Romance with the Cursed Siren

CHAPTER 24. Mi Paraiso

“We’re here,” Pearl announced when they arrived at the shack where Crystal could stay. She led Crystal by a speedboat while the latter followed her underwater to the coastal inlet that was surrounded by two hills on each side and just in a distance is where the hidden old shaft is. Pearl carried the large bag with clothes, and food supplies, and other essentials that Crystal needed. She also brought cleaning material to tidy up the place before the siren switches to human again and while waiting, she dusts the place.

The shack is just big enough for a single person, that when you enter, you can quickly notice the single bed with an old mattress on it on the right, and on the other side is the kitchen sink with the bathroom door on the side. A small round table and two wooden chairs. 

“What do you think?” Pearl asked excitedly when Crystal finally entered inside.

“It’s beautiful, thank you,” she answered, strolling her eyes around while leaning against the wall.

“It was my father's haven,” Pearl announced as she closed her eyes while feeling the presence of her late father.

“By the way, I also brought you some groceries, and I will bring more food when I return. You also don’t have to worry about my daughter anymore, since I have explained that you’re gone for work just like her dad, he explained delightedly.

“Uh, Pearl. You don’t have to bother yourself about me. Besides, I know someone that would hire me for a job.” Crystal announced.

“Job? What job? What about your-”

“It’s a nighttime job. I only have to sell waffles on the streets, and that’s it.” Crystal smiled, telling her.

“You sure?”

“Of course! Besides, I can’t depend on you forever. From now on, I have to learn to stand on my own because you’re right, I will not waste my parents' sacrifices for me. I need to be brave and move forward.” She declared in a shaky voice.

“That’s my girl.” Pearl was happy for Crystal’s spirit and hugged her tightly.

“Oh, by the way.” Pearl pulled out some bills in her wallet.

“Here. I know you need this, especially when you go to that job of yours. Also, just in case I forgot something that you need, then you can buy it yourself.” she kindly explained.

“Pearl, there’s no need, besides it is just somewhere near the coast. I can just walk from here. And I’ve got everything I need, so there’s no need for this.”

“I insist. Well, how about you pay me later once you already got your salary?”

“Oh, okay. That’s better.” Crystal agreed and smiled.

Crystal didn’t waste any seconds and just after Pearl left, she quickly entered the shower to clean up. But the moment she caresses the hairbrush on her silky hair, her tears come out, remembering how her mother is so fond of her hair and brushing it till dry. But despite the loneliness she felt, she would have to be strong and carry on in life. Crystal took a deep breath and blew every emotion and gravity she had in her heart, and stood up. A white towel was covering her body as she walked to the bed where the bag of her clothes is placed and opened it, pulling out a ruffled top and faded jeans. She let her hair loose and paired her outfit with the flip-flop that Pearl gave her.

‘Thank you for bringing Pearl to me. Please guide me whenever I go and whatever I’ll do.’ Crystal whispered to the air while thinking about her parents before she finally stepped outside. 

She went up to the hill and just followed the path that Pearl told her, and just after a few minutes she had arrived at the main road. And again, just follow the sidewalk near the seaside, where she first met Roxanne and after almost an hour of walking, Crystal finally is just a few meters away. She used to walk for hours on the island and it was just a piece of cake, but the ambiance of Creekwood city made her body weary and sweaty. She took a rest first and sat on a bench beside a close establishment. 

‘I should get going,’ she told herself bravely.

Again, she continued her walk until she arrived at the same waffle stand.

“Ham and Cheese, please.” She ordered as she missed the sweet and savory taste of it.

“oh, so it’s you again,” the salesperson commented, grinning at her. 

“Yeah. By the way, do you know where Margaux is?” Crystal asked, smiling back at the man.

“Of course! We’re good friends, why wouldn't I? Just a sec.” He announced and signaled something by hand to a man standing across the road.

“She’ll be here in a moment.” He told Crystal, as he handed her the order and took the chance to touch her hand while looking at her with malicious eyes, but the lady was naïve about his action as she didn’t bother about it at all and just took a bite of her food. 

After a while, the man came back with Margaux.

“Crystal! Honey, finally you came! I’m so excited to see you.” Margaux cried excitedly after seeing her and gave her a peck on both cheeks.

“Hi, good to see you again too, Margaux. I was just wondering if the job you offered me is still available.” Crystal inquired.

“Yes! Of course, my dear!”

“Thank you so much, I really needed a job now.”

“Come with me, I’ll show you where my paradise is.” Margaux said and started pulling Crystal in the direction where her ‘Mi Paraiso’ stands.

People were all in wide smiles as they passed along with Margaux and Crystal in the street. They seemed like nightwalkers as the sleepiness had no sign on their faces. The Mi Paraiso is located, along with the other structures that were decorated with colorful lights. It was very captivating to look at from the outside with its lighting name banner was on the front of the building that blinks with red and purple color and under it, is the red double door with amazing carvings on it and posters of beautiful girls on the side which has an enticing title on each one of them.

“It’s so beautiful.” Crystal commented, looking up at the entire building.

“Of course it is, just wait till you get inside,” Margaux said as she slipped her arm on Crystal and continued pulling her until they stepped inside the loud and crazy world of Margaux’s paradise. The place is full of men, drinking and laughing, while the ladies that are wearing shimmering short dresses keep on entertaining them. Crystal’s eyes widened in surprise at the new city discovery. Margaux led her towards the upper floor, where they can have a perfect view of what’s happening on the ground.

“You see that lady?” Margaux pointed out to the lady who is currently dancing gracefully on the stage, luring every man that’s watching her. Crystal nodded in response.

“Her name is Rose. She is the most requested angel by my customers. Everyone goes crazy over her, just look at her moves,” she told Crystal who’s already feeling uncomfortable with the scene.

“Uh, Margaux. What exactly is my work here?” Crystal shyly asked.

“Just exactly like that.” She answered with a wicked smirk.

“B-But, I don’t know how to dance. I can’t.” She refused as she kept on shaking her head negatively.

“Don’t worry, darling. You’ll learn for sure.”

“Hey, Margaux! I see you have a new angle here.” A man greeted them with a wide grin.

“Oh! Hi Jason, this is Lotus, and Lotus darling, this is Jason Gonzales, my loyal and generous customer of all.” She introduces the man and slightly nudges Crystal to ride her drama, especially when she suddenly changes her name.

“I like her,” Jason said, staring at Crystal. 

“Hi, Lotus, I am Jason. It’s nice to meet you,” he said and extended his hand forward to Crystal.

“Hi-hi.” She timidly answers while as she bent her head down, looking on the floor, and receives his hand but instead of just a handshake, he kisses her knuckles that made Crystal blushed and it didn’t miss the man’s attention and smirked. He leaned for to Margaux and whispers,

“How much is a night with her?” 

“Don't be in a rush, handsome, you're scaring her. I am still convincing her, but don't worry, I’ll message you immediately once she agrees.

“Alright, I’ll wait till then.” as he glued his eyes to Crystal and wink at her before he left.

“Uh, Margaux?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Do you have any other position for me? I don’t think I can do it.”

“I see, you remember this?” showing Crystal’s golden bracelet.

“My bracelet! I almost forgot about it!” Crystal said and about to reach it when the lady jerked it away from her.

"I can pay for it now, here!" Crystal said, handing the same amount to the lady. 

"Nuh-uh! We have an agreement, remember? You'll work for me and you'll get this back." 

"What? But I don't think I can dance in front of people like that." She honestly said shyly.

"Alright, come with me."

Margaux brought Crystal to a room backstage where her so-called angels are preparing before going on stage or before attending to their guests. Each of them is putting some makeup on their faces, some are making their hair and putting on beautiful sparkling dresses that seem to lack some fabric on their body.

"Kaye, can you help our new angel here, please?” Margaux called for a makeup artist who came in an instant and looked Crystal up and down at her whole.

“Such a beautiful creature. Where did you find her?” the fair, slender woman asked.

“Fate brought her to me,” Margaux responded and wink at her.

“Oh, I see. So… what’s her name?”

“We’ll be calling her, Lotus.”

“I love that name,” Kaye commented, and held Crystal’s trembling hands.

“Are you ready, Lotus?” She asked.

“I don’t know what to feel,” she honestly said as she felt so much uneasiness.

“That’s okay, you’ll feel wonderful later, especially when the pool of men outside goes crazy over your charm.” Kaye pulled Crystal in front of the wide and long mirror of the area and gestured her to sit, which Crystal followed politely. 

Kaye started her magic on Crystal’s feature and applied some oil to her naturally curly hair and let it loose and bounce on her back. While Kaye is busy, Margaux picked some clothes for her and smiled when her eyes darted to a white strappy and flowy mini dress.

“Goddess.” Margaux’s first word when she saw Crystal is ready. The only problem left is that Crystal doesn’t know how to walk with heels and decided to just go out later with bare feet.

“The lesser, the better,” Kaye commented playfully.

Crystal doesn’t seem to be bothered by her dress since she always used to wear dresses of the same length, but her own stunning look actually amazed her.

“And this will complete your outfit.” Margaux ties a white silk scarf, covering the lower half of her face so she won’t be shy later.