veintetres

"Beach Camping"

This was supposed to be a romantic getaway—Risa had planned it for just the two of them. And Alice? Alice happily invited the entire office.

Because if she was going to suffer being obvious about her feelings, then Risa was going to suffer being exposed in front of everyone.

Across the fire, Risa sat stiffly, poking at the flames with a stick, her expression locked somewhere between irritation and resignation.

Alice, meanwhile, was grinning, knowing she was pushing all the right buttons. Mika, always the instigator, leaned forward, eyes gleaming.

"So, Alice, what’s it like having a crush on your student teacher?"

The group erupted into a chorus of oohs, the sound rolling through the circle like a wave. Risa tensed. Alice hummed, tilting her head slightly.

"Hmm… I don’t know exactly when it started. But I was in high school when I got my first—"

"First what?!" The office echoed dramatically.

Alice smirked, dragging out the pause just long enough to make Risa sweat. "First crush, siyempre."

Risa let out a slow exhale, shoulders loosening.

But Alice wasn’t done. "First love."

The fire crackled. The teasing died down into a silence thick with curiosity. And Risa fucking froze.

Mika, sensing the perfect moment to stir the pot, raised a brow. "And who was it?"

Alice tilted her head, gaze locking onto Risa’s. "Do you really have to ask?"

The entire company turned to Risa, who blinked, looking utterly betrayed. "Don’t look at me."

"Ma’am…" Mika drawled. "Is there something you’d like to share?"

"No."

Alice pouted, leaning in closer. "Ayaw mo aminin, Ma’am?"

Risa shot her a glare. "Shut up, Guo."

The group exploded into laughter, Loren clutching her stomach as she swayed slightly—already tipsy.

"AYAN! Kita niyo ‘yan?! That’s the face of a woman who knew but pretended not to!" Loren pointed dramatically.

Mika gasped. "Risa, you knew?"

"I— I did not—"

Alice cut in smoothly, "Oh, she knew. She just didn’t want to admit that her student was absolutely smitten with her."

The group erupted.

"PUTANGINA, SOUNDS LIKE A MOVIE!"

"A forbidden romance!"

"A scandalous one!"

Risa groaned, rubbing her temples. "I hate all of you."

Alice, thoroughly enjoying herself, scooted closer and leaned in, her voice just for Risa. "Too bad, babe. You’re stuck with me for three days."

And just like that, Risa shivered despite the heat.

Mika clapped her hands together, grinning mischievously. "Okay, okay. I think it’s time for a proper game. Let’s play Truth or Dare!"

The group cheered, already anticipating chaos.

Risa groaned. "Nope. Not happening."

Loren pouted dramatically. "Oh, come on, Ma’am! What’s a little fun?"

"It’s not fun if I end up regretting it tomorrow."

"That’s exactly why it’s fun!" Mika shot back.

With no further protest, everyone shuffled closer into a tight circle. Mika grabbed an empty beer bottle, placing it in the middle with a smirk.

"Alright, rules are simple—truth or dare. No backing out once you choose. If you refuse, you drink."

Alice was loving this.

Risa? Risa looked like she wanted to run straight into the ocean.

Loren gave the first spin. The bottle twirled rapidly before slowing—pointing at Mika.

"Truth or dare?" Loren wiggled her brows.

Mika grinned. "Dare, obviously."

Loren smirked before pointing at the bonfire. "Run three laps around the fire while screaming, ‘I am the sexiest person alive!’"

Mika groaned but stood up. "Easy."

Laughter erupted as Mika dramatically flailed around the fire, screaming her declaration into the night.

By the time she collapsed back into the circle, panting and grinning, the game was officially in full swing.

The bottle spun again.

This time, it landed on Alice.

Risa’s gaze snapped to her immediately, suspicion written all over her face.

"Truth or dare?" Mika asked.

Alice smirked. "Truth."

Mika’s grin widened. "If you could only kiss one person in this company for the rest of your life, who would it be?"

The entire group burst into chaos.

"OH, PUTANGINA!"

"SAY IT, GUO!"

Risa tensed, her entire body going rigid.

Alice, absolutely reveling in the moment, tilted her head thoughtfully. "Hmm… that’s tough. A lot of you are cute."

Mika groaned. "Stop stalling!"

Alice grinned before finally answering. "Risa."

The group screamed.

Risa, who had been mid-sip of her cocktail, choked.

"Tangina!" Loren wheezed. "That wasn’t even a hard question!"

Alice winked at Risa, watching her turn an impossible shade of red.

The bottle spun again.

It landed on Risa.

The group exploded.

"TRUTH OR DARE?!"

Risa groaned, running a hand down her face. "Dare."

Mika smirked. "Kiss Alice."

Dead. Silence.

Then absolute mayhem.

"TANGINA, MIKA!"

"PUTANGINA, ANG TAPANG MO!"

"DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!"

Alice’s breath caught.

And Risa?

Risa looked at her.

Alice expected her to roll her eyes, to drink her way out of it.

Instead, Risa sighed heavily, set her drink down, and leaned in.

The moment stretched, thick with tension. Alice’s heartbeat pounded in her ears.

Then—

Soft lips brushed against hers.

It was brief. Barely a second.

But Alice felt it everywhere.

When Risa pulled away, the entire group lost it.

"HOLY SHIT, SHE REALLY DID IT!"

"MA’AM, GRABE KA!"

Alice barely registered anything else.

Because Risa—cheeks flushed, eyes unreadable, lips slightly parted—looked just as shocked as she felt.

Then, with a pointed glare, Risa grabbed the bottle and spun it again.

Like nothing had happened.

Long after the game had ended, the bonfire had burned low, and everyone had stumbled off to their tents, Alice found herself standing on the quiet stretch of beach, the waves lapping at her feet.

A soft voice broke through the darkness.

"You’re unbelievable."

Alice turned.

Risa stood a few feet away, arms crossed, looking both exasperated and—something else.

Something dangerous.

Alice smirked. "You mad at me, Ma’am?"

Risa exhaled sharply, stepping closer. "You’re playing with fire, Guo."

Alice tilted her head, letting the silence stretch. Then she whispered, "Maybe I like getting burned."

Risa didn’t hesitate.

One moment, they were standing apart.

The next, Alice was pinned against the nearest palm tree, Risa’s mouth crashing against hers—hungry, demanding, nothing like the teasing kiss from earlier.

Alice gasped into the kiss, fingers tangling in Risa’s hair.

No one knew.

No one would know.

Because here, in the darkness, away from prying eyes—Alice and Risa weren’t boss and employee.

They weren’t former teacher and student.

They were just two people who had been holding back for far too long.

"DAY 2"

Most of the office had scattered—some were swimming, others were lounging with drinks, and a few were playing volleyball nearby.

Alice, however, had her focus entirely on Risa.

Risa had finally stopped sulking about the trip and was now sitting on a wooden lounge chair near the bonfire area, sipping a cocktail.

She looked ridiculously good, wearing a loose white cover-up that barely hid the deep blue one-piece swimsuit underneath.

Her legs were crossed, her damp hair fell in messy waves, and the way she occasionally licked the salt from her lips was sending Alice into a spiral.

Christ.

Alice was seriously reconsidering her choices. She had invited the entire office to torture Risa—but now she was the one suffering.

"You're staring," Mika muttered beside her, hiding a smirk behind her beer.

Alice scoffed. "I am not."

Mika gave her a flat look. "Sure. You’re just admiring the sand behind her."

Alice rolled her eyes but didn't bother denying it. Because really, how could she not stare?

Unfortunately, someone else was staring, too.

A group of guys from accounting had been drinking since noon, their voices growing louder as their confidence did.

Alice had noticed them sneaking glances at Risa all day, but she had ignored it. Until now.

One of them—Miguel, if Alice remembered correctly—finally got up and made his way over to Risa.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and had the cocky air of a guy who thought he was every woman's type.

He carried two bottles of beer, flashing an easy grin as he approached.

Alice narrowed her eyes.

Risa, completely oblivious, continued sipping her drink as Miguel stopped right beside her.

"You look lonely, ma’am," he said smoothly, offering her one of the beers. "Mind if I keep you company?"

Risa glanced up, clearly caught off guard. She hesitated before shaking her head politely. "Oh, no thanks. I’m fine."

Miguel chuckled, unfazed. "Come on, just one drink? It’s on me."

"I already have one." Risa lifted her glass slightly.

"That?" Miguel scoffed. "That’s barely anything. You should try something stronger." He nudged the beer toward her again. "Live a little, ma’am."

Alice’s grip on her own bottle tightened.

Risa gave a polite, but firm, smile. "I’m good. But thanks."

Most men would have taken the hint.

Miguel was not most men.

Instead, he chuckled, stepping closer—too close—until he was nearly looming over Risa. "You sure? A beautiful woman like you shouldn’t be drinking alone."

Alice shot up from her seat so fast that her chair scraped against the sand.

She was already moving before she could think, heart pounding in her ears.

Miguel, still oblivious to his impending doom, leaned a little closer. "You know, I always had a thing for smart, older women—"

"She’s not alone," Alice said sharply.

Miguel turned, blinking in surprise as if he had just noticed her. "Oh, hey, Alice! We were just—"

Alice didn’t let him finish.

Her fist connected with his jaw so fast and so hard that he barely had time to register what happened before he was sprawling onto the sand.

Silence.

Then chaos.

"PUTANGINA, ALICE!" Mika shrieked.

Risa shot up from her seat, her drink sloshing over the rim. "Alice, what the hell?!"

Miguel groaned, rolling onto his side and clutching his face. "Tangina—what the fuck was that for?!"

Alice, chest heaving, glaring, pointed at him. "Take that as your fucking answer."

Miguel looked up at Risa, as if expecting her to defend him. But Risa was too busy pressing her fingers to her temples, looking like she was holding back the urge to kill Alice.

The rest of the office, meanwhile, had fully descended into madness.

"HOLY SHIT, SHE REALLY PUNCHED HIM!" Loren screamed, half in horror, half in admiration.

Mika let out a wheezing laugh. "Navarro, what the fuck—"

Alice wasn’t listening. She was still staring Miguel down, daring him to try again.

He didn't.

Instead, he groaned, muttered something under his breath, and staggered away.

Risa exhaled sharply before grabbing Alice’s wrist.

"Come with me," she hissed, yanking her away from the crowd.

"Oyy! Saan niyo dadalhin si Alice, Ma’am?!" someone called out.

"Away from all of you!" Risa snapped.

Alice didn’t fight it. Not when Risa’s grip was tight, her pace quick, dragging her across the sand until they reached the hotel nearby—the same hotel Risa had booked in case of emergencies.

Well. This was an emergency.

The moment they were inside the room, Risa slammed the door shut and turned to Alice, arms crossed. "What the fuck was that?"

Alice shrugged, unapologetic. "He was flirting with you."

"So?" Risa threw her hands in the air. "You punched him, Alice!"

"And I’d do it again."

Risa groaned, rubbing her temples. "God, you’re impossible."

Alice smirked. "You love it."

Risa turned away, but not before Alice caught the faintest shade of pink creeping up her neck.

Alice stepped closer, lowering her voice. "You do love it, don’t you?"

Risa exhaled sharply, eyes narrowing. "You are sleeping on the couch."

Alice pouted. "But—"

"No buts." Risa grabbed a pillow and chucked it at her.

Alice laughed, catching it easily.

She threw herself onto the couch dramatically, arms behind her head, grinning up at Risa. "Well, we’ll see about that."

Risa rolled her eyes, but Alice didn’t miss the way her lips twitched—like she was fighting a smile.

Alice smirked to herself.

Yeah. She was definitely winning this round.