UNDER THE SEA

Liam, who's a son of a proverbial chef, turned 22 in this very day where popular personalities, camera crews, and handful of guards in black suits skirt the compounds perimeter. My focus zoomed in in Liam's sizzling body. 

 

"Why do I feel like we're in a different world?" said Blake. 

"The king of the sea wants to see you Serena sitting on his throne," teased Ashton. 

 

"Better get myself drunk enough to be able to do a catwalk than loaf around in front of the upper-crust crowd," I said. 

 

I needed my name to be plucked up in the lottery. It has to! I need to fight for this aimless venture that I'm about to embark. Liam is the one that I liked and I don't want him to go. 

 

So, I gulped a glass of champagne that probably cost an arm and a leg. And let the games begin. 

 

The host meticulously ran his hand down inside the invitation-full of lottery and hoisted the paper before promulgating the contender to add tension. The first 3 picks were these gorgeous-looking models who could have been featured in a modelling magazines and national advertisements. 

 

The anticipation of being not selected started to crept in. I felt hapless in the process when a guy bumped into me where I spilt my drink. 

 

"Hey! Watch we're you're going!" I exclaimed. 

 

A drop-dead gorgeous boy in his unbothered white suit constantly apologized and curt his head.  His glinting green eyes and kissable lips made me wince in embarrassment as if I'm the one who's at fault. 

 

"You know what, it's totally fine. It's just a stain and it will dissipate. I'm Serena," introduced myself as I reached for a casual handshake. 

 

I saw him studying my almost naked body in my swimwear as I tried to cover it with my camisole. 

 

"You look beautiful, Serena. I'm Jake," told him as he reached for my hand and kissed it. 

 

The warm sensation from the kiss sent me chills in a good way. 

 

"If you'd like to come with me in the upper box, it would be a pleasure," said Jake. 

 

I couldn't leave Ashton and Blake here but they've given me a hint of we're going to be fine. 

 

And so, he escorted me where we can perch that gave us the best viewing with a bucket of champagne and some amuse-bouche on the tableside. 

 

"Are you Liam's friend or Dad's?" asked Jake. 

 

What does he mean by dads?? I don't even know who his dad is personally? 

 

"I'm Liam's," I said befuddled. 

"My brother's companion huh? It's great to see him making friends at last," replied Jake. 

 

What?! Liam has a brother?! 

 

"Are you blood-related?" I asked. 

 

He laughed hysterically but with a stroke of regality. 

 

"A little. He's my half-brother from dad. I could probably lose count on how many half-siblings do we have since our hardworking dad's also busy in baking some offspring's," he said guffawing. 

 

I released an ungainly smile that threw me in the dumps. I could feel the shame from his fragile smile just by looking at his expressive eyes. 

 

"But we're grateful that he didn't abandon his kids. He subsidizes us with allowance even if other's greatly refuse. Henry is a runaway too. He couldn't live with the idea that his dad is a womanizer," said Jake. 

 

"He only agreed to celebrate here because our dad is dying. He wants to at least repay even in the smallest return everything that dad gave him," he continued. 

 

It's Aries whose Liam visiting last Tuesday. 

 

"I'm so sorry to hear that," I tried to console Jake by rubbing his backside. 

 

Imagine the pang of guilt when you feel like the person's health who's important to you starts deteriorating every single day. When health starts to betray his body. It doesn't matter if your affluent or physically fit, diseases will always be a part of our lives. It shows us that we shouldn't take life for granted. 

 

As Jake and I turn down the heart-to-heart talk, only one lucky girl is to be pick on the draw yet. 

 

I was biting my nails in anxiety and Jake handed me a glass of champagne. 

 

"So, you wanted to get up on stage in hopes of spending the night with brother huh? I can't blame you. He's almost good across the board," said Jake. 

 

I chugged the champagne straight down and I unhesitatingly nod my head. 

 

"The time has come for the final lucky girl to get picked and drumroll please," dispersed by the host. 

 

When suddenly, Liam stiffly stood on his chair and raised his right hand. Yanked the microphone from the host and cleared his throat. 

 

"Good evening to all the guests and to our incumbent sponsors. I feel like the most important thing to do tonight is for all to have fun and just cut the rug. And I don't want girls fighting for me," said Liam with beads of sweat in his facade. 

 

"Because there's only one girl whom I want to devote my night with. I don't know if she's here tonight. And to that very special girl, I've sent you a secret message just right now. I hope you meet me at the rendezvous," added Liam. 

 

I grope myself scanning the whereabout of my phone. I remembered that I left my handbag at our table. So, I hit the ground running with a brief goodbye to Jake. 

 

Liam's whim silenced the crowd and as Aries tried to lighten up the mood, I speedily trailed myself to the location of Blake and Ashton staggering. I can feel my legs giving up on me, my sight's getting hazy, and my hearing's betraying me. 

 

I tripped and luckily, a hefty arm saved me before I could hit the cold, hard ground. The weak figure that I tried to figure out created a phantom visual after I get unconscious. 

 

I woke up with the worst headache that I've had in the history of my life. I can see the morning light slanting through the large panels of window. Birds gliding and warbling outside. Then I realized, I'm in some stranger's bed. I am cloaked with thick pajama garments and I started walking close to the patio to examine the place. 

 

I saw the Alaskan pool from tonight's party and I'm still at Aries' chateau. 

 

I heard a violent rap at the door, then Ashton showed up and Blake holding a breakfast tray that consists of 4 layers of pancake with butter on the topmost part, caramel syrup on a saucier, and a mug of coffee newly brewed. 

 

"Oh my god honey. You're a walking travesty last night. Running I mean. We're so sick worried," said Ashton. 

 

"Good thing. Liam caught you in your fall," continued Ashton. 

 

"Liam descended from the podium and looked all over for you. He's all over the place like a lost leopard," exclaimed Blake. 

 

Shit. Liam saw me in a state of lostness. With my hair unkempt, face unrecognizable with redness, and with my mouth reeking with the whiffs of alcohol. So, mortified. 

 

We stayed all day long inside the what seems to be guest room. My best friends helped me caught up with all the happenings last night. 

 

"Who changed my clothes then? Please tell me it's one of you guys," I said with pleading tone. 

 

Their quizzical look says it all. Somebody dressed me up without my consent. Does this day get any worse? 

 

"I did". A voice at the threshold of the door sounded. It's Liam wearing a premium bathrobe as he might have eavesdropped some bits of our conversation. 

 

Blake and Ashton hurriedly shoot out of the bed and left me alone with Liam. 

 

"I feel so ashamed about the fiasco last night. We're going to keep going and thank you for accommodating us," I said. 

 

"You never showed up at our rendezvous," said Liam smirking. 

 

I don't want to hide anymore. So, I let my face blushed in front of him, looked at him and let myself sank in his magnetizing blue eyes as I hang from his lips.  Not a moment wasted, I wrapped my hands in the hollow back of his neck and kissed him in the most unexpected time. 

He flinched a little, but kissed me back without holding back. 

 

It felt like the world bled with showers of never-ending sunshine. I don't want this moment to end. His arms wrap around my curves, his warm body pressed against my plump, and his chapped lips biting mine. His hands trailing from my head to my legs enough to make me moan and put me in euphoric feeling. 

 

It felt like a fever dream.