Chapter 6

Over the past few days, Mira woke up in cold sweats. She still couldn't believed that her grandparents were here, let alone stay over until she leaves for the next semester. Here she was, preparing drinks for the guest as well as her brothers, praying her mother would come back soon.

She couldn't help but feel protective of her brothers at this point. She sat close to them, eyeing her grandparents, who were examining the house as if it was their own. Well, Mira was given a heads up that they would be visiting but never this early when she can't even prepare herself mentally for what was about to happen.

"Mira," her grandfather crooned, causing the hairs on her arms to stand up. Why now? Just why?!

She turned her head toward his direction, her way of indicating that she had his attention. She was always his perfect little girl. Her grandmother was playing with her brothers, leaving her grandfather to sit all by himself on the sofa. He patted the empty seat beside him.

'No...please no...'

"Your mother told us that she'll be back late with your father. Honestly, she should've just left him if you ask me. Sorry to talk bad about your father but he's becoming a burden to both you, your mother and everything. You don't want this family to crumble, do you?"

Mira remained silent. She wasn't even sure how to approach such a question. Of course her parents argued, even before her father lost both of his legs but they still stayed together. That does mean something, right? Don't most relationships have arguments until the day they die?

The young woman's body suddenly stiffed when she felt something warm yet wrinkly stroking her thigh. She pushed the hand away but it held hers firmly. "What's the matter, dear? Your grandfather misses you very much."

She lets out a yelp when a sudden bristle pricked her cheek, followed by a lingering sensation that made her want to throw up. Mira wanted to get up but the old man's hands held her hips in place. Goosebumps formed on her arms when she felt his breath close to her ear.

His sourish cigarette breath that could make her gag. How could her grandmother not see what's going on?!

"You're becoming more beautiful, Mira," he murmured closed to her ear. "In fact, it'd be a shame if some man just so happens you sweep you off without any of us knowing. If any man does, he will have to go through me. You know we want what's best for you."

'Please god...get me out of here!'

...

A few days later, Mr. Piranha decided to take a stroll around town, probably stop for a bean burrito or two. His mind was starting to clear up from the shocking turn of events that took place during the mission with Mr. Wolf.

"Those kids..." he murmured to himself, sticking both of his hands in his pockets. He was glad that they were rescued but they will never be the same again. Their whole lives were shattered by the hands of people they trust and now...

"Never knew there would be crimes like that," he continued, kicking an unexpected pebble along the road. Now he was always the wildcard in every situation thrown at him. It was his calling, his destiny, some would say it's who he is.

But when he had to do that mission with Mr. Wolf, he froze. Not once in his life he had ever froze on the spot, causing his canine friend to carry him to safety. He assured Mr. Piranha that everything is alright.

Everything is alright except for him.

Muttering in Portuguese, the Amazonian fish decided to buy himself a drink at a snack bar. Unlike before, a few people greeted him, some even asking for his autograph. While signing a few autographs on people's shirt with a permanent marker, his eyes caught something.

'It's her!' he thought to himself excitedly, practically bouncing on the inside. Over the forest of legs, he peered over to get the young woman's attention. When she finally looked at him, he could feel his entire body bursting with joy.

The young woman gave him a shy wave, shuffling quietly through the crowd with a bottle of ice cream soda in her hand. "Hey, wait up!"

When he caught up with her, he gave a halfhearted wave. "Hey there, Chica. So...here for a snack too? I mean, it can't be a coincidence or...You're Mira, right?"

Mira held up her soda as her answer, giving him a nervous smile. He knew that he had scared her. "Ah, it is a hot day and...damn, I'm really bad at first impressions. Heh, I don't know how to keep my mouth shut sometimes."

To his surprise, Mira was covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. Even if he couldn't hear them, he reckoned that she sounded sweet. In fact, there's something about her that wooed him, even if she wasn't.

"You don't mind me talking, do you?" Mira shook her head as an answer. Mr. Piranha wondered if her stiff demeanour was a sign that something had happened to her. As a good guy, he should ask what's wrong, right?

'But what if she doesn't want to tell?' he thought to himself, realising how awkward the situation between them was. Immediately, he took her hand in his, bringing her to the other side of the road, much to her surprise.

"Sorry to drag you here but I just wanna say sorry for Shark if he scared you or anything. He's kinda bummed out about it," Mr. Piranha admitted, scratching the back of his head. Mira blinked, kneeling down to be on the same level as him.

"This is gonna sound dumb," he began laughing nervously. "But if you are not doing anything, would you like to visit the gang? I'm sure Wolf wouldn't mind since you are Rani's sister and she's been our friends."

Mira's expression change with her brows furrowed while her eyes were darting back and forth between him and something from behind. He wanted to know if he had said the right words since he wanted to be good.

'If Snake can do it, so can I!' he thought to himself, imagining a scenario of people adoring him and cheering just like at the gala. Deciding not to make Mira even more nervous than she already was, he continued, "ah, unless you have something on at home?"

He was shocked when Mira suddenly gripped his hands a little too tight by his question. She shook her head profusely, which was making the piranha nervous. This had never happened to him before.

Unconsciously, he touched his chest to feel his heart. It was beating at a steady pace but he could sense a strange sensation flowing through his body. Was this how Mr. Snake felt when he met Rani for the first time?

To answer his inner thoughts, his tail fin began to wag.

I'M SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT!

I was so busy with work and trying to cope with some personal inner demons. But this chapter was something I really want to bring up. There's a reason why I named this story "Drowned".

I hope to update more when I have free time and I'm sorry if this one is short