Two years later

SEREIA’S POV

I watched as Amari, Hannah’s son, blew on the cake.

“Awe isn’t he cute?”  Emma said, taking pictures of Amari who had now cake on his face. He licked his lips and cried angrily as he couldn’t reach the rest.

I chuckled at the sight. His adorable little arms were now reaching for candies but Hannah stopped him, not wanting her child to have some tooth decay.

“Looks like he got you temper, Hannah.” Snow commented from beside me, holding her stomach. She’s going to be delivering next month, and I can't wait to welcome her and my cousin’s child to the world.

Hannah’s son has turned two years old today. We are currently hanging out in Eion’s ice cream shop in Springfield in the US as Hannah decided it would be good to celebrate it here.

Thank goodness that Hannah invited me to her son's birthday party last week so I bought myself a ticket to stay at my cousin’s place for a few days.

Leroy, Dax, Luke, and my cousin Eion had disappeared earlier, saying they were going to go get something. We girls just let them do their thing.

Hannah also invited other mothers and their children so that Anari will play with them. She then came and held Snow’s big tummy.

“I’m excited for you Snow. I’m sure Amari and your child would be best friends too!” She exclaimed happily then turned to Emma who was still busy taking pictures of Amari.

“What about you Emma? When are you and Dax planning on having a child?”

Emma stopped at that, grinning from ear to ear, “Oh, we’re not thinking about that for now. We just want to travel around the world first.” She answered, her smile faltering now, “And I’m scared to give birth. That looks painful. I think I will just adopt a child.”

Ember then giggled at that. She’s not on speaking terms with Luke for now. “I think I could agree with you, Emma.”

Hannah nodded at that, “Well, it's true. The moment I felt the pain from giving birth, I cursed Leroy not to touch me for a whole month.”

We all laughed at that until they cleared their throat and glanced at me.

“Well, how about you, Sereia?” Snow asked and the mood changed.

I sent them a reassuring smile,  “Oh, I’m fine on my own. Don’t worry about me.”

She sighed, holding my hand, “Come on, it has been two years…isn’t it time for you to find someone?”

I shrugged, “I’m too busy to think about that. I’ll just let nature take its course.”

“Or you still love phoenix?”

At that, I stopped at Emma’s side comment. Snow silenced her, and I just smiled, not able to reply to her.

I turned on the television and just switched on channels until my eyes caught on something.

I saw a particular blonde-haired and blue-eyed man, smiling mischievously at the camera as an interviewer asked him questions in an art gallery. He looked different…

“So Phoenix, it’s great how talented you are. It just shows that there is more to you than just a typical bachelor.” The interviewer stated, giving her microphone to him. “The question is, among all these masterpieces that you capture. There must be an inspiration behind it?”

Snow, Hannah, Emma, and Ember stopped chattering as they saw who was on the news.

I gulped, trying to hear what Phoenix's reply was. “Oh, nothing much. I wanted to try something new and mix it with my style. I want people to see the beauty I see from my eyes.” He replied, giving his dazzling smile.

“And I’m dedicating this to someone I love.”

The interviewer’s eyes gleamed in interest at what he said. “Oh, a love interest! May I know who this lucky woman is?”

Phoenix just smiled at that.  “Not gonna tell you.” He winked and his expression changed into serious. “But I have a message for her. I don’t know if she’s watching the news right now but I just want to say this..” he trailed off.

“ I hope the two years I was away, you won’t push me away now, my princess.”

My heartbeat quicker at that, hearing him say the nickname he gave me. My princess…it feels so long now, but at the same time, it felt like everything just happened yesterday. The interviewer then thanked him and finished asking him questions.

I heard Snow’s phone rang so she excused herself and left. When she returned, I saw her giving signals to the girls and Emma and Ember and stood up, now approaching me and grabbing my hands.

“Wait, what are you guys doing?” I asked, completely confused.

Snow came to put a handkerchief on my eyes, covering my eyesight. And before I could even protest, they guided me to walk further. I could hear the busy street clearly now so I figured they directed me to the street.

“Snow? Emma? Hey girls! Stop this! This is not fun!” I yelled, now frustrated. I could hear Emma laughing beside me and she whispered into my ear, “I’m sorry Sereia, this is the only way this will work. But I swear, you’ll thank us after this.”

Just then, I heard a car pulling up and the girls made me hop on the car. They buckled my seatbelt to make sure I won’t leave. I heard Leroy’s voice thanking them and I felt the car starting to move. I reached out and pulled the handkerchief from my eyes.

“Hello there, Sereia.” Leroy greeted me in front as he was seated in the driver’s seat and I was in the backseat.

He then drove away and I saw the girls waving at me.

I blinked at him, trying to process this. Gosh, I feel betrayed! What nonsense is this! I swear once I see those girls!

I threw daggers with my eyes at Leroy. “Hey, this is kidnapping!”

“Only if it's against your will.”

“It is against my will!” I yelled.

“Okay calm down. Geez, stop panicking. This is a part of a  surprise.”

I breathed in, calming my nerves. I really hate these kinds of surprises. So this is the reason why he and the other guys disappeared earlier...

“How could I calm down if I’m being forced to come somewhere I don’t know?” I yelled. “Whatever you're planning, Leroy, pray that I will like it because I’ll castrate you if I won’t enjoy it.”

He yelped in pain at that. “Goodness, I was just tasked as the driver! Why am I the only one who receives death threats from you?”

Just then, Leroy parked the car into an art gallery.

I blinked, wait a minute. It’s an art gallery…

And not just an art gallery…

It’s the art gallery where Phoenix was being interviewed earlier.

Is this…the surprise that they are referring to?

I glanced at Leroy and he motioned for me to go inside. “My job here is done. You can walk there alone.”

I nodded, now having a bit of a clue on what is going on. Getting out of the car, I gulped and entered the art gallery.

There was not even a single person inside.

I passed by some statues and beautiful artifacts.

And when I reached the end, there was a big picture situated at the very center.

It was a picture of me smiling from the camera.

I halted at that.

I think I remember this. This was taken back when I was still at Phoenix’s land…when he took pictures of me that time when we got to his farm.

“You like it?”

I paused at the sudden sound from behind me. I closed my eyes, calming down my ranging heart as I recognized that low voice.

Mustering up the courage, I opened my eyes and turned to look at the person.

My breath hitched, seeing Phoenix for the first time.

“Missed me?”

He asked, his lips curved into a smirk.

I couldn’t help but let the tears fall from my eyes.

Without even letting a moment pass, I ran to him and opened my eyes to hug him.

I inhaled his scent, the same masculine scent I had loved.

I felt his chest vibrating as he released a laugh. He then stroked my hair, “Hi, my princess.”

I broke the hug to stare at his face, “Hello, Phoenix.”

His hands reached up to my face, caressing me. “My father said you called him last time.”  He said and asked. “Have you seen the news earlier?”

I nodded.

“Good. So do I need to repeat my message to you?”

I laughed, lightly hitting his arm, and raised my eyebrows at him. “Well? What was your message again? I didn’t hear it clearly.”

He laughed at that, shaking his head. “You really haven't changed.”

He then cleared his throat. “Sereia, my princess. I stayed here in the US, learning photography and art. And not a single passed without me not thinking about you. I think those two years are enough for you to heal and accept me.” He said.

“So I’m asking you again, Sereia Philomena Isolde, will you accept me again in your life?”

Silence passed and I watched as his eyes looked at me with such hopeful eyes.

I smiled at him, not able to contain my excitement anymore. “Yes, Phoenix. Of course.”

At that, he broke into a grin like he just won the lottery.  He pulled me into an embrace, trailing down soft kisses all over my face. I felt like I’m on cloud nine as he grabbed me and twirled me around in happiness.

Time healed us, and he returned to me. Fate really has a weird way of pairing up people.

Phoenix then put me down and I looked around.  “By the way, why is the art gallery empty?” I suddenly asked.

“I reserved it for the whole day.” He answered simply, he then grabbed my chin and made me “It’s only me and you here, Sereia.” He said a devilish grin was playing in his lips.

Just then, as if he remembered something, he gave a small card to me. “I prepared something for you.”

I looked at it, “What is it?” Grabbing it, I read it.

Sereia Philomena Isolde.

As The Stars Are Infinite, So Is Our Love

I raised my eyebrows at him, understanding this. “What’s the meaning of this?”

“I just brought and named a star under your name.” He answered by giving me an envelope. “You can read the other details later, it has the coordinates of the location of the star in the sky. I also bought a telescope for you. “Now every night, you can look up at the sky and think of me.”

I gasped at that, processing everything. Wow.

It’s hard to believe it. I feel like dreaming.

“I don’t know what to say, Phoenix,” I said, and he smiled.

“You don’t have to say anything. You letting me in your life again is enough.” He responded.

I sighed, rolling my eyes in sarcasm, “Then how about you give me my own spaceship too so that I can reach the stars.”

He nodded at that, really taking it seriously. “Okay, noted. I’ll give that to you soon.”

I gasped, “Wow, I was just kidding, Phoenix.”

Really, the minds of billionaires are scary. They give away money like it's no big deal.

He shrugged. Clasping my hands to his, he guided me to the art gallery, giving me information about them.

When we reached the other artifacts, he then paused.

“Remember the time when I said I’ll change your heart? Looks like I eat my own words. It was you who changed my heart.” He said out of nowhere. “There’s no one less like you, Sereia. No one else.”

I can’t help but smile at that, happiness overcoming me. I feel like there’s nothing else that matters to me anymore except him.

We finally reached the door now and I looked at him in confusion. “What now? Are you taking me somewhere?”

With that, a playful smirk was on his lips. He leaned into me and whispered, “You know the other reason why I closed this art gallery all to ourselves?”

I feel strangely nervous now, and my hands tremble. “What?”

“It’s to have you all to myself. To ravish you.” He said in a low voice.

My eyes widened at that, and I looked at him pointedly, my cheeks flushing red. “Phoenix, don’t you think that’s too early? I mean it’s in broad daylight, I just accepted you in my life now. Aren’t we moving too fast?”

“Nothing is fast, Sereia. Aren’t you forgetting what happened between us back at that nipa hut?” He said and now pouting. “Why are you acting shy now? I waited for two years to have you.”

I couldn’t think of a retort for that. I bit my lip, now red as a tomato.

“Come on, please?” He asked, now giving me a puppy eyes look.

I sighed and rolled my eyes at him, “Okay, fine.”

He chuckled at my reaction and I felt him excitedly dragging me to the room and locking it.