Chapter 2
Rina was sitting on a huge rock near the ocean. Her hands were resting on her lap as she looked toward the horizon. Her eyes were glum, and her hair was dancing with the salty air of the ocean. She was deep in thought and tears were forming down on her emerald eyes.
What am I doing? Am I really going to abandon and deceive my kingdom for love? Am I just going to stay on land and be happy with the man I love than doing my duties as a mermaid princess?
She sighed heavily and rested her head on her knees.
If I marry Masahiro today, will my kingdom forgive me?
If I don't marry Masahiro, I will go back to my kingdom when the time comes and leave him forever. I won't be able to see his smile, feel his warmth, hear his voice, touch his hands—
She stopped on her thoughts when she heard a splash from the water from her left. But when she turned, she didn't see anything.
Maybe, it's just a big fish or a—
She wasn't able to finish her thoughts because someone pushed her from the back. She fell into the waters and transformed into her mermaid form. When she recovered from her shock, she swam up the surface of the ocean.
"What happened?" she asked, breathing heavily. "Who pushed me?" she asked loudly to herself.
Suddenly, when she looked up atop the rock where she was sitting a while ago, her eyes widened with what she saw. There, on the huge rock, sat a merman with a long, shiny, green tail. His eyes were purple, his hair green, and his smile was devastating.
Rina was too stunned to speak nor move an inch.
"It's a long time since we've seen each other, Rina," the merman said. "I've missed you so much. It's been 8 long years."
Rina was still unable to react.
The merman leaned toward Rina, lifted her chin with his fingertips, and placed a soft kiss on her lips.