My body grew numb, and my feet felt as heavy as a metal. I could not move even a single step, and I felt my heart plummeting to the ground just like the man. I am angry and frustrated with myself. I guess even at these times, I am just a useless bystander. It should not have been me who found him in his last moments. If it were someone else, they could have done something to help him.

It was too late, and I knew that I was only making excuses, but then, I heard a loud splash of water! My heart soars with hope, and my eyes automatically fly open. I immediately seek his dark silhouette, praying first and foremost for his safety. 

Thankfully, the divinity heard my prayer because there he is. My chest deflated in relief when I saw him wading through the water and heading in my direction. I almost lost my balance and collapsed in a heap of a mess if not for my anger. I angrily wipe the tears that spill out before glaring at the culprit, who is the cause of my almost heart attack. I stooped down, prepping myself to give him a long sermon when his hand suddenly reached out to me and violently pulled me towards the water.

Everything happened too fast, and I was not able to dodge. An ear-splitting shriek filled the empty roof deck, but my scream instantly drowned out as I was further pushed beneath the waters, and it was a struggle to break free. Water rapidly filled my lungs as I fought for air, and my chest was constricted in unbearable pain. I grabbed his hand, trying with all my strength to push it away, but I was no match to his strength. 

For some reason, despite the stinging ache in my eyes, my vision is painfully clearer than usual as I stare at the man hovering just above the water, which I can now barely recognize while his steel hand continues to strangle me to death. I guess it is true then – that you will see scenes from your life flashes before you in the moment of life and death. Unfortunately, this man is included in one of those episodes of my life that I vowed to keep buried even unto my death.

It was Ariel. 

My nightmarish stalker, whom I thought had been locked up in a mental institution for good.

He still has the same look in his eyes years back. The same possessive look he gives me as if he is about to devour me whole. His dark eyes look detached from reality like he is hovering between, while consistently looking like a cold-blooded monster.

Now that I realize, his name suits him well. He is like the water demon who lures people to the ocean, where they meet their demise. Well, in my case, I am probably going to die here in the swimming pool. I wanted to laugh, but my throat was burning with vicious pain as my oxygen was continuously cut off.

I mentally scoff. This is why I don't like men—they think they're some kind of God or something that I need to follow their every whim. In which I didn't; that's how I ended up being the target of his wrath.

And I can't believe I'm acting calmly in a situation like this. I' am about to die, for Pete's sake!

Suddenly, he pulled me out of the water while still holding my neck in a vice-grip. I tried to cough out the water out my system, but I barely had the time to get a grip as he continued to crush my throat.

"Do you remember me?" the asshole suddenly asked. I am too weak to reply, so I decided just to nod my head. I am aching all over, and my energy is slowly being pulled out of my body like quicksand. Lifting my hand to try to push him away even becomes too much for my little remaining strength.

Ariel grinned viciously while his dark eyes hovered in every corner of my face until they landed straight in my eyes. His dark eyes look like the bottomless pit of hell devoid of any sense of emotion and reason, and I couldn't help but shiver in fear.

"This is nice, you being passive and obedient like this. If you had accepted my love, in the beginning, we wouldn't have to end up like this."

If only I could laugh at his face. He is still out of his mind. This is why I didn't even consider accepting him. I might have the worst luck in life, but I cannot afford to take all the negativity and toxicity in this world. I just did not realize he would end up like this because of a mere rejection from me. 

"You…ge-t a gr—ip. Sto-p doi-ng thi-s!" I forced out those words in between labored breath and pain. 

Suddenly, his eyes widen like a cute and innocent puppy. His hand loosens its hold on my neck, but he crosses the small distance in between us until I can feel his hot breath fanning on my face.

"Then, are you going to accept me?"

I tried to hit him with my forehead, but it was too weak to be even called a decent bump. Nothing has really gone my way these past few weeks. It started with my sister's wedding, her excessive concern with my emotional state, and now. I let out a shaky but sarcastic laugh. This is getting frustrating! 

"Ge-t lo-s-t!" I lashed in a weak voice but gritted teeth.

Those words were all it took for him to lose his cool and utterly changed his demeanor in a quick snap. Now, he looks like an utterly deranged puppy while leering at me. His eyes flashed with unbearable wrath.

"Don't act like you're any different! We are the same! You are nothing but an empty vessel. A cold and heartless woman like you can never be with anyone!

I know that's why I don't plan on getting married and having a family, is what I wanted to say, but I can't find my voice. Instead, I smirk on his face making sure that my message has come across.

"If I can't have you, then no one can!" 

The next thing I knew, I heard a sound of a loud crack. I'm not sure if it's the sound of my head hitting the tiled floor or my throat being completely crushed; maybe it's both. Still, the only thing I remember is being pushed into the water once more as I was drowning in my own pool of blood.

If I knew if I would die like this, I should have been nicer to my sister. 

If I knew that would be the last time I would see her, I should have hugged her tight and told her how much I cherish her.

I didn't know that death could be this lonely.

And I can't believe I'm going to die with regrets. 

But I truly hoped that after all this, Ariel would make peace with himself.

And I hope that in my next life, I won't have to deal with someone like him ever again.