Izan immediately went to Juancho's house. He knew where the man lived because they used to play together when he would spend his vacations in Donastia - San Sebastian. He had barely knocked on Juancho's door a Few times when it opened quickly. Juancho was the one who greeted him.
"Oh, Izan. What are you doing here?" Juancho asked right away.
"Juancho, can you come with me to the garbage dump?"
"Huh? Why?"
"I just need to find something. Please? Granma Ancha accidentally threw away something I need when she asked you to take out the trash earlier."
Juancho scratched his head as he replied, "Well, I have something to do, but..."
"I'll give you fifty pesos! Come on, just go with me. I don't know the way there. If I did, I wouldn't be asking you to come along."
Juancho's eyes lit up. "Really? Fifty pesos?"
Tss! Money-minded! Izan thought to himself.
He nodded while smiling. "Yes. Fifty!" he answered, even showing five fingers to emphasize.
"Alright then! Just give me a second to change clothes."
"Don't bother changing. We're only going to the garbage dump!" Izan said as he grabbed Juancho by the hand and pulled him out of the house.
Esteban looked weakly at his hand. It was drying up and wrinkling, just like his tail, which, even though it was submerged in the bathtub, Felt completely dry. The luster it once had was gone. The once vibrant blue color was now slowly fading. His breathing had slowed, and he Felt too weak to move.
Esteban had just realized that he couldn't stay on land for long in his merman form because it made him weak. Unless he had the oblique and legs.
He hoped Izan would find the Piedra soon. He trusted that Izan would return with it. Izan had promised him, and he believed in that promise.
"What exactly are you looking for, Izan? It stinks here! Can we just go home?" Juancho complained as they rummaged through the garbage dump.
"Go home? Fine. No fifty pesos for you!" Izan stopped what he was doing and looked at Juancho, annoyed.
"What do you expect from a garbage dump—a pleasant smell? Just look for a necklace with a seashell pendant," he replied.
"Oh! That necklace that looks kind of unusual?"
"Yes, that's the one! Did you see it?"
"Well, no matter how hard we look here, we're not going to find it."
"Why?" Izan asked.
"The necklace you're talking about is at my house. I liked it, so I didn't throw it away. I kept it."
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!"
"You didn't tell me that was what you were looking for."
"Oh, I can't deal with you! Let's go to your house and give me back the necklace!" And for the second time, Izan pulled Juancho, this time back to his house.
Izan hurriedly went to his room, grateful that he had managed to retrieve the Piedra from Juancho. Upon entering the bathroom, he saw Esteban unconscious in the bathtub. He rushed to the merman's side and checked his pulse—it was still there but very weak.
He gently tapped Esteban's cheek. "Esteban, wake up! I'm here, just like I promised," Izan pleaded, his voice breaking, but Esteban remained unresponsive.
Izan took the Piedra from his pocket and placed it around Esteban's neck. He was momentarily blinded as Esteban's blue tail suddenly glowed brightly. When the light faded, Esteban had legs again. Slowly, the smooth texture of his skin returned as well.
Izan continued trying to wake the merman until Esteban finally opened his eyes.
"Esteban!" Izan exclaimed joyfully, unable to resist hugging him.
Esteban returned the embrace. "Izan, you came back! Thank you!"
"I promised you, didn’t I?" Izan said, looking into Esteban's handsome face.
"Thank you so much, Izan."
"Just make sure you never take off the Piedra again, okay?"
"Yes. Now I know I can’t stay on land in my merman form for too long, or I get weak. If you had taken any longer to come back, I might have died."
Izan shook his head. "Of course, I would never let that happen, Esteban. Come on, get out of there so you can get dressed." He helped the merman out of the bathtub.
After they had lunch, Izan received a long-distance call from Australia. It was Hugo on the other end.
"Hello, dude! How’s it going? How many kangaroos have you dated over there?" Izan joked with his friend, laughing.
Izan really missed his best friend. He missed the fun and playful moments they used to share, but it seemed like it would be a while before they could do that again. He had to finish his fourth year of high school in Donastia - San Sebastian before he could return to Madrid.
"None, of course. You know I'm faithful to you, dude," Hugo joked back.
"Faithful, my foot! So, why'd you call?"
"Nothing much. Just wanted to hear from you. I miss you, dude. What about you? Do you have a fish girlfriend there in Donastia - San Sebastian?"
Izan laughed. "How did you know?"
"What? You really have a fish girlfriend?!"
Not just a fish. Half fish, half human! He thought to himself.
"You believed that? Come on, why'd you call?"
"I just wanted to let you know I'm coming home next week. Maybe we can meet up?"
"I can't, though. You know my mom won't let me go back to Madrid until I finish high school here."
"That sucks!" Hugo complained.
"ESTEBAN, stay here at home, okay? You're in charge while Granma Ancha is out. I'm heading to school to enroll," Izan told Esteban, who was sitting on the sofa while he fixed his hair in front of the mirror.
"School? What’s that?" Esteban asked.
"It’s where people go to study. I won’t be long. I’m not bringing you along because there would be no one to watch the house."
After getting ready, Izan said goodbye to Esteban.
Once Izan left, Esteban went to their room and changed clothes. He wanted to go for a walk by the shore. He Felt so happy as a human now, but the best thing that had happened to him since becoming a human was being Izan's boyfriend. Izan was so kind, and Esteban Felt the deep love the landdweller had for him. He was so lucky to have met someone like Izan.
After changing, Esteban headed to the beach. The sun was a bit intense, making him sweat right away.
Esteban gazed at the large rock where he used to hang out when he was still a merman. From that rock, he used to watch people from afar. Suddenly, he thought of Ver Profundo.
"I wonder how Mom and Dad are doing there? And what about Atun and Aer Amafura? I wish I could see them, but I know Mom and Dad wouldn’t let me return to the surface if I went back," Esteban said, talking to the sea.
He took off his sandals and shirt and walked towards the water. He Felt a wave of joy as the small waves kissed his Feet. He glanced back at the large rock.
What if I go there again? Esteban thought.
He smiled to himself and continued walking until the water was waist-deep. He dove in and swam until he reached the large rock. Sitting atop it, he admired the beauty of the blue sky reflected in the clear sea below.
After a while, he smiled as he saw Atun approaching.
"Atun!" he called out, waving at his whale friend.
"Esteban, I knew it was you! Waaah! Why do you have legs?!" Atun exclaimed in shock.
Esteban held the Piedra. "Because of this Piedra, I've missed you, my whale friend!"
"Missed? What's that?"
"It's what humans say when they long for someone or something."
"Did you know you've been searched for in Ver Profundo for a long time?" Atun seemed anxious, which Esteban noticed. "And there's something you need to know, Esteban."
"What is it, Atun?"
"You need to return to Ver Profundo."
"W-why?"
Atun's eyes darted around, as if unable to meet Esteban's gaze. "Ever since you left, King Agrupador and Queen Merluza have become very sad. They're sick, Esteban. They need you! You must return to Ver Profundo."
Worry surged through Esteban. "My mother and father? Okay, I'll return to Ver Profundo right away!" he replied, his voice trembling with emotion. Guilt overwhelmed him upon hearing Atun's news. He hadn't realized how deeply his parents would be afFected by his departure from Ver Profundo. Now they were ill because of it, and if anything bad happened to them, he wouldn't be able to forgive himself.
He quickly removed the Piedra and placed it on the rock. His legs glowed and transformed back into a merman's tail. He jumped into the water and swam alongside Atun, heading back to Ver Profundo.
* * *
Before heading home after enrolling at school, Izan spotted a vendor selling Tapasby the roadside. He smiled, realizing that Esteban had never tried it before. Esteban would surely love it if he brought some home.
"Manong, how much is the kwek-kwek?" he asked the vendor.
"Five pesos for two," the vendor replied.
Izan pulled out forty pesos and handed them to the vendor. "I'll buy some, please."
It would be more fun if Esteban were here with him, eating Tapas together by the roadside. It would be so romantic!
Afterward, Izan walked home. When he arrived, Granma Ancha was already there. He greeted her respectfully and asked where Esteban was.
"Well, I don't know where your friend is. When I got here, the house was empty," Granma Ancha replied.
"Izan, why did you finish eating right away? I even cooked your favorite dish," Granma Ancha remarked when Izan told her he didn’t want to eat anymore.
"I'm just full, Granma," Izan replied weakly.
Granma Ancha stood up and Felt his forehead and neck. "You don't have a Fever, but you seem down."
"Maybe I'm just tired, Granma."
"Are you sure?" Izan nodded in response.
"Wait, where's Esteban? I haven't seen him for a while. It's already evening, and he's still not back. That boy sure likes to wander!"
"He left."
"What?"
"And it seems like he won’t be coming back," Izan added sadly.
* * *
Izan repeatedly looked at the pictures of him and Esteban on his cell phone, and each time, the tears flowed again. It was already three in the morning, but he still couldn't sleep. His mind was consumed by thoughts of Esteban leaving. Yes, the merman was definitely gone because, even now, he still hadn't returned. 
* * *
Izan quickly asked, "Is he in my room?"
"No. The door wasn't locked, so I took a peek, but he wasn't there."
"Okay, thanks." Izan thought that the merman might be at the beach.
"Wait, what's that you're holding, grandson? Is that kwek-kwek?" Granma Ancha asked with a smile. "Give me some; I've been craving it for days!"
Izan hid the bag of Tapas behind him. "No, Granma Ancha, this is for me and Esteban. Besides, Tapas isn't good for your health!"
"You selfish boy!"
"Sorry, Granma! I'll go find Esteban outside so we can eat this together." With that, he walked out of the house.
"Fine, I'll buy my own kwek-kwek—more than you have! And I won't share either!" Granma Ancha called after him.
When Izan reached the beach, he didn't see Esteban. Then he noticed Esteban's slippers in the sand. A wave of Fear washed over him as he looked toward the sea and saw the rock where Esteban often sat.
Oh no... please, no! He thought anxiously.
He quickly took off his clothes and slippers, placing them near Esteban's, and set down the bag of kwek-kwek. Izan swam to the large rock, but he didn’t find Esteban there; instead, he saw the Piedra.
He picked up the Piedra, tears welling up in his eyes. He climbed onto the rock and stood there. If Esteban wasn’t wearing the Piedra, it could only mean one thing—he had transformed back into a merman.
"Estebanoo!!!" Izan cried out, calling for his beloved. "Esteban, where are you?! Can you hear me? You promised you wouldn’t leave me! Estebanoo!!!" His vision blurred as tears streamed down his face.
He called out several times, shouting Esteban’s name again and again. But eventually, he grew tired, and his tears dried up, with no response from Esteban.
Exhausted, Izan sat down on the rock, staring blankly at the water while holding the Piedra. Had his greatest Fear come true—had the sea reclaimed the merman he loved?
"Bakit ka umalis? Nangako ka, di ba? Mahal na mahal kita, Esteban?" Izan whispered to the lone picture of the merman. He knew that no matter how many times he asked, the picture would never respond.
This is what it Feels like when the person you love leaves you. It hurts so much. It’s so hard! It Feels like I can’t even breathe, he thought to himself.
* * *
Many months passed quickly. Now, Izan stood in front of the mirror, dressed in a crisp white polo, black pants, and polished black shoes. He looked handsome, his hair freshly cut.
Today was his graduation day! And not just any graduation—he was among the top ten in his class. He had worked hard in his studies to make his mother, Josefina, proud and, of course, to honor Esteban too.
But his smile faded as memories of Esteban resurfaced. It had been a long time since he last thought about the merman. He had cried for nearly three months after Esteban left him. And now, almost a year had passed, and the merman had not returned. Izan had come to terms with the fact that Esteban was gone. The merman was back where he belonged. Yes, he still loved Esteban, but he had put that love aside to focus on other things, especially his studies.
He took a deep breath and smiled again just as Granma Ancha, dressed elegantly, came out.
"Aba! Ang ganda n'yo, Granma, ah!" he complimented her.
"Don’t bother telling me; I’ve known that for a long time!"
"But it’s true."
"Am I too late? Can I still make it to your graduation, Izan?"
Izan froze when a voice suddenly spoke. He turned toward the doorway, shocked by who he saw standing there.
It was Esteban, looking just as he remembered but now dressed in human clothes. The merman’s eyes glistened with a mixture of excitement and nervousness as he stepped closer.
"Izan, I’m sorry I left. But I’m here now, and I’m not going anywhere this time." 
Tears welled up in Izan's eyes as he stood there, speechless. All the emotions he had buried came rushing back. He wanted to say so much, but all he could do was run toward Esteban and pull him into a tight embrace.
"I thought I had lost you forever," Izan whispered, his voice trembling.
"You’ll never lose me, Izan," Esteban replied softly. "I promised, didn’t I?" 
The two stood there, wrapped in each other’s arms, the world around them fading into the background. Today was not just a day of celebration for Izan’s academic achievements—it was a day of reunion, of love found again.