Jenny stood in front of a full body mirror, wearing an intricately designed wedding dress. She was never one to love material things—but the white dress with its sheer long sleeve and mermaid tail bottom is something she will definitely keep for all eternity.

There was only one thing she wishes that was different, and that is how she got the dress.

Jenny took a deep breath as the woman who was sitting down below her, sliding one white shoe after another asked her—"would you want something that had less height or is a few inches more better for you?"

Jenny can only answer her with a bitter smile. Carl said he will never marry her, but why is she standing here now?

Jenny closed her eyes and replayed the events of yesterday.

After her argument with Carl about his vicious secretary, she took a shower and decided to visit one of her favorite place in the island. The island of Caracia has four beaches. One is in the North, the other in the south, and two more are in the west and east. But what the tourists don't know about, is the hidden lagoon within the island, a place that locals managed to preserve and keep for themselves. The Salvador family owns Caracia Island, it has been in their family for generations. It was in the early 1980's that the island was developed and was introduced to the tourist. In time, the island became famous and turned into a hot tourist destination.

But the Salvador family, along with the local residents of the island kept some of its beauty to themselves—and that is the lagoon of cherry. Jenny don't know how it got its name, but it is a paradise within a paradise.

The lagoon of cherry is inside the dense forest in the south of the island. The tourist never got to wander there because a (Private Property) board is plastered all around the area. The locals are allowed to enter it though.

Jenny decided to rent a bike, which is a common transportation in the island. The Salvador family made sure not to allow a lot of vehicles in their island, besides, riding a bicycle will give a person a better and clearer view of their surroundings. The old master Richard always said—(only by slow motion, will one see the true beauty of their surroundings.)

Jenny had a hard time while using the bicycle, because it has been years since she last rode one. She maneuvered the pedal slowly, glancing from one side to another, keeping certain that she is safe as she travelled. When she was nearing the forest though, the wheels of her bicycle accidentally hit a stone on the rode, causing her to lose balance—thus resulting to her, stumbling unto  the ground.

Jenny groaned and winced when she felt a stinging sensation on her left knee. Before leaving the hotel, she chose to wear a short and a tank top in order to pedal better, but she now regrets the idea.

Shaking her head, Jenny got up and pulled out the handkerchief she had inside her pocket. She bent down and wiped some of the blood that are now oozing out of her scrapped knee.

She must have been too absorbed with what she was doing, that she failed to notice the person who slowly walked up to her.

"That looks nasty," a man suddenly said.

Jenny was startled by his sudden appearance and she lost her balance once more. She almost fell back on the ground, but the man before her managed to grab her hand to steady her.

"Thank you," Jenny managed say.

The man in front her is probably a tourist. He doesn't have the local accent of the people in Caracia, and when she saw the video-camera hanging around his neck, she no longer have to question—he is a tourist.

"Your far off the tourist spot, are you lost? " Jenny asked the man before going back into wiping the blood off of her knee.

"Nah, I was headed for the forest, I hear there is a lagoon inside," the man said, smiling at her, like the happy tourist that he should be.

When Jenny finished wiping her knee she straightened her stance and said, "Well, no tourist are allowed indie the forest, the sign said so," Jenny answered while pointing her fi her to one of the sign board hanging on a tree.

"Yah, I figured that much," the man answered. He stared at Jenny for a few second longer before giving out his hand. "My name is Edmund, are you a local here?" he asked.

Jenny mused for a minute, the man didn't seem to. Pose any threat, so she took his outstretched hand and shook it, while saying, "I'm Jenny, and yes, I'm a local."

The man smiled, there was a glint in his eyes that made him look boyish, even the way his lips curved  reminded Jenny of the features of a teenage boy.

"Well, since you're a local, maybe you can give an exemption?" Edmund asked.

Jenny frowned and asked what he meant.

He chuckled and answered, "Maybe you can accompany me inside the forest, since you're a local, guiding me inside will probably save me from trouble."

Jenny leaned her head to side and shook her head. "I don't think that's a good idea," she answered back.

Edmund gave her a puppy eyes look then whispered, "Please?"

Jenny can only laugh. The man in front of her looks so bright, she can't sense any malice or darkness I side of him. Well, that's probably the case with all tourist, they are full of happiness, because that's exactly what they came to Caracia for, right? To fell happy.

She must have been silent for a long time, because Edmund began calling out to her, asking if she was alright.

Gaining her bearing, Jenny bobbed her head—answered she is okay, and agreed to guide him inside the forest.

As she walked the familiar dirt road leading to the lagoon, Jenny's mind began back tracking to her younger years—her first days in the island of Caracia, and the day she met a boy named Carl.

(13 years ago)

Jenny stomped her foot as her mother began carrying her luggage I side the hotel. Jenny had been crying when her mother took her away from the city. Her friends said she will become a starfish if she starts living in an island. As a child, Jenny believed them and feared what she will become. She begged her mother not to take her to Caracia and told her about what her friends said she will become. Her mother only laughed at her and proceeded to take her to Caracia.

"Jenny, this is a very safe place, you can walk around the island but come back before it gets dark," her mother said to her as she continued to stomp her way out of the hotel.

Before she could reach far though, she saw a young boy—probably her age, riding a bicycle.

He stopped in front of her and asked if she was his nanny's daughter.

Jenny asked who his nanny was, and when he answered, "Mommy Anita," the words didn't sit right with her.

She pushed the boy and screamed, "She's my mommy, not yours!"

Before jenny could say anything more, her mother appeared from behind her and grabbed her little arm. "Jenny, what are you doing to the young master?" she asked worriedly. Jenny watched as her mother release her hold from her arm and ran towards the young boy who is now crying silent tears.

"Young master, I'm sorry. Jenny didn't mean it." she heard her mother beg.

Jenny puffed her cheek, pointed a finger at the boy who is sitting on the ground with his bicycle, and screamed, "Is he the reason why you didn't want to stay in the city and had to drag me in this island?"

Her mother only glared at her and didn't give a reply, that hurt her, so she ran away from her mom and the young boy.

Jenny, are you okay?

Her thoughts was brought back to present when she heard Edmund's voice.

She gave him a half hearted laugh, then answered, "I'm okay."