13 Chapter:13

"Well, if this isn't our most famous guest ever!" -I hear a voice from behind me as I sat to have lunch. I turn around to look at the owner of the voice, and my eyes meet with another pair of eyes.

These brown eyes, somehow seems familiar to me. Where do I know them from? As I look at the man standing in front of me, I can't help but smile. As if I've seen an old friend of mine. He seems so familiar, yet a stranger.

He stares back at me, and breaks it off after a minute or so.

Muttering to himself; "A DV descendant?" "I'm sorry, what?" -I ask, confused.

"Nothing." -He replies and gives a cheerful smile.

"Weren't you supposed to marry Chris Millers, a few days ago? What are you doing here?" -He asks, raising an eyebrow. "I ran away." -I reply.

"The whole world knows that. I was there, to be precise, at the reception." -He says.

I look at him, uncomfortably. As if sensing it; he speaks up;

"Don't worry, I know everything, Mars told me about it. Get comfortable, I don't bite." -He reassures.

"But I do." -Mars says, entering the dining room.

"What are you doing, Irese? Making her uncomfortable like that. Asking about that bastard and all that?" -He says, half-annoyance in his voice.

The guy, Irese, turns to look at me and gives an apologetic smile. I nod, reassuringly.

"Aren't you folks hungry? I'm starving!" -Irese exclaims, changing the topic.

We all take seats, and silently consume our food.

After I'm done, I get up and excuse myself. As I was about to close the door behind me, I hear Irese speaking to Mars. Saying; "Do you think she's a DV descendant?"

Mars speaks, but in a real low voice, causing me to give up on my eavesdropping, and finally closing the door behind me.

What is a 'DV descendant'?

. . .

"Dad, I'm telling you, seriously! I want to go to that beach today! Please, let's go!!" -I beg to my parents, to take me back to that beach.

My Dad smiles at me and tells me; "It's been like 5-6 months since we went there. What's up with the sudden urge to go there?"

"I promised her, I'd come to meet her once again. She's my friend, Dad! Please." -I say, pleading as much as possible.

He sighs, and speaks up; "Alright, you and me. Let's go on a trip to the beach to meet your 'nereid' friend."

I jump up and down, happily. I hop back to my bedroom, and change.

Me and my Dad, we're going on a trip to the beach. I'll meet my friend again.

. . .

The car ride is now a blurred memory, even the trip to the beach. Maybe because she never showed up. I waited for Lilith, that day.

No matter how much I waited, how much I wished for her to show up once again, she never did.

She never came that day, nor the next month. Nor any of the other days in the next 5 years. I thought to myself; I'm such a fool. Mermaids, 'Nereids', such are just mythical creatures. They don't exist. They never did.

She was just a kid, who lied to me, and I believed her.

How foolish of me.

. . .

"So, do you have any questions?" -Mars asks, after we're done training for the day.

I hesitate before I finally continue; "What's a DV descendant?"

He looks at me, perplexed. "Did Irese blabber his nonsense in front of you?" -He says. I nod, sheepishly. He sighs, almost dramatically.

"You don't have to worry about that at all. Just ignore him, whenever he speaks of such." -He voices.

"No, it's just that I heard this term back when I was younger too. I asked around, nobody knew what it means. So hearing it again, after all these years, surfaced an old memory. So, I'm just curious." -I admit.

"Heard this term when you were younger? From whom?" -He asks, astounded.

"A childhood friend." -I say. "What was her name?" -He asks.

"I think, it was something like Lilith?" -I reveal.

He stares at me, his expression indescribable.

Surprised? Shocked? Dumb-founded? I don't know.

He just doesn't reply.

"Uhh... You should go to sleep. You're gonna have to wake up early tomorrow, we need to go somewhere." -He orders. I simply nod, and make my way back to my room. Feeling his gaze over me, even with my back turned.

I freshen up and go to bed.

But where are we going though? Damn, I should've asked.

My mind wanders off to Chris. NO. No, I don't think so. No way, we're going to meet him. If we were, Mars would've told me. I think...

Please, let's not meet Chris tomorrow. (Or ever.)

. . .

'Did you ever love me? Or was I just an object of pleasure to you? Have you ever thought of how you've hurt my feelings? I was hurting, and you hurt me more.'

'I loved you, truly. And you were the one who gave me reasons to not love you anymore. You shouldn't have had done that, you know? I truly did, love you.'

'Only if you were sane. Only if you truly loved me. Only if. Only if. Only if....'

-I hear Michelle's voice. Yet, can't seem to find her anywhere near. I look around frantically.

"But I promise to change! Please stay!" -I hear myself crying out my heart.

"Please, Michelle! I never wanted to hurt you. I've always loved you, truly. Please, give me one last chance. I promise; I'll treat you with the utmost love! Please, don't go."

"Son, snap out of it! Are you okay?!" -I hear Dad, calling out with worry written all over his face. I realize, I was dreaming.

"Yeah, Dad. I'm fine. It's just that, I can't get Michelle out of my head. That's all." -I say. Dad sighs. His worried face turns into the one of anger.

"That lady... She'll pay for it. She'll pay for making my son cry." -He mutters to himself and leaves the room.

'NO, DAD!!! Don't hurt her, please!'

But before I could utter this words out; another voice takes over.

'Oh yes, that bitch will have to pay. That damn Michelle will have to pay for making us cry. Like a fucking loser.'

. . .