Chapter four

Alec went back to the palace, feeling so happy and all smiles. The human was the most beautiful mortal he had ever seen in his life, his almost white hair, pale skin, and red lips made him look so cute and desirable to the merman. The thought of his face got Alec's cheek flaring up.

"You're all smiles….you found a beautiful mermaid". Basil, Alec's best friend, swam to Alec's side. He had jet black that came to his chest and a red tail with transparent blue scales.

"Not at all….what brought you to the palace". Alec said, trying to bring in a new conversation, careful enough not to spill the beans on what happened at the surface of the sea.

"I know what you're trying to do, I didn't come to the palace to get anything. I'm here to see you. It's been a long I saw you". Basil swam a little further from me, checking me out.

"You're not looking bad, you know". He added.

"I'm the prince of Astera, of course, I should always be looking good". Alec boasted, flexing his muscles.

"You haven't still told me why you're this happy". Basil asked, looking at Alec thoughtfully. He knew the royal merman was hiding something, and it wouldn't be too long before he spills.

"Well, the thing is, I saved this human". Alec scratched his hair nervously.

"A human". Basil interrupted.

"Don't tell me you kissed this human". Basil added, surprised, as Alec is usually not interested in anyone rather than himself.

"I did, how will I save them if I don't, they were running out of air"? Alec raised an eyebrow at Basil as to how foolish he can be at times, forgetting he did the same for a land mortal.

"Was it a male human or female". Alec could feel his eyes ready to judge him on the next answer he is to give.

"Is their gender necessary"? Alec scratched his head nervously.

"Not really, but I want to know". Basil said feeling excited.

"It's a male". Alec said, barely audible.

"You kissed a male human". Alec couldn't tell his friend's emotion as his head was facing down waiting to be judged,

"You like them don't you". Basil nudged Alec's shoulder when he saw Alec's mood had changed. It was against the sea mortal's laws to get tangled with the land mortals.

"I like him, he is the most beautiful human I have ever seen". The thought of the human face and the kiss they shared earlier brought a fuzzy feeling to Alec's heart and stomach.

"Too bad you can't be with him… it's against our laws, and he's a human boy".

"What do you mean by human, boy"? Alec stressed the part of him being a boy on how it got to do with him not being with him if he'd like to.

"Your dad the king will be against it. It's against our laws for a male sea mortal to be in an affair with another male sea mortal. Judging we are rare and need to increase our numbers". Basil stated the obvious.

"When I'm the king, all that is going to change". Alec said determinedly.

"Says the person who is not interested in the kingdom". Basil dramatically rolled his eyes.

"So what did the human call this affection again with the same sex". Basil scratched his head furiously trying to remember the term.

"Yes, I got it". He slapped Alec torques tail with his red one.

"The humans call it gay". Basil smiled happily, he was able to recall what Alec thought was irrelevant.

"You're gay Alec".

"Who's gay". King Optum Alec's Dad asked, looking at the two mermen who stood in front of him with expressions you could only term as shocked.

"I bet you want to kiss me". Simon smirked.

"Shut the fuck up, Simon… I'm not gay". Daniel said, unperturbed at how close he was to the teenager. He might be right to call him gay because his sexuality is something Daniel hasn't explored. He likes to consider himself to be heterosexual and sometimes pansexual when he sees guys shirtless in the locker room, but he was careful enough not to stare at anything longer than a second.

"Of course you're, that explains why you bully me around, always wanting your face close to mine. I bet you want to kiss me". Simon passed Daniel a smug look.

"Yes, Daniel, kiss the fag already". Justin, Daniel's friend who he didn't know was already in school, shouted out to him from the other side of the school. Justin had seen the drama that was displayed in front of him.

"Hell no". Daniel raised a punch and punched Simon on the stomach so that he had to fall on his knees and comfort his hurting stomach.

"I did that not to identify as gay". Daniel thought to himself, he quickly regretted punching the teenager in the stomach because he watched him sprawled out on the floor cursing under his breath.

The one thing Daniel doesn't want to happen in his school is losing his status. He came from a poor background already, if he's the one been picked on by other popular kids, he doubts he will survive it. Most especially if he's tagged as a fag, it's a speck of dirt he wouldn't wash off so easily on his high school experience.

Daniel matched to Justin and hugged him as Bros do, one hands hooking each other hands and the other on each other's back-patting gently.

"Why don't we grab some drinks later at my house, Jasper included"? Justin said.

"I don't know, man. I think I will be busy later".

"You're no fun, bro. It's just you, Jasper, and I, just like the old times, it has been a long we did anything fun". He pouted, desperately seeking Daniels's consent.

"Will your girlfriend be coming"? Daniel asked.

"No, Jennifer wouldn't be coming. It's a boy's night out". Justin smiled.

"Ok". Daniel said.

"Is that a yes"? Justin nudged Daniel's shoulders.

"Of course, it's a yes, dumb ass". Daniel equally nudged his shoulders and we both walked to class.

*****

"Who's gay". King Optum Alec's Dad asked looking at both boys whose expressions could only be termed as shocked.

"No one". Alec rushed to say, his words coming out as a stuttering mess.

"You guys looked to be so keen". King Optum said, looking at Basil and Alec suspiciously.

"I don't believe you both". Optum added.

"Of course, you wouldn't. Basil was just teaching me a new word he learned from the humans the other day".

"Isn't that right, Basil". Alec took his gaze to Basil for him to back him up.

"Yes, that's what I was just teaching the prince". Basil stuttered, looking less believable.

"What does the word mean"? King Optum pressed further to ask.

"It means very Happy. I saw your son, and he was looking happy, so I used the word he was gay". Basil smiled nervously around king Optum's eyes.

"Ok… Alec". King Optum took his gaze to Alec.

"There's a mermaid I want you to meet".

"Who's she… I would rather not meet anyone". Alec creased his eyebrows in a frown.

"It's tradition Alec. You need to establish a bond with her and possibly get her pregnant and increase our numbers". King Optum smiled, definitely squealing with joy as he felt his son was of age to start carrying out kingly duties.

"Dad, I still stand by my word… I'm meeting no mermaid. Do you realize you want to force me into marriage against my wish, just all for that throne"? Alec pointed in the direction of the palace.

"If mum was alive, I bet she wouldn't support it". Alec said with anger that spread through his veins.

"You didn't get to meet your mum… I did". Dad snapped.

"If anyone has the perfect sense to judge, I will say I am because your mother would have supported me". Dad swamped away, leaving ripples to where he once stood.

"I hate my dad". Alec seethed with anger.

"I know". Basil said picking on blue algae that swamped by.

"What are you going to do, clearly your dad wants to marry you out".

"If only he still sees me around in Astera". Alec said.

"It shouldn't be what I'm thinking, it's in that head of yours". Basil looked at me, dumbfounded to be exact.

"Yes, it is".

"Are you crazy"? Basil sounded loud at first, but toned it down at the crazy.

"You could lose Astera and your right to the throne. You will lose everything". Basil sounded worried

" I never really cared about anything concerning the throne".

"We need to see the sea god". Alec added.

"What can I do to talk you out of this insane and outrageous mind of yours".

"Nothing, friend, my mind is made up". Alec said to Basil swimming away.

"Wait, Alec". Basil swam close to me.

"Going to the sea god to ask for something, you must give one thing in return for the kindness he shows you".

"That shouldn't be a problem". Alec smirked, he could offer him his treasures.

"If you think the stupid items you pick in the sea will make a deal with the god, then you're joking". Basil dramatically rolled his eyes.

"Then what will be a fair deal to the sea god".

"It's always something physical". Basil said thoughtfully.

"Well, I'm giving up my tail for human legs, that, I think, is enough physical deal".

"You're what". Basil said shocked.

"Yes, I'm giving up my tail for human legs". Alec retorted.

"Are you acting stupid, or you're just stupid…is this all about the human you kissed earlier".

"Maybe". Alec said not knowing what else to say but one thing he was sure of is he had a desire burning inside him and the desire was him wanting to see the land mortal again, get to kiss him again just as he did in the sea.