Chapter 12: AT FIRST SIGHT

Antonio

I'd seen Celine for the first time in April, last year.

Our first encounter was a fleeting one, but I could describe every little detail of that moment with my eyes closed. What she was wearing. What she was holding. The sound of her soft laughter. The bracelet dangling on her wrist.

It was just a regular day in my clockwise life, the sun shining brightly on a Monday morning. I was seated at the backseat of my car on my way to the office, stuck in the middle of the chaotic traffic that accompanied a rush-hour.

I rolled down my window to let in some fresh air, gazing absentmindedly ahead. That's when I saw her, standing beside a lampost on the sidewalk, in that cute, little yellow sundress. She was holding a paperbag, her long, reddish brown hair fluttering with the wind. She tucked it behind her ear, her lips moving as she spoke to the young lady beside her with a big bright smile.

Time seemed to stop in that moment, the sounds of vehicles and scooters blaring loudly in the background fading to a blur, until all I could see was her.

My eyes lit up like fireworks as I got lost in her beauty, all the words Matteo was saying to me from the driver's seat flying right over my head. My gaze intensified, slowly tracing her features one at a time. Her delicate face, rosy cheeks, alluring blue eyes, long eyelashes. And God, those cherry lips. I could get lost in them all day.

She had the prettiest smile I'd ever seen, one that could light up a whole city. And the way that dress clung to her body made me gulp hard, every nerve in my body coming alive. I swear I felt my heart skip a beat, and for the first time in forever, a genuine smile crept up to my lips.

I'd been spellbound. Completely hypnotized by a stranger.

The persistent call of my name snapped me briefly out of my daze as I turned to Matteo who’d been trying to get my attention, and when I looked back out the window, she was gone.

I didn't know who she was. Didn't know her name. I wasn't even sure if I'd see her again, but I was certain I wanted to.

Days went by with her occupying my thoughts. Then one random Saturday night, I saw her again amongst the servers at a company anniversary I’d been invited to. And yet again, she had the same effect on me as she did the first time I'd set eyes on her.

From that day on, I kept running into her at the most unexpected places. Even when she wasn't there, I'd see her in every red-head that walked by. Before I knew it, I was making up excuses to go see her. Every night after work I'd drive all the way to the bar, restaurant and café where she worked part-time, and I’d park outside for hours, just watching her from my car’s window.

I couldn't get her off my mind. I found myself thinking about her day after day. I had never ever felt such an instant attraction to someone at first sight. Was never interested in women despite the bold advances from a handful of them over the years. I'd slept with a few just for the pleasure of it, but she was…different. Simple. Graceful. There was something about her that tickled my fancy. It was like a force, a magnetic pull I couldn't help being drawn to. That's the only way I could describe it.

I tried so hard to fight how she made me feel. I've always had control over my will, but somehow, she’d managed to shake up my perfect life. She was a distraction I knew I didn't want.

So I stayed away. I stayed far away from her.

Christmas passed, and the new year came, without me getting a glimpse of her.

And then, three months later, I was passing along the curvy road on the cliffside, the sea below crashing against the rocks. Matteo and I were on our way back from an inspection in one of our warehouses in the area, him behind the wheel and I in the passenger seat. It was drizzling, the thunder rumbling loudly indicating that a storm was coming. And then something happened.

“Looks like a storm’s coming,” Matteo said as he drove carefully through the wet asphalt. It was dark out here and the roads were usually lonely at this late hour.

As we approached a sharp turn, the headlights flashed on a man standing close to the edge, struggling to push something over the railing. He looked down quickly as he noticed the lights, adjusting his face cap to shield his face. He had a black hoodie over his head, his face covered by a face mask.

“What’s he doing?” Matteo said, the car slowing down. “Is that…?” He turned to me, his eyes telling me he'd seen what I'd also seen.

“Just keep going,” I said, unbothered that that man was bending a person over the railing while she struggled weakly.

As our car drove past him, my gaze rested on his back, his head bowed, waiting for us to leave before he continued his act. And in a flash, I caught a glimpse of long, reddish brown hair. I thought of Celine, but I brushed it off. And then, the woman’s hand slid up slowly, reaching for his mask. That's when I saw the charm dangling from the bracelet on her wrist.

“Celine?” I mumbled, my eyes widening slightly. It was a unique bracelet with a customised charm. I'd seen it enough times not to recognize it.

“What?” Matteo blurted.

“Stop the car, Matteo!” I yelled, and his foot quickly slammed on the break, the tires screeching loudly as the car came to a forced stop.

I pushed the door open and dashed out, Matteo sprinting behind me. Before we could get close the man had thrown her over the edge, fleeing into the darkness.

Matteo ran straight ahead after him while I climbed onto the railing and jumped off, diving into the sea. I swam underneath the cold water, struggling against the strong current as I watched her sinking slowly. My strokes hastened and I caught up to her, pulling her close to me.

I held her waist and swam up to the surface, groaning and panting heavily as I pushed through the relentless tides. The light rain has become a downpour, making it harder to swim quickly to the shore.

Breathless, I lifted her into my arms and laid her down on the wet sand, falling to my knees beside her. She was numb and heavy, her body, pale and cold.

I quickly yanked off my suit and tossed it on the ground, tilting her head back. I pinched her nose together and pressed my lips against hers, breathing air into her mouth. I repeated it a few more times, checking behind her ear for a pulse. I could barely feel any.

I quickly clamped my fingers together and placed it over her chest, pushing in as I did steady compressions. I repeated the process over and over, but she remained still. Unresponsive.

“Come on, Celine,” I said breathlessly.

Her body jerked up as she coughed out, water flying out of her mouth. I exhaled in relief as her eyelids fluttered, struggling to stay open. She was barely conscious.

I wrapped her hand over my shoulder and scooped her into my arms, heading towards the small path that led up to the road.

This was the moment that sealed it all.

I don't know if it was the kiss or the fear I’d felt seeing her in that state. I just knew right there and then that I couldn't let her slip away. I had to have her. So I did the only thing I could think of to make her mine. Approach her deadbeat brother.