Celix blinked against the harsh sunlight streaming through his bedroom windows. His head throbbed, and his mouth was dry, the remnants of whiskey clinging to his tongue like a bad dream. Groggily, he tried to move, only to feel a dull ache in his muscles. His eyes slowly adjusted to the brightness, and he realized he was in his room,back in the villa.
His heart raced, a momentary spike of confusion gripping him. The last thing he remembered was the cold embrace of the ocean and the strange, impossible sensation of being pulled from the depths. He had been drowning. There was no in mistaking that. But then… that figure the glowing eyes, the feeling of being saved by someone or something that wasn't entirely human.
He rubbed his eyes, trying to dispel the fogginess from his mind. Was it a dream? A hallucination? The alcohol, surely, had to be the explanation. But as much as he wanted to dismiss it, a nagging doubt remained in his chest.
"Finally awake, huh?"
Celix turned towards the familiar voice and found Xander sitting beside his bed, arms crossed over his chest and an amused expression on his face. Xander's dark brown hair was messy, and his black eyes seemed both relieved and annoyed.
"You had me worried for a while, man," Xander continued, his tone more serious now. "What the hell were you doing out there? I found you lying face-down on the beach, unconscious."
Celix blinked again, trying to focus. "You… found me?" His voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. He struggled to sit up, his body still feeling unnaturally heavy, and Xander leaned forward to help him sit.
"Yeah, I found you. You were soaked, freezing, and half-dead. I thought you had drowned," Xander said, shaking his head in disbelief. "What were you thinking, Celix? Drinking alone by the sea like that? It's dangerous."
Celix stared at him, his mind still racing. Xander had found him? It made sense he was always looking out for him. But the memory of that mermaid like figure, the way she had pulled him from the water, was vivid. Too vivid to be entirely imagined.
"I… I don't know," Celix muttered, rubbing his temples. "I don't remember everything." He wasn't lying there were gaps, places where the alcohol blurred reality. But there were also things he couldn't explain, and those were bothering him.
Xander's brow furrowed as he studied Celix, concern written in his features. "Well, whatever it was, you scared the hell out of me. You're lucky I decided to check on you last night." He leaned back in the chair, his voice softening. "You've been off lately, man. Ever since… your mom."
At the mention of his mother, Celix felt a sharp pang of grief twist inside him. His chest tightened, and he looked away from Xander, focusing on the ceiling instead.
"I'm fine," he lied, his voice cold, distant. He had become good at building walls, at pushing people away. Xander was the only person he allowed close, and even then, he kept part of himself hidden. It was easier that way. Much Safer.
Xander didn't push, though Celix could feel the weight of his friend's gaze lingering on him.
"Well, you don't look fine," Xander said, his tone lighter, but Celix could hear the tension beneath it. "Just… be careful. And don't pull a stunt like that again. I won't always be around to drag your sorry ass out of the ocean."
Celix let out a half-hearted chuckle and nodded but the sound felt hollow. "Yeah, I won't."
But even as he said the words, doubt filled his heart.Had Xander really saved him? Or had something or someone else been there, in the water? The image of the glowing eyes flashed in his mind again, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Anyway," Xander said, standing up and stretching. "We've got classes today, remember? Final year, gotta stay on top of things if you don't want to tank your perfect record."
Celix nodded absentmindedly. Normally, he would have cared more , his academic performance had always been a point of pride. But right now, all he could think about was the nagging feeling that something wasn't right. That maybe, just maybe, there was more to what had happened last night than a drunken mistake.
"I'll be ready in a minute," Celix said, swinging his legs over the edge of the bed. His body protested the movement, but he forced himself to stand.
Xander clapped him on the back. "Good. I'll be downstairs. Don't take too long."
With that, Xander left the room, leaving Celix alone with his thoughts. He glanced out the window, toward the beach where it had all happened. The ocean before him seemed calm and quiet in the morning light, as though it had never tried to claim him.
Celix's fingers brushed against his wrist unconsciously, feeling for the faint trace of something. When he had been pulled from the water, he remembered the sensation of a hand, soft yet powerful, gripping him. It wasn't Xander's. He knew that much.
With a shake of his head, Celix dismissed the thought. He needed to focus. He couldn't afford to get lost in a world of fantasies and impossible creatures. The world around him was real, concrete. His life ,his family, his studies they were what mattered.
And yet, as he made his way to the bathroom to get ready for the day, he couldn't shake the feeling that the sea held more than it showed.
---
The prestigious halls of Crestwood University were exactly the same as they had always been grand, intimidating, and filled with students who either came from wealth, power, or were ambitious enough to chase it. Celix moved through the corridors with the same cold indifference he always had, his expression calm, his sharp blue eyes giving little away.
As always, heads turned as he passed. Girls whispered behind their hands, their eyes lingering on him, hoping for even the briefest glance. Celix was used to the attention—his sharp jawline, piercing eyes, and tall, athletic frame made him stand out. He had inherited his father's commanding presence, but where his father exuded raw power, Celix wore a mask of icy detachment. He didn't seek anyone's approval or affection, and that only seemed to make them want him more.
He walked through the campus beside Xander, who was effortlessly sociable, greeting a few people they passed by with casual nods. Despite their contrasting personalities, Celix and Xander had been friends since childhood. Xander understood Celix in ways that a few others did, but even he couldn't pierce the icy armor Celix wore.
"So, are you going to keep brooding all day, or are you going to tell me what's actually on your mind?" Xander asked as they walked towards their first class.
Celix shot him a sidelong glance. "Nothing's on my mind."
Xander smirked. "Sure, and I'm the King of England."
Celix said nothing, his gaze fixed ahead. He didn't want to talk about last night, not here, not now. The memory of the mermaid—if that's what she even was—lingered at the back of his mind, gnawing at him. He still wasn't sure if it had been real or just some drunken illusion, but the memory of her presence was unsettlingly vivid.
"You were thinking about your mom, weren't you?" Xander's tone was softer now, more understanding. "I get it, man. But don't drown yourself in it."
Celix's jaw clenched. "I said I'm fine."
Xander raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. Just… I'm here, okay?"
Celix gave a curt nod. He appreciated Xander's loyalty, but there were some things even Xander couldn't help him with. Some things he needed to figure out on his own.
As they reached the lecture hall, Celix's mind wandered. Crestwood University was more than just an academic institution; it was a breeding ground for the future elite of the country. And Celix, despite his reservations about his father's empire, was expected to take his place among them. His perfect grades, his flawless performance they were all part of a life plan he hadn't entirely chosen but couldn't escape.
As he settled into his seat beside Xander, the professor began his lecture, but Celix's thoughts drifted. He stared out the window, his mind pulling him back to the beach, back to the figure in the water.
"Was she real?"
He didn't have the answer yet, but he will in the future.