Chapter 4

“We’re sorry, bro.”

Jeremy looks at Ken with confusion, still panting and sweating from the night jog. “What are you sorry for?”

“We already told Serin the reason you can’t let her go yet,” Ken answers straight to the point. “Because of that, she tried drawing your face to know if the sketch you found in her dress pocket is really hers. And it’s really hers, we just confirmed it.”

A terrible feeling rushes in, Jeremy begins to feel nauseous and sweat more coldly. He wants to leave now but he can’t move at all.

“Look.” Chris shows him the new sketch. 

Overly shocked, Jeremy can’t compose himself anymore. It’s freaking insane that the new sketch he is looking at is exactly the same as the one he’s keeping when Serin hasn’t even seen it yet. He falls into deep silence. 

“But bro, you should stop overthinking now.” Ken pats Jeremy on his arm, smiling at him with relief. “The sketch is not you but Heron.”

Jeremy freezes completely, and all the colors on his face quickly fade. He never tells his best friends that Serin called him Heron on the night he found her. And anything about the name Heron. It’s a secret he couldn’t dare share with them. 

“Serin told us that she always sees herself in her dreams crying out the name Heron, so the guy in the sketch is definitely him,” Chris says confidently, but Jeremy is still in distress. “Come on, dude. Heron having the same exact face as yours is not out of the ordinary. It really happens.”

Jeremy just nods silently, and because he’s afraid he will look totally agitated in front of his two best friends, he excuses himself and walks away from them. Terrible fear rushes in, and suddenly, he begins to hear echoing voices uttering the name Heron. Terrified, he covers his ears but the haunting echoes keep blasting so loud it’s deafening and making him dizzy.

He staggers to feet, and everything around him gets blurry. He’s losing it, but he is able to gather a little strength because he doesn’t want to faint in the middle of the park. No one should see his worst state, so he keeps fighting his agitation. However, as he hastens his unsteady steps while he can, he recklessly bumps someone’s shoulder. He turns around immediately to apologize only to pause because the old man before him looks strangely familiar. 

“Time is gracious, my dear,” the old man says emotionally. His name is Sodon. “Our paths have finally crossed again.”

Again? Jeremy stares at him in confusion but instead of asking him if they have already met somewhere, he just turns his back and tries so hard to walk casually calm until he halts his steps again, bothered by the old man’s face along with the familiar feeling surrounding him. He turns around. 

Sodon is still there, staring at him from a distance. 

Jeremy ignores his unwell state and walks towards him, for he can tell that the old man needs some help.

“Sir,” he says as soon as he stands in front of him. “There’s a building across this park. Tiffany Blue. If you need some help, please don’t hesitate to look for me at the information desk. I will inform them about you later. Just say my name. Jeremy Sean.” 

“But you’re not Jeremy Sean..”

In complete shock, Jeremy freezes and stares at the old man. “W..What d..did.. you..”

Sodon tears up. “I’m deeply sorry for causing you shock and fear.. but you will know at the right time why I have to remind you that you’re not Jeremy Sean but Heron Arth.”

It’s too much to bear now, Jeremy is already paralyzed by what he has just heard from the old man and all the haunting mysteries he has been encountering. Everything around him seems to fade into gray, but the oddly familiar presence of Sodon is so strong he can still see him limp as he leaves. 

Who is that old man? And how did he know Heron Arth? Jeremy is about to fall due to extreme agitation when someone suddenly grabs his arms.  

“Sir Jeremy..” It’s Serin, holding him tight and looking at him with such a worried expression. “You’re not okay, Sir Jeremy. You’re cold and trembling. I should take you to the hospital now.”

“N..No.. I.. I.. a..am o..okay–”

“But–”

Jeremy faces her closer, for he can’t understand the sudden pain squeezing his heart at the moment. Serin is a total stranger in his eyes but there’s always yearning consuming him every time he sees her, as if they have been devastated by their tragic fate. 

“Sir?? I should take you to the hospital now before you–”

Jeremy cuts her off again, looking into her eyes so deeply he could dive into them. And as expected, a scenario flashes in those mysterious eyes again. This time however, he already recognizes who the girl is, causing him total shock because it’s Serin. He can’t believe it and can’t look away either, for the scene in her eyes is beautiful. By the tranquil sea, the two of them are lying side by side while gazing at the starry night sky. Their faces beam with so much love and pure bliss. 

As such a lovely scene slowly fades in Serin’s eyes, Jeremy prepares himself for what he is about to see because he already knows the pattern of this mystery; that right after a beautiful scene is a tormenting one. But he is wrong. The scenario he sees next is him kissing Serin affectionately. 

So shocked, Jeremy steps back abruptly and walks away from Serin like a disturbed and floating soul. Why was he with Serin in those scenes? And why was he kissing her? He’s really losing his mind now. 

“Sir Jeremy, please listen to me. You are not feeling well. Your body is cold and shivering. I should take you to the hospital. Or at least, let me help you walk.”

But Jeremy is so out of it he can’t hear her anymore. All the things he has been experiencing with Serin are more draining than the burden he carries from taking care of his sick brother. 

The name Heron. The two sketches. The old man. Serin’s eyes. Her unknown identity. The deep cut on her right shoulder. And that kiss. All of these are tormenting him mercilessly. 

Suffocated, he stops walking. There’s no way he will just keep everything to himself, especially now that he’s overly agitated. He desperately wants to end his anguish and suffering.

He turns to her. But as he faces her with determination to confront her again, he suddenly becomes speechless, for the moments of their first encounter flash in his memory. Serin crying sorrowfully, her cold and trembling hand touching his face longingly, and her painful yearning resonating deep in his heart. All of those moments feel familiar, even her black dress, the blood all over her, those tears, her voice, the rain, and everything that night. 

“Sir, can you hear me??” Serin takes a step closer to him and boldly holds his arms again, worried he might faint any moment. “You need to go to–” 

Jeremy cuts her off as he suddenly leans over her and touches her face so unexpectedly she gets frozen close to him. As they exchange melting gazes, Jeremy kisses her unhesitatingly. 

What a consoling feeling, like he’s finally home in the midst of raging storms. Tears roll down his face, immersed by emotions embracing him at the moment, then pulls her closer to him, kissing her lovingly. 

But as he goes deep with his kisses, he suddenly stops. The magical feeling instantly disappears, for he is back in complete shock and confusion. The kiss wasn’t real? He stares at her. “W..What h..happened??”

Serin can’t meet his troubled eyes, afraid he will notice she's hurting for him. 

Jeremy tries hard to get a grip and looks at her with composure. “I’m asking you..”

Still avoiding his eyes, she replies, “You were just staring at me.”

“A..And??”

She gulps. “And suddenly.. you started crying.”

He cried? Jeremy touches his face immediately, and the fact that it’s drenched in tears confirms he really did cry. But the kiss? Was he only imagining it? That felt real though. He is in deep confusion.

“Sir, I should take you to the hospital now. Anyone can tell you’re not in a good–”

“I hope that the universe ties our fate again and reconnects us without any more tragedy.” It’s Sodon, showing up again, but this time Jeremy is somehow able to control his fear, making him study the old man’s appearance in silence. 

Sodon really looks very familiar. His shoulder-length gray hair, his wrinkled face, his warm eyes, his brown sandals, his long wooden cane. Jeremy can’t help but think he has already seen him somewhere in the past. 

“Sir, are you okay?” Serin asks the old man, noticing his emotional, teary eyes. 

Sodon nods at her with a warm smile, then moves close to Jeremy, patting his back with yearning and affection. “The three of us will definitely get through this,” he tells Jeremy. 

As he quietly leaves and walks away from them, his teary eyes give in, crying with remorse and sadness. He feels terribly guilty, for he is the reason Jeremy and Serin became total strangers again. 

A month later. 

“Nice to see you again,” Gail greets Serin in the most pretentious way, throwing her a fake smile.

Out of courtesy, Serin returns the smile to her, enough to greet her back, then Gail stands beside her in front of the huge mirror, studying her rival’s look. 

In her above knee black dress hugging her body tight, Serin’s curves are alluringly gorgeous. She isn’t wearing heavy makeup, for she is naturally pretty even without it. Just a light touch of cosmetics, and her innocent beauty still glows perfectly. Her long hair is tied, with big curls hanging down her back. And despite not wearing any dazzling jewelry, she still radiates and could turn heads effortlessly.  

Such captivating beauty Serin possesses without bragging about it only deepens Gail’s bitterness towards her. Her jealousy becomes so poisonous she is determined to ruin her in front of her guest, especially in front of Jeremy. 

“I’m glad you came. I thought you would refuse my invitation.” Gail tears her envious eyes off the mirror, stands closer to Serin and faces her. “Let me guess. Are you afraid Jeremy might forget you while he’s having too much fun here? Hot and gorgeous girls are everywhere. They can make him go wild tonight.” 

Serin wants to chuckle at her, for Chris and Ken have already told her what kind of a guy Jeremy is. He is never a playboy when he has everything to make girls line up to him. In fact, he hasn’t had any experience yet when it comes to dating and being in a romantic relationship. 

“As his first girlfriend, I am here not to guard him but to get formally introduced to your guests. Jeremy told me that most of your guests are also his high school classmates, so he’s taking this chance to make them finally meet me. And also.. to introduce me to you properly because he was unable to do it the last time we met you in Tiffany Blue.” That’s it, Serin feels proud that she is able to shoot back at Gail. “Anyway, thanks for inviting me here.”

“No problem.” Gail displays her signature bitchy smile. “Have fun, okay? The night is still long.”

Serin hurries out of the powder room first but her discomfort continues at the party scene in the garden. It’s loud and dizzying. She sighs as she walks very cautiously in the maze of the guests partying like crazy. However, a tipsy guy recklessly steps back while dancing. Good thing Serin is quick enough to avoid him.

“Oops! My bad!” He winks at her teasingly. 

She just nods in response and continues walking only to feel the guy’s hand suddenly grab her waist. Infuriated as hell, she elbows him and slaps his face. “Pervert!!”

The flustered guy just laughs it off and stares at her insultingly. “Hey, cheap girl! Stop spitting crap because no one will ever hit on someone like--”

A furious fist suddenly punches his face so strong it could fall off, silencing him and all the people around them, for it’s Jeremy who has just given him a forceful and fiery fist blow.