TALES OF AGONY

017

THE LOVE OF THE MERMAID

While I was walking by the sea, I suddenly heard someone call my name.

"Mikael.." Her voice was pleasant to listen to, her voice so enticing.

When I looked around to see who had called me, I saw the woman hiding in the rock. She had beautiful eyes, long eyelashes, a pointed nose and long brown hair.

When I approached her, I could hardly believe what I saw. Her half body is a fish, in other words she's a mermaid.

Her tail was trapped in the net, and there were wounds on her hand caused probably by her effort to remove the net from her tail.

"M-Mikael..can you help me?" she said as she held the net.

Without hesitation, I immediately helped her pick up the nets wrapped around her tail. Honestly even though I was surprised to see her, it doesn't mean I wouldn't help her.

After I helped her, she immediately swam away from me. I’m happy because I saved her, but I’m also sad because I haven’t even heard her say the word THANK YOU.

I just gasped and I was about to turn away when I heard her call me.

"Mikael!" she called me while waving and she immediately swam closer to me.

Every time she swims, I marvel at her beauty.

"H-how did you know my name?" I stuttered questioning her as I scratched my nape.

"I've seen you walking here for a long time and I only heard your name when someone called you," she answered.

"I see.. by the way what's your name?" I asked.

She's smiled. "Only God's can pronounce my real name but you can call me Criselyn as my human name."

"I see.."

I would have asked more questions but she suddenly handed me two small diamonds.

"What is that?" I asked.

"This is an exchange for you helping me, isn't this what you people want?" she asked while she tilted her head.

Because of her question I lost the smile on my lips because she's right, this is really what people want, whether poor or rich.

"Maybe yes, but I don't need that. My mom says I don't need a replacement to help. So I refuse what you give," I uttered.

She threw the diamond into the water and she smiled. "Thank you for helping me. You didn't accept what I gave you, so I will just promise you that I will protect you until my death."

After she said those things, I suddenly felt my face heat up and my heart beat faster.

"C-can I t—" but before I complete my words she suddenly swam away from me and she looked at me again and waved.

"Until again!" I shouted.

She smiled and she swam away from me.

That day I first met her until we became best friends, we played together, we talked together and I had fun with her.

I bring her things that are not in the world of mermaids and she also brings me things that are not in the world of people.

Our friendship went well until I was 20 years old and I have to stay with my grandfather.

"You will leave me?" she tearfully asked me after I said goodbye to her.

"Don't worry, I'll come back and bring you plenty of food," I answer and I fix her beautiful hair.