Gabriela stepped out of the car and onto the driveway of Mr. Jackson's mansion, the gates swinging open to welcome her. As she walked towards the entrance, the driver retrieved her belongings and followed closely behind. Gabriela rang the doorbell, and a few minutes passed before the door swung open, revealing Cariah. Cariah's eyes widened in excitement as she took in Gabriela's presence.
"Oh my gosh, is this you in real life?" Cariah asked, her voice trembling with enthusiasm. "You're so incredibly beautiful! I'm a huge fan of yours!!" Cariah's hands reached out, grasping Gabriela's as if to confirm she was real.
Gabriela smiled warmly, nodding innocently as Cariah asked, "Can I hug you?" Without hesitation, Cariah pulled Gabriela into a tight hug. Gabriela laughed and reciprocated, feeling Cariah's genuine excitement.
As they pulled back, Gabriela's eyes scanned the hallway, her voice filled with anticipation. "Where's Miguel?" Cariah's face lit up with a knowing smile.
"He's upstairs in his room," she replied. "Let's go there." As they climbed the stairs together, Cariah and Gabriela fell into easy conversation about school and social life. Their laughter echoed through the hallway, and it was clear they were quickly forming a connection, like sisters reuniting.
Cariah's enthusiasm was infectious, and Gabriela found herself smiling more and more as they chatted. The sound of their laughter grew louder, filling the space with warmth and camaraderie.
Gabriela noticed a room's door open.
"His room is right there." Cariah pointed to that room and Gabriela nodded.
Cariah went into her own room, lingering before she slammed her door.
Curiosity etched on Gabriela's face. He was facing the window sitting on a old, weird rocking chair.
He held up a golden pendant with a custom name.
'Hazel'.
Gabriela walked towards him quietly and covered his eyes with her palms gently with a cute expression.
"Gabriela - "
"Yas! How did you know?" She almost jumped but plopped on his bed instead. Her countenance changed into a confused one when he suddenly put the pendant away on a shelf.
"I inhaled the scent of your hands."
"Ohh," Gabriela chuckled, "It's a special hazelnut body butter made in Spain. Do you like it or....I should stop using it?"
"Me? I - I love it." Gabriela smiled contently.
"What's this rocking chair's story? It looks old and weird. The pendant you were holding. It seemed....really familiar."
"Familiar? You've never seen it."
"I...have..." Gabriela didn't want to argue and just kept her voice under her breath.
Miguel took the pendant from the shelf and Gabriela was stunned.
It was extremely beautiful but she was sure she had seen it somewhere.
She blinked multiple times, trying to recall.
"Oh!" She exclaimed, a bell ringing in her head.
"What's wrong?" Miguel asked, concern written all over his face.
"It's - nothing. It's a nice pendant. For your...girlfriend?" Gabriela tried to sound a little teasing.
"Don't change the freaking topic, Gabriela. You look confused. Share it with me. We're friends and shouldn't hide anything from each other. Is there anything about the pendant..."
"Yes, there is. But it's cringe that's why I don't wanna share. Since childhood, I've been having dreams about the underwater world and mythical creatures like mermaids, fishes and more. At first, I thought it was because I was reading too much of novels which told creepy and lovely stories about the ocean world, but as I grew, I knew there was always something else. I've seen this pendant so many times. I've seen a Sea Prince wearing around his true love's neck, saying it belonged to the only woman he ever loved - before he met her." Miguel was attentive.
"Really?" His voice cut as a mix of amusement and shock.
"This pendant? With this....with this custom?" Gabriela nodded. Miguel's expression switched to a smile, forming on his lips.
"My view about dreams are simple. Dreams are just dynamic scenes, images and sensations that occur in our mind during sleep. Dreaming helps you analyze memories and various situations faced in the daytime. Probably since you came across these novels and books about the mythical world, fantasy and historical stuff, you've not been able to wrap your head around how some things could actually have happened. Deep inside, you might still be thinking about those things. Try to forget about them."
"You're right but I've tried my best to put those thoughts aside. I've occupied myself with so much and still, I have these dreams." Miguel bit his lower lip, wishing he could provide a solution.
He hated to see her looking so... disorganized.
But he couldn't deny the fact that it was absolutely sexy.
"Gabriela..." A gasp escaped her lips when Miguel leaned in and wore the pendant around her neck, slight touches of his fingers on her skin.
A cozy feeling washed over her.
The one she had when she hugged him for the first time.
He struggled a little in hooking the clasp and Gabriela enjoyed inhaling his warm, spicy, masculine scent.
"Done." He sighed.
"The clasp is old now but I'll get a new one. Gabriela, it doesn't belong to a Sea Prince's loved one. It belonged to my late mom." Gabriela's eyes widened in realization.
"Oh. Sorry about that. You didn't even get to see her wearing it."
"True." Gabriela burned to see his eyes well up.
"She had such a great name. Hazel. Just like my body butter." Gabriela smile was wistful, looking down at the pendant on her neck.
"Yeah. I'd like to name my child that...someday."
"Oh." The sound of that was enthusiastic and filled with intrigue.
"It'll be a nice name for our child, Miguel." Gabriela shook the thought off.
He was in a sad mood and it wasn't the time to be infatuating.
She wondered where her passion for Miguel was suddenly taking her.
"Miguel, I won't let you do this tonight. It's just us, right? We should have some fun. I want you to take this pendant off and put it away."
"You know....I killed her."
"Miguel!" She roared.
Her anger was palpable and the tension ran through her veins.
"I've told you about this several times. You're not a mistake, you didn't kill your mom. Please stop thinking this way....it kills me."
"Since we became friends, you've taught me to love myself regardless. I know I'm special but you...you make me feel more precious and more important."
"When it comes to your mom, you're always a different person saying terrible things about your birth being a mistake, your dad's biggest regret but I'll tell you tonight to embrace who you truly are. The truth is, you're exceptional. We've known each other for a while now and I've realized how you view life. I don't want anyone, not even your dad to say things that'll make you feel like someone else. We're friends, right? And I want all the best things for you. Continue to love and appreciate yourself, then everything will fall into places. Even your dad will never call you those names again."
Miguel's eyes locked onto Gabriela's, and as she spoke, he felt an undeniable surge of confidence wash over him. Her words were like a spark that ignited a fire within, illuminating his very being. He was energized, amazed that she could make him feel this way. With every syllable, Miguel felt himself becoming more assured, more determined. The world around them melted away, leaving only the two of them, suspended in a sea of possibility.
As Gabriela's voice lingered in the air, Miguel felt his heart swell with emotion. He gazed at her, his mind racing with the implications of her words. He felt seen, heard, and understood in a way that was both exhilarating and humbling.
In that moment, Miguel felt himself sinking deeper into an ocean of love, one that he never wanted to escape. He was captivated by Gabriela's presence, drawn to her magnetic allure.
Miguel wanted to take off the pendant but Gabriela did it herself.
"Here. Put it away and let's go downstairs. I'm famished!"
"Thanks so much, Gabriela. But you know what, I'll continue thinking this way so you'll get angry and yell at me again. Then you'll look so - seductive." Miguel's wicked smirk made her flutter.
"Oh, please."
"I have something for you too. Never hide things from me again. We are friends. We should be inseparable."
Friends.
That word that caused Gabriela to ache.
"Tell me everything I need to know about you, Gaby. Even when you have cramps." Gabriela's cheeks flushed in embarrassment.
She bit her lip hard to control her laughter.
"Don't hurt your lip. Keep it healthy." Gabriela rolled her eyes, fighting a shy smile.
She stood up.
"Shall we go downstairs? Or you want to go on and on?"
"Past dinner time. Dad must be downstairs now."
"I forgot to mention that I've met your aunt. She's really adorable." They left the room, walking side by side.