I bit my lip, mustering up all the courage, and said,” It’s me, Sereia.” 
Silence passed for a few minutes before he asked, confused, “Sereia? Why are you calling me?” 
“I have something important to tell you,” I said. 
“You have guts for calling me after what you did to our family.” He said, sneering at me. 
I raised my eyebrows, “Oh, are you going to bully me, Uncle Arthur?” I asked. “Don’t you remember that I am your niece now? I’m going to tell mom and make sure grandpa will hunt you down in your dreams.” 
I heard him panicking, “Stop! Okay, what do you want?” 
“Where is Phoenix?” I asked, straight to the point. 
He paused, “Oh, he didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“He’s already in the US. You called too late. He was waiting for you but you didn’t come for him.”
Oh…I muttered a curse under my breath. Well damn. Now what?
Hanging up on him, I called another person. 
He didn’t answer in the first ring as it took him a few minutes to answer. 
“Hello, Sereia.” He said as soon as he picked up.
“Theon, can we talk?” I asked, a bit nervous. 
“Looks like you finally made a decision.” He commented. 
Pausing for a bit, I mustered up the courage. “I choose Phoenix.”
He halted at that and his tone turned sad,  “Oh, but isn’t he in the US?”
“How did you know?” I asked. Surely, Phoenix wouldn’t have updated him right?
“Connections.” He simply answered and cleared his throat, “Why him when I’m the one here who stayed for you?”
I just stayed silent, not able to answer it. 
“Don’t tell me you’re going to go chase after him?” He asked. 
I shook my head. “No, I’ll wait for him to come back.” 
He sighed in defeat. “Well, damn. I guess it was really him from the start huh? Sereia, it was fun while it lasted.” 
“I know you’ll find someone. Someone who’ll love you.” I said, attempting to lighten up his mood but he was silent. He then ended the call. 
I feel a bit bad, but I don’t regret my decision in choosing Phoenix. 
My decision is final. I’ll wait for him to come back. And when he does, if he still loves me, then I’ll accept him wholeheartedly. 
***
PHOENIX’S POV
I watched as people sipped on their wine glasses. Businessman and some ladies were all around the event, busy mingling and giving their business cards  with their other potential investors
Thankfully for me, I just have to sit back as my father, Arthur Hill, the head of the multi-billionaire company, delivers his speech at the auction. 
I didn’t have to work hard. Being born rich is easy. Well, people think it’s that way. That rich people have it all. 
But no, carrying a burden your whole life, knowing that your whole life is already planned out is a pain in the ass. 
Having to stay up late just to memorize all the company’s assets, getting dragged into business trips from all over the world here and there, pleasing the investors with a fake smile and suit, plus the media stalking your whole life…
Living this kind of life is a drag. 
If only I could choose my life, I wouldn’t even hesitate to reject this kind just to live a happy life. 
I want freedom. I want something spontaneous. I don't want it to be all planned out. 
Just then, my father finished his speech and he came down as people complimented him. 
Adam Hudson, my father’s business friend, approached me. 
“Hello there, Mr. Hill.” He started. 
I nodded in acknowledgment, “Good day, Mr. Hudson.”
“You look lonely alone here.” He said as he ushered his son at my age, to come to us. 
“I want you to meet my son, Eion.” He then turned to his son, “Eion, this is my friend's son, Phoenix. I hope the two of you will be great friends.” 
His son looked at me up and down with an expressionless face before scoffing and walking away from us.
I raised my eyebrows. Wow, that’s rude of him. 
“Forgive me, he’s like that.” Adam Hudson said before going after his son. 
I just stood up and grabbed a drink from the waiter. 
I saw my father approaching me with a grim look on his face, a sign that he was not happy with the way he acted. 
I snorted, here we go again. 
He gave me a look. “You should go after him, son. He’s a potential investor.” 
I sighed, not wanting to argue now. “Fine.” 
Going in the direction where Eion headed, I spotted him hanging out alone outside. 
I grabbed a cigarette from my pockets, “Do you smoke?”
He turned to me and clicked his tongue in irritation. “Oh, I don’t.”
I chuckled at that, “Same, I'm just bringing it for formalities.”
He nodded. “Okay.” 
That was the start of my friendship with him. After attending a few more events with him, I got close with the Hudsons. 
“Hey man,” he greeted me, sipping on his drink at another event. Well, I got close enough with him for him not to give me a death glare. 
“I’ve been looking for a ring and found your company.”  He spoke up and that took my interest. 
“For what?” I asked. 
“For my girlfriend. I’ve been thinking about it lately.” He said.
Ooh, didn’t know he would be the romantic type. This man has a lot of surprises. “Sure man. I can help you out, I’ll give you the best ring since we’ve been business partners.” 
He nodded at that. “But I don’t know how to propose to her.”
I faced him. “Huh? You’re looking for a ring and you don’t even have an idea how to propose?” I chuckled at the thought. “How about you surprise her at a five-star restaurant.” Isn’t that what girls want nowadays? A rich and handsome man who can surprise them? 
He sighed. “I did that already from our past anniversaries.” 
“Oh, that sucks.” I commented and rolled my eyes at him, “Why are you even asking for advice from me? I'm not that experienced.
“Oh, I thought you would know girls. You’re the famous bachelor in town after all.” He commented and I lightly punched his arm, 
“Shut up.” 
Then for a few minutes, a thought came to me, “How about a cruise ship? I’ll let you borrow our ship.” 
He faced me, now thinking about it. “Hmm, I’ll consider that.” He said. “Oh, I’m planning to have a trip to my villa next month with the others. Want to come?”
I shrugged, “Not sure dude.” 
“Yeah, but I’ll be expecting you. Let’s just think it’s a business trip.” He said, now standing up and leaving but stopped to say this one last time,  “Bring your girlfriend with you or you’ll be third-wheeling with the rest of us.” 
And I came with Sereia. 
After that trip at the Hudson’s Villa, my relationship with Sereia had evolved. 
She’s really different from all the other girls I dated. Even though she did not consider me as her boyfriend, the look on her face as she rejected me at Eion’s wedding hurt me the most.
A paint I never once in my life experienced.
She chose her boss over me. It’s painful but I have to accept this.
That is why I didn’t hesitate on going to the US to study photography. 
She’s the one who motivated me to reach my dreams…only to be left alone in the end. 
She’s just one of my greatest dreams now.
A dream I couldn’t reach.
I partied hard when I went to the US. I returned to my bachelor life without a care in the world. 
Girls here and there. Drinks and clubs.
It’s like I’ve been to all the clubs all over the US. 
I admit I did it to move on from here..
But in the end, I’m still thinking of her. 
it's still her.
“Are you okay?” Asked the blonde-haired girl I managed to get from the club last night, pulling me from my thoughts as she seduced me with her bare chest.
I feel not in the mood anymore. I still can't stop thinking about Sereia. Every time I bring girls to hotels, she’s the only one in my mind.
No one could replace her in my mind. Psh. How cruel the world is.
Putting on my pants, I threw her dress. I didn’t even know her name. 
 “Get out,” I yelled at her. 
She winced at the sudden sound, wondering if I was serious. “Why?”
“Just get out,” I repeated. “Don’t make me repeat myself for the third time.” 
She looked at me in disbelief, “Really? What a jerk. You douche!” She harshly grabbed her clothes from the floor, put them on, and yelled as she got herself out, pushed the door close after her.  “You’ll get karma someday!” 
Silence fell and I stared at the messed up sheets in the bed. 
That made me think. 
Not able to get Sereia to say yes to me, maybe it is indeed my karma for throwing away girls like objects. 
I guess this is the price I have to pay.