Agnes did not know what kind of emotions were playing in the eyes of Islaw and Aunt Nita. Both were smiling at each other while staring intently, as if they had known each other for a long time and understood one another.
She and Cholo stared at each other in wonder because both of them knew nothing. They just stood there by the side of the bed.
It was only five o'clock in the morning when she went to Aunt Nita's house; she specifically fetched the old woman because she was the only one Agnes knew who could give answers to her questions about Islaw.
She risked both her and Islaw's safety just to speak with her. She had no one else to rely on but Aunt Nita, as she was the only person Agnes knew with knowledge about merfolk, and she seemed to be the only one who cared for Islaw's kind besides her and Cholo.
Furthermore, the old woman seemed kind.
Last night, when Islaw's form changed from a merman to a normal human, Agnes could do nothing but dress him and bring him to her room. There were no other reactions seen in Islaw's body after he ate the apple except for the change in his appearance. She was unable to call anyone last night because it was already very late, so she decided to wait until the next day to call Aunt Nita and Cholo.
"Grandma, why are you and big brother staring at each other?" Cholo asked, pouting as he nudged the old woman.
"Because we understand each other," Aunt Nita answered with a smile that amazed both Agnes and Cholo.
Agnes could not help but feel envious of the old woman; she wished she could do what she did. In the weeks she had spent with Islaw, they always had misunderstandings because neither of them knew each other's language. She also wanted to understand Islaw; she wanted to have proper communication with him.
"Grandma, how is he? Is big brother okay?" the kid asked, bringing Agnes back to reality.
"Of course. Do not worry, he is fine now. He is gradually getting used to his new body."
"W-why did his appearance change?" Agnes asked.
Until now, she was still confused.
"Perhaps because of what he ate. Their food as merfolk is different from human food, so his body was surprised and had a reaction," she said with a shrug.
Upon hearing the explanation, Agnes immediately breathed a sigh of relief; she had been extremely worried about Islaw, and now that it was confirmed he was okay, her mind was at ease. She approached Islaw as Aunt Nita stepped back, perhaps to give them space. Islaw looked at her with a smile, though his face had been pouting just moments ago because of Cholo.
"How are you, Islaw?" she asked, smiling as she ruffled his hair.
He only responded with a giggle.
"Big sis, why isn't he speaking? Isn't he a human now? He should know how to talk," Cholo asked with a pout.
They looked toward the old woman, who was just listening.
"Child, just because a merman became human does not mean he can speak like us humans right away. He is just like a child who needs to be taught how to speak," Aunt Nita replied, which made Agnes nod.
So, Islaw still needed to be taught?
Suddenly, Agnes stopped thinking about random things when someone held her hand. She turned her gaze to Islaw, who was smiling widely at her, holding her right hand with both of his hands. She could only smile when he himself brought her hand toward his head. It seemed Islaw really loved it when she stroked his hair.
"Agnes, can we talk outside?" the old woman asked her.
She left Islaw with Cholo first, making sure all the windows and doors of her house were closed before she went out with Aunt Nita. They walked slowly along the shore, her hands behind her back as she felt the strong, cold breeze. It was so refreshing!
"It seems that merman has grown very close to you," the old woman commented.
"That is what I noticed too, he is very comfortable with me. And I am the same with him."
"Does this mean your heart is finally falling for him?" she asked, which Agnes immediately denied.
"I-it is not like that." Agnes shook her head.
"W-what I mean is, I-I am close to Islaw b-because—"
"Because of what, child?"
"B-because he is like a friend to me. A friend I take care of."
"But aren't you more than friends? You two are husband and wife," the old woman added, which made Agnes stop.
"It seems you are still confused about your feelings. I know there is love blooming in your heart for the merman, but right now, you cannot admit it yet."
Truthfully, Agnes did not know what her reaction would be or what to say to the old woman's words. A part of her mind was affected by what she said, as if everything she said was true. And if what Aunt Nita noticed was true, did it mean she was really falling for the merman? Wouldn't the outcome be a problem?
Islaw and she were different, right?
"I just hope you do not lead the merman to believe you love him, that you will love him, because he will be deeply hurt. They love intensely—the type who is willing to gamble their safety just to see you and be with you."
Agnes seemed unable to speak. But she felt a strange feeling spreading through her entire system, as if something were tickling her deep inside.
Was the reason Islaw kept coming back because he wanted to see her and be with her? She could not help but feel guilty because she had been trying to push Islaw away; she had rejected his feelings many times.
"Thank you for this information, Aunt Nita. I would not have known Islaw's feelings or information about his kind if not for you."
"Why don't you teach him how to speak?"
"Teach him how to speak?" she thought for a moment.
Why shouldn't she give it a try?
"There is a preschool center in town, and they also have interventions for children who have difficulty speaking. If you cannot teach the merman alone, you can enroll him in school."
Agnes sighed, because the old woman had a point. She would surely have a hard time teaching Islaw because he was like a baby; he did not even know how to do simple things like use a spoon. And if she were to send him to school, she could not afford it; she could not even buy food because she could not find a job. How could she possibly pay for Islaw's schooling?
"Right now, I do not have any money, so maybe I will just be the one to teach Islaw how to speak."
"Do you know that merfolk cry real pearls?" the old woman said, which stunned her.
Even that was something this old woman knew.
"I-I have some pearls here, made from Islaw's own tears." Agnes quickly took out the pearls hidden in her pocket and showed them to the old woman.
"You are lucky. You can use those so that, at the very least, you can provide for all your daily needs."
"Doesn't it feel like I am stealing from Islaw?"
"For their kind, pearls are just decorations. Meanwhile, for us, those are worth thousands. What you are doing is not stealing if you exchange them for money. Besides, if Islaw benefits from it, then it is not stealing."
"In that case, I will use these to provide for our needs." Agnes tightened her hold on the pearls.
"But child, I hope you do not abuse the merman. They grow weak whenever they cry, because their tears are equivalent to a life."
W-what? A merman's tears are equivalent to a life? For some unknown reason, her chest felt tight. Agnes stared at the pearls in her palm. She felt like blaming herself for why Islaw lost consciousness that night when she showed him the bracelet she had found. Perhaps if she had not done that, he would not have cried, which took away from his life. She felt ashamed in front of Islaw.
He was so kind to her, but she was so mean.
Resolved to make things right, Agnes looked down at the pearls one last time before heading into town. She knew that these precious gems were her only way to ensure Islaw's survival on land.
After a successful meeting with a local buyer, she found herself standing in a quiet corner of the town square, still stunned by the amount of money she had received.
Agnes's mouth opened and closed slightly as she busied herself counting the thick stack of cash in her hand. She had just finished exchanging the pearls for money and was now heading to the market to buy some supplies and food that were missing from her house. Ever since she lost her job, she hadn't been able to buy anything because she had no source of income.
She spent over ten minutes inside the market shopping and immediately took a tricycle home. She only bought groceries, as she wasn't the type to waste money on useless things. While she was shopping earlier, Islaw was on her mind, so she bought chicken and pork. She wanted to cook a delicious meal for him.
"Sir, here is the payment. Keep the change," she said with a smile as she handed the money to the tricycle driver.
"Thank you."
Agnes was carrying the heavy bags when she got off the tricycle, waiting for it to roar away before picking them all up. Before she could even reach the front of her house, Islaw and Cholo immediately came out. Cholo met her happily and quickly took the bags from her, while Islaw crawled toward her.
She approached him and knelt in front of him.
"Islaw, why are you crawling? You have feet now," she said, which only made him tilt his head.
"Oh right, I also need to teach you how to walk," she said, scratching her head.
"Come on, let's go back inside first because I'm going to cook you a delicious meal that you've never tasted before."
She tucked her hands under his armpits and pulled him inside. She made Islaw sit on a chair in the kitchen, and she began taking out everything she bought from the market with a smile. Islaw remained quiet, his head tilted as he watched her cook. She, on the other hand, couldn't wait for Islaw to taste the food she was preparing.
"Big sis, what you're cooking smells so good!" Cholo exclaimed, sniffing the air.
"It seems like you're really making this delicious for big brother."
Agnes laughed softly. She didn't know why she smiled at Cholo's comment, since she used to always deny or ignore his teasing. Instead, she approached Islaw and stroked his hair while waiting for the tinola to finish cooking for their lunch.
"Islaw, are you hungry?" she asked him.
"Hmm?"
"We'll be eating soon. And later, I will teach you how to eat properly and how to walk."
"Wow! Really, Big sis? You're going to teach him?"
"Yes, Cholo. He needs to learn how to act like a human because I've decided to let Islaw stay here. Also, in a day, he will start attending the Preschool center where you go, so he can learn how to speak."
"Yay! We're going to be classmates, Big brother!" Cholo jumped for joy and hugged Islaw.
But before Cholo could hug him for long, Islaw immediately struggled to get free. Once he broke away from Cholo's hug, he turned to Agnes and hugged her tightly. She hugged him back, then looked at the pouting kid and gave him a meaningful smile, as if to tell him to just be patient with Islaw.
"Islaw, I'm going to teach you how to eat," she said as she set the cooked food down.
Agnes placed a spoon in his right hand. Islaw only frowned and tilted his head in confusion. She didn't let go of his hand until she sat down beside him; she needed to teach Islaw to act like a normal human. Based on what she observed, he no longer wanted to return to the sea, so she would let him stay here on land.
"Do you know what you're holding? This is called a spoon; humans use it to scoop food," she explained, using hand gestures so he would understand better.
"I'll teach you how to use it, so listen."
She picked up the spoon lying beside the plate in front of her. She showed the innocent merman how to use it. She demonstrated several times how to eat properly like a normal human before holding his hand again to guide him. It was hard to teach, but she wouldn't give up on him.
"I'll feed you for a moment so you'll know how to use this thing."
Agnes noticed that Islaw's arm and hand felt very heavy, but she didn't focus on that. She guided his hand toward the food prepared for him before she herself scooped some food using his hand. A lot of rice fell on the table, but she ignored it and continued. Once she scooped some up, she brought his hand to his own mouth before feeding him.
"Now you try, Islaw," she said, letting go of his hand.
The merman closed his eyes tightly before moving his hand that held the spoon. He scooped some rice and, looking at her, put it into his mouth. She kept her hand ready to support his so the food wouldn't spill.
She smiled when she noticed he enjoyed her cooking, as he repeatedly scooped food and put it in his mouth. Islaw was a fast learner, which made her smile widely.
"He learns so fast, Big sis!" Cholo said in amazement.
She was also amazed by Islaw; she didn't expect him to learn so quickly, considering he was more innocent than a three-year-old child. She was even more impressed that by the time he finished and cleared the food she cooked, he was able to eat almost like a normal human—unlike before.
Islaw clapped his hands when he put the spoon down on the plate.
"Wait, Islaw."
He stopped as Agnes gently moved her face closer to his to remove a few grains of rice stuck to his cheek. Because it was Islaw's first time using a spoon, he was quite a messy eater, like a child who didn't care if their face was dirty as long as they got to eat. She couldn't help but laugh softly because Islaw looked so cute.
"Big sis, I'll take care of the dishes. Go teach big brother how to walk so he can learn right away," Cholo said, starting to clear the table.
She smiled at him and assisted Islaw in standing up. She walked unsteadily out of the house while pulling Islaw along as his feet dragged on the ground. She already expected it would be difficult to teach him how to walk. So far, all he could do was swim and crawl.
"Islaw, can you stand up?" she asked Islaw, who was sitting on the ground.
"Hmm?"
"Follow me, Islaw. Try to stand so you can learn to walk like I do."
Agnes knelt in front of Islaw and wrapped her right arm around his waist while the other held his backside. It was only then that she realized she looked like she was being a bit forward with Islaw, which made her cheeks turn red and her face feel hot. All she wanted was to help him stand up.
She swallowed hard when her eyes met Islaw's, and she realized their faces were very close; with just a small movement, their lips might touch. In fact, she could feel his breath on her face. She knew she should distance herself from Islaw, but she felt pinned to where she was kneeling.
Even her eyes seemed fixed on Islaw's beautiful greyish eyes. Because of their awkward position, she had the chance to stare at the beautiful being in front of her. Wow, she only now realized that Islaw looked like a very handsome nobleman. He had eyebrows that weren't too thick, round but cute eyes, long eyelashes, a sharp nose, chubby cheeks, and thin, reddish lips. A perfect creation.
Suddenly, she was captivated by his handsomeness.
"I-Islaw, let's stand up."
She stood up, and because she was holding his body, he suddenly stood up too. She wasn't prepared for Islaw's sudden rise or the weight of his body, so she lost her balance. She fell backward onto the ground, and unfortunately, Islaw fell too since he still couldn't stand on his own. He fell on top of her, and his lips landed on her cheek, just inches away from her parted lips. This was so awkward!
"Hmm-hmm," Islaw whined as he lay on the ground.
He seemed to have been hurt by what happened.
"Are you hurt?" she asked worriedly, sitting up quickly to comfort him.
He only replied with a pout.
"I'm sorry, Islaw," she apologized, her eyes softening with worry and guilt.
"I didn't mean to hurt you because of my clumsiness. I just want to teach you how to live like a real, normal human so people won't look at you differently." she blinked.
"I want you to learn to live properly here on land so you won't be in danger. Now that you are stepping on this earth, you need to learn how to be human."
She placed her hand on his right cheek.
"I-I don't know why I worry about you so much, but all I can say is that I want you to be okay here on land. Aside from you being my responsibility, there's something in me that wants to watch over, care for, and protect you."
Agnes look at his hand.
"Nowadays, people notice everything. They judge everything. They try to enter other people's lives when they shouldn't. I-I don't want people's eyes turned toward you, so I'm doing my best to teach you how to live here on land." Her fingers gently stroked his smooth cheek.
"Y-you understand me, right, Islaw?"
As she usually expected, he didn't speak, but he smiled at her before nodding. She smiled and couldn't help but be amazed when he tried to stand up on his own. He fell several times, but she was right there by his side to support him. With her help, he managed to stand properly, her arm around his waist and his arm draped over her shoulder. Next, they would try walking so he could learn.
"Follow my footsteps, Islaw."
Agnes took a step, and Islaw immediately followed. As she said earlier, Islaw was easy to teach and he learned quickly, which made her very happy. In their half-hour of walking, Islaw was already taking steps, even if they were one at a time. She expected that by tomorrow, he would be able to walk properly.
"Hmm-hmm."
Agnes turned to Islaw when he made a sound.
Their eyes met again because they were still close together, her arm still around the merman. They both stopped walking. Before she could react, he moved his face close to hers and immediately kissed her on the lips, making her eyes widen in shock.
She didn't expect this. But what she expected even less was why her eyes voluntarily closed as she savored the warm kiss of his sweet lips.
'She liked the merman's kiss.'