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Chapter 4
Brian sat down to have his dinner.
"How could this be? No hot-showers in this big inn. I'll freeze," Summer poked her head out of a window next to Brian.
"Miss, it's 37°C outside!"
Summer ran back up a few flights of stairs but ran down again and poked her head out of the window.
"And my room is not air-conditioned. I'll be hot."
"What's wrong with you? Having a bad cold or high fever?"
The abashed Summer turned to walk away but was detained by Brian.
"Hey!"
"What?" she turned to look at Brian.
"You didn't put on make-up."
"Do I look very awful?" she mumbled and made a face.
Brian took a good look at her.
"No, you look beautiful."
Summer pretended not to care but when she turned away from him, she smirked.
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When AJ, Brian and Nick arrived at the pub, Summer was singing. She was unaware of Brian and the guys. The three walked over to a table and sat down.
"It's over
Love is gone
What's gone is gone
No big deal
We're not happy
Not anymore
In the last second,
We hugged, kissed and cried.
Happy or not
Doesn't really matter
In the last second,
We're through."
Brian was overwhelmed by her beautiful voice. A special feeling surged into his blood. As she plucked the strings of the guitar, the bitter and sour feelings came back to her. She was pull back to reality by her ringing hand phone. She put down the guitar and went back to her seat to answer the phone.
"Hello."
"Summer."
"Hi, Daisy."
"You're in a pub?"
"Yes. It's so mundane here. What else can I do other than singing?"
A burly guy took over the microphone and started singing or more precisely 'screaming'.
"I can't hear you, Daisy! Noise pollution!" Summer shouted.
"No, I haven't sold it yet! I don't know what to do with that ignorant hick! Isn't he crazy? Hello? Can you hear me? Have you found out who is George's new girlfriend for me? Hello? The third-party. Hello?"
The line was cut. Summer was angry with the guy who was still shouting himself hoarse, indulging in his own singing. Summer took off her sandal, aimed it and threw it over to the guy. The sandal hit him on the face. Feeling furious, he picked up the sandal and walked over to Summer who was still grinning. Unaware that she was in big trouble, Summer took her sandal from his hand and put it back.
"Thank you for picking up my sandal."
"Hey, dude! Do you know I'm irritated by you?"
Only then Summer sensed that it was not funny anymore.
"No, I…" she stuttered, "There was a fly…a fly buzzing around your mouth. I wanted to shove it away for you. It would be bad…bad if it flew into your mouth and…and affect your singing."
There was fire in his eyes. Summer was petrified.
"Don't fool around with me, baby. Rock, Sam!" he called out for his gang's members.
"Slap her face for me."
"No, please!" Summer begged, closing her eyes.
"Hey, how could you bully a girl in public?" AJ barged in.
"Well, it's none of your business."
"Nick, AJ!"
The two came over to help.
"So, you want to pick up a fight?" said the bad guy.
"We are taking on you!" said AJ bravely.
"Be my guests then."
The fight broke out - not in Brian and the guys' expectation. Well, luckily both parties were shocked that the fight broke out. There were merely some pushing and shoving, some punches and kicks. Both parties were injured. Maybe they were lucky, Brian, Nick and AJ ended up being the 'winner' of the small fight.
"Don't mess around with us," said Nick as the three gangsters walked away. After the gangsters were out of sight, Nick turned to AJ helplessly.
"I think it's time for hospital."
"But I can't even see the way properly. I can only see stars," said AJ.
"Don't worry. I'm here to send you there." After finishing his words, Brian dropped to the floor.
"Hey!" Summer called out and went to help Brian up.
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The two of them sat on a swing outside the inn, facing the sea. Summer was tending Brian's bruises.
"You guys fight often?"
"No, no. Usually, we would just exaggerate our courage, to scare people off."
"But you fight for me."
"Yeah. Are you touched?"
"Yes," Summer said as she tied a bandage around Brian's arm.
"Ouw…" Brian moaned, "Just now you were saying that you're grateful and now you are hurting me."
"I bluff you." She tied the bandage even tighter, causing more pain on Brian's arm.
"Ouw," Brian whined, "I don't think your bandaging helps even a bit."
"Fine," she stopped working on his bruises.
"Well, I discover another good points of yours. You are very brave. But your braveness may provoke other people, like what happened at the pub. I'm really impressed. I really admire your courage. But please be gentle."
"Only if you sell the beach."
"I want to go swimming!" Brian said, as he jumped off from the swing and scampered towards the sea.
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The twinkling horizon caught Summer's eyes. She sat down to admire the sunrays, which crept across the sea.
"Listen to the waves, the music they compose is soothing, isn't it?" It was Brian. He sat down beside Summer.
"Can you tell me why you don't want to sell the beach?"
"See those kids and people? If this place is privatized, they won't have a place to enjoy."
"Can't you buy another beach?"
"You won't understand. I grew up here."
Actually, Summer had already suspected that Brian was a member of the BSB after meeting AJ and Nick.
"You grew up here?" Summer asked suspiciously.
"Yeah. This is where I learned to swim and dive."
"You have lots of memories. Isn't it enough?"
"It's not only memories. This beach is already part of me. Furthermore, I don't need money. The most important thing is that I'm happy now."
"But I need it," Summer mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing. Are you rich?"
"Why? It doesn't really matter. Unless there is a deeper love which can take over my love for this beach, or else, I won't sell it."
Summer murmured, "Isn't the love for 1.5 millions deep enough?"
"Huh?"
"I said you're sentimental. Mull it over, hick. 1.5 millions."
"I will not sell it. I told you."
"Fine. But I've confidence that I will be able to change your mind."
"So, you're staying longer?"
Summer bit her lips and thought, "You want to play with me? Count me in, Brian of BSB."
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