FINAL
The rain had finally subsided, leaving behind a cool mist that hung over Pulang Rosas lake. Conrad stood at the edge of the water, his heart heavy with uncertainty. He had done everything he could to protect Ali, to give her a chance at freedom. But as he stared out across the vast expanse of the lake, doubt gnawed at him.
Camela approached him silently, her presence a stark contrast to the serene beauty of their surroundings. Her eyes held a mixture of sadness and regret, emotions that Conrad struggled to comprehend.
"You cared for her," Camela said softly, breaking the tense silence between them.
Conrad turned to face her, his expression guarded. "She didn't deserve what you did to her," he replied evenly, his voice tinged with accusation.
Camela's gaze faltered, guilt flickering in her eyes before she composed herself. "I did what I had to do," she said, her voice hollow with resignation.
Conrad shook his head, his frustration mounting. "You used her," he accused, his words heavy with condemnation.
Camela met his gaze steadily. "I know," she admitted quietly.
Conrad's breath caught in his throat, the weight of her confession crashing over him like a tidal wave. Camela had manipulated them, driven by a desperate need to the betterment of Science.
"And Serban?" Conrad demanded, his voice trembling with suppressed anger. "What about him?"
Camela's gaze flickered towards the crowd gathered near the lake, her expression unreadable. "He's here," she murmured, her words laden mystery.
****
The bustling marketplace was alive with the hum of voices and the clatter of carts. Conrad walked through the crowd, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Two years had passed since that fateful night by the lake, yet the memories were as fresh as if they had happened yesterday.
Camela, the woman who had spared his life, was revealed to be his mother. The revelation had shaken him to his core that night, altering his understanding of his past and his identity. But one question haunted him more than any other: Did Ali survive when he pushed her into the lake?
The lake, with its mysterious depths of 1445 feet, had seemed an insurmountable barrier. No one had dared to search its dark waters, convinced that no one could survive such a fall. Conrad had tried to convince himself of the same, but doubt gnawed at him relentlessly.
As he maneuvered through the throng of people, his eyes scanned the faces around him, searching for something—anything—that could bring him peace. And then, in the midst of the crowd, he saw her.
Ali.
She stood a few yards away, her face a mixture of serenity and strength. Beside her was a man, tall and imposing, with an air of otherworldliness about him. Serban. He wore shades, likely to conceal his glowing blue eyes, but there was no mistaking his presence.
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Conrad's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to process what he was seeing. Ali was alive. The realization hit him like a tidal wave, flooding him with a complex mix of relief, guilt, and confusion.
Ali's eyes met his, and she smiled—a smile that spoke of forgiveness, understanding, and a future untethered from the past. It was a smile that told him she had moved beyond the pain and the fear, embracing her destiny alongside Serban.
Before Conrad could react, Ali and Serban began to move, disappearing into the crowd. He wanted to call out, to run after them, but his feet felt rooted to the ground. The marketplace swallowed them up, leaving him standing alone, grappling with his emotions.
As the crowd flowed around him, Conrad felt a strange sense of closure. Ali's survival was a testament to her strength and the unbreakable bond she shared with Serban. It was a reminder that some destinies could not be thwarted, no matter how dark the path seemed.
He took a deep breath, the weight on his shoulders lifting ever so slightly. The journey was far from over, and there were still questions to be answered, but for the first time in a long while, Conrad felt a glimmer of hope.
The roses by the lake, the whispered secrets of the past, and the unbreakable bonds of love and fate—all of it had led to this moment. And as Conrad walked away from the marketplace, he knew that he, too, had a role to play in the unfolding story.
The echoes of the past would continue to resonate, but the future was a blank canvas, waiting to be painted with new memories, new choices, and new beginnings.
*****
ALI, 2 YEARS AGO, THAT NIGHT, DEEP DOWN THE RED ROSES
As Ali plunged into the icy depths of Pulang Rosas lake, her lungs screamed for air that seemed impossibly out of reach. Panic gripped her, her limbs thrashing against the weight of the water, dragging her deeper into the darkness. Just as her strength began to wane, a faint blue glow pierced the murky water around her.
Through the haze of fear, Ali's eyes widened in disbelief as Serban materialized before her, his eyes radiant with a celestial blue light that cut through the gloom. His presence was both terrifying and mesmerizing, a testament to his unearthly power and beauty. He moved effortlessly through the water, closing the distance between them with a grace that defied the turbulent currents.
Ali's heartbeat thundered in her ears as Serban reached out, his hand enveloping her face with a gentleness that belied the depths of his strength. In that moment, fear gave way to an inexplicable calm that washed over her, filling her with a sense of peace she had never known.
Their eyes locked, and time seemed to stand still. Serban's gaze held a thousand unspoken promises, a silent reassurance that she was safe in his presence. Without hesitation, Ali leaned into him, their lips meeting in a kiss that spoke of a connection deeper than the waters that surrounded them.
Underwater, surrounded by the ancient mysteries of Pulang Rosas, Ali felt a profound shift within her. Serban's kiss was more than an embrace—it was a revelation. As their lips melded together, a surge of warmth radiated through her body, banishing the chill of the lake and filling her with an otherworldly sense of belonging.
In that underwater embrace, Ali's senses expanded beyond the physical realm. She realized with awe that she could breathe freely, her lungs filled with the essence of the lake itself. Serban held her close, their bodies intertwined amidst the gentle ebb and flow of the water.
No words were necessary as they floated together, their hearts beating in harmony with the rhythm of Pulang Rosas. Ali knew, with unwavering certainty, that she had found her place in Serban's arms—a place where love transcended mortal limitations and bound them together in a timeless embrace.
As they lingered beneath the surface, bathed in the soft glow of Serban's eyes, Ali's soul soared. In that sacred moment, amidst the depths of Pulang Rosas lake, their love blossomed like the crimson roses that adorned its waters—a love that would endure through eternity, defying all obstacles and weaving their destinies into the fabric of the universe.
*****