Aris Sandoval’s P.O.V.
“Aris, help me!”
I heard how Juno cried out loud. She was not opening her mouth underwater, but I was one hundred percent sure that she was urgently asking for my help based on the tone of her voice screaming for my name.
Unexplained dread and horror could be read through her entire beautiful face and I was such a fucking asshole that I couldn’t do something about it. I could feel how she was easily frightened by what was happening, but all I could do was just stare at her helplessly.
She was imprisoned in a black cage covered by dead kelps, eerie seaweeds, and water snakes. Her beautiful wrists that were handcuffed and chained at each end of the cage were being wounded every time she struggled to be free from those rusty shackles.
As some of her blood was getting mixed up into the sea, her golden tail that was also tied up front seemed to lose its vibrant tint. It was slowly and erratically varying into white, which could be the reason for her gradual weakness.
I stiffened. It felt like I got suddenly paralyzed from head to toe that I didn’t know what to do anymore.
Outside the cage, Juno was surrounded by hundreds of sea creatures in different forms. I knew that anytime soon, those in form of merman wights would be willing to thrust their spears and tridents on me if I made a mistake of crossing the black boundary on my feet.
At this time, I couldn’t help but blame myself because I was nothing but an egotistic coward. I was so powerless that I wasn’t able to do something to save Juno or something that could free her forever.
Three weeks.
It had been three weeks and yet, I still had no proper sleep. Even in business conferences, stockholder meetings, and social gatherings that I was attending, I still couldn’t think well enough. My secretary, Francine, would always jostle my elbow to drag me out from my reverie when it was already my turn to speak in front of our board of directors.
It was like my mind had always been somewhere only God knew, that no better ideas came out of it. I was always absent-minded as if I was always imagining things. I couldn’t go with my previous daily routine as I couldn’t even have barely three hours of sleep. If I ever had a chance to, I would have always been bothered by that dream. No, it was an effing nightmare.
My activity of running across the neighborhood every five o’clock in the morning which helped me from being physically fit had also left me out and was suddenly changed into laziness while burying myself in the bed trying to sleep a lot. In the end, I just couldn’t sleep more and would just face my laptop with huge and dark eye bags.
I had been restless for three consecutive weeks and always having a hard time. I guessed I would have gotten even crazier by continuously thinking of Juno and her safety.
That nightmare might indicate that she was currently in danger under the sea, and here I was… feeling so impotent that I certainly didn’t know how to step forward with my plans. All I knew was that my only way of finding her was through that Drey Laxamana.
I didn’t know how Francine did that, but she was able to get a copy of Drey Laxamana’s schedule. So yes, it had been also three weeks that I had been thinking about how would I approach that woman, whenever I secretly followed her, in a way that none of us would be dragged into whatever shame or humiliation.
For three weeks, I acted as a secret tailgate who used to follow her every step like I was a kind of stalker. I even held my video call meetings while I was on my parked car and covertly looking at her. But I must admit that among all stalkers, I was the incomparable one — a handsome heartthrob who would be treated by women as a secret admirer!
Within three weeks, I also did different methods to research further information that would fully support if that Drey Laxamana really came from El Nido. I filed a leave for three days just to continuously watch all of her recent and past TV guesting videos up to the simplest interviews. I also had my eyes on her jolly and smart-alecky videos on MeTube. I did not let go of even the most minor detail for me to know the truth.
I was desperate that indeed, I even hired a private investigator. And hell yes, it was confirmed that Drey Laxamana came from El Nido, Palawan. In fact, she grew up there. She just studied her bachelor’s degree here in Manila, after her long vacation in the United States.
Damn it!
I closed my eyes and gently massaged my forehead. I hated this feeling. I was sick and tired of her. The truth was… I was starting to loathe everything about her.
She did nothing to me except for giving me that sudden slap in the airplane, but at the same time and no matter how hard I ever tried to deny it, she was only contributing to my problems. She was just adding to my anxiety as I thought about Juno’s whereabouts.
I wasn’t able to know where all my flings came from, but that Drey Laxamana? I just saw her three weeks ago. Our first encounter was even worst, but here I was, trying to find a reason why I would have gotten so stupid just by thinking about her… to the extent that I already researched her damn entire life. I didn’t even experience filing a leave for a date, but it was quite ironic that I filed a leave for that Drey.
Shit! She is nothing, Aris. You’re just curious about her because she came from El Nido and she was able to draw Juno way back her teenage years for an unknown reason.
You’re just thinking about her because for now, she is your only way to find Juno and you’re already desperate that she might be the only person who could help you. Other than that, she has no value to you.
Like all the other women that you had crossed paths with, when you’re done with her, you’re just going to throw her away without even caring about her feelings. The only difference is that virginity is not the issue here. That was not the reason why you were chasing her for the past three weeks.
It might sound weird but I guessed, my subconscious mind tried to convince me.
And she’s definitely not my type! I added with conviction.
It was a good thing that I had just taken a short nap here in my car while watching her, or else, I would have missed her next errands. This was not the right time for me to lose my focus on her. I already invested time and money on this mission, might as well gain some factual results.
I would do everything for you, Juno. I promise I will soon find you!
After staying inside her car for a few more minutes, I saw Drey Laxamana finally went out of it and excitingly made her way to the famous coffee shop in town. She was wearing a simple off-shoulder red blouse matched with white fitted pants. Her hair was perfectly ponytailed and she was also wearing about a five-inch-heel pair of sandals. I could say that she was quite a head-turner while looking at how her butt swayed too fast.
Some men behind her couldn’t help themselves but to also look at her butt. Damn maniacs!
I waited for her to enter the glass door first before I decided to get off my car.
Aris Sandoval’s P.O.V.Like the old times of stalking her — I was wearing my shades again as I was also carrying a newspaper that served as props in case I needed to fully cover my face. I was wearing black pants and a white-striped polo, where the first three buttons were open exposing a part of my hard chest and the sleeves were folded up to my elbows emphasizing my muscled biceps.Too handsome for a stalker!I saw her heading to the second floor of the coffee shop, where I could only see two to three people in the entire area. I still followed her until I saw how she eagerly took her seat in front of a man wearing a red polo with long sleeves up to his wrists, who I thought, might be her boyfriend.Wow! And they are both wearing red, huh? Was it Valentine’s in July?But I never saw him in her videos or any news associated with her. Did I even research her well?I decided to take a seat closer to them and used the newspaper to partially cover my face. I settled behind Drey so that sh
Drey Laxamana’s P.O.V.Despite my beautiful face, it was quite ironic to say that my whole life was just a mess. A complete-package mess!When I was a kid, I used to believe in fairy tales. I used to believe that ‘happily ever after’ endings do really exist. I wanted to get tangled with that kind of eccentric destiny with my one and only prince charming. I believed in magical spells, fantasies, and worst, I believed in mermaids.Who would have ever believed that those creatures were real?And not just believe… I was obsessed with them. Yes, I got totally obsessed with mermaids!That was the reason why I got bullied way back my childhood years — because of my crazy obsession with mermaids. All of my things from head to toe must include mermaids. My bags and shoes were even customized with mermaids. I told my classmates that they were real, but they only cackled at me.We used to have a vast infinity pool in the house before and I would always wear my gold costume to swim like a mermaid.
Drey Laxamana’s P.O.V.Wasn’t he that conceited guy who took advantage of me during my flight from Tokyo coming back here? That infuriating guy who kept on asking about my painting?But what is he doing here? Oh no, was he stalking me ever since that plane incident? Damn it! I think I’m in big trouble again.He was nothing but trouble. I loathed him ever since and he looked like a freaking stalker!He was towering over me but I didn’t let him notice that I was quite surprised by seeing him. I knew it was savage but I hurriedly threw the handkerchief on him just to show what I supposed to feel that he was in front of me again, but he was fast enough to catch it even before it reached his face.“Hey, that’s rude! Is that how you treat people who wanted to help you?” he yelled at me.I rolled my eyes as I scoffed. “I don’t need any of your help, mister. I don’t even know who you are and why are you here. Mind you, no one is asking for your help. So back off!”“Uh oh, so you’re now differe
Drey Laxamana’s P.O.V.I must admit, our first encounter was really bad. In fact, it was even worst. But it was true that there would be always room to make things right. I believed that we would always have the right time to make things better.And here he was. The great Aris Sandoval had instinctively protected me from those paparazzi as he played the role of a knight in shining armor. Far from the vain guy with his enormous ego.I guessed it was already time for me to forget the terrible thing that happened to us before. Being annoyed with him for no apparent reason would just do me no good. My first impression of people wouldn’t always seem to last after all.What happened to us already happened. He couldn’t remember it and he already rendered his apology. I could no longer take the time back so I obviously had to move forward.I could still feel the warmth of his embrace when he said, “Here you go. They already left,” as he removed his shielding arms around my head.But why do I h
Drey Laxamana’s P.O.V.“Yeah, I certainly knew about that thing, miss. Drey and I don’t keep secrets to each other, it will just ruin our relationship. The truth is I have always been blessed for having her in my life.”I looked at Aris and silently pinched his hand to stop him. But still, he continued praising me like I wasn’t sure if he was only doing that on purpose.“Look at Drey? A licensed engineer, a professional model, and an adept artist! What more could I ask for? She’s so talented that I couldn’t even blink when I looked at her. I should thank your boyfriend, right?” he said as he even held my hand tighter as he narrowed his eyes to Ivan. “But for now, I was thinking how could he avoid all the bad lucks that was already attached to him… for choosing an ounce of charcoal over a pound of gold!” Aris even scornfully winked at my so-called best friend.I was not seeing my reflection in the mirror but I was one hundred percent sure that what he said made me blush. I didn’t know w
Aris Sandoval’s P.O.V.“Why did you do that?” Ondrea asked as soon as we were already inside my car. Those paparazzi didn’t ask further questions anymore after hearing what they wanted to hear from us.I wasn’t a celebrity and I didn’t have plans to be one, though I looked like one, but I knew how to respond from those prying people. Give them what they wanted to hear and case closed. They would no longer bother you so you were free to go.“What?” I ‘innocently’ asked, though I already knew what she was talking about. I was wearing my calm and deadpan expression but the truth was I really wanted to laugh.“Don’t ask as if you’re innocent, Aris. Why did you told them that I’m your girlfriend? They will surely have malicious thoughts, for Christ’s sake!” she bellowed before she held her forehead like I caused her so much trouble. Now, I loved to see the ‘first’ Ondrea that I met three weeks ago.I secretly smiled. “Ah, that? For them to easily let go of us, Ondrea! If I didn’t tell them
Aris Sandoval’s P.O.V.“I’m currently in a meeting.” Obviously, I lied. It was a lame excuse knowing what I just did a while ago.“Fuck you, Aris! Don’t lie to me, bastard. I heard from the news and I even saw it with my own eyes that you’re with that top billboard model — Drey Laxamana! And you had the guts to say in public that she’s your girlfriend, huh? Were the two of you really dating? Since when? And what about me? What about us?” she yelled over the phone. I could see that she was gritting her teeth wherever she was. If she was in front of me, I could have put some packaging tape on her mouth.This woman literally gave me headaches and I wanted enough of her dramas. But of all the things she had told me, why didn’t I know that Ondrea was a top billboard model? If she really was, I wanted to see her billboard right now!“You already knew who am I with, then why do you still have to ask? I’m sorry, Carlene, but we’re already done here. Haven’t you notice my cold treatment for you
ArisSandoval’s P.O.V.I excused myself to Drey who was at the lobby waiting for the receptionist. I went outside of the hotel but still, I could see her from here. I couldn’t help but smile when I saw how her forehead creased a little bit, while impatiently ticking her fingers over the counter.“Cancel all my appointments for one month, Francine. There’s an urgent thing that I have to deal with,” I instructed my secretary