Romance with the Cursed Siren

CHAPTER 21. Sad Comeback

“You’re unbelievable, brother. You just got engaged yesterday and you’re already thinking of another girl.” Axel mocked Gabriel who is busy putting some stuff in the interior of his yacht which he needed for sailing.

“She is not just another girl.” Gabriel retorted.

“Ooh! You also told me the same thing about Meryl.”

“But she is far from her, Crystal will never choose money over me.” He responded, remembering how Meryl received his father’s bribe with no hesitation. He felt betrayed by what she did. However, it still didn’t convince him to accept the relationship he had with Rachel. Though he agreed with the engagement, it is only because his father swore to him that the wedding will happen in two years. It is Rachel’s decision since she still wants to seize her life, go clubbing, party with friends, and be single. Besides, she is only nineteen years old. They only need to confirm the agreement made by setting a formal engagement. Also, it favors Rachel since she is badly fantasizing about the man ever since. Little did they know, Gabriel will make sure that there is no union happening between them.

"You never know that. You just met her, while you have known Meryl for a long time, right? Yet, you never expect her to betray you, not until they offered her millions. What a greedy sweet lady.”

“Shut up! You are talking too much, why don’t just help me here?" Gabriel is getting annoyed, scrolling the ropes using his hand and arm.

Crystal has been bothering him since the day he came back to Creekwood. Even though he tried to divert his mind by burying himself from work and Meryl, it still didn't help at all. He even had a dream of her most of the night, which made him miss her even more. There are times as well when he just badly wants to see her face, but since he has no photo of her, what he does is just closing his eyes and imagining her amazing features. Her thick black curly hair, upturned baby blue eyes, and cute narrow nose that she definitely got from her father and her lips, how she timidly moves it against his. Also, remembering how her copper undertone skin feels so soft and last, how can he forget her green silvery tail, which sparkles whenever the sunlight touches it with a beautiful yet sharp fin, and how she dances with it underwater. 

“Are you sure about this? Does your father know that you’re leaving again?” Axel didn’t stop from querying his friend.

“I already notified Ryan about my appointments and dad doesn’t have to know about it. Besides, it’s just a few days and I’ll be back once I’m done.” 

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to continue your unfinished business with her? Wow! That sounds interesting.” Axel teases him.

“And Rachel?” he asserted.

“I don’t care about her.” Gabriel shortly answered.

“I just- I just badly want to see her. I feel like I’m going crazy as days keep on passing without seeing her again,” he confessed as he continued getting everything ready on deck. But his friend chuckled at his words.

“What did you just say?” still following Gabriel behind, doing nothing but mocking him continuously.

Gabriel stopped and turned, facing him finally.

“I thought I saw her last night at the Alonzo courtyard, and it turned out to be a different lady. However, her voice kept on ringing in my ear, she sounded just like her, very.”

“Yeah. You really are demented.” Axel smirked.

“I know, right?” Gabriel admits, then continues what he is doing.

“You’re making me excited to meet this Crystal, really.” but Gabriel didn’t answer and started the engine already.

“I’m going. Get off the yacht right now,” Gabriel firmly ordered.

“I don’t think that’s happening because I suddenly felt like coming with you,” Axel said with a playful grin on his face.

“No, not even in your dreams, bro. So, go!” Gabriel said, gesturing his hand to Axel to leave already.

“Fine, just don’t forget to mention my name to her, got it?”

“Whatever!” 

It was already late in the afternoon and he parked his yacht near the side of the shore where Crystal always stays and waits for her change. His grin never left his face as he was very excited to see the lady who invaded his mind and soul since the first night of meeting her. He picked up his bag and sling it on both sides of his shoulders before hopping down on the water. He looked very charming, wearing black shorts and a white v-neck shirt that hugged his body perfectly, revealing his well-built figure. A navy blue baseball and shades to finish the look.  

He thought of surprising Crystal and so he waited on the shore, taking off his shoes and slumped on the sand comfortably. He looked around him and wondered why her parents are still nowhere to be found when it is nearly the time for Crystal's switch. He waited until he realized no one had come yet, neither Christian and Aya nor Crystal.

"What's happening? Why any of them hasn't shown up?" He gets worried and confused. The sky's colors are becoming dark, mixed with orange, blue and more, showing that it is already sunset. He stood and watched the waves as they hit his feet.

"Crystal?" He muttered, staring at the water for a moment before he decided to head to their cabin in the middle of the forest. He trails the path surrounded by gigantic trees while every step he takes makes sounds coming from the dry leaves and stems scattered on the ground. Until a few minutes later, he already had a view of the burnt cabin. His eyes widened in disbelief while his chest pounded faster, up and down. As he rapidly approached the spot.

“Oh, no! What happened here?” Nothing has left, everything was burnt into ashes. He strolled around the area trying to find some hint but got nothing. Uneasiness overwhelmed him as he looked around and whisked a deep breath before crying out her name.

“Crystal!” trying his luck that the lady might hear him.

“Crystal!” he continues.

Darkness spread all over, and the only light he has is from his phone. Gabriel trails back to the shore hurriedly with his continuous calling.

“Crystal!” but still got no response, aside from the chilly breeze that came from the ocean. 

He climbed up to his yacht and quickly pulled the anchor up, then he headed to the flybridge and lit up the engine. He went to where Christian's yacht should have docked, but it wasn't there. He steered again, heading to the other side where he used to stay before.

"She must be here somewhere." He assumed, but still got no sign of Crystal.

"Crystal! Where are you!?" Again he kept on yelling her name, hoping that she was just around.

He couldn't get to sleep all night as he kept on looking around non-stop, back and forth to their burnt house and shore. He even left a sign that he came from there, a white towel hanging on a tree with ‘Gabe’ written on it using the ashes of the burnt cabin. Now he’s back at the yacht with numb limbs. He slumped on the deck while staring at the pearl bracelet that Crystal gave him.

“Crystal, I’m back. Where are you?”

*****

“Why are you crying?” A boy asked the little girl who’s hiding in a narrow space under the stair of a mansion.

“I felt sad with the poor lobster,” she answered between her hiccups.

“What?” the boy asked again with furrowed eyebrows, confused about what she meant.

“Grandpa killed the lobster!” The girl yelled and cried even harder and her wailing burst into the entire mansion, making everyone startled and start finding where the voice came from.

*****

Because of exhaustion, slumber made him surrender and dreamt about the little boy and girl again. The scene felt familiar but never sure if it happened to him before. The sun has risen already, and he quickly moves to go back to Crystal’s house, but his knees feel so weak as they suddenly tremble to make him stumble again on the floor. He stretches his limbs to get a grip to continue his search around the island and underwater. When he felt better and could stand up already, he continued even at a slow pace. He also picked up a thick branch of a tree to support his weight. However, when he arrived, nothing had changed. His hand moved and rested on his chest while feeling his heart’s beating, which he suddenly felt like being crumpled harshly. He stayed a bit to take a rest before diving underwater later. He sat under a tree while watching the awful scenery in front of him.