Aris Sandoval’s P.O.V.
This woman in front of me just carelessly slapped my handsome face!
What the? I didn’t see that coming!
“Pervert!” she said fretfully as other passengers had witnessed what she did to me. Some don’t care at all but some were already murmuring on their seats… and this woman just placed back her headset to cover her ears like nothing had ever happened?
I must admit, I was really ashamed.
I was wide-eyed for a few seconds. What she did left me shocked to the point that I got utterly speechless while holding my left jaw. This was the very first time I got lost for words. True enough, her slap wasn’t that strong, it doesn’t even move me from my seat. Nevertheless, it would never change the fact that she had the urge to slap my strikingly handsome face. In fact, she already did.
I bitterly chuckled.
Wow! Never in my entire life had I been slapped in the face. The face that could tame thousands of women in just three seconds… got slapped after three seconds as well. I couldn’t believe it, damn it!
If I know, she just wanted to touch me and feel my skin. Now, who was the real pervert between the two of us here? Tsk.
I was about to open my mouth when I heard the flight attendant’s announcement. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are now approaching Manila where the local time is twelve noon. At this stage, you should be on your seat with your seat belt firmly fastened. Personal seat tables must be stowed away and all hand luggage should be stored either in the overhead compartments or under the seat in front of you. Please ensure that all electronic devices including laptop computers and cellular phones are turned off or in-flight mode.”
We would be landing soon so I conditioned myself. Fine, I would just let go of what she did to me. I would never make a big deal out of it.
She should be grateful that she was exquisitely hot. If not? I would never get out of this airplane without getting even at her, damn! I balled my right fist in a nuisance.
Shortly after landing, we stood up to get our things in the compartment bins. The woman just glared at me as if I did something bad to her when I couldn’t even remember what exactly it was. She should at least tell me, I was more than willing to render my sorry.
Whoa! I was the one who gets innocently slapped here and yet, she looked at me like I had to be guilty of what happened? Like I should be convicted of a certain crime I didn’t even do? Seriously?
But of all the women I had met, was I still not used to it? I was lustrously handsome to the point that they couldn’t resist their feelings for me no matter what they do.
They would just always act like they were mad at me at first but would succumb to my charms later on. And I knew for sure, that this one also wanted the same attention. This was only her game for me to lay an eye on her. Well, she already won.
What a move! Badly asking for an apology for the thing I didn’t do?
I was already at the ramp when I no longer saw that woman. I was confused as I was just looking at her a while ago until we all sauntered from the plane and now, she was completely gone. I didn’t even know where she headed to, but she had just vanished like an orb of a bubble.
Maybe, she just went to the lavatory room?
Shit! What the hell are you thinking, Aris? Like who cares? You don’t have to think about her!
So I dismissed my useless and haywire thoughts.
Carrying my black laptop bag over my right shoulder, I went to the conveyor and waited for my checked-in baggage. It was a good thing that I only packed light for a five-day conference so one luggage would be enough. Since I was still waiting for my chauffeur, I had decided to stroll inside the airport.
The CL International Airport or CLIA was tremendously modernized in Manila. The airport was already a tourist spot. It showcased an enormous fountain vividly covered with a string of lights at the main center. The base of the fountain was also surrounded by plants with different flowers. That alone would catch tourists to have a beautiful background picture while leisurely walking inside the airport.
I continued strolling around with my baggage on my left side. I was about to make my way to the exit when my attention was suddenly caught by an incredible painting of a young mermaid hanging on the wall. It was a beautiful canvas enclosed in a clear glass and side-protected with a panel of maple wood.
I stopped myself from walking. I mindlessly let go of my baggage to step forward as my eyes even forgot to blink. I was completely mesmerized as I looked intently at the painting. Now, I couldn’t stop my sudden and abnormal heartbeats which kept on deafening me.
I couldn’t be wrong… she exactly looked like Juno! Can I conclude now that she really exists?
I didn’t know why but I guessed, this was already a sign that I would be able to see Juno again. I had waited long enough and this painting literally gave me hope that the prolonged wait would be officially over.
I looked at the artist’s name and it was written as Drey Laxamana, with a printed date of April 2004. Based on his dazzling painting, there was no wonder that he was a believer of sea creatures.
Of all my researches about mermaids and such things, only his mural had caught my inner feelings.
It was full of life… as if Juno was actually in front of me. With her gilded hair and tail, those white pearls around her beautiful neck, and her smile that made my heart flutter before? It was so realistic. Those made me think that Sir Drey also knew her, that he also had the chance to see her.
I guessed, I gravely needed to talk to this artist. I needed to propose a deal with him. I didn’t care if he wanted to name his price. Seeing Juno again had always been my top priority. I didn’t care how much it would cost me knowing that I had been waiting for twelve years already.
I badly wanted this painting, but how could I contact him?
For now, it doesn’t really matter. If I had to use my impeccable connections, I would do it to find him as soon as possible.
I looked out for my baggage, grabbed it, and was about to leave the area when I was unexpectedly approached by a young boy with the same black hair as mine. I looked at him intently and that was why I could say that he was probably eight years old. He was unquestionably good-looking with his long eyelashes and pointed nose.
“It was great, do you agree? Did you know that my sister was the one who did that painting?” He proudly remarked, divulging me the truth at the same time.
Wait… what?
He suddenly captured my attention with what he just said. For that, I frowned.
Did I hear it right that his sister was the one who created this mermaid? That this Drey Laxamana was in fact… a woman?
“R-Really? Are you with her, kid?” The hope in my body swiftly intensified, silently praying that this talk would lead me to finally see Juno. I tried to level my body with the boy’s height so we could properly talk. He was so small and with my six foot and two inches height, it was really hard for me to do so.
“I have a name, sir—” he complained but the kid’s statement was then interrupted by a loud voice of a woman, in line with the sound of her heels heading unquestionably towards my back.
“Nickos! There you are, how many times did I tell you not to talk to strangers?” She had a captivating voice but her exasperated tone somehow annoyed me. It quite roared in this part of the airport, even though we were surrounded by people.
I stood up straight. I turned around saying, “I am not a bad person—” but I cut my sentence when I saw who the hell she was.
We were flabbergasted as we both shouted at the same time, “It’s you!” while pointing our forefingers next to each other.
Aris Sandoval’s P.O.V.It was her!That ferocious woman who slapped me earlier in the plane—was the same woman who was again throwing me some deadly stares. I guessed, she wasn’t yet able to move on from what happened.But wait… if she is the sister of this kid, meaning to say, she was also the one who created this painting? So, she is definitely none other than Drey Laxamana? The artist?I gulped hard and my jaw literally dropped when I realized it. I was tongue-tied all of a sudden. I opened my mouth but I wasn’t able to say anything and this would be the very first time it ever happened to me.That explained why they were so look alike, most especially with their long eyelashes and pointed nose. I even thought a while ago that the kid’s eyes represented someone very familiar to me, little did I know that it was all because of the woman from the plane incident.With the clear lights here, I could say that she was more than prettier than earlier. Most especially now that she was proud
Aris Sandoval’s P.O.V.“You’re impossible! If that’s what you want, we don’t have anything to talk about here then. For your information, I don’t sell any of my paintings and most especially, I don’t need your fucking money, sports car, yacht, or condo! You can have them all by yourself including your damn massive ego! Excuse us. Nickos, let’s go… and please, don’t you ever try to follow us again, mister!” She sneered.She even pointed her finger right in front of my face. She had these long and beautiful nails painted with a crack-styled cuticle that could scratch me anytime. “If you were used to getting things that you want, well this time, it won’t just work out.” She continued as if she had read what my mind was saying before she held her brother’s wrist again and started to walk away from me.I used to reject people and this was the very first time in history I felt that I somehow… got rejected. I couldn’t accept this and I guessed, I had to make another way. I shouldn’t get my mo
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.
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