29

Tomas.
After Jennifer left me at the party, I found myself standing there in a state of disbelief, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside me. I didn’t chase after her, not because I didn’t care about her feelings-I did-but rather because I was utterly surprised and shocked by what she had just said to me. The words she had spoken hung in the air like a heavy fog, and it felt like the world had frozen for a moment, leaving me trapped in a bubble of confusion. Her declarations echoed in my mind, making it hard to think straight, as if I were stuck in a loop, replaying the moment over and over.
Maybe the unexpected arrival of Selina, who seemed to appear from nowhere like a mirage, distracted me just a little bit from the whirlwind of emotions I was experiencing. But deep down, I never intended to ignore Jennifer or her feelings. What troubled me even more was that I hadn’t truly realized the depth of her feelings for me until that very moment when she bared her soul. In all honesty, I had always believed that I was the one harboring deep, romantic feelings for her. I assumed it was a one-sided affection, something I had secretly carried in my heart while she remained blissfully unaware of the storm brewing inside me. Her heartfelt words had completely thrown me off balance, knocking the wind out of me. I couldn’t understand why I didn’t respond to her in that moment; I felt glued to my spot, paralyzed like a jerk, unable to move or speak.
I thought she would step away for just a few minutes and then return to me, ready to talk things over like adults. But I never imagined she would run away from me like that, fleeing into the night, leaving me standing there in shock. The thought that I might have lost her forever began to sink in, and it hit me hard, like a punch to the gut. As the minutes stretched into an hour after she had left, anxiety gnawed at me, and I began to search for her, desperately hoping to find her safe and sound. All the guests and security personnel joined the fray, and we all started to look and search for her in earnest. But the darkness of the night, combined with the towering trees surrounding us, made our search feel even more daunting, especially with midnight looming over us like a dark cloud.
Then Maya suggested something that, although agonizing to me, made sense in the moment. She proposed that we should wait until morning to continue the search. She argued that we needed men who knew every corner and crevice of this island, experienced tour guides who could help us navigate through the dense foliage and unfamiliar terrain. I agreed with her suggestion, but inside me, my heart was shattered into a million pieces. I felt like a broken man whose bride had left him standing at the altar, abandoned and alone, with no hope in sight.
What added to my feeling of despair was Jack’s decision to ignore my pleas. He didn’t listen to me when I warned him against searching for her alone in the dark. I told him it was a reckless choice, one that could lead to more complications. But he brushed aside my concerns, refusing to take my words seriously. He insisted that he couldn’t leave her in the dark, claiming he would accept any consequences that came his way. Jack was determined, like a knight on a quest. He couldn’t bear the thought of losing her, not now, not ever. I tried to reason with him, but he accused me of being heartless, of not understanding the depth of his feelings for her.
“Mr. Tomas,” he said, his voice rising with indignation, “you can’t possibly feel what I feel. You don’t deserve her at all! Do you even know that Jennifer has a fear of darkness? No, of course, you don’t, do you? If you had any clue, you wouldn’t have left her alone on this unknown island! Can you even tell me why you haven’t called the police by now? I guess you have no answer other than that you don’t love her. But it’s not entirely your fault; it’s mine for not protecting her from this world. If I had stayed with her, none of this would have happened…” Jack shouted, and then he suddenly fell silent, his words hanging in the air between us like a thick fog.
I stared at him, my mind racing with anger and confusion. “What do you mean by ‘if you stayed with her,’ Jack?!” I demanded, my eyes wide with a mixture of confusion and growing fury.
Jack rolled his eyes, looking away from me, clearly frustrated by my barrage of questions. “Nothing, just forget about it. I have to go now; Jennifer needs me,” he said, trying to walk away, as if my words had no weight.
But I wasn’t letting him off that easily. I grabbed his arm, forcing him to face me again. “No, stay! Tell me how you know Jennifer!” I insisted, narrowing my eyes, refusing to back down from this confrontation.
“I think you should ask Jennifer when we find her, not me. I’m not your fiancee,” Jack retorted, turning his back to me as if he could brush aside the issue like dust on his shoulder.
I put my hand on his shoulder, turning him back around to face me directly. “What’s really going on between you and Jennifer? I want to know the truth! Are you scared to tell me?” I pressed him, my voice low and intense.
He pushed my hand away, incredulous, disbelief etched on his face. “Afraid?! Of what?!” Jack shot back, his temper flaring.
“Afraid to tell me the truth, Jack. It’s obvious!” I replied, my frustration boiling over like a pot left unattended on the stove.
“The truth? You want the truth? Huh?” Jack began to yell, but before he could continue his tirade, my phone rang, interrupting our heated exchange and pulling me back to the reality of the situation.
“Stay here! I have to take this call, and you need to tell me the story afterward. Wait for me,” I said, stepping back a few paces to answer the call, my heart pounding in my chest.
“Yes? Who is it?!” I asked, my voice tense, filled with urgency.
“It’s me, Tomas! It’s been a long time! It’s me, Cercus! Or have you forgotten my voice?” the caller said with a laugh that sent a shiver down my spine.
“What? Cercus? I’m kind of busy right now, so can we talk later? I don’t have time for-” I started, but he cut me off like a knife slicing through the air.
“Oh no, I know you’re worried about your lost fiancee, Tomas,” Cercus said, his tone mocking and dripping with insincerity.
“How do you know, Cercus?” I asked, feeling a surge of anger swell within me like a tidal wave.
“Because it’s my island, Tomas! You’re on my island now. I thought you already knew that!” Cercus informed me, his voice dripping with arrogance and superiority.
“So?! I have no time for this! I need to find Jennifer!” I declared, my voice sharp and insistent, the urgency palpable.
“I’m calling you for that very reason, Tomas! I don’t have time for your drama either! She’s with me!” Cercus replied, his tone suddenly serious, cutting through the tension like a hot knife through butter.
“What the hell are you talking about, Cercus?! I swear if anything happens to Jennifer, I will-” I threatened, my voice raised in anger, fury bubbling just below the surface.
But Cercus interrupted me again before I could complete my threat. “Tomas, I didn’t kidnap her. Calm down. You’re trying to threaten the wrong man. You’re in my territory, and your army will never help you here. So be polite,” he said coolly, as if dismissing my concerns like a bothersome fly.
“Motherfucker!” I shouted, my rage boiling over, my fists clenching at my sides.
At that moment, Jack stepped closer, clearly eavesdropping on my side of the conversation, his eyes wide with concern.
“Watch your mouth, Tomas. I’m calling to inform you that your fiancee will be with you in the early morning. She’s okay,” Cercus said, his tone almost casual, as if he were discussing the weather.
“How can I trust you, Cercus? You’re my enemy!” I yelled, still skeptical, my voice laced with disbelief.
“Yes, I know, but she’s innocent, and you know I can’t harm innocent people, especially a beautiful girl like her,” Cercus said, his voice dripping with insincerity, as if he were trying to convince me of his goodwill.
“What?! I swear, if you lay a finger on her, I will come for you! I want her now!” I threatened, my voice a low growl, the primal instinct to protect what was mine surging within me.
“No, Tomas, don’t worry. I will never touch her, not because I’m afraid of you, but because I like her. I don’t understand how innocent girls like her can trust someone like you! Did you even tell her about your real job? Your illegal activities?” Cercus laughed, his mockery cutting deep, as if he were twisting a knife in an open wound.
“I swear, if you say anything about my work to her, I will slice your fucking tongue into pieces!” I shouted, my fury reaching its peak, my heart racing in my chest.
“Tomas, she’ll be with you in the morning. Bye,” Cercus said, hanging up before I could respond, leaving me seething with anger and confusion.
I felt my blood boil; this was the worst situation I could imagine. If she were lost, I wouldn’t feel as anxious as I did right now. Oh God, what should I do? I whispered to myself, my mind racing like a runaway train.
When Jack stepped closer to me, I tried to collect my thoughts, to rein in my emotions.
“What happened, Mr. Tomas?!” he asked, his eyes filled with concern, searching my face for answers.
“Nothing. They found Jennifer. She’ll be with us in the morning,” I informed Jack, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.
“But why not now?” Jack pressed, his anxiety evident in the way he fidgeted, unable to remain still.
“Stop asking me! I’m worried sick! She will be okay, Jack,” I shouted, my patience wearing thin, the pressure building inside me like a pressure cooker about to explode.
“But who found her? And why were you yelling at him? Tell me the truth!” Jack insisted, his determination unwavering, refusing to back down.
I rolled my eyes, trying to control my temper, but I was on edge, my nerves fraying like a worn-out rope.
“Tell me what’s going on!” Jack shouted again, his frustration evident, his voice rising in pitch.
“Stop it, Jack! You will never worry about her as much as I do! I do love her more than you realize… Now stay away from me. I have many calls to make. Wait here for her; don’t go anywhere. I might need your help in the morning. I’m not sure yet,” I told Jack firmly, my tone leaving no room for argument.
“Why? Don’t you trust this man, Tomas?” Jack asked, his brow furrowed in concern, worry etched on his face.
“I don’t trust anyone, Jack. When it comes to Jennifer, I need to have a backup plan. If she doesn’t arrive by morning, I will turn this island upside down,” I explained, my tone serious and resolute, the weight of responsibility heavy on my shoulders.
I walked away, trying to gather my thoughts, and started to call Carl, my heart racing with urgency and dread.
“Oh Carl, answer your phone!” I murmured, glancing anxiously at the screen, willing him to pick up.
“Thank God,” I sighed in relief when he finally picked up.
“Mr. Tomas? What’s going on?” Carl asked, his voice filled with concern, instantly alert.
“Jennifer is lost, and Cercus found her,” I informed Carl, trying to keep my voice steady, despite the chaos swirling within me.
“What? How?” Carl asked, confusion evident in his tone, his mind racing to grasp the situation.
“Stop asking questions and listen! I don’t have much time. Cercus found her!” I reiterated, urgency creeping into my voice, each word laced with desperation.
“Cercus?!” Carl exclaimed, clearly alarmed, the name hanging heavy in the air between us.
“Yes, Cercus, Carl, and the disaster is that the island belongs to him. So I need support; make all our men ready for a war. With weapons. If I call you in the morning and tell you to come, then you’ll know that Jennifer isn’t safe, and I need my men to come over. Do you understand, Carl? Or should I repeat myself?” I commanded, my voice firm and unwavering, the gravity of the situation weighing heavily on my shoulders.
“No, Tomas, I’ll get ready right away, and I’ll wait for your call,” Carl assured me, his tone serious, the urgency of my request not lost on him.