Chapter 17

Alegria was at the hotel pool, cooling her head off. Night swimming. She was wearing a plain black bikini, and it shows all her curves and cool tattoos.

'Alegria, I still love her.' These words, they kept repeating inside her mind. She shook her head. 'Stop thinking about it, Alegria. Focus on your plan. Focus.' She said as she swam in the pool.

There were quite few people who were swimming in the pool, but she didn't notice Bruno watching her, sitting on the loungers, surrounded by his bodyguards.

Bruno can't take his eyes off her. She was hot as hell. The tattoos.. Her body.. He remembered the time they did it at his place. It was one of the best moments that he had with her. He smiled while thinking about it, still looking at Alegria while she's swimming.

Alegria then noticed Bruno and smiled, then she swam towards Bruno and got out of the pool and sat beside him.

"What brings you here, Mr. Bruno Mars?" Alegria smiled as she took her towel and wiped herself.

"Nothing, I just.. Came to see you." Bruno smiled as she looked at Alegria. She was... wet. 'Damn.. Control yourself Bruno.' He thought.

"That's good. Does that mean I get to see you everyday?" Alegria said as she slowly wiped her arms, trying to seduce bruno.

"Well, I guess so. We're staying at the same hotel, so it's not impossible." Bruno said sexily, smiling. He wanted to sound cool and attractive in front of Alegria. "So, whattya doin' swimming here, alone?" Bruno asked.

"Well.. Alexander and the others are already in their rooms and they wanna rest, so yeah. I came here alone." Alegria said while wearing her white tunic sweater.

"So.. Wanna take a walk at the beach?" Bruno said, biting his lip.

"Hmm.. That sounds nice. Okay. Let's go." Alegria said as she stood up and held Bruno's hand.

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"Doesn't it make you feel awkward to have these bodyguards follow you around?" Alegria said as she walked with Bruno. The feeling of having bodyguards was really uncool. 'It's like having a bunch of stalkers.' She thought.

"Well, it does feel kinda awkward, 'cause I can't do everything that I like. But at least I can walk here with you without fans bugging me." Bruno smiled at Alegria.

"Well, I guess that's a good thing." Alegria said as she smiled back. "But aren't you worried that walking alone with a woman might make your fans go wild? Someone could actually take a picture of us right now." Alegria said.

"First of all, what's wrong with walking alone in the beach with a beautiful woman? And second of all, I don't care if someone sees us. All I care about is being with you." Bruno smiled.

Alegria chuckled. "Mr. Mars, are you flirting with me?"

"Hmm.. No. I'm just telling you the truth." Bruno said as he gave Alegria a smile.

Alegria just smiled and looked at the moon. "The moon really just shines so bright everytime I look at it."

The moonlight sparkled in Alegria's eyes. Bruno was mesmerized. He has never seen Alegria this beautiful. Ever.

"Let's sit here." Alegria said as she sat down on the sand. Bruno sat beside her, being as close as he can. He just kept on looking at Alegria.

"After a week here, what are you gonna do? Go touring again?" Alegria asked, not noticing that Bruno was staring at her.

"Well, producing songs is our next project." Bruno answered.

"Hmm.. Okay..." Alegria stared at the moon. She felt nervous, but she didn't know why. Then she looked at Bruno. She felt even more nervous and bit her lip.

"So... Alegria... About Alexander... Is he your boyfriend?" Bruno asked.

"He's not my boyfriend, really. He's still courting me. Actually, I'm still not sure if I'm gonna say yes to him and make him my boyfriend. It's just that... He's a bit shy. And I don't really like it.." Alegria said. It's true that Alexander is courting her, but the real reason why she didn't wanna make Alexander her boyfriend is because she still wasn't ready. She was still inlove with this man sitting right next to her.

"Ohh.. I see.. So, what kind of men do you like?" Bruno asked.

"Hmm.. Men who can make me happy, who can make me laugh my ass out. Those who are responsible. I don't care if he's not good-looking, just as long as he loves me and I love him, then everything is perfect." Alegria said as she looked at the moon then at Bruno. "How about you? What kind of women do you like?"

"Hmm.. Well.. I like women who wear black bikini.. Short-haired.. Wears a white tunic sweater." Bruno answered. Alegria chuckled, but she still listened. "But I like women whose eyes shine so bright under the moonlight." Bruno said as he looked at Alegria's eyes.

"You know how to flatter women, Bruno." Alegria smiled as she looked at Bruno.

Bruno slowly moved closer to Alegria, looking at her luscious lips. He moved closer... Closer.. Stop. Alegria looked away. She felt really nervous when Bruno's lips were already few centimeters close to hers.

"I think.. we should go back now." Alegria smiled at Bruno.

"Well, I guess so.." Bruno said as he stood up. He held out his hand to help Alegria get up. Alegria accepted it and Bruno pulled Alegria. But Alegria tripped-up and Bruno got her. They were so close to each other, they can already feel each other's heartbeats.

Alegria looked at Bruno, and her heart thumped faster. She felt her face turned red, then looked away and moved one meter away from him. "Thanks... Uhm, I gotta go." Alegria said as she walked away from Bruno.

"Alegria.. Wait.." Bruno held Alegria's hand.

"Yeah?" Alegria turned around.

"Uhm.. Tomorrow.. Can we.. Uhm.. Hang out, eat lunch or dinner tomorrow?" Bruno asked.

"Hmm.. Maybe. Let's see." Alegria smiled and continued walking. Bruno stared at her while she left.

Alegria didn't know why, but she turned around, walked towards Bruno and kissed his cheeks. She smiled as she walked away.

Bruno recalled the same incident in the hotel, the first day that they met. He smiled at the memory. 'She really is Alegria.'

Alegria realized she was losing her focus. 'Heck.. What did I just do?! Urgh. Concentrate Alegria.' But she loved the feeling.. She didn't know exactly what she felt, but she loved it. She held her chest. 'You're just gonna hurt yourself Alegria. Focus on the plan. Focus.'

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Second day. The sun has just risen. Alegria was walking alone at the beach. She still wasn't okay with Calyx and the others. They still didn't understand why Alegria was doing this. 'Maybe I should stop this already..' She thought.

Bruno saw Alegria and walked towards her. "You up so early?" Bruno asked, smiling. His bodyguards were still following him.

Alegria smiled at Bruno. "You, why're you up so early?"

"I was excited to see you." Bruno smiled.

"Oh really?" Alegria asked as she raised an eyebrow.

"You're always alone whenever I see you. Where's Alexander?" Bruno asked.

"They're.. They're at the hotel. You, why's Eric not with you?"

"He's at the hotel with the family, eating breakfast. By the way, did you eat your breakfast already?"

"No.. I'm not hungry anyway."

"Come on, let's go to the restaurant." Bruno said as he grabbed Alegria's hand.

Alegria shook it off. "No, really, I'm not hungry.."

Bruno was disappointed. And he thought Alegria liked him already. "Wanna go to the international market instead? There are lots of good things you can buy there."

"Hmm.. Sounds good.. Wait, I'll go get my bag in the hotel." Alegria said.

"No, no. I'll pay for everything you wanna buy." Bruno said, smiling.

"Okay then. Just don't blame me if you come back penniless." Alegria said as she grinned.

Bruno chuckled. "I don't think you're a big spender."

"You'll find it out later." Alegria said as she grabbed Bruno's hand. "Let's go."

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"You haven't bought a single thing." Bruno said, looking at Alegria as she was looking at a hawaiian bracelet with floral designs.

"I don't wanna buy anything." Alegria said as she looked at Bruno. "I don't wanna buy things I can't use everyday."

Bruno smiled. 'She's still practical.' Bruno took the bracelet. "I'll buy this please." Bruno took his wallet and paid the saleslady.

"Bruno, I.. I really don't wanna buy anything." Alegria sighed.

"Alegria, you can use this bracelet everyday." Bruno smiled as he put the bracelet on Alegria.

Alegria looked at the bracelet and smiled. "I'll use it everyday." She looked at Bruno. "Thanks." She wasn't sure if she'll be happy or sad about it. She wasn't already sure if she wanted to continue her plan.

"Don't mention it." Bruno smiled at Alegria. He suddenly saw an ice cream stand. "Wanna buy some ice cream?" Bruno and Alegria walked towards the ice cream stand.

"What flavor, Ma'am? Sir?" The ice cream vendor asked.

"Vanilla, please." Bruno said. The ice cream vendor gave them two vanilla ice creams and Bruno paid him.

Bruno handed Alegria the ice cream. "Here." He smiled.

"Thanks." Alegria smiled and walked towards some other stalls.

Suddenly, Bruno saw a hawaiian floral mask that covers up only half of the face. He smiled and bought two. Alegria was busy looking at the dresses, so she didn't notice.

Bruno walked towards Alegria. "The bodyguards are kind of irritating, right?" Bruno smiled.

"Well.. Yeah. Sort of. Why'd ya ask?" Alegria tilted her head, curious.

"Let's runaway." Bruno grinned.

Alegria's eyes widened. "Are you serious? I mean, they might get worried and call your family and tell them that you're abducted or something."

Bruno chuckled. "They won't. I'll call Eric when we get away from these bodyguards."

"You sure?"

"Yeah. Let's go?" Bruno grabbed Alegria's hand.

"Wait, wait.. It's not like people wouldn't recognize you after we run away." Alegria said, worried.

"That's why I bought these masks." Bruno showed the mask to Alegria. "We'll go into those side stalls then we'll wear these masks then we're gonna run away." Bruno said.

"Bruno, it's not a great plan. You know, let's go back." Alegria said as she walked away.

Bruno held Alegria's wrist and dragged her. "Walk faster. They're busy watching the fans looking at us."

"Wait, Bruno--"

"Run!" Bruno cut Alegria before she could finish talking and dragged her inside a stall selling ukeleles and men & women's attire. Bruno looked at the salesman. The salesman looked at Bruno, surprised. He recognized the singer.

"Shhh.." Bruno said. The salesman nodded in agreement and smiled. Bruno and Alegria went inside the dressing room.

All of the bodyguards went to the stall and one of them asked the salesman. "Have you seen a man wearing a hawaiian shirt and a hat?"

"You mean, Bruno Mars?" The salesman asked.

'Oh shit..' Bruno said as he scratched his head.

"Yes. Have you seen him?"

"Was he with a short-haired woman?"

"Yes, yes. Urgh.. Where is he?" The bodyguard asked, irritated.

"They went that way." The salesman pointed to a direction far from his stall.

"Thanks." All of the bodyguards vanished.

The salesman opened the dressing room and smiled. "They're gone."

"Whew.. That was close.." Alegria said as she went out and picked a Hawaiian shirt and dress.

"Thanks. I thought you would tell those bodyguards that we're here." Bruno smiled.

"Of course I won't. I always welcome customers." The salesman said.

"We'll take these." Alegria said as she showed the Hawaiian shirt and dress to the salesman. "Bruno, wear this. The bodyguards won't recognize us if we wore something else." Alegria said as she handed Bruno the shirt. "And oh, you're gonna have to pay for them.

"That's fine with me. Here, take one mask." Bruno said as he handed Alegria the mask. He went inside the dressing room to change.

They went out of the dressing room and paid the salesman.

Bruno saw a cool ukelele. "Nice.. I'll take this." Bruno said as he took the ukelele and handed the money to the salesman. "Keep the change." He smiled.

"Thank you, Sir." The salesman smiled.

"Come on, let's go." Bruno grabbed Alegria's hand and went out of the stall. The people were staring at them, curious why they were wearing masks.

"Bruno.. I think the people have already recognized you." Alegria said, whispering.

"They won't recognize us." Bruno smiled as he walked faster, dragging Alegria.

"Are you nuts? This mask only covers up half of our faces. Of course they'll recognize you." Alegria said. Bruno just smiled at Alegria. "Where will we go after this?"

"What do you mean?" Bruno asked, confused.

Alegria sighed. "You decided to run away without a place to stay in. Great."

"We'll go to our old house. It's just near here, it wouldn't be long till we get there." Bruno said as he walked faster, holding Alegria's hand.

Alegria smiled as she looked at Bruno. She suddenly remembered what Bruno told her before.

'Alegria, I still love her.' She shook her head.

'Focus Alegria. You need to concentrate. Don't fall for him again.'