“WAIT, how am I supposed to get home from this island you brought me to? My house is so far away,” Izan asked Esteban.
“I’ll take you home. I just won’t get too close to the shore so people won’t see me.”
“Huh? How?”
“Ride on my back.”
Izan snapped his fingers in realization. “Ah, like a horse?”
“A horse? What’s that?”
“It’s an animal people ride on its back…”
Esteban nodded. “Maybe it’s like that. Come on, get on my back…” With that, the merman crawled back into the water.
Izan climbed onto Esteban’s back, holding onto his shoulders. He was surprised when the merman’s tail started moving, and they began to glide forward. Izan was thrilled; he had thought Esteban wouldn’t be able to support his weight, but the merman was incredibly strong, swimming effortlessly.
“It feels great riding on your back, Esteban!” Izan exclaimed joyfully.
“Really? No one’s ever ridden on my back before. Ah, I know, I’ll dive so you can see what’s under the ocean!”
“Oh no, don’t—” Izan tried to protest, knowing he couldn’t breathe underwater, but Esteban seemed too excited about the idea. Before he could say anything more, the merman had already dived deep into the water.
It felt like they were moving as fast as a bullet train. Izan shut his eyes, afraid he might lose his grip on Esteban, and ended up wrapping his arms around the merman’s neck. He wanted to say he was running out of air, but how could he? He wasn’t a merman who could talk underwater!
Esteban swam in circles, and when he finally stopped, he asked, “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Izan couldn’t answer because he was still underwater.
“Why aren’t you talking?” the merman asked, tapping Izan on the back. “Oh no, I’m sorry! I forgot!” Esteban quickly swam up to the surface.
Izan gasped and coughed as he finally caught his breath. “Geez, Esteban! Were you trying to drown me?” He still had his arms around the merman’s neck, their faces just inches apart.
“I’m sorry, Izan. I got so excited. It’s just that this is my first time interacting with a human.”
“Alright, just remember next time. Now, can you take me home?”
“No problem. Just remember your promise—”
“Don’t worry, Esteban. I’ll see you again. I promised, didn’t I?” Izan said, smiling at his merman friend.
WHEN Esteban returned to Ver Profundo, he was immediately greeted by King Agrupador. The king called him with a serious expression. “Why, Your Majesty?” Esteban asked.
“Why do you keep going to the surface, Esteban?” The king’s voice wasn’t angry, but it made Esteban nervous.
He looked away. “T-That’s not true, Your Majesty—”
“And now you’re lying to me, Esteban! I had a merman guard follow you because I noticed your frequent disappearances. The guard told me you’ve been going to the surface!”
“But—”
“I forbid you from going to the surface, Esteban! Only your mother and I are allowed to do that. Do you understand?”
Esteban shook his head firmly. “Why are you forbidding me from going to the surface? I want to—”
“How dare you talk back?! When I say you’re not going to the surface, you’re not! Don’t be stubborn, Esteban. You need to focus on your studies to become the next king. There’s nothing for you on the surface!”
Esteban wanted to argue, but the king turned his back on him. He realized he should have been more careful. He hadn’t known his father had already noticed his frequent absences.
WHEN Queen Merluza saw her husband Agrupador alone on the veranda, she immediately approached him. She knew he had scolded their son Esteban for going to the surface. She understood why her husband was worried; he was just concerned that Esteban might be in danger on the surface.
She came closer and sat beside him. “Esteban is no longer a child, Agrupador…” she said, followed by a deep breath.
Agrupador looked at her. “What do you mean, Merluza?”
“Esteban is becoming more curious. Look, he even learned about going to the surface. I’m afraid that one day we won’t be able to control him.”
“Let’s hope not, Merluza. Esteban has a great responsibility in Ver Profundo. He can’t be rebellious. I don’t want him to end up like your sister Raballa, who fell in love with a human!”
“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to our beloved son later about this. Hopefully, he’ll understand that nothing good can come from going to the surface…” And she leaned on the broad chest of the King of Ver Profundo.
WHEN Izan entered his grandmother’s house, he saw her in the kitchen. The aroma of adobo filled the air. He ran over to her, soaking wet and dripping water all over the floor. “Grandma Fel!!” he shouted excitedly, hugging the old lady.
“Oh, you rascal!” she exclaimed in surprise. “Don’t hug me when you’re all wet, Izan!”
“Come on, Grandma, I’m just being affectionate!” He let go of her.
“I know why you’re being affectionate, you little rascal! Ah! You used your Grandpa Ben’s boat, didn’t you? You’re such a stubborn child!”
“Where, Grandma? Up or down?” he joked. “How did you—”
“How did I know? The boat isn’t by the house anymore, of course. Do you know how worried I was about you? What happened to the boat?” Izan pouted and looked away. “The boat sank. But don’t worry, I’m here! Alive and breathing! And still handsome. It’s a good thing I’m a good swimmer!”
Grandma Fe was about to hit him with a ladle, but he quickly dodged, laughing. “You’re so full of yourself! What if you had drowned?” She shook her head.
“Come on, Grandma, I’m safe. Hmm… I’m going to take a bath now!” And he ran off to the bathroom before his grandmother could scold him again.
Once inside the bathroom, Izan quickly took off all his clothes. He placed the bucket under the faucet and filled it with water. Soon, he was pouring water over himself using a dipper. As he was doing so, he suddenly stopped. He leaned against the wall and smiled. He was thinking about Esteban again, especially the merman’s handsome face and strong physique. He looked down at his own body, contemplating whether he should start going to the gym to achieve a similar build.
Until now, Izan still couldn’t believe that he had befriended a merman. And not just any acquaintance, but a true friend! He was thoroughly entertained by Esteban’s innocence. It was like talking to a child, but in the body of a handsome and muscular man with a fish’s tail.
Izan continued his bath, and when he was done, he poked his head out of the bathroom door and called out, “Granma Ancha, could you pass me a towel?” He had forgotten to bring one in.
“Oh, you little rascal! How could you forget to bring a towel before going in there?” his grandmother shouted back.
Esteban lifted his face from his bed made of smooth stone when he felt someone enter his room. He saw La monja Raballa approaching. She sat at the edge of his bed while he adjusted his position to sit in the center.
“La monja Raballa, good day to you. Why have you come to my room?” He sniffled a bit, still upset from being scolded by his father, the King, for the first time.
“I heard that your father scolded you, Prince Esteban. I’m sorry,” La monja Raballa said.
“Yes, La monja Raballa. Why is he so angry that I went to the surface?”
“I don’t know, Prince Esteban. They used to oppose me too when they found out I was going to the surface. They always forbade me, and I think they’ll do the same to you. Will you accept that, Prince Esteban?”
Esteban looked off into the distance, clenching his jaw. “I don’t want a life with limitations, La monja! I want to be free. I want to visit the land often, especially now that I have a human friend there!”
“R-really? You already have a human friend?”
Esteban nodded. “Yes, La monja Raballa! He’s a human with small eyes. His name is Izan, and he’s fun to talk to. He’s kind, contrary to what my parents say about humans being evil. He even let me touch his feet, La monja! They’re so soft and beautiful. I’m even more determined to have legs like his so I can walk and run on land!” He eagerly shared his story with La monja Raballa, who was the only one in Ver Profundo who understood his desire to visit the surface.
“Well, if that’s the case, why don’t you use the Piedra—” La monja Raballa cut herself off, realizing what she was about to suggest. “Oh, forgive me. It’s a crime to meddle with that sacred object.”
Esteban suddenly grabbed her by the shoulders. “You’re right, La monja Raballa! The Piedra is the answer to my dream of having legs! Do you know where it is?”
La monja Raballa looked away. “But Prince Esteban, the King and Queen will curse you if you use the Piedra. I can’t let that happen to you.”
“I’m begging you, La monja…”
“No, Prince.”
“Please! I know you understand me, La monja. You know how I feel because you’ve been through this before. I want to leave Ver Profundo and live on land. I want freedom!”
“But you are the future ruler of Ver Profundo, Prince Esteban. What you’re thinking isn’t possible!”
“I don’t care about the throne or power, La monja! All I want is freedom and to live on land with the humans.”
They stared at each other, with La monja Raballa seemingly trying to gauge if he was serious. Izan was indeed serious. At first, he only wanted to see what was on land because of the stories La monja Raballa told him when he was young. But after meeting Izan, his desire to have legs like Izan’s only grew stronger. He wanted to walk and run alongside him. He didn’t know why, but he was eager to see and talk to him again.
“If that’s the case, Prince… I will tell you where the Piedra is…” La monja Raballa finally agreed.
“Where is the Piedra?”
“In the room of your father, the King. There’s a secret door there that only we Sangre can open. Enter there, and you’ll find a box made of gold. Inside that box is the Piedra!”
Esteban smiled and hugged La monja. “Thank you, La monja. I owe this to you!” he said joyfully.
The next morning, Izan was already at the shore. He was looking out at the large rock in the sea where Esteban had told him he often spent time. After a while, he smiled as he saw Esteban there. The merman waved at him, and Izan waved back. He signaled for Esteban to wait, and Esteban nodded.
Izan rushed back into the house and grabbed a plastic bag filled with items he knew his merman friend would love. He was about to head out when his grandmother called him. “Izan, where are you going?” she asked.
“I-I’m just going for a swim in the sea, grandma,” he lied.
“Oh, you’re going to swim this early in the morning? You’ll be as dark as a raisin by the time school starts!” she teased.
“Oh, you’re exaggerating, Grandma!” he laughed. “I’m off!” he said, and went to the shore.
Izan swam to the rock and showed Esteban the plastic bag he had brought.
“What’s that, Izan?” Esteban asked.
“I’ll show you later. Let’s go to the island you took me to when I almost drowned.”
“Alright. Hop on my back. Don’t worry, I won’t dive this time…”
Izan laughed at what Esteban said. He quickly climbed onto the merman’s back, and within a minute, they were on the island. They both sat on the shore, with Izan’s feet and Esteban’s tail being kissed by the waves as they came and went.
“I was excited to see you again, so I came back right away, Izan…” Esteban said.
Did that mean Esteban missed him? But why? Izan turned his face slightly away from the merman, afraid that Esteban might notice his blush at those words.
“Oh, right! I brought some food and things that I think you’ve never seen before!” Izan was genuinely excited to show Esteban these simple items from the land that didn’t exist where he lived.
Izan emptied the contents of his bag onto the sand. Inside were a bracelet made of colorful beads that was a school project, a lollipop, candies, and fish crackers. Esteban immediately picked up the lollipop and, like a child, asked, “What’s this? Why is it hard?”
Izan took the lollipop from him and unwrapped it. “It’s a type of human food. It’s sweet and a favorite of children. Look, this is how you eat a lollipop…” he said, putting it in his mouth and sucking on it.
Esteban clapped his hands. Izan was delighted to see the happiness on Esteban’s face.
“My turn!” the merman said, taking the lollipop from Izan’s mouth.
“Wait—” It was too late to stop him, as Esteban had already put the lollipop, still covered in Izan’s saliva, into his mouth.
“Mmm! It’s delicious! So sweet!” Esteban said, not removing the lollipop from his mouth.
Izan blushed even more. It felt like they had just kissed, their first indirect kiss!
But why did he feel so giddy?
Get a grip, Izan! he scolded himself.
But their joy quickly turned to concern when Esteban’s skin color suddenly changed. It became pale. They realized that Esteban couldn’t stay on land for too long, so even though they didn’t want to part ways yet, they were forced to. Esteban returned to his home in Ver Profundo.