Izan quickly led Esteban into his room, locking the door behind them to prevent Granma Ancha from unexpectedly walking in. The last thing he wanted was for his grandmother to see a naked man in his room—it would surely shock her.
“Is this your home, Izan? It’s so different from my home in Ver Profundo!” Esteban marveled as he took in his surroundings.
Izan guided the merman to sit on his bed. “Stay right there, okay? Don’t move. I’ll find you some clothes!” he said, flustered. He turned away from Esteban and walked towards his closet, his mind still reeling from the earlier conversation. Esteban’s words echoed in his head, making him feel disoriented. It turned out that Esteban had always dreamed of walking beside him on land.
He rummaged through his closet, searching for clothes that would fit Esteban, who was a bit bigger than him. He pulled out a large T-shirt, a pair of briefs, and some basketball shorts. When he turned back to Esteban, he gasped—Esteban was already standing, the shirt that had been covering his lower body now lying on the floor.
“Izan!” Esteban exclaimed, looking puzzled.
“Why did you take that off?” Izan’s heart pounded as he approached Esteban, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. “You can’t just let people see you like this. You need to put on some clothes. Here,” he said, handing the garments to Esteban.
“What do I do with these?” Esteban asked, genuinely confused.
“You wear them,” Izan instructed.
“How?”
Izan sighed and ran a hand over his face, realizing Esteban had no idea how to wear clothes, having never needed them in his life. “Give them to me,” he said, taking the clothes back. He knelt in front of Esteban and held out the briefs. “Put your feet through the holes, one at a time,” he directed. Esteban followed his instructions, and when Izan pulled the briefs up to Esteban’s waist, his hand accidentally brushed against Esteban’s private parts, sending a jolt through his body.
“Is something wrong, Izan?” Esteban asked innocently.
“No, nothing!” Izan quickly replied, taking a deep breath before helping Esteban into the shorts and shirt. Fortunately, Esteban was quick to understand his instructions.
“I feel like a real human now, dressed like this!” Esteban exclaimed joyfully once he was fully clothed.
“Wait, how did you get legs in the first place?”
“Didn’t I tell you? I retrieved the Piedra—the necklace that has the power to give an Sangre like me legs. This is the Piedra…” Esteban touched the unusual necklace hanging around his neck.
“So, you’re going to live on land now?” Izan asked.
Esteban nodded. “That’s what I want. You won’t leave me, will you? After all, one of the reasons I wanted legs is because of you, Izan!”
Izan blinked, his heart racing as Esteban moved closer to him, forcing him to step back until he was pressed against the wall. He was cornered by the merman. “W-why because of me?” he stammered, feeling butterflies fluttering in his stomach.
Esteban smiled charmingly. “Because I love you, Izan!” he declared without hesitation.
Izan’s eyes widened in shock. “M-me?”
“Yes, you.”
“B-but why me?”
Esteban took Izan’s hand and placed it against his left chest. “Do you feel how fast my heart is beating? It only beats like this when I’m with you, Izan. That’s a sign that I’m in love with you…”
Izan quickly pulled his hand away and looked away from Esteban. He couldn’t bear to meet the merman’s blue eyes. “But we’re both men… Love is supposed to be between a man and a woman, or a woman and a man.”
“Is love something that can only be felt between a man and a woman?” Esteban questioned.
“That’s how it’s supposed to be, Esteban. This kind of love is wrong!”
“But I’m willing to be wrong for you!”
Oh God, I’m about to give in! Izan thought desperately. He shivered as Esteban gently guided his face to look at him again.
“We’re from different worlds, Esteban. I’m human, and you’re a merman…” Izan argued.
“That’s why I did everything to become part of your world, didn’t I? Isn’t it enough that I’m here in front of you, with legs, as proof that I love you?”
“A-Esteban…” Izan was at a loss for words. The truth was, he loved Esteban too. In the short time they had known each other, he had already fallen for the merman’s innocence and joyful personality.
“Izan, do you love me too?” Esteban asked seriously. Izan tried to turn away, but Esteban held his cheek, gently forcing him to meet his gaze once more. “Look into my eyes and answer my question.”
Izan, do you love me too?” 
“A-Esteban, it’s just—”
“Just answer me now, Izan.”
“Alright! I love you too—”
Before Izan could finish his sentence, Esteban sealed his lips with a kiss. The merman had kissed him!
Izan’s eyes widened in shock. He felt the gentle movement of Esteban’s tongue, urging him to part his lips. As he slightly opened his mouth, Esteban’s tongue explored it eagerly. The warmth of the merman’s breath was overwhelming, and Izan felt himself losing consciousness from the intensity. His eyes slowly closed as he savored the sweet, tender kiss from the merman he loved.
They broke apart suddenly at the sound of rapid knocking on the door.
“Grandson? Izan?” It was Granma Ancha! She had arrived.
Panicking, Izan ran his fingers through his hair. He glanced at Esteban, who remained calm and unbothered. How would he explain the presence of this man to Granma Ancha? His conscience couldn’t bear to just let Esteban wander around outside.
He took a deep breath and opened the door to find Granma Ancha looking at him with a frown. “Oh, Lola! You’re here already!” he said, forcing a smile.
“I’ve been knocking for a while, and you didn’t open the door, young man! Good thing I brought the key.”
“Sorry, *La. I was just talking with my friend who came from Madrid.” Izan gestured for Granma Ancha to enter, revealing Esteban behind him.
“Good day to you, elderly land-dweller!” Esteban greeted with enthusiasm.
Izan nearly burst into laughter at Esteban’s formal greeting. He guided Granma Ancha away from the room and into the living room. “He can be a bit poetic. His name is Esteban, Lola. If it’s alright, can he stay here just for this vacation?”
“Well, that’s quite rude, calling me old!” Granma Ancha grimaced but then laughed. “Oh, you’re laughing at me, aren’t you?”
“Well, Lola, you’re in denial. You are old,” Izan teased.
“Really now! I won’t agree to let your friend stay here!” Granma Ancha was adamant.
Izan hugged Granma Ancha tightly. “Please, Lola. Please! Please!”
“Alright, alright! If it weren’t for you, I’d never agree!”
“Thank you, Lola!” Izan said, giving her a kiss on the cheek before happily returning to his room where Esteban was waiting.
Esteban was still standing where Izan had left him. “What did you say to the elderly land-dweller?” he asked eagerly.
“Esteban, don’t call her that. Her name is Granma Ancha. Just call her ‘Lola.’ She agreed to let you stay here,” Izan explained.
“Oh, Granma Ancha. Got it,” Esteban said, approaching Izan with the excitement of a child learning to walk. He cupped Izan’s face in his hands.
Izan looked at him, puzzled. “What are you going to do?”
“Let’s kiss again!”
“What?! We can’t be kissing all the time, you know?” Izan whispered urgently.
“Lola will get upset. When there are others around, act like we’re just friends.”
“But why?”
“Just follow my lead, okay? And don’t kiss me right after we’ve just kissed. I just found out that mermaids are so…” 
“So what?” Izan prompted.
“Oh, nothing. It’s better if I just feed you. Let’s go to the kitchen?” Esteban nodded eagerly, and Izan led him out of the room.
“EXPLORE the entire ocean! Don’t come back until you find Prince Esteban!” King Agrupador commanded his numerous soldiers.
The soldiers swam off immediately. Once alone, the king was approached by his queen, Merluza, who was crying. He embraced her tightly.
“I’m scared, Agrupador! What if something has happened to our Esteban?”
“I’m worried too, my queen.”
“But why are you still searching for Esteban in the ocean when we know he’s on land now? With the loss of the Piedra, he’s gone too.” King Agrupador’s jaw tightened. “You know that going to land without a valid reason is against the laws of Ver Profundo! I don’t want to anger the merfolk by letting our son be punished!”
King Agrupador released Queen Merluza when they felt a presence watching them. They turned to see Raballa approaching.
“It seems what happened to me with Esteban is happening again,” Raballa said.
“Raballa! What do you mean?” Queen Merluza asked anxiously.
“Esteban told me he loves a land-dweller. He must have taken the Piedra because of that!”
King Agrupador stormed towards Raballa and grabbed him by the throat. “Perhaps you told Esteban about the Piedra!”
“L-Let me go! I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Raballa choked out.
“My king, let my brother go! You might kill him!” Queen Merluza cried out.
“He deserves to die for leading Esteban into danger!”
“Fine, kill me, King Agrupador! Let’s see if you don’t get cursed by the people of Ver Profundo!” Raballa spat.
King Agrupador released him with a demonic smile. “It seems your son is blinded by love to the point of defying us! He’s the only Sangre who will lead Ver Profundo. But what if he never returns?” Raballa said, swimming away.
King Agrupador watched him with fury. “This is Raballa’s doing! He doesn’t want our son to fulfill his role as the next ruler of Ver Profundo! I’ve never liked the behavior of your brother, Merluza!”
“Let him go, my king. What’s important is that we find our son,” Queen Merluza replied.
Izan was thoroughly entertained watching Esteban eat cake and ice cream. The merman’s hands and face were covered in sticky mess because he was eating like a child, using his hands instead of utensils.
“Please tell your friend to slow down. He won’t run out of food,” Granma Ancha whispered, joining them at the table.
“Let him be, Lola. It’s just that… he’s from a poor background and doesn’t often get to eat such treats, so he’s savoring it,” Izan explained.
“Oh, I see. That’s too bad. I’ll cook something special later!” Granma Ancha smiled, and Izan nodded in appreciation, continuing to watch Esteban’s amusing eating habits.
For the first time in his life, Izan felt truly happy. But wait, are Esteban and I a couple now? The merman loves him, and he loves Esteban too. He would talk to Esteban about it later to clarify their relationship.
A short while later, Izan was startled when Esteban suddenly began to choke. “I-I can’t breathe! Eeek!” Esteban’s face was turning red.
Izan quickly filled a glass with water and handed it to Esteban. “Slow down. There’s plenty more in the fridge. You can eat as much as you want…”
Esteban licked the icing off his fingers and drank. “Mmm… it’s delicious!” he exclaimed, delighted. He continued licking his hand clean.
Izan watched, mesmerized. He wished he were the one licking Esteban’s hand.
Oh! What am I thinking?! he scolded himself and adjusted his sitting position.
After Esteban finished eating, he headed straight to Izan’s room. Izan left him there while he cleaned up the mess.
When Izan returned to his room, he found Esteban lying on the bed, already asleep.
Izan sat beside him, laughing. “See, you ate too much and got sleepy!” 
He gazed at Esteban’s face, gently brushing his lips. Just moments ago, those lips had touched his. He couldn’t get enough of Esteban’s handsome face, which seemed to grow even more attractive the more he looked at it.
“Thank you, Esteban, for coming into my life,” Izan whispered. “Thank you, God, for allowing us to meet despite our different worlds. I love you so much.” He didn’t realize he was crying until the tears began to fall.
He wiped his eyes and took a deep breath. But soon, he felt sadness creeping in as he thought about their different worlds. 
He was on land, and Esteban was in the water. Yes, Esteban had legs now, but how long would that last? How long could they be happy together?
“Maybe I shouldn’t get too close to you, Esteban. I don’t want us both to get hurt in the end. We’re from different worlds. I don’t want to hope that we can stay like this forever. What if the sea takes you away when I’m not ready? I can’t handle that. I just can’t…” he whispered sadly.
Suddenly, Esteban’s eyes fluttered open. A sweet smile spread across his face when he saw Izan. He pulled Izan’s neck towards him, and for the second time, their lips met in a kiss!