Suddenly there was a commotion inside the vessel as most of the passengers were alerted. Rescue operation were then executed. Distress signals blasted, lifebouy thrown down, rescue boats descended and rescue team dispersed. To their dismay, the body they expected to find on the area of the MOB, quickly disappeared. Spotters were focused and readjusted several times but still to no avail. Even with the use of
military-grade cameras, thermal imaging sensors and powerful lighting devices, it still took them several hours in their search but worst of all, they all came back empty - handed. The very bad weather, the big and angry waves and the strong rain made the search operation very difficult and almost impossible due to the dangers it may pose to the rescuers. No mighty swimmer could be more powerful than great waves and no robust body of a rescuer could be strong enough to stand against the fatal and freezing temperature of the water even with thermal gears.
After a quick investigation, it was found out that the person who had gone overboard was a young lady named Cherry Perez...
____
Before the news broke out which was quickly held back through the support Miss Perez got from the hotel's administrative council, Andrew went to see Ajie. He showed him the diary BUT he only showed the first two paragraphs Cherry had written.
Adrian,
Thanks for knowing you. If it were not because of you, I would have executed this plan a long time ago but my secret love for you made me decide to stay longer.
I admired your loyalty to Allyza. Even with the distance and the conflict, you remained true to her. I really envied her. I was wishing to find someone as true and faithful as you.
Lastly, Adrian, may your love for each other grows stronger and deeper 'til death do you part...
*******
The third and fourth paragraph which talked about Cherry's moves to know more about Allysa, their friendship on facebook, the inspiration she got from her in running the organization and her contact number were deleted with the use of a thick, blank ink.
Ajie was taken aback by the information he got from that diary. Though he was not blind nor deaf to feel Cherry's special treatment for him but he didn't realized how deep it was. Yes, he was an instrument in lightening up her burden and that he was the wind beneath her wings especially in all her plans but for him, it didn't held any feelings beyond a mere friendship.
He had seen and admired the wonderful traits of Cherry but his heart was stubbornly closed for Allie. Those two years they had intimately spent with each other, couldn't just be easily replaced and forgotten.
He looked up at Andrew and without the need to tell him, he felt that Miss Perez had already dumped him. His pale face spelled death, death of his hopes and dreams for her. As Andrew caught Ajie's eyes at him, he felt derided, belittled and insulted. That look which only meant sympathy for Ajie, he misinterpreted it as mockery. It opened up his old wound and right then, his hatred and jealousy exploded.
Before Ajie could say a word, a fist landed at the left side of his face. Before he could throw another blow, Ajie quickly held him up, pushed him down and pinned him to the ground. Due to sleeplessness and absence of food intake, Andrew's body felt like a paper against a thin blow of air.
"Andrew, I don't understand why you always place the blame on me. I was still a child when your grandparents took you out from my parents and therefore, I didn't even know what was happening. Now, you hit me because Cherry is in love with me. Is it my fault when it was you who neglected her? Is it my fault that she was hurting because you betrayed her with her own mother? Didn't you fell goosebumps in your skin with the fact that after you make love with her, you sneak out to do it also to her mother? It's so horrible Andrew, not even dogs can swallow that. "
Ajie's voice already quivered with anger as he went on, his eyes so heated up like it were about to emit a strong blast of fire.
"Tell me, Andrew, do you still deserved Cherry's love? Does she have no right to fall out? Think about it and use your brain! "
Andrew struggled against Ajie's tight grip as he furiously and illogically retorted.
"You tempt and seduce her! That's why she falls out on me. Remember this Adrian, I would avenge for her loss. I will let you feel one day, how it feels to be betrayed... "
Ajie shook his head in disbelief at his poor reasoning and judgment. The pattern of his thinking was so illogical. Realizing that there was no point in talking to him, he got up and turned to leave.
Just then, Andrews phone sounded. He pulled it out from his sling bag and quickly sat up when his phone screen showed "Miss Perez" as the caller. In a snap of a second, a silly grin spread out in his face.
"Do you now miss me? " To Ajie's frustration, Andrew chuckled out like a child who was gifted with a sugar candy. Ajie foolishly thought that the drama Andrew just showed was because of the suicidal note of Cherry. To his horror, he even felt proud and boasted himself by turning on the loudspeaker mode.
"Can you still afford to betray her even with the news that she jumped off the ship last night? "
Ajie clearly heard Miss Perez's voice from the other line. He also saw Andrew's loud gasp of shock as his face turned pale like a sheet of bond paper.
"And for your information, she was not found! "
Andrew was dumbfounded for a second, but after a while, a glint of joy showed up in his eyes.
"We can have our total freedom then, Miss Perez. Isn't that good news? "
Ajie was instantly blinded with anger that he sent a flying fist against Andrew's face, sending him to the ground unconscious.
"There's a better place for both of you, Andrew! A psychiatric facility! "