Perilous Sea || Homer Series

Chapter Three

After that night, Wyatt and I didn’t see each other again. Not once.

Two months.

Sixty days of silence. Of distance. Of pretending like nothing had ever happened.

I avoided him like he was some kind of virus—one that, if I let too close, would infect every inch of me until there was no escape. He was dangerous for my system, and I knew it.

I was just thankful no one had seen us that night. Because if they had...

God. I didn’t even want to think about it.

The headlines alone would have ruined me.

‘Wyatt Vilmaris and Oceanna Homer Spotted in a Heated Kiss!’

I could already see the headlines splashed across tabloids, reporters digging into my life, twisting every single thing out of proportion.

I would be doomed.

And Uncle Jonathan? He’d kill me. No—he’d do worse than that. He’d tear me apart with nothing but his disappointment. The weight of his expectations was already suffocating enough, and the last thing I needed was to add something like this to my list of mistakes.

I had enough on my plate as it was.

Too much.

And this? This was something that could be avoided.

Something that should have never happened in the first place.

From: Lexine

Hey, Cean. I'm back. Let's hang out! I'll be waiting at Alouette's Feral Bar tonight. See you—I won’t accept no as an answer.

I rolled my eyes, already picturing her lounging in some booth, a drink in hand, probably on her second or third round by now. Lexine was one of the most alcohol-tolerant people I knew—her bloodstream was practically fifty percent liquor at this point.

I didn’t bother replying. Instead, I tossed my phone onto the bed and headed to my closet, slipping into something more fitting for a night out. A bralette, a skirt, and red high heels—the kind that made my legs look impossibly long and gave me an extra inch of confidence.

My hair was styled in a messy bun, with a few loose strands framing my face. A swipe of red lipstick and a sharp winged eyeliner completed the look—fierce, untouchable.

I was halfway through my routine when my phone rang.

I smirked, knowing exactly why she was calling. Lexine was about to complain.

"Hey, Cean!" she exclaimed the second I picked up.

I winced and pulled the phone away from my ear. Too loud.

"You didn’t reply to my text! Did you put me in spam? How dare you!"

"Calm down, Lexine Brianna," I said, amused. "I’m already getting ready. Relax."

Through the speaker, I could hear the pounding bass of music, the chaos of laughter and shouting voices in the background. She was already there.

"I’m waiting for you," she practically yelled. "Didn’t bring my car, so you should bring yours."

Damn. Of course, she didn’t.

"Okay, see you there," I said, eager to end the call before my eardrums gave out.

She giggled, her voice taking on a mischievous tone. "There’s a lot of hot guys here."

I frowned, pausing mid-motion as I fixed my bun. "So? You have a boyfriend."

Silence.

Then, her voice came through, lighter than it should’ve been. "We broke up."

I froze. What?

"Huh? Wait, did I hear that right?"

"Yup. Yesterday. Before we flew back home."

Her voice was too casual. Too normal. But I knew better.

"Who initiated the breakup? Him?"

"Stupid," she scoffed. "It was me. It was the only way to save my pride and dignity. I’ve had enough."

Her voice faltered just slightly, exhaustion slipping through the cracks of her usual bravado.

I knew what that meant.

She wasn’t okay.

I grabbed my purse. "I’ll be there in a minute. Just wait for me, okay?"

Before she could respond, I ended the call.

Lexine was the type of girl who loved too much. Gave too much. Poured everything she had into someone, even when she knew she’d be left empty in the end.

I wasn’t sure whether to call it stupidity—or just the unforgiving nature of love.

I was about to step out of the house when I noticed everyone in the living room turning their attention to me. Their gazes lingered, assessing, curious.

I forced a smile. I didn’t want to seem rude.

Zenos was sprawled on the couch, relaxed in that effortlessly cocky way of his, while Crescent stood in front of him, arms crossed like she was mid-argument. My gaze shifted slightly—to the person sitting beside Zenos.

Wyatt.

For a split second, I froze, my breath hitching in my throat. But I recovered quickly, masking the brief moment of hesitation with an indifferent expression. Like he wasn’t even there.

There were two other girls in the room—ones I didn’t recognize. I kept my polite smile intact, acknowledging them with a small nod.

"You're going somewhere?" Crescent’s voice cut through the silence.

I nodded. "Yap. I'm with Lexine. I already texted Mom to let her know."

Their eyes flickered over me, studying, scrutinizing, like they were taking in every detail of my outfit. I held my chin up, unwavering beneath their quiet examination.

"You're so beautiful, Oceanna," one of the girls suddenly said. She was petite, with delicate chinita eyes—her Filipina-Chinese heritage evident in her features.

I offered a small smile. "Thank you."

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Zenos and Crescent still bickering in hushed voices, the tension between them unmistakable.

Their engagement was called off last month, yet they still hang out, which only proves they’ve built a strong friendship—or whatever kind of relationship it is.

"Did you come to visit her?" I asked, directing my question to Zenos.

He was so focused on Crescent that Wyatt had to nudge his shoulder, pointing at me in silent reminder. Zenos blinked, as if realizing I was talking to him, and turned his gaze to me, confused.

I chuckled softly. "I asked if you came to visit Crescent."

He pouted slightly, throwing a glance at Crescent, who was now engaged in conversation with the other girl—the one with long, dark hair and a sun-kissed complexion.

"We were having dinner, and on the way back home, my car broke down. We had to call Wyatt for help since his condo is near Allegra’s," Zenos explained.

"A date?"

He shook his head with a small smirk. "We ate with them." He nodded toward the two girls.

I smirked, tilting my head playfully. "I thought you were still dating."

His lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Your sister doesn’t want me anymore," he said dramatically.

Crescent shot him a glare before rolling her eyes. "You’re overly melodramatic, Zenos," she said dryly.

Laughter rippled through the room.

But then—

I felt it.

A gaze.

I turned my head slightly, my eyes meeting Wyatt’s.

He was looking at me.

Not just looking—studying.

His expression was unreadable, but the weight of his stare sent a shiver down my spine.

I refused to be the first to look away.

When I realized he had no intention of looking away, I had no choice but to break eye contact first. Damn him.

I turned sharply, heading for the door. But just as I reached the threshold, something nagged at the back of my mind.

I hesitated.

Then, I turned back.

"Crescent," I called.

She looked up from her conversation, raising a brow. "You need something?"

I wet my lips, watching her closely. "I saw your friend, Gretta, last time. She doesn’t know you’re back in the Philippines."

Her lips parted slightly, caught off guard by the mention of Gretta’s name. A flicker of something passed through her eyes—surprise? guilt?—but she masked it quickly.

She smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. "You talked to her? How is she?"

I crossed my arms, unimpressed. "She was with the rest of your so-called Saganza. Five of them. You didn’t go?"

It was a rhetorical question, but I wanted to push. I wanted her to acknowledge it.

Her expression barely shifted. "Oh. Good to know. I just… haven’t had the time to contact them. I’ve been busy."

Liar.

I tilted my head. "You have time to hang out with Zenos, but you’re too ‘busy’ to talk to them? You didn’t even bother letting them know you’re back? It’s been years,"

She held my gaze for a moment before saying evenly, "Just leave it, Cean. I’ll handle it."

There it is again. That frustrating part of her that refused to let people in. Crescent never asked for help. Never shared her burdens. As if carrying everything alone made her stronger.

I scoffed. "You love meddling in my business, so what’s the difference?" I shot back, sarcasm dripping from my tone.

She exhaled slowly, closing her eyes for a brief second. Calming herself.

Crescent had mastered control. She never snapped. Never lashed out. She knew exactly when to hold back.

When she looked at me again, her eyes were sharp. Colder. A warning.

"Let’s talk about this privately if you really want to. Have some decency, Ate. We have visitors."

Her voice was steady, unwavering.

I followed her gaze to the others, who were definitely listening now. Their curiosity was almost tangible in the air.

I’d almost forgotten they were here.

My eyes flicked back to Crescent.

She wasn’t just asking me to drop it—she was demanding it. And the quiet fierceness in her expression sent a shiver down my spine.

She rarely got mad, but when she did… she was terrifying.

What a stupid move, Oceanna Anica.

Frustrated, I stormed to my car, yanking the door open before sliding inside. My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I let out a slow, controlled breath.

This is why I always get into trouble.

Most of the time, I could keep my cool—detached, unbothered, unreadable. But when it came to my family? That was different. My emotions ran too hot, too fast. I acted on impulse, let words slip before I could catch them. Crescent, especially, had a way of pulling reactions out of me that no one else could.

I sighed, leaning my head back against the seat.

Instead of driving straight to the bar, I just sat there in the parking lot for nearly an hour, letting the weight of my thoughts settle. The last thing I needed was to drag my bad mood into Lexine’s night.

Eventually, I sighed, fixing my hair and checking my reflection before stepping out.

Inside, the bar was buzzing with energy—dim lights, blaring music, and the familiar scent of alcohol mixed with perfume. I headed straight for the counter, needing a drink before finding Lexine.

The bartender from last time smirked at me the moment he saw me.

I rolled my eyes.

"Cuervo," I said, leaning against the counter.

His smirk widened. "You got wasted on Bacardi last time," he teased.

I shot him a glare. "Stop talking and mix my drink."

He chuckled, but as he started preparing my drink, his gaze flickered over me appreciatively. "I like your outfit. You look hot."

I narrowed my eyes. "Did you just—?" I shook my head in disbelief. "You're unbelievable."

Tuning him out, I scanned the crowd, searching for Lexine.

When I finally spotted her, she was deep in conversation with some guy. She must have felt my gaze because she suddenly looked up, her eyes sweeping the room before landing on me.

She chuckled, flashing the guy a quick smile before casually excusing herself and making her way toward me.

"Oh my God, Cean! You look so sexy," she squealed, pulling me into a tight hug.

I sniggered as she pulled back, her eyes gleaming with approval. "I love your outfit—it hugs your curves perfectly!"

I rolled my eyes. Lexine herself looked stunning—dressed in a black tube top and matching skirt, paired with high heels that made her look even more effortlessly seductive.

I crossed my arms. "Is this your way of apologizing for ghosting me for a week?" I asked, raising a brow.

She laughed unapologetically. "You're so bitter, Cean. I was just… making the most out of the situation before ending it." Her voice faltered slightly, her lips pushing into a small pout.

I sighed, my expression softening. "You really love torturing yourself, Brianna."

She chuckled, brushing it off. "Don't give me that look, Cean. Let’s go!"

Before I could respond, she grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward a high table.

The moment we reached it, I took in the sight of multiple empty glasses scattered across the surface.

I sighed inwardly. She was definitely going to be wasted by the end of the night.

I leaned against the table, raising a brow. "What time did you get here?"

Lexine downed another shot effortlessly before answering.

"Right after I texted you," she said with a smirk.

So, an hour ago—which meant she'd already had more than enough time to drown her emotions in liquor.

This night was going to be a long one.

We laughed as we watched the people on the dance floor—wild, reckless, and free.

“Nace is wasted,” Lexine said, nodding toward our friend, who nearly collapsed onto the floor.

Lexan barely caught her in time, looping an arm around her waist to steady her.

“Are they together now?” I asked, watching the way Lexan held onto Nace, like he’d been waiting for an excuse to do so.

Lexine smirked. “Maybe? They’ve been flirting for too long.”

I knocked back another drink, eyes flicking back to her. She looked fine. Carefree, even. But I knew better.

"Lexine," I said, tone shifting.

She turned to me, still giggling. “Did you see that? Nace just slapped Lexan,” she wheezed, laughter spilling out of her like she hadn’t been hurting just moments ago.

I didn’t laugh.

“How do you feel?” I asked, my voice cutting through the noise.

Her smile faltered. “I’m good,” she said, frowning like she couldn’t believe I was even asking.

I glared at her. “You can’t fool me, Lexine. How do you really feel?”

Her lips parted slightly, but she hesitated. I saw the flicker of emotion in her eyes before she looked away, blinking too fast.

“I just want to get over it,” she admitted, voice barely audible over the music. “I did everything to save our relationship. And I realized… maybe it’s time to stop.” She tilted her head back as if that would stop the tears from falling, but one escaped, tracing down her cheek.

I reached for her hand. “Lexine…”

I didn’t know what to feel. Relief? Because she was finally waking up from the painful delusion of loving a man who never truly loved her back? Or grief? Because I knew just how deeply she had loved him—loved him enough to break herself trying.

She gave me a sad smile, one filled with too much understanding. “Maybe Mom was right. Love can’t be forced. You can’t make someone love you. And if you try… you’re the only one who ends up broken.”

Her voice cracked, and another tear fell.

I pulled her into a tight embrace.

I had seen it all—the way she gave and gave, hoping someday he would return even a fraction of what she felt. But she had been running toward an illusion, a finish line that never existed.

And now, she had nothing left to give.

We both knew the truth. Vein had never been hers. Not really. His heart had belonged to someone else long before Lexine ever stepped into the picture. And no matter how much love she poured into him, it was never going to be enough to change that.

But she had tried. God, had she tried.

And now, it is over.

Completely.

Lexine cried on my shoulder, and I let her. She needed this—to break down, to finally let go. I didn’t say anything, just held her, letting my presence do the comforting. She didn’t need words right now; she’d heard enough.

Love is dangerous. Unpredictable. Vicious.

I gently rubbed her back, silently hoping for her healing. I knew she’d get there. My best friend was strong—capable of overcoming anything.

After a moment, she pulled away, wiping her tears with a shaky breath.

“I’ll move on,” she whispered. “It’s time to choose myself. No more chasing after someone who doesn’t want me. No more begging.”

I nodded. “You deserve someone who will never treat you as anything less than you are.”

She smiled faintly, eyes still glistening. “I know. And I don’t blame him for everything. I made mistakes, too. He’s a good man… if only I hadn’t forced myself into his life.”

The things she had done for love.

Lexine took a deep breath, shaking off the last remnants of her sorrow. Then, she grinned. “Enough of that. Let’s enjoy tonight. Let’s forget everything and just have fun!”

“We deserve to be happy after everything,” she added, nudging me playfully.

I chuckled, shaking my head. That was Lexine—always bouncing back, even with bruised emotions.

She grabbed my hand, trying to pull me toward the dance floor, but I refused. It was too crowded. I’d rather watch from the sidelines.

And I was glad I did.

I nearly choked on my drink when I saw Lexine shoving some poor guy away, her expression filled with exasperation.

I laughed so hard. Even after everything, she was still faithful.

She caught my gaze and frowned, clearly unimpressed by my amusement.

I just shook my head, raising my glass with a smirk.

She was hilarious.