"What?!"
Cholo's booming voice rang in Agnes's ears. She had just told him about what happened at the market the day before. Her intuition was screaming that her suspicions were correct, especially after her realization at the cemetery.
She couldn't be wrong.
She had begun to piece together the puzzles in her mind. Perhaps the boy was keeping a secret, which was why he never gave out any information. Perhaps her theory about why he appeared and disappeared so suddenly was true: he wasn't a creature of the land at all.
His home was the water, for he was a merman.
"I leave for just a moment and all of that happens? Maybe you're just mistaken, Big sis."
"No, Cholo. I feel it deep down, this isn't just a hunch. I have a strong feeling that boy is truly a merman."
"How did I not notice that? He looked like a normal kid to me," Cholo mused, and she raised an eyebrow at him. "Just kidding, big sis. I'm not saying mermen aren't normal, okay?"
"But why didn't you tell me this sooner? Why only now?" Cholo asked.
"At first, I had my doubts. But after piecing together all the answers to my questions about that boy, I'm certain now."
"Look at this." She quickly took a small object out of a tiny box.
"A pearl?"
"Yes, Cholo. It's a pearl, and do you know where it came from? It came from that boy's tears."
"So it's confine? He's really a merman?"
"It's confirmed, Cholo, not confine."
"Same thing, Big sis."
"Cholo, I need your help. I need to find that boy."
"Right now? As in right now, Big sis?"
"We have to find him this instant. I have a powerful feeling that he's the one who can lead me to Islaw and Silaw."
There was no certainty that her husband and son had survived what Erick did back then, but it was better to hope than to give up immediately, wasn't it? As long as she saw no reason to stop, she wouldn't. Even if she grew tired or had moments of overthinking, it wasn't enough to make her lose hope.
She paused for a moment, deep in thought. "Or what if... he is Silaw?"
"Wow! Your mindset is intense, Big sis. You just met him and suddenly you're claiming him as your lost son?" he exclaimed, his eyes widening. Agnes shot him a sharp look. "J-just a joke."
"Cholo, a mother longing for her child cannot be mistaken. I felt such an immediate bond with that boy. Who knows, maybe this feeling I have for him is actually the call of the blood?"
"I wish I had feelings like that. Everyone has feelings. My crush, though... I feel like she has no feelings for me at all."
"Cholo," she said, her voice carrying a hint of a threat.
"Maybe I should use a love potion?"
"Buncel Cholo, one more joke and I'm throwing you into the sea," she warned, making him scratch his head.
"Like I said, now is not the time for jokes. Big sis is angry." Cholo said then shrugged.
"But what now, Big sis? What are we going to do to find him? I don't think he'll just show his face easily after what happened."
"I... I don't know." She rubbed her face with her hands.
"Hmm. I have an idea," Cholo said, whispering something to her that gave her a spark of hope.
"Come on. Accompany me, Cholo."
Without another word, she rushed out of the house, not even bothering to close the door in her haste. She had spent all of yesterday just thinking, and she didn't want to waste another second. She couldn't bear to remain idle when there was something she could do.
Every hour that ran by was another day lost, another day spent away from her husband and child. They say time flies, and she didn't want to wait years again, letting them slip away while they were apart.
"Ma'am Agnes, the boat we'll be using is ready."
"Thank you, Mr. Gastor."
The old man offered his hand to assist Agnes onto the small boat. Aside from Cholo and the old man, they were alone. She couldn't bring a large group because it would surely cause a stir on the island. She didn't want anyone else to get hurt.
"Biscuits! Who wants biscuits?!" Cholo shouted, as if calling out to someone. "I have biscuits here! Oh, I even brought candies. Candies! I have bread. Man, these are delicious. If I can't stop myself, I might eat them all!"
"Uh, kid, you've been eating those biscuits for a while now. That's the third one in your hand," the old man remarked.
"Oh, sorry, I just got hungry."
"Who exactly are we looking for, Ma'am Agnes?"
"Just keep the boat moving, Mr." Cholo replied for her.
"Please, show yourself to me," Agnes whispered, praying fervently. Please, she pleaded silently.
"Big sis, you're so rich, why did you choose a small boat? We should've taken a yacht to be classy."
"I don't need a yacht, Cholo. Small or large, simple or grand, I don't care. What matters is that we find him."
"If you say so," he replied with a shrug. "Biscuits! Who wants biscuits?!"
"It's hard to look for someone who doesn't even have a name. We're looking for nothing if you don't even know a name," the old man grumbled.
"Geez, Sir. You're quite the gossip."
"I'm just telling the truth, kid. Besides, who are we going to find out here? we're practically in the open sea."
"Just leave us be, okay, Mr?" Cholo countered.
They searched for over two hours, but nothing happened. Why did she expect to find the boy so easily? Nevertheless, she couldn't give up. The search had to continue.
"Big sis, let's g-go home," Cholo said, his tongue practically hanging out from thirst.
"We can't stop searching. I need to see him."
"Ma'am, I think I'm about to get heatstroke." The old man said.
Agnes sighed when she saw the state of the two. She felt a sudden pang of guilt seeing how thirsty and exhausted they were. Even Cholo's voice was hoarse from shouting "biscuits."
She looked around with weary eyes. It was so quiet. The waves were so calm, a sign that no one was there but them. She sighed and faced the two, who looked like they might faint at any moment. Even her own throat was parched.
She had no choice but to head home.
That night, the silence of the hut felt heavier than usual. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the boy's terrified face at the market and the shimmering pearl he had left behind. She realized that her desperation had made her loud and conspicuous, perhaps driving away the very answers she was seeking.
If the boy really was a creature of the sea, he would never show himself to a crowd or a noisy motorboat. She needed to approach him not as a wealthy benefactor, but as the simple woman he had first met.
By the time the first hint of light touched the horizon, her mind was made up.
At exactly six o'clock in the morning, Agnes was already awake and had prepared everything she needed for her renewed search for the child. This time, she decided not to bring anyone else along. She figured that the young merman might have been too frightened to show himself because of the crowd during their previous search.
However, just as she was about to leave the house, an elderly man greeted her with a warm smile. She felt a surge of joy when she realized it was Uncle Jose, Aunt Nita's husband. She immediately invited him inside and prepared a drink for him.
"Uncle Jose, I thought I'd never see you again. Where is Aunt. Nita?"
It was true. Upon her return to town, the elderly couple was among the first she tried to visit, only to find they were no longer there. She had even hired people to find them, but no one could determine their location.
"I'm getting old, and before I leave this world, I wanted to visit you. After all, you've been like a daughter to me and my wife."
"Thank you, Uncle. You truly made me feel—both then and now—what it's like to have parents."
"It's just a shame that your Aunt Nita didn't get to see you one last time before she passed away," the old man said, making her freeze.
"A-auntie Nita is gone?"
"She's been gone for a year now."
At those words, Agnes's eyes instantly welled with tears. She couldn't believe it; she couldn't accept it, but there was nothing she could do but weep for the loss. Auntie Nita had such a kind heart. They had taken her in when she had nowhere to live, and the couple had been her companions in looking after Islaw back then.
"I-I didn't even get to talk to her or see her before she left," she whispered.
The old man allowed her to release the pain of losing Aunt Nita. She spent a long time crying before she finally composed herself. Had uncle Jose not been there, she might have cried until nightfall. But she had to be strong for his sake.
"How are you, Uncle?"
"Well, I'm still strong, but I feel my time is near. Your Auntie was my only family, and now that she's gone, I see no reason to stay."
"Don't say that, Uncle. I'm still here."
"I'm happy you returned, Agnes. But I truly don't want to remain in this world any longer. I'd rather follow my wife than live in this longing."
Agnes was silenced by his words. It pained her to see him giving up, but she understood. There truly is no greater pain than the longing for a loved one.
"I have a story for you, Agnes."
"A long time ago, in a certain town, there was a fisherman who fell from his boat. He thought he was going to drown, but before his body could sink into the depths, a beautiful mermaid arrived and saved him."
As she listened to Uncle Jose's soft, slow voice, she couldn't help but smile. Who wouldn't be charmed by such a story? It sounded like a fairytale, but whether true or not, it was heartwarming.
"The mermaid kissed the fisherman, and that was the beginning of the story..."
"Of Nita and me," he added, causing her to frown in confusion.
"W-what do you mean?" she asked.
"Haven't you ever wondered why my wife and Islaw got along so well? Why we felt such an immediate bond with the two of you? Didn't you notice how Nita knew so much about the race of merfolk?" the old man asked with a knowing smile.
"Aunt Nita was a mermaid?!" Agnes asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes," the old man replied with a laugh.
Agnes couldn't believe it. Why hadn't she thought of that before? That was why Aunt Nita knew so much about Islaw's kind, because she was one of them.
Why was she only realizing this now?
For the next half hour, they talked about many things. Agnes learned so much about their life together, and their love story was truly inspiring. Like her and Islaw, the couple had faced intense trials and were separated, but their great love for one another brought them back together.
"I feel that my reunion with Nita is near. I want to ask a favor, Agnes. When I pass away, please scatter my ashes on the island where we first met and where we were last together."
"Is Aunt Nita there?"
"Indeed. Your Aunt Nita chose to have her body cremated so no trace of her true identity would remain."
"If that is your wish, I will do it," she answered.
"I suppose our storytelling has gone on long enough," Uncle Jose laughed. "Before I say goodbye, I have something to give you that will surely help in your search for your husband."
"R-really?" She sat up straight, feeling a surge of hope.
"Here, take this."
"A flute?"
"I used that for Nita during our youth. It's quite effective for wooing," Uncle joked.
"What does it do?"
"There's nothing 'magical' about the flute itself, but merfolk are enchanted by the sound it creates. You can use it to call out to them."
"T-thank you for this, Uncle Jose." Emotionally, she hugged the old man.
"I'm happy to help. Well then, I must go. Visit me with Islaw once you've found each other."
"I will," she nodded repeatedly.
After a long goodbye, Agnes watched Uncle Jose leave. But she didn't let him go alone, she ordered her men to bring the old man home safely. He was like a father to her, and she didn't want him to be neglected, especially now that he was all alone.
Once she was sure Uncle Jose was safely on his way, she didn't hesitate to continue her preparations for sailing out that night. She figured that whoever she was looking for wouldn't appear during the day. She also decided not to bring anyone else.
It would just be her, alone.
Agnes stood tall in front of the mirror, quietly observing her reflection. She had returned to her old self. She was no longer wearing an expensive dress, her face was free of makeup, and her hair was no longer curled.
Tonight, her hair was tied back. She wore a simple t-shirt and a long skirt. This was the Agnes she started as. This was the Agnes Islaw first met, the Agnes he loved, and the Agnes who gave birth to baby Silaw. This was the Agnes her husband last saw. It felt good to return to what she was used to.
She turned toward the open window and looked up at the black sky. The moon was exceptionally bright tonight, and the stars were plentiful. She felt different, a strong sense of hope that she wouldn't fail tonight.
"This is it! You can do this, Agnes," she said as she reached the shore.
She took a deep breath and pushed the boat into the water before nervously climbing aboard. She started the small rented motorboat. And here it goes, she was on her own in the middle of the sea.
With trembling hands, she took out the flute. Her heart was pounding.
"Please, Islaw. Show yourself."
She closed her eyes tightly and offered a quick prayer before pressing the flute to her lips and beginning to play. She didn't really know how to play the instrument, but somehow, she managed to create a beautiful melody.
"Hmm?"
She stopped and gasped in joy when she heard a young boy's voice from beneath her boat. She knelt down, trying to catch a glimpse of the small face looking back at her from under the water.
"You!" she exclaimed, delighted to see the mischievous child. Her hunch was right, he was a merman.
He made a move to swim away, but she immediately stopped him.
"Don't go yet. Don't worry, you can trust me."
"You won't tell the humans about me?"
"I would never do that."
"Really?"
"Of course, I promise."
"Yay! Thank you! Does that mean I can still go back to the land?"
"Of course. Any time, any day. Just be careful always."
"Yes! There are so many things I want to do. I want to learn how to play basketball. Father said that as a man, I should know how to play."
"Basketball? Your father likes basketball?" she asked with a smile.
How was that possible? His father was a merman, right? Did that mean his father went to the land, too?
"Yes! He says the basketball ring is the girl and we men are the ones who shoot," the boy added, which made her smile vanish.
What a rascal. It reminded her so much of Islaw, who believed basketball was how babies were made.
"The moon is beautiful, isn't it?"
"Yes, very beautiful." They both looked up at the sky.
"That's why I left without telling my father, so I could watch the beauty of the moon."
"You really are a handful. Sneaking away from your father again." She laughed, looking back at the boy.
"Well, he's always leaving at this hour, too. And besides, I heard the music you were making."
"Is your father still looking for your mother?"
The boy simply nodded.
"What are you doing here?" he asked suddenly, resting his arms on the edge of the boat.
"I'm looking for my husband and my son."
"Here? In the middle of the sea?"
"Yes. Because they're just like you."
"Mermen, too?"
"Yes. That's right." Her eyes softened.
"Why are you only telling me now? I could have helped you look. For all you know, the person you're looking for might be my neighbor."
"I only just found out you were one of them."
"Don't worry. I'll help you. I'll find them!"
"Wait!"
Agnes stood up abruptly when the boy suddenly pulled his arms off the boat. The impact caused the boat to rock violently. Before she could grab onto anything, she lost her balance and fell into the water.
She panicked when she couldn't reach the boat. The water was deep and dark, and she didn't know what to hold onto. She grew even more frantic when the end of the young merman's tail got snagged on a rope connected to the boat, preventing him from helping her.
"H-help—"
One last time, she gasped for air before her body fully submerged. Every second felt like she was sinking deeper, as if some force were pulling her down. She couldn't surface, she couldn't float.
She was running out of breath, and her vision was blurring. It seemed this was the end—that her dream of seeing Islaw and Silaw again wouldn't come true. No matter what she did, fate seemed determined to keep them apart.
She slowly turned her gaze to the side and saw that the boy had freed himself. He turned toward her, trying to reach her, but before he could get close, a man with powerful arms wrapped them around her waist and helped her to the surface.
She gasped for air the moment they broke the surface. In her extreme weakness, she couldn't even look at the merman who had saved her. With trembling lips, she rested her face against his shoulder and let him carry her to the shore.
"Th-thank you," she coughed out, lying face down in the sand with her eyes closed.
"You're welcome," a voice replied, causing her eyes to snap open.
The voice was familiar. She immediately turned toward it.
"Hi, my Agnes." The man she had been searching for so long greeted her with a tearful smile. He looked as though he had missed her terribly and was overjoyed to see her.
"Islaw!"
Weak and shocked as she was, and despite her aching body, she didn't hesitate to pull herself up and throw her arms around her husband. Finally, her wish had come true! It finally happened! Thank you!
"I-Islaw! I finally found you." She couldn't stop herself from wailing.
"I finally found you, too. I've been looking for you for so long." Her husband hugged her, crying but smiling.
"I love you, I love you so much, my Islaw."
"I love you very much, too, my Agnes."
She thought it would be like before, where she would be the first to kiss Islaw, but before she could move, the merman pressed his lips to hers. Smiling, she closed her eyes and savored the kiss she had longed for for so long.
At last, they had found each other.