Splash of Love | j.hs au

Chapter 21

"Isn't this cool?!" Jisoo gasped upon seeing the bright jellyfish hanging around the dock. You had to admit, it was kind of cool. There were a lot of them, so it looked like they were lighting up the whole area.

"It is." Hoseok agreed.

You were kneeled down, simply looking at the group. They just kind of floated around and you wonder why they hung out around the island. You would have thought jellyfish would prefer not to be in an area near humans. As you continued staring, you unconsciously let your eyes adjust a bit to the dark ocean. Underneath the numerous jellyfish, you spotted a flash of something. It was quick to dart out from your sight. What was that?

All three of you hung around the dock, taking photos with the jellyfish in the background. "Now, get in close everyone." Jisoo held out her arm with the phone in hand. You've never taken a... photo, was it? What do you do? You took a step near Hoseok who happened to be in the middle. "Ah, you're being cut out of the photo, Y/N. Move in a little closer." You did so but Jisoo told you just a little more.

It surprised you when you felt Hoseok's hand briefly touch your shoulder and he squeezed you in. You pretended to be unfazed by it while ignoring your heart beating fast. Seeing the smiles on Jisoo and Hoseok's faces, you also smiled. Hopefully it looked as natural as possible. A flash on the phone and Jisoo looked at it. "Look how good it came out." She held it out for you two to see.

You had to admit, it did look good. Well, not you specifically. You could tell that you put on a smile; not a natural one unlike Jisoo and Hoseok. It made you think of how out of place you were. Almost like you were from another world. Well, you were but from outer space sounded way cooler than the ocean.

"I'll print a copy for you Y/N." Jisoo said to which you thanked her for. For a while, you hung out around the dock, admiring the jellyfish before going back to the hotel. The rest of the night was uneventful - just some desert and talking at the table. Wanting to get some fresh air (totally the flash you saw earlier was not making you think), you excused yourself to take a walk along the beach.

Thankfully, you dismissed everyone trying to go with you. You kept walking, enjoying the night air and people slowly started to leave the beach but you continued on. Fine, you'll admit the flash you saw in the water was not a fish. You wanted to see who it was since usually mermaids are afraid of the land with the dark tales of humans but another part of you thought, what if they were like you? Curious about the human world? From here, you could feel the emptiness of the beach. The island rose up here a little, forming a makeshift cave and you crouched at the water's edge. It was quiet for a moment. The ocean gently swayed while the leaves rustled in the wind.

You heard it before it happened.

The sound of water broke like glass as a pair of hands wrapped around your neck then drugged you down to the water. You're so thankful you decided to wear a skirt or else you wouldn't have pants. And that's going to be awkward traveling back to the hotel with no pants.

Your legs began to transform and as your eyes adjusted to the darkness, the figure which got you would not let go. "I missed you so much!" A familiar voice happily said.

"Jimin?" You tried to peer at her face but she buried her head against your neck.

She pulled back slightly to smile at you. "I missed you! I happened to see you swimming yesterday and I thought you came back..." She explained.

Swimming yesterday? Wait. Did she see you pulling Hoseok to the island?! As you were about to ask that, you realized she was out during the storm. "And what were you doing out in the middle of the storm?" You narrowed your eyes slightly in suspicion.

Jimin nervously laughed. "Um, I was going to... um..." She was hesitant to tell you. "Well, you know the legend of the rare fish that comes out in the storm?"

You can recall the legend from your childhood. Tale of a rare fish (one that looked so bright and yummy to eat) said to heal a mermaid or merman if eaten and that it only appeared in storms. You nodded, wanting her to keep going.

"I thought I could prove myself and catch the fish." She muttered, highly disappointed.

You kept her close to you. "I know but it's dangerous even for us."

Jimin scoffed at you. "But I saw you carrying that human!" Yep, she caught you. How fun. "Are you two mates?" Her eyes sparkled at you.

Mates?! You could feel yourself become flustered. You noticed that humans don't call each other mates but something else. Your brain is short circuiting at the moment so you can't even remember the word. "No! He doesn't like me like that...'' You admitted with a heavy heart.

Jimin frowned. "Oh. Sorry for asking..."

"No need." You smiled at her. "You should go back home. Everyone is going to worry about you." Jimin nodded and you two shared another hug then finally let go. You swam to the top of the surface to be met with a fate Posidian decided to shower you with.

Jimin stayed in the same spot, watching you. Once you were gone from her sight, she turned to go home. Then her eyes spotted mermaids she did not want to see. She froze in place, eyes wide and an awkward smile on her face. "O-Oh hi.... Irene and Jihyo..."

"So this is where you were." Irene said as she came closer, Jihyo trailing behind. Jimin could see Jihyo's eyes glance to where you had disappeared to. "You know that the fish is a possible myth right?"

"You heard everything?" Jimin asked in shock.

Irene nodded. "Let's go home." Her voice was firm as Jimin pouted.

"I wanted to find the fish." Jimin muttered.

Irene was about to say something until the ocean's surface broke. The three all frantically looked towards the noise. A figure was in the water and the once pair of legs then turned to a tail.

Y/N!