Mysterious 02: Strolling Around

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.