"That's right, you've never seen the mermaid that Dad showed you back then, right?"
"Yes, I have never seen it."
My choice was ultimately no. My father nodded a couple of times as if he understood and went into the room. Haa... My sigh trailed off. I guess it was a good decision, yes... a good decision... I thought of Dawon and Yoon Jeonghan, who were with me right now.
"If you see it, contact me right away."
" ... "
"Have a nice trip."
I didn't answer. Dark circles had settled under my father's eyes, the last of which I'd met. But if I spoke, Dawon would have a hard time. This is too much... I can't do anything...
***
"Hey, Kim Da-won!!!"
"Why are you yelling so early in the morning!!!"
"No, look at this! There's a picture of a mermaid floating around the internet!!"
"There are also rumors that it was sighted on the beach here!"
"What.., what..??? "
Kim Min-gyu woke me up early in the morning. I went to the living room and shut the door tightly so Jeong-han wouldn't wake up. But what the heck, out of the blue, was this? Jeong-han's photo was floating around the internet. Who, or rather, how did they get that photo?
"T, was this taken when you were with me..?"
"The person mosaiced here, I think it's you..."
" ... "
I entered the room to wake Jeonghan, who was having a sweet dream. Jeonghan, covered only with the blanket over his belly, his mouth moving as if he were eating something in his dream, made me smile. No, now wasn't the time.
"Jeonghan, wake up!"
"Uh,uh...why,,why..?"
"Jeonghan, you have to go back. Wake up quickly."
"Huh..?"
"It's dangerous if you stay here any longer!!"
I was afraid that if Jeonghan, whose face was already sold, stayed here any longer, he'd really get caught. No, that couldn't be... I quickly helped Jeonghan up.
***
"Why, what's wrong? Why are you putting this on?"
"...Jeonghan, don't come see me anymore."
"What are you talking about all of a sudden..? Did I do something wrong again?"
"Do you want to die by the hands of humans? If not, go now. Go and don't come back."
" huh..? "
Tears welled up in Jeonghan's bright eyes. I quickly wiped them away. Jeonghan, still struggling to understand the situation, kept asking me why.
"Your picture is floating around the internet."
"My picture..?"
"Yeah... I guess it was taken when you and I were playing together here."
Min-gyu, who was following behind, took back his hat from Jeong-han and told him to hurry up and go. He told Jeong-han to take the clothes he was wearing now, saying they were a gift.
"I really can't see Dawon anymore..?"
" ... "
"No, I, I just want to live here... I just need to become human..."
" ... "
"I don't want to go..."
"Go quickly. What if we get found?"
Tears fell from Jeonghan's eyes. And his vision began to blur. His nose stung, and his chest began to ache. Jeonghan carefully hugged me.
"I'll be back... I'll definitely come see Dawon..."
The portion is small..!