3. Hugs, Tears, and a Splash

"It's night already, Marissa hasn't returned home, even Ignacio's come back," Rosario murmured to herself, nervously fiddling with her fingers, pacing back and forth in the entrance.

As Juan came downstairs, he saw that she was upset and went over to talk to her. "Mother, I hope all is well?"

"I am worried about Marissa, Juan. Since the incident, she hasn't returned home, and I can't reach her on her phone."

"Mother, I will ask the workers to help me go look for her. I'm sure she will be fine," Juan assured her, offering a tight-lipped smile as he wrapped an arm around her. "Let's go back in. I'll go out and look for her."

Rosario managed a sad smile. "I hope my princess is alright."

Miguel descended the stairs, noticing Rosario's pale face. "What's wrong?"

Rosario hugged him, tears streaming down her cheeks and onto his shirt. "Marissa hasn't returned home yet."

Miguel glanced at Juan. "I'm going out to look for her with some of the workers," Juan offered before heading upstairs.

"Don't worry, Rosa darling, wherever she is, she will be fine," Miguel reassured Rosario.

* * *

The ranch spread out in quiet peace beneath the big, dark sky. The countryside was quiet, with just trees and rocks to break up the grassy knolls where horses were contentedly grazing. Juan was in charge of a team of five labourers who were surveying the flatlands while wearing walkie-talkies fastened to their belts.

"Search everywhere. If you see Marissa, alert me as soon as possible," Juan ordered.

"All right, Boss," a worker wearing black trousers and a blue shirt said.

"Thank you," Juan replied earnestly, hoping to find Marissa soon.

They walked away in groups of two and three, giving instructions to each other as they dispersed across the ranch.

Juan turned back, his eyes widening as he spotted Daniella in front of him. "I told you, Daniella, I am going alone. You shouldn't have followed me. I will be fine," he insisted, striding ahead of her.

"No, I'm going with you to find her," she insisted, tottering behind him on the stones.

He turned with a glare, and she cast her head down in response. Then, unexpectedly, he held his hand out with a grin. When she accepted it, he drew her close, brushing a thumb over her cheek.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"You're welcome, sweetheart," he replied, ruffling her hair affectionately.

* * *

"I am so tired; it's been a while since we started looking for Marissa," Daniella sighed, sitting down on a rock.

As Juan's attention wandered, memories of Marissa's voice echoed in his mind. "Big brother, I really love this beach because whenever I'm worried, it's the perfect place to let all my emotions out."

"Juan! Juan!" Daniella's voice broke through his reverie, drawing his absent gaze from the river ahead. "Are you even listening to me?"

Juan swiftly walked to the river's edge, with Daniella trailing behind. As they reached, Daniella noticed a ring with a heart necklace lying on the ground. Juan swiftly retrieved the trinket and held it up before Daniella. "This belongs to Marissa," he confirmed.

A deep sense of dread seized them both. Suddenly, previously overlooked details came into sharp focus: the damp splashes along the riverbank, the faint hint of perfume lingering in the air. Marissa was here-she is here.

"Call for help," Juan instructed, passing the ring and necklace to Daniella before diving into the water.

"Juan! Juan!" Daniella's eyes widened in shock. Shoving the trinket into her jeans pocket, she picked up the walkie-talkie. "Come to the beach near the house! And alert the clinic," she instructed, tears streaming down her face.

Fury surged within her at Juan's impulsiveness and Marissa's possible selfishness. "How could he jump into the water without thinking? She might already be dead. He might be risking his life for nothing. What if she isn't even in the water?" She despised this impulsive behavior, the anxiety he had imposed on her. How dare he? How dare they?

Seated with her head in her hands, Daniella was alerted by coming footsteps. Startled, She jumped up in shock as one of the men asked, "Where is the boss?"

"He... Juan... he's inside the river," Daniella replied, her voice cracking.

"Don't worry; the river is not deep," the man reassured hesitantly.

"The ambulance is on the way," the other said, hands on his waist.

Minutes turned into hour as five men paced back and forth on the shore. Daniella stared, dazed and confused, before the river. She barely heard the sirens or saw the strobing emergency lights.

It felt like an eternity. Too long in the water. Too long to breathe. They were gone, and she had done nothing to help.

Then Juan miraculously resurfaced from the depths. He walked towards them, water raking at his broad chest and powerful arms, and he carried Marissa to shore.

Daniella ran to him, pulling him into a tight hug.

"I am alright," he said with a terse smile. "Marissa needs help."

He walked to the ambulance, laying Marissa on the gurney. EMTs and paramedics attended to Marissa. One man pressed a stethoscope to her chest while a woman checked her pulse and placed oxygen on her face.

"Clear lung sounds. Good air movement," the man said, starting to check pulse ox and blood pressure. "SPO2 is 98% on 6L."

"Sir," the woman placed a hand on Juan's arm. "Please wait outside."

Daniella hugged Juan as he stepped away from the ambulance, sobbing. "I thought something was going to happen to you. I was so scared that..."

"I am still alive, am I not?" Juan coaxed, pecking her hair as he wrapped an arm around her waist.

Resting her head on his chest, she lamented, "You don't know how I feel."

He brushed his lips on hers. "I will never leave you; you have to throw me out of your life."

"Never," she said in a childish tone, hugging him.

* **

Juan laid Marissa down on her bed.

Rosario stared at him through wet eyes, Miguel's drawn face at her side.

"You two don't have to worry. The EMTs say Marissa will be alright by tomorrow. She's very lucky." Juan comforted them, smiling.

"I trust you but I am going to be with her tonight," Rosario asserted, eyes sharp on Juan.

* * *

Daniella was in his room, her head in her hands, when Juan returned. She looked up, tears still trailing beneath her red eyes as his weight pressed against the bed.

"Oh my, you are still crying?" Juan teased.

"You don't know how worried I was; I thought I was going to lose you."

He nodded, listening, mouth half-open, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Really?"

"You really think I am joking." She punched his arm.

He rubbed his arm, a wince escaping his mouth.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

He raised his eyes, seeing her concern, his lips curving upwards.

She grabbed his face, locking their lips together.

* * *

"Good morning, family," Ignacio said, sitting down on the chair next to Carlos.

Juan and Daniella walked and took their seats next to Rosario, opposite Ignacio and Carlos.

"Lara," Rosario called to a maid holding a food tray.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Where are you taking the food to?"

"Miss Marissa told me when the food is served to the family, I should send her food to the ranch," Lara replied humbly.

"Go and take it to her then," Rosario said, beaming.

"If Marissa is already fit enough to eat, I don't see why it can't be with the family," Miguel chided his wife.

Rosario's face slackened. "Why don't we let her be for today at least? She will help out at the ranch with the horses; she loves horses."

"When will my daughter return to her senses?" he stood furiously. "If Marissa can eat in her room apart from the family, I can too."

Miguel strolled away, making his way upstairs.

Juan pounded the table. "I wish she'd come to her senses."