Romance with the Cursed Siren

CHAPTER 4. Yacht Tour

The island had grown quiet after sunset.

The furious aftermath of the typhoon had finally settled into a peaceful night, and the ocean surrounding Caro Island now moved in gentle waves beneath the silver glow of the moon. Countless stars blanketed the dark sky above, shimmering like scattered diamonds across endless velvet.

Gabriel decided to spend the night on the front deck of the yacht.

After hours of cleaning and repairing what he could, exhaustion weighed heavily on his body, yet somehow sleep still refused to come. Instead, he spread a thick dry mat near the bow of the boat and settled comfortably beneath the open sky.

“Under the moon and stars,” he murmured to himself with a faint smile, “seems like the perfect place to sleep.”

He crossed one leg over the other and rested both hands behind his head while staring upward.

The city suddenly felt very far away. No endless noise, no crowded streets and suffocating expectations. Only the sea breeze brushing gently against his skin and the endless sound of waves kissing the shore.

For the first time in months, Gabriel felt oddly peaceful.

Yet no matter how hard he tried to empty his thoughts, his mind kept drifting back to one person.

Her silver-blue eyes, her soft laughter. The way moonlight seemed to glow around her like she belonged to the sea itself.

Gabriel exhaled deeply.

“What is wrong with me?” he muttered quietly.

He barely knew her. And yet somehow, she already occupied every corner of his thoughts.

Suddenly he heard footsteps. Gabriel’s entire body stiffened instantly.

The sound was faint but unmistakable. Someone was walking carefully along the narrow side passage of the yacht. Every relaxed thought vanished immediately.

Gabriel moved silently and reached beneath the mat, gripping the handgun he always kept nearby during his travels.

His expression sharpened.

Slowly, he stood and positioned himself near the front glass window of the yacht. He crouched slightly, carefully adjusting his footing to prepare for an attack if necessary.

The footsteps drew closer. One step. Then another. The shadow slowly approached through the dim moonlight.

Gabriel tightened his grip around the gun and inhaled deeply.

The second the figure stepped into reach, he lunged forward without hesitation.

With one swift movement, he pinned the intruder gently but firmly against the side wall of the yacht, one arm pressing across their upper chest while the other aimed the gun directly forward.

But the moment moonlight touched the stranger’s face—

Gabriel froze.

His eyes widened in complete shock.

“Crystal?”

Their faces were barely inches apart. Her silver-blue eyes stared back at him in surprise while strands of her long black hair danced wildly in the ocean breeze. Moonlight illuminated her olive skin beautifully, making her appear almost unreal against the darkness surrounding them.

“G-Gabe…” Crystal whispered breathlessly.

Realization struck Gabriel immediately. He quickly lowered the gun.

“Oh my God—I’m sorry!”

He released her at once, horrified by his own reaction.

But the second he let go, Crystal’s knees weakened from surprise and imbalance. She nearly slipped backward onto the deck. Gabriel caught her instantly

One arm wrapped securely around her tiny waist while the other steadied her shoulder. Crystal instinctively grabbed the front of his shirt to keep herself upright.

For a moment— Neither of them moved.

Their bodies were so close they could feel each other breathing.

Gabriel’s heartbeat thundered wildly inside his chest.

Crystal’s breath came out unevenly as she stared up at him, wide-eyed and speechless.

The salty sea breeze wrapped around them while waves crashed softly below.

Everything suddenly felt too quiet. Too close.

“Gabe…” Crystal called softly again, trying to break the strange tension surrounding them.

Gabriel blinked rapidly as though waking from a dream.

“Oh—right. Sorry.”

He carefully helped her stand properly again before stepping backward, though reluctantly.

Crystal smiled softly at him, clearly more amused than frightened.

Meanwhile, Gabriel awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck while trying to calm his racing thoughts.

‘You almost tackled her with a gun, genius.’

Crystal adjusted the strap of the canvas tote bag hanging from her shoulder before glancing around the yacht curiously.

Under the moonlight, she looked breathtaking.

She wore a simple white sundress with thin straps that fluttered gently against her legs whenever the breeze passed by. Her long curly black hair cascaded freely down her back, swaying beautifully behind her.

Gabriel could not stop looking at her. He followed a step behind while she slowly explored the deck with obvious fascination.

“How many rooms does this yacht have?” Crystal suddenly asked while peeking curiously through the front window.

“Two bedrooms,” Gabriel answered quickly. “Do you want a tour?”

Crystal immediately brightened.

“I would love that.”

Gabriel swallowed hard again after seeing her smile beneath the moonlight. Seriously, he needed to get himself together.

Trying to regain composure, he gestured toward the entrance.

“After you, my lady.”

Crystal giggled softly before stepping closer. That was when Gabriel noticed the tote bag hanging heavily against her arm.

“You should put that down first,” he suggested.

Crystal stopped only inches away from him and smiled mysteriously.

“Actually,” she said softly, “I brought this for you.”

Gabriel blinked.

“For me?”

She nodded and handed him the bag.

Curious, Gabriel opened it. Inside were several fresh fruits carefully wrapped in cloth along with a large bottle of water.

His expression softened immediately.

“I thought you might be hungry,” Crystal explained shyly.

“Da wanted to visit earlier, but he got tired repairing everything around the island after the storm.”

Gabriel stared at her quietly for a moment. Nobody had done something this thoughtful for him in a very long time.

“Thank you,” he said sincerely. “I really appreciate this.”

Crystal smiled brightly.

“So…” she asked excitedly while rocking slightly on her feet, “can I finally see the inside of the yacht now?”

Gabriel laughed softly.

“Yes, of course. Sorry for making my guest wait.”

He set the bag aside while Crystal tried to hide her giggles.

Together, they entered the yacht’s interior.

Crystal gasped immediately. Everything inside looked so different from the small wooden home she grew up in.

The ceiling alone amazed her because it stood much taller than the cabin ceiling at home. The salon area featured a massive flat-screen television mounted against the wall, surrounded by soft leather couches large enough for several people to sleep on comfortably.

The gray woven carpet beneath her feet felt unbelievably soft.

The sleek kitchen nearby contained things she rarely saw. Drawers with polished handles, a refrigerator, built-in cabinets, and even a small dishwasher.

“It’s beautiful,” Crystal whispered honestly.

Gabriel smiled while watching her fascination.

Then Crystal noticed the damp food packages scattered near the galley.

“The water got inside?”

Gabriel sighed dramatically.

“Unfortunately.”

Crystal frowned sympathetically.

She slowly wandered farther until spotting another door nearby.

“Can I open this?”

“Go ahead.”

Crystal twisted the knob eagerly.

Inside was a surprisingly elegant bathroom complete with a glass shower, sink, and modern toilet.

“I never seen a bathroom as beautiful as this” she commented with so much amusement while stepping back out.

Gabriel chuckled.

She moved toward another room immediately afterward.

The guest bedroom revealed a comfortable bed beneath a ceiling hatch where moonlight filtered softly inside.

Crystal sat dramatically onto the mattress, bouncing her body before laughing.

“It’s so soft!”

Gabriel leaned against the doorway while smiling at her childish excitement.

“You haven’t seen the master bedroom yet.”

Crystal sat up immediately.

“There’s another one?”

Gabriel nodded proudly.

As they prepared to head downstairs toward the larger cabin, Crystal suddenly noticed something lying on the floor.

“Gabe,” she called curiously while bending down.

Gabriel turned—and nearly had a heart attack.

Crystal innocently held up a maroon lace lingerie piece between her fingers.

“What’s this?”

Gabriel lunged forward so quickly it almost looked painful.

“That’s nothing!”

He snatched the fabric away immediately before throwing it straight into the trash bin.

Crystal blinked in confusion.

“You threw it away?”

Gabriel started sweating instantly.

“It—it belonged to my sister.”

“Oh, you have a sister?” Crystal asked excitedly.

Gabriel internally panicked.

“No! I mean—cousin. My cousin. She accidentally left it on the yacht.”

Crystal nodded slowly.

“Oh.”

Gabriel wanted to disappear into the ocean.

Meanwhile, Crystal only looked disappointed.

“It looked pretty,” she admitted innocently. “Why throw it away?”

Gabriel stared at her speechlessly.

How could someone this beautiful also be this innocent?

His chest tightened strangely as he watched her standing there beneath the dim cabin lights.

Then his gaze slowly drifted toward her lips. Soft. Pink. Slightly damp from the ocean breeze.

His thoughts immediately betrayed him.

‘I wonder what they’d feel like—’

“Gabe?”

Crystal’s voice snapped him back to reality.

Gabriel nearly choked on his own thoughts.

“Sorry,” he muttered quickly. “I got distracted.”

“You miss your cousin?” Crystal asked sympathetically.

Gabriel suddenly felt extremely guilty.

“Something like that,” he replied scratch ing the back of his neck.

Then Crystal’s expression unexpectedly softened with sadness.

“I miss my cousin too.”

Gabriel looked at her curiously as he led her toward the staircase leading into the master cabin below.

“They live in the city,” she explained quietly. “Far away from the island.”

“You have family in the city?”

Crystal nodded.

Gabriel sat beside her on the large bed once they entered the spacious master cabin.

Moonlight spilled softly through the small windows around them.

“Then why stay here?” he asked gently. “Why live alone on this isolated island?”

Crystal’s fingers twisted nervously together on her lap.

“We can’t leave.”

“Why not?”

Her expression dimmed.

“Because I’m sick.”

Gabriel frowned immediately.

“Sick?”

Crystal nodded quietly.

“What kind of illness forces you to stay away from everyone?”

Crystal hesitated.

“I don’t think you’d understand.”

“Try me,” Gabriel whispered softly.

As she turned toward him again, Gabriel finally noticed her eyes clearly beneath the moonlight. Silver-blue, beautifully bright. Like moonlight reflecting against the ocean.

His breath caught slightly.

“Your eyes…” he murmured. “They’re incredible.”

Crystal smiled faintly.

“I got them from my father.”

But Gabriel barely heard her anymore.

Something about her presence kept pulling him closer.

Like gravity. Like the sea itself dragging him deeper.

Crystal suddenly stood up.

The strange tension between them had become overwhelming.

“I think the tour is over,” she said softly.

Gabriel blinked again as though waking from another trance.

Before he could stop her, Crystal quickly walked out of the cabin and disappeared upstairs toward the deck, leaving Gabriel alone with his racing heartbeat and the growing realization that he was already falling far deeper into her world than he should.