Romance with the Cursed Siren

CHAPTER 28. Weird Reactions

“You sure you don’t want me to take you home?” Jayson asked when Crystal refused his offer to bring her directly to her house and only requested to drive her back to the boulevard where they met.

“Yes, I’m good.” Her reply does not convince Jason and feeling worried since it is already dawn and still dark. He even offered her to stay at his apartment for the night, but Crystal insisted on taking her back.

“Please?” 

“You’re being annoying,” Crystal commented, rolling her eyes at him, but the man only chuckled at her.

“By the way, before I forgot. I have something for you.” Jason handed her a brand new phone.

“What is this for?” Crystal confusingly inquired.

“It’s a modified phone for the mission. So it will record every conversation you have at my end. So, I suggest don’t use it when you’re talking with your boyfriend because I’ll be jealous for sure, hearing or reading your sweet messages to each other.” he mocked her but the lady wasn’t pleased about his joke and just frowned looking back at him.

“I’m sorry about that.” he apologized, scratching the back of his head.

“I should go,” Crystal said, and open the side of her door. She waits for Jason to steer away before she walks back to her lonely shelter.

When she arrived, she quickly slumped her body down to the bed and silently shed tears, remembering what happened between Austin, Rachel, and her. It also hurts her when they didn’t let her see her grandfather for the last time.

“How will I be able to find the bloody pearl now?” She muttered between her sobs.

The next morning, before the sun rises, Crystal already dives into the water to wait for her to switch under to avoid someone seeing her change again like what happened in the Caro Island. She dives into the deep, also trying her luck to see the healing pearl around the Creekwood waters while trying to clean up the bottom. This time she brought a canvas pouch with her where she could put the garbage she could collect. She continued flipping her tail around and even witnessed how a fish almost swallowed a floating plastic, thinking that it is food and it added to Crystal’s heartache experiencing that moment.

After hours of swimming and getting tired, she took a nap before the sunset. What she didn’t know was that there was someone waiting for her on the land. Until the time has come for her to switch again. She waits until she has fully transformed before swimming up to the surface. But the moment she did, a man standing against the wall of the shack facing the water surprised her. Wearing a collared gray shirt with a pocket on the side and black jeans paired with khaki hiking boots. However, it amazed the man and of how splendid Crystal is the moment she came out from the water and now starts stepping his feet towards her.

“What are you doing here? How do you know where I am?” Crystal asked, who’s now stepping towards the dry land, holding the pouch with the trash from underwater.

“I was so worried about you last night and so, I followed you,” Jason explained while his eyes were looking up and down to Crystal who’s wearing a floral mini strapped dress that barely reached the half of her smooth thigh and seeing those tiny buds again he swallowed but quickly shook his head before another perverted idea came to his mind.

“You shouldn’t have done that.” Crystal replied with irritation in her voice while shaking off the trash from the pouch to the proper bin.

“Is this the reason you don’t like to work during the daytime? Because you’re busy cleaning up the water?”

“Yes.” Crystal shortly replied without looking at him.

“Nice, that was outstanding advocacy.” He commented while following Crystal as she strolls around but stopped when she got inside the wooden shack already.

“Don’t you want to get inside?” Crystal asked while rubbing her hair with a dry towel.

“Uh, sure! But, maybe after you change your clothes.” He said when he saw how Crystal moved enticingly, even without her knowing it.

“Okay,” she said and went to the bathroom. Jason waited outside, watching the sky finally turn dark.

“Jason,” Crystal called to him and he turned, seeing that she was now wearing a plain top and jeans.

“Are you ready for your first night?” he inquired with a smirk.

“No, I’m hungry, I need to eat first.” She honestly announced and made the man laugh softly.

“No problem. It is still early so we can have a date first before working on our mission.”

“A date?”

“Yes! Let’s go.” he excitedly pulled Crystal by hand but the lady startled and abruptly pulled away.

“I-I’m sorry.” Jason apologized and fist his hand for getting carried away.

“It’s alright, I was just shocked by your action.” Crystal explained, remembering how Gabriel used to hold her hand most of the time even when they were swimming underwater.

‘What am I thinking? I should forget about him by now.’ She scolded herself.

“Let’s go.” Crystal said with a smile and took the initiative to grab his hand to amend the unpleasant move she did. It surprises Jason, but when he looked down at her and saw her smiling, he felt easy.

“Yeah,” He responded, grinning from ear to ear.

Jason brought Crystal to a restaurant along the boulevard but just the moment they entered inside the lady couldn't stand the surrounding, seeing the other customers of how they enjoyed eating seafood. She suddenly felt sick and lost her appetite.

“I never thought that there would be someone that can’t stand seeing other people eating fish and such,” Jason commented unbelievably, leading Crystal to get out of the place.

“I’m sorry, I’m just weird.” She responded, holding on to her chest as she was trying to calm herself. 

“Yeah! and thanks for admitting that.” He mocked her.

“You're welcome.” she retorted.

“What about we go to a pizza parlor instead? I know one just around the area.” Jason offered.

“That’s fine with me.” Crystal agreed.

When they arrived at the pizza parlor, Jason quickly ordered beef and mushroom, making sure there would be no seafood on it. They eat together while telling stories about each other. Jason told her about some funny moments of his life while Crystal tells about her adventure underwater and how she felt worried about the creature around Creekwood. Just like what she experienced earlier when the fish thinks that the floating plastic is food.

“Maybe you’re one of them in your past life, that’s why you are very affected,” Jason concluded, but Crystal didn’t respond and just continued munching her food.

“What is it called again? A water creature with alluring beauty and a fishtail?” the man trying to remember while looking up at the ceiling.

“Siren,” Crystal murmured while looking down at her food.

“Yeah, a siren! My grandmother used to tell stories about sirens and how they are taking care of the sea. I’m sure you’re one of them in your past life.” he exclaimed.

“Do you believe in a siren?” Crystal inquired.

“Well, I used to before when I was a kid, but as I grow old and realize they are only tales and not true. I finally convinced myself that my grandmother only tells us silly kid stories.” He honestly said.

“What will you do if you see one?” 

“I don’t think that’s happening, Crystal. Sirens are only living in tales and if one suddenly appears, I’m pretty sure that a government agency will catch her for further studies.”

“Studies?”

“Yes and worse, they will dissect that beautiful creature.” 

“Dissect? Why are they going to do that horrible thing to a siren? Sirens are like humans as well, only they have tails instead of a pair of feet.” Crystal argues.

“Well, humans are always like that every time they discover something new they always have the eagerness to know the origin of that creature and uncover everything as long as they could,” he explained but Crystal’s eyes welled up, and totally lost her appetite.

“I think we should go,” she said and stood up on her feet.

“You sure, you’re full? But you only have taken a slice.” but the lady just ignored him and started walking towards the door. Jason can do nothing but follow Crystal and notice that the lady’s expression was very disappointed, he only doesn’t have an idea why.

‘Why does she seem very affected by that? She’s acting unusual, really.’ He unbelievably thought as he shook his head.

“Are you ready?” He suddenly asked.

“I think so,” Crystal’s honest answer. They are currently standing in front of the parlor.

“Don’t worry, I will be around you the whole night,” he assured and the lady just nodded her head.

“You should ride a taxi from here so Margaux will not have any idea that we are up to something against her. Any update, just message me.” He said and looked down at her, who seemed to be emotionless, gawking at the vehicles passing in front of them.

“Crystal, are you okay?” He asked.

“Yes,” she answered, but deep inside she was anxious, thinking that she had to go back to that place full of nasty men. However, determination to survive gives her the courage to push through it.

Jason calls a cab for her and orders the driver to stop the passenger in front of the Mi Paraiso Club.

“I’ll be just behind,” He assured her and Crystal just answered him with a forced smile.

After a few minutes of their journey, the driver drops Crystal at the exact place while Jason parked his car already, watching Crystal’s every move. Though he doubted giving Crystal the mission because she is still too young, however, he knew that she’s a perfect one for this after witnessing the crowd's reaction when she stands on the stage. Even he is drowned by her beauty but needs to come up in his senses to finish the task that is given to him.