Smiling, he ordered for her. "One pineapple juice for her, and a mango juice for me."
They sat by the counter, sipping their drinks. Serrira's eyes widened at the first taste, and Celix chuckled at her delight.
"So," he asked, "are you new here?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"With your family? Or alone?"
Her voice softened. "My parents are gone. I live with my grandpa and grandma."
Something heavy tugged at Celix's chest. "I see," he said quietly.
She looked at him then, curious. "What about you?"
For a moment, Celix hesitated. Then he let the words fall. "I don't have anyone. My mom… she left me. Went to God. Since then, I've been alone."
Serrira's eyes shimmered with sadness. "Don't say it like that. You're not alone."
Celix gave a small, broken smile. "It's the truth."
The silence stretched between them, filled only by the sound of waves crashing in the distance. Serrira's innocence, her compassion, her wonder it unsettled him, yet drew him closer. She was unlike anyone he had ever known.
And in that moment, Celix made a decision. He would show her the world. Teach her what she didn't know. And in the process, he would uncover the mystery of who Serrira truly was.
Meanwhile, Maxim had gone to Celix's villa looking for him. Finding the place empty, he smirked to himself. He didn't need to guess twice. He knew exactly where Celix would be.
Back at the beach.
Celix's Pov :
The sunlight filtered softly through the wide windows of the seaside café, spilling golden warmth over the polished wooden tables. The place smelled faintly of saltwater carried in by the breeze, mingled with the sweet tang of fruits from the counter. It was calm, quiet perfect for spending a lazy afternoon.
Celix leaned back in his chair, holding out a glass of pineapple juice toward the girl sitting across from him. Serrira's curious eyes followed the golden liquid as if she were seeing it for the first time. She accepted it cautiously, lifted it to her lips, and took a sip.
The moment the sweetness touched her tongue, her face brightened like a child discovering candy. "Wow!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with genuine surprise. "I've never had such a delicious juice before!"
Celix couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped him. Her excitement over something so simple it was refreshing to see. "Really?" he teased, raising a brow.
Serrira nodded, setting the glass down but still gazing at it with awe. "Yes. Where I live, things like this aren't available at all."
"Oh, that's sad," Celix replied lightly, though there was a trace of sympathy in his tone. Then, with a playful grin, he added, "But don't worry. You can drink as much as you want here no problem at all."
Without hesitation, Serrira lifted the glass again and drained the rest in one long gulp. Her enthusiasm pulled a soft laugh out of him. She seemed so unguarded, so unaffected by the little pretenses people usually wrapped themselves in.
Setting his own mango juice down on the table, Celix caught the way Serrira's eyes lingered on it. The golden-orange drink looked richer than the pineapple one, and she stared at it with barely disguised curiosity. Noticing, he asked gently,
"Do you want to try mango juice?"
A faint blush crept into her cheeks. She lowered her gaze instead of answering. Celix smiled knowingly. Her silence was louder than words. Sliding the glass toward her, he said softly, "Here. Try it."
Her expression brightened, hesitant yet happy, as if she had been given something precious. She glanced up at him quickly, then wrapped her fingers around the glass. Taking a careful sip, she hummed in delight.
"Umm! This one tastes even better!" she said, and before he could respond, she finished it all.
Celix laughed outright this time. The innocent joy in her eyes was infectious. "Do you want some more?" he asked, half-teasing.
"Yes!!" Serrira answered without a moment's pause.
Her enthusiasm made him grin. He called the waiter and ordered every flavor they had berry, citrus, melon, pomegranate, even exotic mixes. One by one, the colorful drinks were brought to their table, the surface soon cluttered with vibrant glasses like a festival of fruits.
Serrira's eyes lit up as if she had stumbled upon a hidden treasure. She dived into the assortment with childlike excitement, sipping one, then another, then another, each discovery filling her with joy. Celix leaned back, watching her in silence. There was something endearing about seeing her this way unguarded, free, alive.
Time passed in laughter and small comments between sips, until Serrira had downed nearly twenty glasses. Celix blinked in disbelief, torn between amusement and concern.
"Hey, Serrira…" he said finally, leaning forward, "if you drink that much, your body won't handle it. You'll get sick."
But Serrira didn't stop. The truth was, each drink carried a faint trace of alcohol, not enough for most to notice but stacked together in such quantity, the effect was undeniable.
Her laughter faltered, her movements slowed. She blinked a few times, as if trying to steady the room. A faint flush crept across her cheeks, and her hand gripped the edge of the table. Celix frowned immediately.
"Serrira?" he called gently.
Her ears buzzed; his voice reached her as though from underwater. She squinted at him, confusion clouding her features. When her gaze finally focused, she gasped softly because she didn't see one Celix. She saw two.
Celix rose slightly, concern etched across his face. "Serrira, I think it's best if you go home now. You don't look too well."
But instead of responding, she pushed herself unsteadily to her feet and stepped toward him. Her hand, warm and trembling, reached up to cup his cheek. Celix froze, startled by the sudden touch.
She leaned in, her face so close he could feel the faint brush of her breath. The intimacy of the moment caught him off guard. The warmth of her palm against his skin felt… strangely comforting, though his mind scrambled to make sense of it.
For a brief heartbeat, the world seemed to blur around them, leaving only her eyes and her nearness.
Then, just as suddenly, Serrira's body responded to its own hidden nature. The magical energy that ran through her blood dissolved the alcohol in an instant. Her head cleared, the spinning ceased, and awareness struck her all at once.
Her eyes widened as she realized where she was how close she was. She froze, staring into his gaze, her breath caught in her throat. The closeness was overwhelming.
Startled, she quickly pulled away, her hand slipping from his cheek as though burned. She stepped back, creating distance between them, her expression caught between embarrassment and confusion.
Celix sat there quietly, still feeling the ghost of her touch against his skin, still caught in the strangeness of the moment. Neither of them spoke, but the silence carried more weight than words ever could.