SEASHORE. － k.yk + y.ty

07

Youngkyun didn't know what to think.

For as long as he had lived on land, a scarce number of humans had interacted with him, let alone befriended him.

There was the nice, old guy at the laundromat and that sweet married couple at the grocery store, who would occassionally give him discounts since he had apparently wormed his way into their hearts.

Then there was the lady at the library who would recommend him new books to read when he went every other week, and that cashier at the convenience store he saw on Thursdays and Tuesdays, with whom he'd share greetings and questions such as 'how are you?' and 'how's your day been?'

Apart from those few, Youngkyun spoke to no one, and if it hadn't been for the fact that he always went to the same laundromat, the same grocery, the same library and the same convenience store, his mouth would have never parted to let a mere syllable out.

He recalled the times he was a child, living in the reef with no home, wandering through the paths until his best friend would come swimming towards him at the speed of light, hurdling into him and holding onto his equally small frame with a death grip. He'd squeeze him and nuzzle him, apologise profusely if he had arrived late and left him waiting, to which Youngkyun would reply with him having not waited much at all.

Chani was tiny, body fragile and thin enough that it sometimes scared Youngkyun to touch him, but his smile was luminous and his laughter was the sweetest of melodies.

He thought back to when they would sit at the boarder of their village, Chani's head resting upon Youngkyun's shoulder whilst the latter had his arm wrapped around his waist, keeping him close. The shorter would begin singing and Youngkyun would join in.

Though he didn't dislike his own voice, he much preferred Chani's and so he would take every presented opportunity to listen to the boy sing, until they would fall asleep upon the smooth sand, fish flying overhead and occassionally flapping around their resting bodies.

Youngkyun hadn't sung for a long time, not ever since Chani had moved away and that night happened, one which haunted his mind with blood curdling screams and wails of forlorn children, parents calling their names before sharpened stones much like blades ended their lives.

He could still envision it perfectly, that scene of terror and confusion, a battle ground gradually staining with crimson and limp corpses.

The muscle within his chest was beating like a rampant horse, untamable, and Youngkyun's hands couldn't steady nor would his tail begin kicking. His muscles had tensed with fear and his mind was in a state of panic, not knowing what to do or where to go.

And then he saw that man, one from the group of soldiers who were attacking his home, that penetrating and blood thirsty stare honing in on his trembling self, peeking from behind the coral, and sneering.

He had to escape, he had to swim away, but he couldn't. No, he remained fixated as the soldier neared, spear in hand and killing intent evident.

Only when another citizen attacked him from behind, successfully setting one arm over his chest and the other ramming a dagger into the enemy's abdomen, did Youngkyun feel his limbs spark awake.

The man who killed the enemy soldier glanced around, attempting to spot what the other had been aiming for, and Youngkyun's paling lips parted, quivering and wanting to call out to the merman for help, but he couldn't form any words before his saviour turned away and threw himself back into the fight, disappearing from the boy's sight.

A shout. A whine.

It sounded like Chani, but it couldn't be. No. He tried to tell himself that it couldn't be. His best friend had left and was safe. He couldn't be there, amongst the falling bodies.

Blood, and the calling of his name.

Youngkyun whipped around and behind him saw Chani being dragged away by a female soldier, a slice across his stomach and cuts on his violet tail.

"Kyunie! Help me, help me! Kyunie, please help －"

His eyes snapped open, darkness shrouding his sight.

He was alone on the mattress in his shack, fairy lights softly twinkling, and the hum of the sea's waves embracing the shore eventually reached his ears past his heavy breathing.

He went to move but he felt chained down, weak and shaken, unable to make himself sit up without great effort.

Youngkyun hugged himself, pressing his eyes shut and holding his bottom lip between his teeth, counting how many waves had come and gone to slow his breathing.

Youngkyun was alone.

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