Last night is a mystery

Charis paced back and forth outside the reception venue, her hands tightly gripping her dress. She could see Beatrix approaching her with a warm smile on her face.

"Charis! There you are. Is everything alright?"

Charis sighed and turned to face Beatrix. "No, everything's not alright. I'm so mad at you, Beatrix, and I don't even know why."

Beatrix's expression turned to one of concern. "Why are you mad at me? Did I do something to upset you?"

Charis shook her head. "No, it's not you. It's just... it's just that you have everything, Beatrix. You have the perfect wedding, the perfect husband, the perfect life. And I can't help but feel jealous."

Beatrix's smile softened. "Charis, you don't have to be jealous. I'm not perfect, and my life isn't perfect either. And besides, you have Harley. You married the man you love."

Charis scowled. "That's just it, Beatrix. Even though I married Harley, it seems like he still likes you. Every time we're together, he can't stop talking about you. It's like I'm just second best."

Beatrix's eyes widened in surprise. "What? That's ridiculous, Charis. Harley is your husband, and he loves you. He's just happy for me, that's all."

Charis looked down, feeling ashamed of her jealousy. "I know, Beatrix. I'm sorry. I don't know why I let my insecurities get the best of me. I should be happy for you and your perfect day."

Beatrix put her arm around Charis. "It's okay, Charis. We all have our moments of insecurity. But you have to remember that you're amazing just the way you are, and Harley loves you for who you are. Don't let your jealousy ruin your happiness."

Charis nodded, feeling grateful for Beatrix's understanding. "Thanks, Beatrix. I needed to hear that."

Beatrix smiled. "Anytime, Charis. That's what friends are for."

—-

Harley groaned as he sat up in bed, his head pounding from the night before. He rubbed his temples, trying to clear the fog in his mind. It was already morning, and he couldn't remember anything after Beatrix's wedding reception.

He looked around the hut, trying to figure out where he was. The room was small and cluttered, with a few pieces of furniture scattered around. A faint smell of incense lingered in the air.

Suddenly, he remembered why he was there. Beatrix had invited them to stay the night at her hut, and they had all crashed there after the wedding. But where were Charis and their daughter?

He stumbled out of bed and stumbled towards the door, the room spinning around him. As he stepped outside, he was greeted by the sound of waves crashing against the shore.

Harley squinted in the bright sunlight, scanning the beach for any sign of Charis and their daughter. He saw a figure in the distance, walking along the shoreline. It was Beatrix.

"Beatrix!" he called out, waving his arms to catch her attention.

She turned towards him and smiled. "Good morning, Harley. How did you sleep?"

"Not great," he admitted. "But that's not important right now. Have you seen Charis and our daughter?"

Beatrix's smile faltered. "No, I haven't. I thought they were still asleep in the hut."

"They're not there," Harley said, starting to feel a knot of panic in his stomach. "Do you have any idea where they could be?"

Beatrix shook her head. "I'm sorry, Harley. I haven't seen them since last night."

Harley ran a hand through his hair, trying to think. "Okay, okay. Maybe they just went for a walk or something. I'll go look for them."

"I'll come with you," Beatrix offered. "I know the area pretty well."

Together, they began to search the beach, calling out Charis's name. The sun was getting higher in the sky, and the sand was starting to get hot under their feet.

Harley's heart was pounding in his chest as they walked. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Where could Charis and their daughter be?

Beatrix paced back and forth in her small hut, her mind racing with thoughts of Charis. She had noticed her friend had been acting strange lately, and it had been bothering her. As she thought more about it, Beatrix couldn't help but wonder if Charis was in trouble.

Suddenly, a frightening thought occurred to Beatrix. What if Charis had done something drastic, like hurt herself? She knew that Charis had been struggling with her mental health in the past, and the thought of her friend in distress made her heartache.

What could be wrong with Charis? Beatrix thought to herself. Did she have problems at home? Was there something going on with her marriage?

In the blink of an eye, he saw something in the distance that made him stop in his tracks. A figure, lying on the ground.

"Charis!" he yelled, sprinting towards her.

As he got closer, he could see that she was unconscious, lying face-down in the sand. He knelt beside her, trying to wake her up.

Without hesitation, Beatrix rushed out of her hut and towards the sea. She knew that Charis often came to the shore to clear her head, so she hoped that she might find her friend there.

As she walked, Beatrix's mind raced with worry. What would she do if she found Charis hurt or worse? She couldn't bear the thought of losing her friend.

Finally, Beatrix arrived at the shore and scanned the area for any signs of Charis. At first, she didn't see anyone, but then she spotted something in the water. It was a figure floating in the distance.

Beatrix's heart raced as she ran towards the water. As she got closer, she realized that it was Charis, floating face down in the sea. Beatrix's heart sank at the sight, but she didn't waste any time. She waded into the water and pulled Charis to safety.

As Beatrix performed CPR on her friend, tears streamed down her face. She couldn't bear to lose Charis, not after everything they had been through together. After what felt like an eternity, Charis finally coughed up water and started breathing again.

"Charis, come on, wake up!" he said, shaking her gently.

As Charis slowly regained consciousness, Beatrix held her close, relieved that her friend was alive. And as they sat on the shore, watching the sunrise, Beatrix couldn't help but think about how grateful she was to have Charis in her life, and how she would always be there to help her through whatever struggles she faced.

Finally, she groaned and started to stir. Harley breathed a sigh of relief as she opened her eyes.

"What happened?" she murmured, looking around in confusion.

"We don't know," Beatrix said, kneeling beside them. "We've been looking for you all morning. Are you okay?"

Charis sat up slowly, rubbing her head. "I don't know. I can't remember anything after last night."

Harley helped her to her feet, his mind racing. What had happened to Charis and their daughter during the night? And where was their daughter now? The knot in his stomach tightened as he realized they still had a lot of unanswered questions.

Harley told Beatrix that he will bring Charis with him back to the city where they were living before they decided to live with Beatrix in the province.

But Beatrix is having thoughts if it is the best decision to make right now that no one is really at Charis’ side.

As Harley tried to escort Charis to stand up, Beatrix stopped him.

Apollo was with Beatrix as she was trying to rescue Charis. Beatrix looks at Apollo, waiting for him to understand what her eyes say, but it seems like Apollo doesn't get it.

Beatrix has no choice but to just take accountability.

"Since you guys came here and decided to live in the rural city, maybe it's just right to live in my house. I think you guys could live there peacefully.”

Beatrix thought that her alibi’s wouldn't get past Harley because he was too sophisticated and it was hard to lie in front of him because he could easily understand or analyze a person's mind.

But apparently, Beatrix was successful.

As they walked toward Beatrix’s hut, she decided to invite Charis to go to the cafe after she went to the shower.

Charis told Beatrix that Yuna was sleeping beside Donny but that was just the last thing that she remembered. After that, she had no idea.

Beatrix was glad right now because even though something happened to Charis, at least the perpetrator didn't try to hurt Yuna, which was her daughter.

Beatrix and Charis sat at a small table in the corner of a quaint café. Beatrix was sipping her coffee, while Charis fidgeted with her fingers nervously.

"Charis, please tell me what happened last night," Beatrix said, her voice filled with concern. "Why did you disappear like that?"

Charis sighed, her eyes downcast. "I'm sorry, Beatrix. I don't remember much of what happened. I just felt so lost and alone."

Beatrix reached out and took Charis's hand. "I understand that, but please try to remember. We were all so worried about you."

Charis closed her eyes, trying to recall the events of the previous night. "I remember walking on the beach, feeling so overwhelmed. And then... I don't know, everything went dark."

Beatrix's expression softened. "Did you try to harm yourself, Charis?"

Charis's eyes snapped open. "No! No, I would never do something like that."

Beatrix nodded, relief flooding her features. "Okay, I just had to ask. I'm so glad you're okay. You had us all so worried."

Charis smiled weakly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

Beatrix shook her head. "It's not your fault. We all have our moments of weakness. But please, Charis, don't ever feel like you're alone. You have us, your friends, and your family. We love you and want to support you."

Charis's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you, Beatrix. That means so much to me."

Beatrix squeezed Charis's hand. "Of course, my dear friend. Now, let's finish our coffee and go back to the others. They're all waiting to see you."

Charis nodded, a small smile returning to her lips. As they left the café, she felt a renewed sense of hope and gratitude for the people in her life who cared about her.

Even though Charis and Beatrix have already talked about the things that have been bugging their mind recently, Beatrix was still having thoughts.

She couldn't get the peace that she wanted because she knows that there was something wrong with everything that happened today.

But what could you do? If all she has is guts and accusation toward someone that she knows for years— Harley.

Right now, all she wanted is to shake it off her mind because if it lingered around her mind, she wouldn’t get peace of mind.

—

Beatrix went home and did the cooking for Donny and Apollo right now.

Donny was already sleepy, but he couldn't go to sleep because we just don't want him to get hungry in the middle of the night and get up instead of just sleeping continuously.

So after eating, Donny instantly gets to lay down on his bed and it feels like it’s been years since he last lie down there.

After that, Beatrix and Apolloo decided to sleep in the same room.

They used an extra room inside Beatrix’s hut.

Beatrix and Apollo lay tangled up in each other's arms, their bodies entwined in the soft sheets of their bed. The moonlight streamed in through the window, casting a soft glow over the room. Beatrix felt Apollo's breath on her neck, sending shivers down her spine. They had been together for a while now, but the way they fit together still felt like a discovery.

For a while, they lay in silence, content to just be close to each other. But then Apollo lifted his head and looked into Beatrix's eyes. She could see the love and adoration there, and it made her heart swell with emotion.

"I love you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Beatrix smiled and kissed him gently on the lips. "I love you too," she replied, her voice full of tenderness.

They spent the night wrapped up in each other, their bodies moving together in a dance of love and passion. There were no worries, no fears, no anxieties. There was only them, lost in the moment, enjoying the deep connection they shared.

As the night wore on and the moon slowly crept across the sky, Beatrix and Apollo remained in each other's arms, holding each other tightly. They knew that when the morning came, the world would demand their attention once again. But for now, they were content to simply be together, to bask in the warmth of each other's love.

Beatrix lay in bed next to Apollo, her head resting on his chest as they cuddled in the warmth of the blankets. It was already late at night, but she couldn't shake off the thoughts of Charis that had been weighing heavily on her all day.

"Apollo, can I ask you something?" she said softly.

"Of course, love. What's on your mind?" Apollo replied, running his fingers through her hair.

"It's about Charis," Beatrix said, her voice trailing off as she spoke.

"What about her?" Apollo asked, concerned.

"I can't stop thinking about what happened to her. She disappeared for days and then just showed up out of nowhere. I don't know what happened to her, and it's been bothering me so much," Beatrix explained, feeling her eyes welling up with tears.

Apollo pulled her closer to him, enveloping her in a comforting embrace. "I understand how you feel, love. It's natural to worry about your friend. But have you talked to her about it?"

"I tried to, but she wouldn't say anything. She just kept saying that she needed time to think and that she was sorry for worrying us," Beatrix said, her voice cracking with emotion.

"Well, maybe that's all she needs right now. Time to figure things out on her own," Apollo suggested.

"But what if she's in trouble? What if she's hurt or sick or... I don't know. I just can't help but worry," Beatrix said, her thoughts spiraling out of control.

"Bea, listen to me. I know how much Charis means to you, but you can't let your worries consume you like this. If she needs help, she'll ask for it. For now, all we can do is be here for her when she's ready to talk," Apollo reassured her, planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

Beatrix took a deep breath and nodded, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. "You're right. Thank you, Apollo. I don't know what I would do without you."

"You don't have to thank me, love. Just remember that I'm always here for you, no matter what," Apollo said, holding her close as they drifted off to sleep, Beatrix's worries finally easing away.

—

Beatrix's eyes snapped open as she was jolted awake by the sound of heavy footsteps pounding the sand. She sat up in her bed, her heart racing as she listened to the sound of panicked breathing and rustling fabric. For a moment, she wondered if she was dreaming, but the sounds were too real.

Without thinking, she jumped out of bed and ran to the door, throwing it open and stepping out into the warm, salty air. The moon was full, casting a silvery glow over the beach and the crashing waves. And there, in the distance, she saw Charis, running as fast as she could.

Beatrix's heart leaped into her throat as she saw a pack of men chasing after Charis, their dark silhouettes visible against the sand. She could hear their laughter and jeers as they closed in on Charis, who was running with everything she had.

"Charis!" Beatrix shouted, her voice echoing across the beach. "Over here!"

Charis looked up, her face contorted in fear and panic. But when she saw Beatrix, her expression softened, and she ran towards her with renewed energy.

Beatrix reached out her hand, pulling Charis towards her and wrapping her arms around her. The men, realizing they had lost their prey, hooted and hollered as they ran off into the night.

"It's okay," Beatrix whispered, rubbing soothing circles into Charis's back. "You're safe now."

Charis was shaking, her breaths coming in short gasps. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you so much."

Beatrix held her for a few more moments, the two of them standing together on the deserted beach, their bodies bathed in moonlight. Finally, she pulled back, looking into Charis's eyes.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

Charis nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "I...I don't know who they were," she said. "They just came out of nowhere."

Beatrix didn't know what to say. She knew that there were dangers in this world, especially for women. But she had never imagined that something like this could happen to someone she loved.

"We'll figure this out," she said, taking Charis's hand. "We'll make sure you're safe."

Charis nodded, and the two of them walked back towards Beatrix's hut, their footsteps soft in the sand. Beatrix knew that the memory of tonight would stay with her for a long time, a constant reminder of the dangers that lurked in the world beyond their small village. But for now, she was just grateful that she had been there to protect Charis.