Junghyuk had been having nightmares for a few days now.

In his dream, he would swim in the peaceful sea, feeling completely at ease and anyway completely defenceless. Then, like in the movie Jaws, he could literally hear the very same, typical music, he could see the fin above the water’s surface and he knew what was happening and he was terrified.

The shore was too far, he had nowhere to run, more like swim. He knew what was going to happen and felt the fear flooding his body.

The last thing he saw before waking up, was the horroristic mouth with its countless, sharp teeth of a ridiculously huge white shark.
 

Junghyuk was struggling with his conscience those days. He was literally terrified in those days and no, not because of the shark but more like what the shark was symbolising.
 

The shark definitely meant Taehee, there was no doubt about it.

And Taehee was going to eat up Junghyuk in whole once she learns about this and that, more specifically how Junghyuk actually planned on going to the aquarium with the others – behind her back.
 

Those days, Junghyuk was forever nervous and was scared even from his own shadow. He was terrified she would just pop up out of nowhere when they talk about when they should meet and what Junghyuk should say if perhaps Taehee would notice something.

And she will, Junghyuk was sure. And he hated to lie to her.
 

Taehee could smell lies from kilometres, just like sharks did with blood. She is going to notice immediately and that was probably going to be the very last day of Junghyuk’s life.
 

“It’s okay.” Minwoo would say whenever Junghyuk gave voice to his concerns, “Just do what I say and there won’t be a problem.”
 

Look less nervous. Less scared. Don’t stutter while you say your plans for the weekend.

Junghyuk would stand before his mirror and practise, ‘We are going to Jeju Island with the guys. No, you can’t come, we already paid for the accommodation and anyway, it’s just for guys.’

Sometimes Junghyuk would sigh and think how ridiculous he was and how he should just tell they are going to the aquarium and Taehee can’t do anything against it. Junghyuk was a free man, wasn’t he? He could go wherever he wanted, he never told Taehee what to do either!
That’s right, he did not need to act on Taehee’s whims!

At times like this, a weird boost of confidence would take control of Junghyuk’s body and he believed with his whole heart he was right. But a moment later he would remember how terrifying Taehee was when she got only just annoyed and he thought he was foolish to think that way.

Peace is better and that meant… lying.
 

Because, somehow he really wanted to go. He was curious about what people was so head-over-heels for.

He wanted to see the merman for himself, despite that weird feeling of staring at another… well, human-faced fish through the window. He wanted to see in real life what could be only seen on stolen, secret recordings.
 

He could never be seen clearly though. He was always too quick to take properly and also, he rather hid than showing himself to humans. No wonder, Junghyuk thought, whom would want to be stared at all day, let alone by all these weird humans.

What he showed so far was his light pinkish fish-tale, his pale skin and brown hair… and from afar and from the pictures, he looked beautiful – like the legends say.
 

He was still terrified from Taehee’s anger and when the evening before their ‘action’ she appeared in his doorstep without actually being invited over, he kind of thought he was done for and thought he should just abort the whole plan.
 

Taehee’s face cannot be read. She had that very same expression she was always wearing - completely calm but still gave the impression she could bite off your head anytime and would not even sweat from it.

Her eyes felt like she was seeing through you and her lips were always curved into a weird, cunning smile, sometimes even showing off her shark teeth.
 

She was Junghyuk’s living and walking nightmare.
 

“What brings you here?” Junghyuk asked, forcing on a smile, trying not to look too suspicious. Though he figured, he did the exact opposite – he looked anything but not suspicious.
 

“Why, I shouldn’t have come?” She lifted her eyebrows, “Just say and I leave, don’t sweat it.”
 

In her vocabulary, this meant quite the opposite, Junghyuk knew by now, “Ah, no, just, I was surprised.”
 

Taehee’s eyebrows still did not go back to its original place, she kept staring at Eric then sighed, “So will you let me in or not?”
 

“Ah, right.”
 

He stepped aside and let Taehee in, though he wished she would go home. He was not really in the mood to have anything to do with her, let alone he was scared he would be busted by her. There was a high chance for that.
 

She walked in to the room with her usual waving steps, threw herself down on the sofa and said, “So I’ve heard you are going to hang out with your gang this weekend.”
 

The thing about Taehee, she always knew everything. Junghyuk still did not figure out how and thus, she was even scarier in his eyes.
 

“Yeah.” He replied as he handed over a glass of water to her, then sat down as well.
 

“Where?”
 

“Jeju Island.”
 

“Girls?”
 

“Only guys.”
 

“Good.” She hummed, sipping from the water, “Very good.”
 

They were both silent for a while, Taehee snuggled up to Junghyuk comfortably then asked, “You won’t ask what I’m going to do this weekend?”
 

He sighed, “What will you do?”
 

“Not telling, it’s a secret.” She laughed and anyway she was going on Junghyuk’s nerves, “Anyway” Her tone turned serious, “I hope you don’t plan on going to the aquarium. You know how I feel about it.”
 

Junghyuk nodded.
 

“Good. If I find out you went, we are done.”
 

Then I really should go, he almost blurted it out but could hold back in the right time.
 

She stood up, “I should go now.” She smiled at Junghyuk and when he stood up as well she cupped his face and kissed him, “Have fun tomorrow.” She walked to the entrance and before she left she added, “Don’t you dare to pick up girls or else I kill you.”
 

Yes, that’s more like it, he thought. Once sweet then murderous, that’s how Taehee was.

She left and Junghyuk let out a relieved sigh, then the fear appeared in his heart again.

He felt like he was going to regret his trip tomorrow.

Junghyuk’s stomach was cramping, standing in front of the entrance of the aquarium, waiting for the others to arrive. They agreed on meeting up at 10 a.m., and it was Junghyuk arriving first, letting him reconsidering all his life choices.

He felt weird, jumpy. He thought Taehee would just appear out of nowhere like she usually did and would pull his hair out.
 

“This is no way of living.” He mumbled, “I should just leave her.”
 

Sometimes, he really thought he should do that. He was pretty sure he was not going to marry her, he did not wish to have a hellish life. He wanted peace and an ordinary life and Taehee could give him just the opposite of it.

But then again, somehow he could not bring himself doing it. At times when Taehee smiled so softly or when she acted gentle, he really liked this girl.
 

However, he was sure it was impossible for the two of them to have a future together. It just would not work out, Junghyuk would go mad for sure.
 

“Thought you are going to run away.” He heard and returning from his thoughts there was Minwoo standing before him, grinning, “I’m glad you are here, yes, let’s stand up against dictatorship!”
 

“Haha. Very funny.” Junghyuk mumbled weak-hearted, “Taehee came over yesterday. I’ve thought I’m going to die.”
 

“What did you say?”
 

“What you told me to do.”
 

Minwoo nodded, “Good. And what did she say?”
 

“To have fun.” He replied and added, “And not to pick up girls. She also said I better not come here or else she is done with me.”
 

Minwoo stared at him for a few moments then confused he asked, “Eh? Then why are you so pale? It’s a win-win situation.”
 

Junghyuk smacked his shoulder, “Stop talking like this.”
 

“Are you a masochist or something?” Minwoo asked, furrowing his eyebrows, “Why would you… Ah, whatever, I don’t care!”
 

He changed the topic and instead gave voice to his excitement over seeing the merman finally and from then on he would not stay quiet not even for a moment.

Not like Junghyuk mind it though, his thoughts were distracted this way and was not thinking of Taehee and how he was going to be murdered if she ever finds out.

But then again, in a way, he had to agree with Minwoo – it was a win-win scenario if Taehee stayed true to her words.

It was not easy to get to see the merman.

Despite the high ticket prices, there was a whole army of people waiting to be able to get inside and stuck their eyes onto something that might not even show itself.

Junghyuk did not really get his hopes up. He knew he might not see anything and it did not bother him much – it was not him whom paid for the tickets and thus, there was no reason for him to get irritated by not seeing anything.

The others thought otherwise though, Minwoo said he won’t leave till he sees the mermaid, even if the security has to drag him away. In a way Junghyuk understood him, he really did suffer for months to be able to win those tickets.

It was foolish at the same time, he could have asked his older girlfriend – whom actually did give him tickets.
 

Thank you, Minwoo’s older girlfriend, Junghyuk thought to himself, it was all thanks to her all of them could attend.
 

They had to wait in line – only about hundred people were let inside all at once as a safety measure and as Junghyuk looked around, there probably was around a thousand waiting.

He let out a sigh – they probably had to stand in line for quite a long time.
 

“Have you heard?” Choongjae said suddenly after a while.
 

“What?” Asked Junghyuk noticing the question was mainly aimed at him.
 

“There is a demonstration outside.” He grinned, “I wonder if…”
 

Junghyuk lifted his eyebrows, “How do you know?”
 

“I’ve heard now from behind, from the fresh-comers.”
 

Junghyuk remembered how much Taehee enjoyed taking part in such demonstrations, especially the ones related to the merman.

He felt his blood froze as he asked, “You don’t think she…”
 

“It’s okay, hyung.” Sunho patted his back, “You said she had something to do today...”
 

Dongwan interrupted him, “She never said what.”
 

“You don’t think she…”
 

“Who cares!” Minwoo let out a frustrated cry, “Let’s just go inside, we can go in with the next batch!”
 

Junghyuk sighed and hoped. Taehee was a busy person, sometimes she tutored and she also partakes in a lot of activities. She complained before how she can’t take part in a lot of demonstrations because of her busy schedule.

There is just no way she would be there…
 

They entered the building that was strictly built for the merman and his tank.

In a line, they walked through a long corridor and by the end of it, there were security guards checking if they had their phones turned off or if they had forbidden items with themselves, more specifically camera or anything, that could help them recording the merman.

The aquarium and mainly the merman’s ‘living area’ had strict rules and Junghyuk was not so surprised – they would not be able to make much money out of him if guests could record him. They would upload the photos, videos on the internet and in the end there would not be any need for people to go there.

Sure thing, there would be many more even like this whom wanted to see him, but those whom had less money could get the chance to see something that was kind of treated as luxury item.

But then again, if people with less money were provided something… can it be called luxury item? And most of all, can it be sold on a high price?
 

After they all were checked and were let inside, a brochure was pushed into their hands with a rather rude manner and Junghyuk lost all his will to actually record something – looking up and down on the muscled, tall guys he was sure the life would be beaten out of them while they were dragged outside.
 

After they left the corridor they were let inside and suddenly, sea-life opened up in front of them.

Junghyuk finally understood why the building itself was so expensive and why they had to pay so much for the tickets – not like they actually had to.
 

The lights were comfortably dim and he would have gotten into a romantic mood if he was not with five other guys.

Thanks to the tanks around, with all kinds of sea animals and fish, from the most colourful to the scariest, the whole hall had a darkish, bluish colour and thanks to the tanks even above them, Junghyuk felt like he was walking on the bottom of the large and wide ocean.
 

All in all it was beautiful and he was sure he could have walked around there for hours, it had a weirdly calming effect.
 

“Where is the merman?” Asked Minwoo excited and as Junghyuk’s attention turned back from him to his surroundings he noticed the hall slowly got emptied, the whole batch left to check out what they actually came for. He scoffed.
 

“Hyesung.” Said Sunho suddenly, “The name is Hyesung. The brochure says.”
 

Junghyuk looked at the brochure as well that was so rudely pushed into his hands by the security guards.

It had all kinds of information; it also said the reason of the interior design was to make the merman feel more at home.
 

‘We created a terrestrial ocean to adjust for Hyesung’s needs and comfort.’
 

I bet there aren’t many people walking around at the bottom of the ocean, Junghyuk thought to himself amused.
 

‘Hyesung was named after the deceased son of the man whom found him.’
 

Comet, huh, Junghyuk thought again and he grew more and more amused the further he read the brochure, it is definitely very fitting for a… half-fish man.
 

There were a bunch of useless, uninteresting information. How his age was not known but they thought he must be around human age 20. He could survive both in water and on the surface thanks to his lungs and gills, however, he moved quicker and more comfortable in water.

How he ate fish and other things that could be found in the ocean.

How his way of communicating and reproduction is unknown but they think it might be similar to sea creatures, whales or dolphins,

They also don’t know if they live on their own or in hordes. Which is actually obvious, considering they have one single merman.

His tail is light pinkish with a light white skin and big black eyes which explains how he must be living deep, close to the bottom.
 

Junghyuk was lazy to continue reading. A kind of information was written there which he had already heard either in the TV or read online. Anyway, it was the kind of information that was like… shooting in the darkness?

Junghyuk thought that way. His age? It could be anything. Reproduction? They compared him to a dolphin only because his lower half was of a fish’s. A dolphin isn’t even a fish to begin with.

They were simply assuming things instead of actually knowing for sure and Junghyuk thought anyone could do that, there was no need for this huge surface ocean world or to keep him in a cage.

It all came back to money in the end and for the thousandth time now, Junghyuk sighed.
 

On the other side of the brochure, there was a miniature map about the building and with numbers it was tagged where and what could be found.

Junghyuk ignored everything and looked for ‘merman’ or ‘Hyesung’ and he soon seen him, or more like where his tank could be found.

He also found out they were actually ground level and on the actual surface there was an open space where Hyesung could be… well, even sunbathing if he wanted to.

Junghyuk remembered the polar bear’s cage in the zoo that both had a surface and underground level.
 

“His tank is not far from here.” Junghyuk said, “Should we go?”
 

“Of course!” Minwoo cried out, “That’s what we are here for, ask me how much I care about all these fish!”
 

Junghyuk laughed to himself on Minwoo and his excitement over the merman.

Then he wondered why Minwoo wanted to see it so much, no way the merman affected his life – it did not affect any of theirs.

Except for Junghyuk, he found out not much later the merman did affect his life and in quite a weird way.
 

They followed the map on the back of the brochure and they soon found their way to the merman’s tank that was already surrounded, however, people sounded rather displeased than excited as Junghyuk imagined.
 

‘Where is it?’

‘Is it a scam after all?’
’If that thing doesn’t turn up, I’m going to report the aquarium for sure!’

‘Isn’t it that?’ ‘Nah, it’s just a plant or something.’
 

They were loud and irritating, that was Junghyuk’s conclusion and considering this, it’s no wonder the merman did not actually want to show itself.
 

Idiots, Junghyuk thought to himself, How exactly could this thing be a scam… They would be busted in no time. Both the place ad the creature are way too famous…
 

It was hard to get close, the crowd was big and all Junghyuk could see was the back of people’s head and some of the water’s surface from below and he could also catch a glimpse of some of the seaweed, rocks and even wood – which made Junghyuk laugh – at the bottom that was decorating the tank.

It was like a bigger version of a home-aquarium.
 

“I can’t see a thing.” Junghyuk heard Minwoo’s grumbling and in a way he understood his annoyance – Junghyuk had a hard time seeing anything so Minwoo, whom was a short person, definitely must have had a hellish time there.
 

“Let’s just leave.” Said Junghyuk in the end, “We obviously won’t see anything. Hyesung doesn’t even want to show himself.”
 

Minwoo smirked, “Hyesung, huh…”
 

Junghyuk furrowed his eyebrows, “That’s his name, isn’t it?”
 

Minwoo shrugged still smirking then added, “Anyway I won’t leave till I saw him so…” He adjusted his jeans and t-shirt and even re-tied his shoe laces, “This is battle, my friend.”

Junghyuk sighed, then turned to the others, “Help, let’s stop him before he does something foolish.”
 

“I think it’s already too late.” Said Dongwan as he pointed towards the crowd with his head, “He is already in the middle.”
 

It was true. The next moment Junghyuk turned back he could not see Minwoo anymore, however, he could hear his loud voice expressing his displeasure.
 

“We should save him before he gets stepped on.” Said Choongjae and Junghyuk had to agree with him. The fight in the crowd to see the merman seemed to be ruthless.
 

“Let’s go.” Junghyuk mumbled and dived into the crowd, uttering words of apology.
 

Weirdly, the crowd parted before him and he could hear Dongwan’s envious grumbling behind himself, “Tsk, the power of handsomeness, huh.”
 

In the end he found Minwoo right before the tank, his eyes wide as he was looking for his target.

Without success, per se.

Junghyuk himself could not see anything either except for the weirdly placed plants and rocks as decoration and the water and blurriness. He tried to look for something, something that would apparently calm his rapidly beating heart – because he realized, he was at least as excited as Minwoo, but he kept it low-key.
 

From time to time people would cry out, ‘it’s there, can you see it?’, but then they always realized they were wrong, the shadows and the decoration fooled them into thinking something was there when actually there was nothing.

There was no merman. There was no anything actually, not even fish to actually look at something. It was just a large, empty tank and Junghyuk grew not only annoyed but confused.

Is it really possible for this whole thing to be a scam? But then there would be a huge scandal, would the aquarium actually risk it?

He doubted and thus, he watched some more, opened his eyes completely and concentrated on finding something… that was not there.
 

But then, his heart skipped a beat.

In the darkness, in the back of the tank, behind a log lying in the sand. He could see fingers with long nails, then hands holding onto it, then he found himself gazing into a pair of black eyes.

It was there. The merman, Hyesung, was there and their eyes met.

That moment seemed to be infinite. Junghyuk felt like he froze at the place, all the sounds and talking around him blurred, it felt like only him and those pair of eyes existed.

Then, his heart skipped a beat as the merman came forward from behind the log.
 

He heard the people gasping in awe and shock as the merman slowly swam forward, his face talked about momentary confusion, as if he did not understand what was happening.

No wonder, almost the same kind as him but with legs were staring at him from the other side of a thick glass-wall.

However, that surprise on his face – or at last Junghyuk translated that gesture as surprise – soon disappeared as his big black eyes soon found Junghyuk’s gaze once again and not breaking the contact at all, he approached the glass-wall until he was there, right before them, right before Junghyuk.
 

He placed his hands on the glass-wall, showing his long, bony fingers, and kept staring at Junghyuk and Junghyuk stared back at him as he was unable to move and he felt all the gazes around him being directed at them.

He did not care, he could not.

That creature before him, he was fascinating. He was enchanted. This creature, this merman right before him, being separated by only a glass-wall, he was the most beautiful thing Junghyuk had ever seen in his entire life.

His cheeks, his rosy lips, his big black eyes… that long neck and beautifully curved shoulders, slim waist… and his skin was glowing beautifully in the darkness, like a star… like a comet.

His heart was pounding and he felt his mouth being dry. And he could not tear his gaze away and he almost placed his hand on the glass as well, to where that webbed palm was.
 

Then it happened, something that caught his breath and the same happened with everyone around them.

Slowly, from the tip of his tail to his waist until his scales went up, a weird shining started to creep up till his tail started to glow and from the light pink the fish tail turned into a passionate red.

Junghyuk felt like his heart stopped from the moment, from that beautiful sight right before him, as his eyes followed the merman starting to slowly circle as he still kept watching Junghyuk.

Then slowly his lips parted and the whole area started to echo from a sweet, heart-warming lullaby coming from that throat that was titled as mute till that moment.
 

The merman was singing.

No, it was not at all similar to the singing of a human’s, and if Junghyuk had to compare it to something… it was like the song of the whales when they were singing to their loved ones.

His heart moved. A pleasant sensation took control of his chest and almost mouth hang open, he stared at the merman, at Hyesung, and listened to his singing without understanding anything that was going on.

He felt like he was hypnotized by that red gleaming and song and unknowingly, his cheeks flared up and a weird sense of embarrassment stole its way inside his mind.
 

Then, he heard a clicking sound and as if he was woken from a dream he came back to his senses and turned around, only to see Minwoo staring at him and the merman with eyes and mouth wide open, in his hands with a camera.
 

“Are you crazy?!” Junghyuk cried out, “Just how did you bring that in? You know we aren’t supposed to –“
 

It was late, however. Security guards appeared out of nowhere in a moment and after they took Minwoo’s camera and deleted the picture, they grabbed all five of them by the collar and not too nicely dragged them out, taking pleasure in calling them names and actually acting quite forcefully and violently towards them – just like Junghyuk had imagined the first time he saw them. Gut feeling was quite terrifying sometimes.
 

And thus, that’s how they were dragged out not only of the merman’s quarter but from the whole area of the aquarium and were literally kicked out right before the entrance.
 

“You bastards!” Minwoo yelled after them once they headed back, “You can’t do this!”
 

“Shut up.” Dongwan hissed, “This is all your fault, why exactly you had to snap a picture? Now you have nothing and we were kicked out, was it worth it?”
 

“It’s okay.” Minwoo replied grinning as he took out his phone, “I have tons of pictures… on cloud. They cannot take those.” Then he sighed, “But they did not have to be such jerks about it.”
 

All of them were only staring at him and they could not exactly decide if Minwoo was a nosy child or quite clever.

That was not what concerned Junghyuk though, not even how Minwoo was showing off those pictures bragging how cunning he was then how all of them were staring at him with weird glances as they were talking about what exactly happened back there between him and Hyesung, the merman.
 

Of course, he was also concerned about that one matter especially about that very feeling that appeared in his heart and could not quite point his finger on.

Anyway, he had more important matters that moment to be worried about.
 

Incidentally, how he was standing face to face with Na Taehee, both staring into each others’ eyes.

For example, this small detail was something that really concerned Junghyuk that very moment.

He felt like a nightmare came to reality and he could almost see himself being chopped into two by Taehee’s shark teeth.
 

Holding a placard in her hands among the protesters, glaring at Junghyuk viciously… he knew he was definitely done for.

And again, in his mind, he could hear that oh-so famous theme song from the movie, Jaws…

A/N:

I'm sorry, I know I should have updated last month as well but H&G kinda took up the whole month.
Now that it's done, hopefully I'll be able to work with this properly, however, you know I have my life and such so yepp, things rarely work out as I want them to.
I hope you liked this chapter? I'm not that satisfied with it, but oh well, that's how it is.
Nothing much happened to be honest, but at least Hyesung appeared keke
I guess the first few chapters will be just like this, not having too much to happen. I also kinda come up with things on the way so even I have no idea how it's going to be.
Anyway, hope you'll like it.

see you next time

p.s.
- I would appreciate your opinions.^^
- I feel like I kinda overdid Taehee's character and Junghyuk's feelings related to it here, will be more careful in the following chapters.