keifer stood. Hand in hand. Walked to the van.
Everyone tired. Some sleeping. Some quiet.
Jay rested her head on Keifer's shoulder. Eyes closed.
Keifer watched the road. But his mind was on her.
Always on her.
His phone buzzed. Text from Jane.
Jane: I got a really good one of you two at sunset. Sending now.
Photo came through. Them looking at each other. Sunset behind. Love in their eyes.
Keifer saved it. Made it his wallpaper.
He kissed Jay's head. She smiled in her sleep.
Best beach day ever.
Best life ever.
With her.