{LeviHan} Beyond

Chapter 13: 7 Years

Hanji's POV

"Heading home for the day, Hanji?" Nanaba chuckled, seeing me strutting out with pride. "Happy to see your... little lover?" Her voice went down in a whisper when she mentioned of him.

With a smile, I nodded. "Of course, Nana. Can't you see I've been pierced by cupid? Please. Anyways, Nana, if you see Erwin, please tell him-"

Nanaba stifled her laugh, pointing right behind me. No doubt he was right there. What such luck of mine. I turned around, smiling with the biggest smile I could. "Hey, Erwin, whatcha need?" My hands instinctively folded over my stomach. Maybe my mom instincts are already in place before the baby has formed inside of me.

"Couldn't help but overheard your conversation, Hanji. You're seeing someone?"

"A-Ahh... it's... complicated..." Why am I such a terrible liar when I'm the one getting caught in this web? "Please, just ignore it, Erwin. Did you need something from me?"

Erwin gave this depressive sigh, shaking his head. "I thought I did. Sorry for wasting your evening with... this special someone. Forget about this, okay? I'll be taking my leave. Hanji, I'll see you in our meeting tomorrow, right?"

"Uh huh..." 

I watched him walk away with his shoulders drooping slightly. There was a theory running in my head... about what he wanted from me. Nanaba said it before, and now, it makes sense. Erwin was trying to ask me out on a date. If Levi wasn't in the picture, I might've said yes. But my heart forever belongs with Levi. 

Pain shot up my arm as I realized Nanaba was whacking it with the back of her hand. "What did I say? I called it." She sighed, shaking her head. "I feel bad for the guy..."

"I do too, but..."

"Love is complicated. I know, Hanji. Just... make sure you make this evening with your lover boy worth it. Erwin needs to know that you're in good hands. Which I'm sure that you're completely okay with. You've been sleeping in lately and-"

"Nanaba, come on, chill."

"I mean... meeting him every night? Gotta be fun and nice."

My shoulders rolled a bit, aching softly. "Alright then. Just... don't spread any rumors. I'll know it's all from you. Have a good night, Nana!"

"Kiss him well, Hanji!"

"Shut up!"

*   *   *

Usually, Levi perked up from the waters at the same time... but not this time. He wasn't there at the usual time. Then again, he's a merman and he has things too. He can't just drop everything for me. If he was so busy and he had chose to spend time with me over something else, I wouldn't feel... right...

I waited. Longer than I should've been waiting...

Soon enough, two unfamiliar faces popped up. "Gah! Levi was right! She's always here then..."

"Shh- she can hear us..." The merman dove back under the water, finally catching my attention. He swam up, smiling. "No way... you're the human Levi's been falling for? This can't be right-"

"My name is Hanji." A scowl crept on my face. "Stop calling me as that one human, okay? And where's Levi? He was supposed to meet me here... as we do almost every day... Levi is coming, right? Or is he too busy? Maybe it wouldn't have hurt if he could've sent you guys earlier in his place-"

Their faces held solemn tones, ashamed for something.

"What's wrong?"

The mermaid sighed, looking up to me. "I-It's about Levi... he's... he's not coming... for at least 7 years..."

"7?! What happened to him?!"

This time, the merman spoke for the two of them. "He... turned in some of the gold we all stole... he... he turned himself in. His plan was that he wanted to live on land with you... because you were having his merchild after all. They gave him 7 years... 7 years to be rotting in prison. It's a good thing no one said a thing about him loving a human."

"Is... is that against the law?"

"Of course it is." The mermaid spoke, sighing softly. "He would've been in there for life if the merpeople knew he was in love with a human. And I did hear he mated with one too, so... yeah... it's a good thing. We have to keep this a secret, okay?"

Levi... was gone...

I fell to my knees, trying to grip onto my non-existent baby bump. For 7 years... I have to wait... 7 years...

"Don't worry, Hanji, we'll take good care of you- as much as we can, okay?" The mermaid spoke again, smiling. "Please don't worry about Big Bro Levi! He would hate it if you had to cry over him. He hated me when I accidentally cried when I broke his-"

"Isabel, I think she got it." The merman smiled again, trying to ease my pain. "Again, we made a promise to Levi. We can't ever visit him in prison... but I'm sure he's constantly thinking about you. Okay?"

With a weary sigh, I nodded my head. What is it I can do? Levi had already locked himself away in prison to live a life with me. A price he had to pay in order to live a happier life...

If only he had never bit me... he would never have to be beyond my reach...