Chapter 20

"No"

"What?"

"I'm not going back to the village."

"I will drag you if that is what I have to do to take you back."

"I would like to see you try"

"Hello, I'm also here."A revamping mermaid broke the argument between Zaire and me. Luckily, she was transforming back to her beautiful self.

"Oh, I'm sorry this is Faith, she is your Queen.", Zaire introduced the mermaid.

"Aha, don't listen to him. I'm not your Queen, but I'm pleased to meet you. I'm Zaire's friend and you're? "

"Have a little bit of patient Faith. I will introduce her. Faith is this Zendaya, and I'm sorry she wouldn't be able to hang around. She is returning to her village."

"No, I'm not."

"Yes, you're"

"So, Zendaya, you are from Amari, "Faith broke our argument again.

"Yes"

"Come sit beside me", Faith pointed to a spot on a rock that she was sitting on. She does seem lovely now while moments ago, she looked like a monster.

"Wow, that is not necessary, she is leaving now"

"Come on Zaire, she can stay a little longer. Anyway, I'm intrigued to know how you both know each other. What is exactly your relationship?"

"Sorry, to disappoint you Faith but that doesn't concern you and Zendaya let's go"By this time I'm sitting comfortably on that rock, Faith appointed. A mermaid is inviting me to the seat next to her, and Zaire except me to deny the offers. This is pure luck, and anyway I'm also interested in how Zaire and Faith know each other.

"No, it's luck to meet a mermaid and don't even want to mention chatting with her. And anyway, I'm also interested in yours and Faith's relationship."

"Tell me, how that does concern you?"Zaire poses a question, but I'm not going to reply to him. I'm tired of arguing with him. I don't understand him being so stubborn. I don't understand why can't he realize that I'm not going back to my village. The sooner he understands, the better for everyone.

"Zaire, come on. This is not Zaire I know. Why are you so uptight? Relax and come sit next to me."Faith said, clearly she doesn't understand this Zaire's behavior.

"No, I'm perfectly fine standing."

"Oh, he can be impossible sometimes."

"Tell me about it.", I roll my eyes and then turn to look at Faith. Half of her tail is wiggling the water. So tall and beautiful. I never thought I would see a mermaid. Her tail was blue with black tinges which matched her crop top.

" Can I touch your tail? It is so beautiful"

"Of course, you can touch it "

I hold her ctenoid-scale tail. It is so smooth and slightly slimy. I honestly can't believe that I'm holding a mermaid.

" ah, ahh. Hey, you're tickling me", She removes my hand from her tail.

"What?", I thought aloud, as I looking straight at her bracelet. The bracelet looks exactly like Zaire's bracelet.

" What?"Faith inquired.

"Oh, nothing." I forged a smile.

I was about to ignore the whole bracelet thing when I suddenly saw a spear similar to Zaire's spear, right next to Faith's tail, in the lake. The difference is that the spear is silver."Does this mean that Zaire is a merman.No, it can't be, could it?"

"Zendaya, I asked a question."

"Sorry, what?"

"I said how do you meet Zaire?"

"Um, how did I meet him?"I don't know what to tell Faith, my mind is puzzled about Zaire being a merman.

"Okay, I see that you both don't know what to discuss about and you think you can drag my name into your conversation. Which I not going to stand for, so Zendaya let's go."

"Zaire, don't be such...", while Faith was trying to reprimand Zaire, I interrupted, " Zaire is right, we should not drag his name into our conversation and we should leave. It was a pleasure meeting you Faith."I quickly stood up.

" Are you alright? "

"Yes, I'm.", I again forged a smile on my face to assure Faith.

"Let go Zaire."I was keen to leave.

"Yes, mam."

As we are strolling back to my village. I'm just following Zaire as I don't know why anyway.

"You know that I thought that I will have to drag you or carry you..... ", Zaire continues to talk. I'm not listening. I thinking how would I begin to ask Zaire about his origin and the possibility that he is a merman. The reason I agreed to leave is that I wanted to know from him if he is a merman. My heart resists the truth. I don't want to believe it.

"I'm glad you are okay. Zendaya are you even listening to me."

"Yeah"

"I was saying you're ugly."

"Of course"

"Very ugly"

"Yeah"

"Zendaya, you're not listening"

"I'm"

"So what did I say?"

"Okey, you're right I am not listening. I don't know what were you saying."

"I know that you not listening. What I want to know is why?"

I stopped walking, and I stare straight into Zair 's eyes. Still thinking about how should I start. "Are you a merman? "That seems easy enough to start.

"Don't stare at me like that. I ask you a question. Why are you not listening to me? Are you angry?"

"No"

"Did I do anything wrong?"

"No"

"Are you upset about what happened last night?"

"No"

"Are you upset that I'm taking you back to your village?"

"Are you mermaid, I mean merman?"

"That's a way to answer Zendaya. Answer with a question."

"No, I'm not upset about going back to the village. Do you know why I'm not upset? Because I'm going back. So answer my question."

"Why? Do you ask?"

"Oh, that is a good way to answer a question, with another question."

"That right"

"I'm not playing Zaire. Are you a merman?"

Zair stared right into my eyes."Yes," He sighs."I'm a merman."He bent his head down and began to walk.