You're the ONE I need

Lorianne’s POV

The Lady Sapphire cruise loomed before her like a promise she wasn’t sure she was ready to keep.

This trip was meant for two.

A gift—from a friend of her fiancé—intended for a couple’s getaway. But life had other plans. Important matters demanded his attention, leaving her to take the journey alone.

At first, she almost refused.

Traveling beyond her comfort zone had never been her thing. The thought of boarding a ship, surrounded by strangers in the middle of an endless ocean, unsettled her. But how could she say no? Everything was already paid for. All she had to do was show up… and try to enjoy it.

And he had reassured her.

“Don’t worry,” he told her softly, pressing a gentle kiss on her lips. “After our wedding, we’ll travel the world together. This is just the beginning. I need to finish everything now so that nothing will interrupt our honeymoon.”

Because of that promise—and the rare chance to experience something new without worrying about the cost—she said yes.

The ocean stretched endlessly before her as she stepped onto the deck.

It was beautiful in a way she had only ever seen in pictures. The horizon blurred where the sky met the sea, and the wind carried the scent of salt and freedom. Around her, people were busy capturing the moment—posing for photos, laughing, vlogging their experiences.

She lingered, quietly taking it all in.

Her eyes searched instinctively for someone familiar—another Filipino, perhaps—but most of the people she noticed were either too occupied with their cameras or speaking in languages she couldn’t quite follow.

Then she saw her.

A woman was seated alone at the far end of the deck.

Something about her made Lorianne pause.

Curious, she walked closer—and the more she looked, the stranger it felt.

They looked… alike.

Same height. Same fair complexion. Even their hair fell similarly.

That’s odd, she thought.

Maybe… a distant relative?

She approached with a polite smile.

“Hi, I’m Lorianne. Napansin ko na nag-iisa ka—okay lang ba kung umupo ako sa tabi mo?”

(I noticed you’re alone—is it okay if I sit beside you?)

She extended her hand.

“Sure. I’m Clarissa,” the woman replied, returning the smile as she shook it. “Ako lang ba, o talagang may similarities tayo?”

(Is it just me, or do we really look alike?)

Lorianne let out a small laugh. “I was thinking the same thing.”

Up close, the resemblance was even more striking—almost enough to pass as twins at a glance. Only the details set them apart. Lorianne’s long, curved lashes framed her almond-shaped hazel eyes, while Clarissa’s were straight. Lorianne carried a more defined nose—something her mother once said came from Spanish blood—while Clarissa’s features were softer, distinctly Filipina. Their lips, too, told them apart: Lorianne’s full, Clarissa’s thinner.

“You’re engaged?” Clarissa asked, her gaze settling on the ring resting on Lorianne’s hand.

“Yes,” Lorianne answered, a smile naturally forming. “We’re getting married soon.”

“Bakit hindi mo kasama ang fiancé mo?”

(Why isn’t he with you?)

“He has a lot to finish before the wedding,” she explained gently. “He wants everything settled so we can have a long honeymoon without worries. Besides…” She glanced at her ring. “We’ll be together for the rest of our lives anyway. So this… is okay.”

Clarissa nodded, though something in her expression dimmed.

“I wish I could wear an engagement ring too,” she said softly.

Lorianne blinked in surprise. “Wala ka bang boyfriend?”

(Don’t you have a boyfriend?)

Clarissa only gave a small, wistful smile.

Without overthinking, Lorianne slipped off her ring and held it out.

“Here. Try it on—just so you know how it feels while you wait for your Prince Charming.”

Clarissa hesitated for a second, then let Lorianne slide the ring onto her finger.

“Ang ganda…” she whispered, lifting her hand as the sunlight caught the stone, making it shimmer.

For a moment, everything felt light. Almost magical.

Then the ship jolted.

A sudden, violent sway threw them off balance.

They hit the floor hard.

“What—?” Lorianne gasped, trying to push herself up, but the ship lurched again—this time more violently. The once gentle motion turned into something chaotic, unpredictable.

Screams erupted from below.

Passengers rushed up to the deck, panic written all over their faces.

“What’s happening?” someone shouted.

The ship tilted.

Not gradually—dangerously.

Lorianne grabbed onto the railing, her fingers tightening as fear surged through her body. Her heart pounded wildly against her chest as the reality of the situation began to sink in.

Across from her, she saw Clarissa.

She wasn’t moving.

“Clarissa!” Lorianne called out, her voice trembling.

She tried to reach her—but she couldn’t move.

Bodies slammed against her, pressing her painfully into the railing. The force was overwhelming.

Around her, chaos unfolded.

People screamed. Others cried out for help. Some—driven by sheer terror—jumped into the water.

The sound of metal groaning filled the air.

And then it hit her—

This is real.

Not a movie. Not a story.

This was happening.

The ship continued to tilt, dragging everything—and everyone—toward the sea.

Her grip weakened.

Her body shook.

Fear consumed her completely.

This is how it ends.

Tears blurred her vision as she shut her eyes tightly.

And in that moment, stripped of everything—of control, of certainty, of the future she once held so clearly—

She prayed.

“Lord… I place my life in Your hands.”

The last thing she felt was the cold rush of the ocean…

before everything went dark.