Unpretty Me

Now Brewing #06: A Song by the Sea

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The night settled over the resort like a soft blanket, with the moon casting a silver glow on the waves. The bonfire had dwindled to embers, the employees sprawled out on beach blankets, nursing drinks or dozing off under the stars. But Luke Bautista wasn't tired. His mind buzzed, thoughts drifting not to the games they played that day or the tequila-fueled roasts. No, his mind was stuck on Isla—her laugh, her quick wit, and the way she'd effortlessly brightened the entire day.

Luke shoved his hands in the pockets of his shorts, kicking at the sand as he strolled along the shoreline. The quiet hum of the waves crashing against the shore was soothing, but his thoughts were loud. Almost without thinking, he pulled out his phone.

He scrolled through his contacts and hit Jenny's name. She answered after a couple of rings.

"Luke?" Jenny's voice came through, light and curious. "What's up? It's almost midnight."

"Hey, Jenny," Luke greeted, his voice relaxed. "Just needed to talk to someone. You know how it is."

Jenny chuckled. "You mean your employees have driven you mad already?"

"Not exactly." Luke grinned, glancing out at the ocean. "Actually, the opposite. They're great. But... I wanted to tell you about one in particular."

"Oh?" Jenny's voice was playful. "Does my old flame have a crush on one of his baristas?"

Luke groaned but didn't deny it. "Okay, hear me out. Her name's Isla—well, I think it is. She's got this hilarious way of roasting me for forgetting it every time. She's funny, smart, and... just different."

Jenny laughed. "I like this already. Did you at least get her name right today?"

"Miraculously, yes." Luke chuckled. "But only after calling her Irma one last time."

"Luke," Jenny said through a fit of giggles, "you're hopeless."

"Yeah, yeah," Luke said, kicking a seashell across the sand. "Anyway, she just has this energy. She made everyone laugh tonight—made me laugh, too. I haven't felt this... relaxed in a while."

"I can tell," Jenny said warmly. "It's good to hear you sound like this."

As Luke prepared to tell Jenny more about Isla, his words trailed off. Something new filled the air—a melody so hauntingly beautiful it stopped him in his tracks.

"Luke? You still there?" Jenny's voice buzzed in his ear, but Luke wasn't listening anymore.

He lowered the phone slowly, his heartbeat quickening. That voice. It was unmistakable—the same voice he'd listened to countless times online, the voice that had captivated him night after night.

SirenAngel.

Somewhere nearby, she was singing. And Luke had to find her.

Without a second thought, Luke shoved his phone back in his pocket and broke into a jog along the beach. The song was delicate, flowing like the waves lapping at the shore. It wasn't a loud, belting performance—it was soft, intimate, as if the singer were serenading the sea itself.

His heart pounded, both from running and from the thrill of the possibility. Could this really be SirenAngel? The mysterious singer he'd grown obsessed with? He'd DM'd her night after night, hoping to connect with her on a deeper level. And now, by some twist of fate, she was here.

The voice drifted on the breeze, coming from somewhere near the rocky edge of the beach where the land curved into a small cove. Luke ran toward it, his bare feet sinking into the sand. He could see a shadowy figure seated on a rock, illuminated by moonlight—a small plush toy resting beside her.

He couldn't make out her face, but her song was hypnotic. It wrapped around him, pulling him closer with each note.

But just as Luke reached the cove, the singing stopped.

The figure on the rock stood suddenly, shivering as a gust of wind swept across the beach. "Ugh, it's freezing!" she muttered to herself.

Luke stopped dead in his tracks, watching as the woman—unaware of his presence—gathered the plush toy and sprinted toward the hotel.

"Wait!" Luke called out, but his voice was drowned out by the wind and waves.

She didn't hear him. Within seconds, she had vanished into the night, leaving Luke standing there with nothing but the lingering echo of her song.

Meanwhile, Isla hurried across the beach, clutching Marina, her mermaid plush, close to her chest. She had wanted to sing just one song by the sea—a little escape, a small moment for herself. But she had forgotten how quickly the breeze could turn icy.

"Stupid cold front," she muttered as she darted back toward her room. "And I left my pashmina like a total idiot."

Marina bobbed in her grip as she ran, her plush face frozen in its perpetual serene smile.

"I swear, Marina," Isla whispered to the toy, "if I get sick because of this, it's your fault for convincing me to sing outside."

She knew she sounded ridiculous, but talking to Marina always made her feel less lonely.

The plush had become her on-screen persona—the 'face' of SirenAngel. It was comforting to let Marina take the spotlight while she stayed hidden in the background, free from judgment or expectation.

As she reached the hotel's entrance, Isla gave one last glance over her shoulder at the dark beach. For a moment, she felt a strange pang in her chest, as if she were leaving something unfinished.

But then she shook her head. "It's just the cold," she told herself. "And maybe too much tequila."

Luke stood on the beach, staring at the spot where the mysterious singer had been just moments ago. The moonlight shimmered on the waves, but all was quiet now—too quiet.

Frustrated, he raked a hand through his hair. He'd been so close. SirenAngel had been right there, just within reach, and now she was gone.

He wanted to kick himself for not reacting faster, for not calling out sooner. But at the same time, he felt exhilarated. This wasn't the end—he was certain of it.

Somehow, the universe had brought him this close to SirenAngel. And he wasn't going to let the opportunity slip away.

With a deep breath, Luke turned and began making his way back to the hotel. His thoughts swirled—half on SirenAngel, half on Isla.

There was something about both women that intrigued him, drawing him in like the tide pulling at the shore.

And for the first time in a long while, Luke felt a spark of excitement—not just for the mystery of SirenAngel, but for the possibilities that lay ahead.

As he reached the entrance of the hotel, Luke paused for a moment, glancing back at the beach.

The moonlight shimmered on the water, and the breeze carried a faint hint of salt and jasmine.

Luke smiled to himself, a quiet sense of determination settling in his chest.

"Soon," he whispered to the night. "I'll find you."

And with that, he slipped inside the hotel, his heart lighter than it had been in years.

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