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. To the point that I wanted to prove that they actually exist, I even used my own hands to paint one of them. From then on, I got myself fully engrossed with paintings. Creating murals had always been my favorite hobby, aside from swimming.
Everything even bloomed when I met Ivan during my vacation stay in Los Angeles. He was brought by his divorced mom to take a vacation there before she married her American boyfriend.
I was only sixteen way back then and we had met during my first international exhibit. Ivan was three years older than me and a collector of abstract paintings. He liked my classics and from then, he started courting me.
Who would say ‘no’ to a teen hottie who stood at around five feet and ten inches? Now he was standing at exactly six feet. From his small eyes which he inherited from his Chinese father whom he never met, perfectly-shaped nose and jaws, thin lips, and a muscular body built, I didn’t let him wait any longer. I said ‘yes’ immediately and from then on, we became officially together.
Everything was so natural. Ivan was my first love and my number one fan. He was my prince charming, my protector, and my knight in shining armor. I was at my happiest whenever I was with him that I already forgot to think about other people. He used to say that I was his world and that, he couldn’t bear living without me. But not until he met my college best friend, Louise.
That was three years ago when I introduced them to each other. At first, I was really happy that two of the most important persons in my life get along so well. But little did I know that they would just betray the trust that I gave them.
They both stabbed me in the back without giving me a chance to plan and execute my revenge!
Louise Gerona was a traitor as she could be — she was a snake! Although I didn’t know what suited her best: a python or a cobra? I guessed, either of the two as I didn’t care about her anymore. She later revealed that she envied me from the very start and her main goal was just to get everything that I have.
She only befriended me to use my social network and to experience the life that I was living in. She came from a poor family and almost all of her tuition fees from second-year college until we graduated from Mechanical Engineering were shouldered by my parents.
Her envy even more intensified when she failed, but I passed our licensure board examination. Little did I know that her spitefulness would take to a higher level when I accompanied her on a local model search audition. She never told me about her real feelings that she never wanted me to join her. I would be more sensitive if I had only known.
Then, I introduced her to Ivan and that was the hell start of the whole thing. She saw that as an opportunity to finally ruin me. But I couldn’t blame her alone. If Ivan truly loved me, he would never fall for Louise.
I couldn’t imagine what led him to waste our almost ten-year relationship. It was two years ago when they started having an affair, but Ivan only admitted their tryst to me last year.
And he already called that a fucking closure? My tears fell again on that thought.
I got devastated. I started to forget everything about all of my paintings at that time. It was because of those wonderful masterpieces that Ivan and I met, might as well leave everything behind.
I stopped myself from painting. I stopped myself from organizing exhibits. I deleted all my landscaped blogs, painting vlogs, and online graphics. I even threw and ruined my classic designs and sketches because all I wanted was to completely forget everything.
But my father saved one and that painting currently hangs at the Cresta-Laxamana International Airport. It was a canvas painting of a stunning mermaid that I created twelve years ago.
If Ivan hadn’t broken up with me, we would be celebrating our ten years of togetherness this year. But what now? Everything had been smashed into pieces. Dreaming a life with him together with our future kids had officially ended. It wouldn’t happen anymore no matter how hard I begged for him.
I was already tired, yet I had no other choice but to cry again. Ivan meant everything to me and I guessed, I didn’t know how to start living my life without him. I loved him so much… so much it hurts! So much that I left nothing for myself and everything about me had already been torn apart after he broke me up. How would I be able to fix myself now? How would I be able to get excited about what the future has to offer?
I barely survived for a year, but I didn’t want to live like this in the succeeding years.
I have always been this fragile. I have always been this weak!
I cried harder with my thoughts. I didn’t care if some paparazzi followed me to steal photos of my crying moments, then sold those to the magazines and newspapers. I was already expecting that I would be in the headlines tomorrow so that I wouldn’t be surprised at all.
I was busy searching for a tissue paper inside my bag when someone from my left side suddenly lent me a handkerchief. Thinking that Ivan came back, I immediately grabbed the white cloth, stood up, and affectionately hugged his waist without even looking at him.
“Ivan, you’re back—” I painted a beatific smile on my lips but I cut my own words when I soon realized that something was awfully wrong.
I knew I was hugging a guy who was taller than Ivan — since my face was only leveled at his chest. On the contrary, my face was already leveled at Ivan’s neck. I was clasping my arms on a guy whose scent was different from Ivan’s and whose body built, I hated to say this, was much better than Ivan’s. It was brawnier to the point that I could really feel his firm abs.
I felt his body slightly shivered from my touch. I removed my hands around him as I slowly looked above. After seeing his face, my eyes went wide open and my jaws just literally dropped. It left me completely dumbfounded burying me in a state of shock.
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
Aris Sandoval’s P.O.V.That was when I opened my eyes and was surprised with what I saw—Drey was now in front of me while drying her long hair with a clean cloth. A quizzical expression was evident on her entire attractive face as the two of us were almost an inch apart.“Fuck!” I groaned all of a sudden, automatically pulling my body away from her. I must admit that I wasn’t able to control my sudden outburst as if I saw a ghost.How could I be so numb without even realizing that she already went out of the bathroom?“Hey, do you really have to curse? But what’s happening to you? You’re sweating, Aris. Oh my God, are you sick?” She asked as she even went closer to me. Drey, placing her palm on my neck and forehead, only added to the strange sensation that I was feeling at the moment.I swallowed real hard trying to remove the lump on my throat. She was wearing her clothes but still, she was in her drizzly look. I didn’t understand myself anymore, that I harshly shoved her hand away fo
Aris Sandoval’s P.O.V.“Breakfast in bed, Aris. Wake up!” Drey’s energetic voice suddenly woke me up as if I had only been asleep for an hour. I just peeked through a small opening of my eyes to somewhat gaze towards her direction.She placed the stainless food tray on her bed and I knew that she already took a bath although she was still wearing her yesterday’s blouse and pants. Now, I could see her on her wet look again—a kind of spell that could make me forget everything.I didn’t want to get up from the bed as I wanted to sleep more. That would also make me stop thinking about her. I was about to close my eyes again when she quickly dragged the comforter away from my body. “Hey, I said it’s time to get up!” She shrieked.It was too late for me to pull it back because she already threw it on the floor and at the same time, she already saw what I was hiding under. I was wide-eyed at first but I ended up lifting my head to display my brimful confidence.Being with so many girls befor