Agnes could no longer hold back her tears when Erick turned his back on her. She had been trying to stop them from falling while they talked, but now her tears finally gave in. They streamed down from her dim eyes to her cheeks. As she watched Erick walk away from her, her hope that the two of them could still fix things disappeared completely.
She walked alone down a dark, sloping path lined with large houses on each side. Most of the homes had their lights off, as it was already late. Erick had texted her around three in the afternoon, asking to meet at their usual spot, which was a bit far from her house. She thought he wanted to make up with her, but it turned out he just wanted to return all of her things left at his place, and retrieve his things left at hers.
The street was well-lit by lampposts, but her vision was clouded with tears, so she didn't see the large rock that tripped her. She rolled down the slope, and had she not managed to grab onto something, she might've kept tumbling. She got several cuts and scrapes, but she didn't care. Nothing could hurt more than what she felt in her chest.
By the time she got home, the tears had nearly dried on her cheeks. Exhausted, she entered and went straight to her room to pack up everything Erick had left behind. She had expected to find Islaw asleep, but he was still awake. His earlier frown vanished and was replaced by a bright face when he saw her. He smiled, but she couldn't return it. Her heart was shattered.
She just couldn't smile back.
She ignored Islaw and walked toward the old cabinet. She rummaged through it again and again until she was sure none of her ex's things were left. She was about to leave the room when she glanced at Islaw, whose brow was slightly furrowed, as if wondering what she was doing. Her gaze landed on what he was wearing—Erick's shirt.
"Islaw," she said, walking up to the merman, who tilted his head.
He raised a hand with a smile. She knew he wanted to clasp their hands together again, but she pushed his hand away and silently took off the shirt. She turned away, even though she noticed the sadness and confusion on his face. She felt pity and guilt toward Islaw, but she couldn't help being like this. She was broken. No family, no house, no money, no friends, and now no longer with the man she loved—this was her.
She cried and cried while packing Erick's things. She hadn't eaten, but she had no appetite. Her stomach growled, but she chose instead to lie down on the chair she used as a bed and closed her eyes. Not even a minute passed before she heard a soft sound from the room. She sighed, thinking Islaw was up to something again. She was used to his mischief. She was about to go back to sleep when something poked her cheek.
"I-Islaw!" she gasped, jolting upright upon seeing the merman's innocent face.
"W-what are you doing here? How did you get here?" she asked, though she knew he had crawled there—he was still lying on the floor.
"Islaw, come on, let's go back to your room."
She stood up and was about to pull him back, but he didn't budge. His brows furrowed as he tilted his head. Then he crawled back into the room. She thought he'd go to sleep, but he returned carrying the box of first-aid supplies. He struggled to sit on the floor while she remained seated on the chair. She looked down at him, while he looked up at her—they weren't on the same level.
She stayed quiet, just watching his movements. He opened the box and took out the alcohol. From the way he moved, it seemed like he already knew what to do. After all, every day she had tended his wounds, and he always watched her closely. It looked like he was learning from his surroundings. A small smile crossed her lips as she quietly watched Islaw, his slightly parted lips rosy.
He was so cute.
His brows furrowed as he dipped his fingers in the alcohol, as if it took deep concentration. She chuckled when he finally applied the alcohol to the scrapes on her arm. His face was serious as he gently dabbed her wounds. She couldn't help but rest her hand on his hair and stroke it, which made Islaw smile widely.
"You're learning, Islaw. You're doing great. You can now do the things we humans do," she added, ruffling his hair.
Islaw giggled and continued what he was doing. He was busy treating her wounds, but her gaze fell to his bare torso, and she remembered she had taken off his shirt earlier. A heavy feeling sank into her chest as she realized how she had treated him. She had been too harsh on him, even though he was nothing but kind to her. She felt guilty.
"Wait, Islaw. Let me get you some clothes."
She stood up and rummaged through Erick's belongings stored in the big box. She dressed Islaw, but she couldn't stop herself from tearing up again when she saw him wearing Erick's shirt. Just recently, she told herself she would forget Erick because of what he did, but why did seeing his clothes still affect her? Why did even that simple reminder hurt so much?
"Hmmm?" Islaw softly hummed, tilting his head like he was asking a question.
"I'm sorry, Islaw. I can't help but feel pain whenever I see anything that reminds me of my ex."
"It's just not easy for me to forget the man I loved. I'm all alone now, and he was the one I held on to, the one I thought would be with me through life—but he betrayed me." She weakly slumped into the chair.
She could no longer stop herself from sobbing, her shoulders shaking as she covered her tear-streaked face with her hands. She cried quietly, releasing all the pain—but stopped when Islaw suddenly placed his warm hand on hers and gently pulled them away from her face.
Her brows drew together in confusion as she looked at Islaw, who was staring intently at her. He clasped her hand in his and placed his other hand on her cheek, wiping away the tears. For some unknown reason, her chest lightened as he gently caressed her face, focused on drying the tears from her sad eyes.
"I-Islaw."
When he was done, he smiled at her. Then he lay her down and, just like she always did for him, covered her with a blanket. Islaw leaned in, and her cheeks flushed, thinking he might kiss her lips—but he didn't. His lips landed on her forehead, and he smiled sweetly for a brief moment before crawling away from her. She touched her forehead and sat up.
"Islaw!" she called, and he turned back to her.
"Thank you."
He just tilted his head in response.
(FASTFORWARD)
It was still morning when both Agnes and Islaw were already awake. Agnes was busy checking Islaw's body and tail to see if his wounds had healed. She sighed in relief, noticing only a few small ones were left, and he was recovering well. Also, he seemed livelier each day, unlike before when his wounds were deep and numerous, leaving him barely able to move.
After inspecting his body, she playfully ruffled his hair, and he giggled. But Islaw's smile quickly vanished when the child he disliked the most, Buchukoy, entered the room. He brought seashells and some string, which he placed in front of the now-frowning Islaw. Agnes couldn't help but laugh at his expression.
"Good morning, Big Sis! You too, Big Brother," said Buchukoy. She smiled at him, but Islaw rolled his eyes.
"What are those seashells for?" the kid asked.
"Auntie Nita told me that mermen used to make bracelets and give them to the mermaids they liked."
"Really?" he asked in fascination, picking up a few shells.
She paused when Islaw snatched them from her.
"Big Brother, are you gonna make one for Big Sis?" Buchukoy teased.
Islaw suddenly smiled and glanced at her with a playful look. That familiar warmth returned to her cheeks as their eyes met. Her heart raced, and to calm it, she quickly turned around and rushed out of the room. She fanned her face with her hand and started cleaning.
As always, she swept inside and outside the house, wiped surfaces, cooked, and washed dishes. But even doing those simple chores, she felt exhausted. Her knees trembled slightly as she entered the room to clean.
She stopped briefly when she found Islaw and Buchukoy fast asleep next to each other. She approached them and unknowingly smiled at what she saw. Islaw was still holding string and shells, but already snoring. She shook her head and gently removed the scattered shells and string, careful not to wake them.
She resumed cleaning—quickly but quietly. She still had somewhere to go. She was about to close the drawer of the old cabinet when something caught her eye—a slightly glimmering bracelet. It was the bracelet of the mermaid she had first seen. She picked it up after the townsfolk recovered the poor creature's body. She was the one who found it.
She considered wearing it but changed her mind. Thinking that Islaw might be planning to make one for her made her feel guilty. She returned it to the drawer and got ready to go. She waited for Buchukoy to wake up, left some instructions, and then left with the heavy box of Erick's belongings. What annoyed her was that Erick refused to pick up his stuff from her house—he said he didn't want to set foot there again.
Out of breath, exhausted, thirsty, and weak, she arrived at their meeting spot. It was a flat area overgrown with grass and surrounded by tall apple trees. As she looked around, all their memories came flooding back. Here she was again. If slapping herself could effectively stop her emotions, she would've done it—but it wasn't that easy.
"Thank you, Agnes," Erick said with a smile after she placed the box on the grass.
"You don't have to thank me. I just returned what was yours."
"Still, thank you." He smiled sweetly, and before she could be affected, she turned away.
"I saw that, Agnes. You're so cute." Erick chuckled.
"W-what?" she asked, confused.
"Your cheeks turned red. I see—you still love me," he grinned, irritating her.
"You're so full of yourself! After everything you did to me, after cheating on me, you still think I love you?!" she snapped.
"You always deny the accusations I throw at you. But we both know how madly in love you were with me," he smugly said, which infuriated her even more.
"Maybe I was madly in love with you—because I thought you were the man I'd be with forever. Because I thought you treated me like family. But you didn't. You made a fool of me."
"Agnes—"
"You cheated on me, Erick. And of all people, it had to be my boss you replaced me with! You're one of the reasons my life fell apart. Now I don't even have a job because of you!"
"Agnes, we both know you lost your job because of your own actions, so don't blame me."
"S-so it's my fault, is that it?" she asked with a hollow laugh, not believing what she was hearing.
"Yes, it's your fault. You know exactly what your position was in the Acosta family. You were just their maid, but you had the nerve to lay a hand on Brianna. That's why you lost your job."
She shook her head with a bitter smile.
"I'm the one who got cheated on, yet I'm still the one to blame. I wouldn't have touched my boss if you hadn't started a relationship with her while you were still with me!" she cried.
Her eyes welled with tears.
"Here we go again, with your drama," he muttered mockingly, leaving her stunned.
It really was true, people change. And Erick had changed a lot. He used to be such a good man. That's why she fell for him, because he wasn't like this. He used to be loving, caring, thoughtful, and sweet—but all the qualities she loved were gone. He was now just a cocky, arrogant, self-important cheater.
He was no longer the man she once loved.
"You know, Agnes, we can still fix this." He suddenly said, making her freeze.
"Come here, love," he whispered, pulling her into an embrace—which shocked her.
Why was he calling her love again?
"W-why are you calling me that? I thought we were done? I thought you didn't want me anymore?" she asked, confused.
"That's true. And you can't blame me for cheating on you, because we come from different walks of life," he said—words that stung her heart, but she chose to listen anyway.
She had been hoping that things would work out between her and Erick.
"But I was willing to accept and endure that reality. If you really want to keep me, you can use that body of yours to satisfy me."
The moment she heard that, her body reacted on its own and pushed him away. She even heard him curse under his breath. Irritation spread across Erick's face at her sudden shove. So this was why he'd suddenly acted sweet toward her—when just recently he was pushing her away. It was because he wanted to sleep with her. Erick was an animal.
"What's your problem?!" he snapped.
"You! You're one of the biggest problem in my life, you bastard!" she shouted back, furious.
"Don't you have even a shred of shame left in your body?! Erick, you cheated on me, and never once did you show humility. Instead, you trampled on my dignity! You had the nerve to sleep with my boss— in her house, where I used to stay! And now you want to sleep with me?!"
"Come on, Agnes. Shamelessness is nothing new. I'm a man, and you didn't give me what I needed. I found that in Brianna, that's why I replaced you."
"Asshole," she muttered, shaking her head.
"You should be thankful. Even though you're dirt-poor, I still bothered with you. And now I'm asking you to sleep with me. Aren't I so nice?" he grinned mockingly, clearly trying to insult her.
It was pure sex—nothing but lust.
"Come on, Agnes, stop pretending you don't want it."
Agnes swallowed hard when Erick began walking toward her. She slowly stepped backward, scanning the area and realizing no one else was around. Erick could easily carry out whatever twisted plan he had if she didn't find a way to escape. In truth, he was worse than a rotten fish.
"Erick, s-stay away from me!"
"Agnes, calm down. It's just me—the man you love so much. Stop acting like you don't want this when it's obvious you do."
Idiot. When did she ever say that?
He was close now, and just before his filthy hands could touch her skin, she kneed him right in the groin. He dropped to the ground, groaning in pain. Without waiting for him to recover, she ran as fast as she could until she reached her house. She stopped running, nearly breathless from exhaustion
She had come from so far away.
As she caught her breath, her mind replayed everything that had happened. Tears welled up in her eyes as she turned toward the sea, watching the gentle waves roll in. She still couldn't believe the man she had loved had turned into someone she no longer recognized.
Or maybe… maybe he was like this all along, and she had just failed to see it? She bit her lip, stopping herself from crying over Erick.
He didn't deserve her tears.
"Big Sis?" a voice said with a frown—it was Buchu.
"O-oh, it's you, Buchu." She quickly wiped her teary eyes.
"Big Brother has been looking for you," he said, making her heart flutter.
She couldn't help but wonder—was it normal to feel this way? Every time she heard that merman's name, every time she was with him, every time their eyes met or he was close, her heart would race and she'd feel this strange fluttering—like a giddy, teenage crush she once felt for her ex-boyfriend.
She took a deep breath and went inside the house. As soon as she stepped into the room, her eyes searched for Islaw, eager to see him. She didn't know why she was acting like this, but maybe it was because he made her feel at ease.
That much was true—ever since her heart was broken by Erick, Islaw had always been there. He was the reason she had somehow managed to forget the pain, even for a while.
"Islaw." She smiled as she sat beside him. He immediately hugged her and pressed their cheeks together.
Islaw was so affectionate.
"Buchu said you've been looking for me?" she asked, and he raised an eyebrow in response.
"You're so cute, Islaw." She pinched his cheek playfully.
His face was rough from a few scales, but his cheeks were so soft that she loved to play with them. In fact, he'd often pout or wince from the strength of her pinches, but it was all part of their sweet teasing.
"Big Brother, didn't you say you had something to give Big Sis?" Buchu said with a smile, pointing to his own wrist as if hinting at something.
Islaw pulled out a bracelet.
"Islaw, is this for me?" she asked, eyes sparkling as she looked at what he was holding.
The gentle merman nodded repeatedly. Her eyes softened as he slipped the bracelet onto her wrist. Her smile widened as she admired it—made of tiny seashells Buchu had found on the shore.
It was simple, but meant everything to her, especially knowing Islaw made it himself. She was deeply touched—this merman, who knew nothing about the human world, had managed to give her a gift.
Something Erick never once did for her.
"T-thank you, Islaw." Emotion overwhelmed her as she rested her forehead against his.
"Big Sis! Not in front of me!" Buchu exclaimed, covering his eyes.
She laughed and gently pulled away from Islaw, who pouted in return. Minutes later, Buchu said goodbye, as his parents were looking for him. Left alone, she and Islaw sat in content silence, gazing at each other.
Such a small and simple moment, but it made her feel like she had everything—like she was already content… with Islaw. She thought to herself, maybe she should just focus on caring for him.
"Wait, Islaw. I just remembered—I have something for you too." She quickly stood up and grabbed the bracelet she had found before.
"I hope you like this. I just picked it up, and I think it belongs to one of your kind—a mermaid. It's yours now." She smiled as she showed him the bracelet.
But the smile on her face quickly vanished when she noticed Islaw freeze in place, as if rooted to his seat. She also noticed his breathing grow heavier as his trembling hand reached out to take the bracelet she held. Without warning, he hugged the small bracelet and let out a soft hum—not just any hum, but one filled with sobs.
He was crying.
Worried, she knelt in front of him and tried to comfort him, but he continued to cry.
As she watched the bowed head of the merman, the words of Auntie Nita suddenly came back to her. The loss of a loved one brought deep sorrow and unbearable grief to a mermaid or merman. Because of what the old woman had told her, an idea formed in her mind.
What if the mermaid she first saw was actually Islaw's lover—or even his wife? Based on his reaction alone, it was clear he was deeply affected by seeing the bracelet that belonged to the mermaid.
"Islaw, do you know who owns this bracelet?" she asked gently, with a hand gesture she hoped he would understand.
Islaw nodded and stared at her. Her heart ached when their eyes met. His eyes looked so dull and were still misty with tears, and it deeply affected her. Just looking into his eyes made her feel the weight of his sorrow. She was starting to worry, because she saw Islaw as something fragile but so precious.
In truth, he was more than a thing—more than anything—to her.
"Islaw, I'm here for you." she whispered softly.
Her voice was full of tenderness as her hand touched his cheek. She knew Islaw had already shed so many tears, but what puzzled her was—where were his tears now? Slowly, he began to calm down and even gave her a faint smile, as if she had somehow brought him a bit of peace.
She smiled back, but her eyes widened when a single tear fell from one of his eyes. Before it could even land on the bed—it had turned into a pearl.
Her hand slipped away from his cheek, and her eyes widened even more as she stared at the bed where several pearls now lay. Her hands trembling, she picked them up and examined them closely. She knew they were real pearls—and very valuable. With her lips parted in shock, she turned to look at Islaw, who had tilted his head away again, as if unsure how to read her reaction.
She was just about to smile at him—when he suddenly collapsed, unconscious, into her arms.