DEVOTED TO YOU [The Eligible Bachelors Series]

Chapter 5

Warning: This story may not be suitable for a very young age due to some unscripted words...

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CELESTINE

Oh my Jesus! Did I just murder someone? No! This can't be happening! What am I gonna do now? Should I just throw him in the ocean? No! No! No! I'm not a criminal! Ain't I?

In just a flash, I envisioned everything so clear as if it was meant to become real, like a bad bad omen. The toxic media reporters, the blitzing noise, the crowd, the chaos, the sight-wrecking flashes of the cameras, the creepy policemen, the rusty handcuffed buckled on both of my poor precious wrists, the social media, the crappy newspapers with overly exaggerated headlines. Everything seems like an augury of my downfall.

"Nooooo!" I cried deliriously.

I bit my lower lip and hugged myself. My whole body was extremely jittering, none stop. I think I'm losing my sanity. Pull yourself together, Celestine. Be strong! I stood up as my body continuously shaking and wobbling, taking every step courageously until I reached the top, at the boat's deck.

The strong wind blows together with the mild sun rays welcomed me as it brushes and impinged upon my opulent skin. A thunder of realization struck me. I was stranded with a corpse in this ramshackle boat, floating in the middle of the big wide eerie ocean, without any rescue to avail. No boats passing by, no aircraft in the sky, I even look for islands from the surroundings but there was none as well. I don't know how to sail. I don't know how to survive. I don't know anything.

Desperation leads me to insanity until I came up with the craziest decision I could ever think of in my entire existence. I wanna die now. Ano pa ba ang saysay ng buhay ko kung pagbalik ko, sa kulungan din lang ang bagsak ko. I'd rather burn my soul in hell.

"Pompy. I now forgive you. I love you so much. Farewell my dearest Pompy," I uttered in between my sobs.

"Goodbye world."

I barely reach the age of twenty-four. Too young to die, but I think, that sounds much better than— too young to settle down or worst, to get imprisoned.

I closed my eyes, pressed my lips, took a heavy sigh, trying my very best condition myself, ready to jump. And jump, I did.

"Aaaagh!" I screamed when I felt something grabs my wrist. And then, another that buckles up on my svelte waist. The next thing I knew, my whole body drops on something hard but at the same, it felt safe.

"Celestine, ano'ng ginawa mo?" said a gentle voice, filled with too much worry.

He cupped my face and gently caress it, but I pushed him away from me. I fold my knees and hug myself. "D-Don't come near me!" I warned him, with my voice shaking.

He hushed. "It's okay. I'm not gonna hurt you," he reassured me. His voice was so tender, free from any harm or threat. It was so pure. Too good to be true.