After watching a movie with Jeonghan, I was so exhausted that I collapsed on the sofa. How could I possibly get tired of watching a movie? I'll never watch a horror movie with Yoon Jeonghan again. Jeonghan was a total squealer the entire time we were watching a horror movie. He paced back and forth, screamed, and even hid behind my back. It was exhausting.
"Are you okay..?"
"Wake me up when Kim Min-gyu comes."
"Am I really going to sleep..? What am I going to do..?"
"You lie down and sleep too. Should I give you a blanket?"
"No, I want to see Dawon's room!"
"Ugh.."
***
Dawon fell asleep. I covered her with a thin blanket and went into her room. I'd briefly come in earlier this morning, but hadn't looked closely then. Dawon's room was all blue. Dawon really likes the color blue.
"It's like the deep sea..."
" good night... "
I sat down on what appeared to be a chair. Then I collapsed on the desk. The desk's cool warmth reached me. It felt refreshing. As I stared blankly, a drawer on the desk caught my eye.
Out of curiosity, I opened the drawer. There was a blue necklace.
"As expected, Dawon took good care of it."
I have to go back soon.
Mermaids begin preparing a year before they become adults, turning 20. They prepare to become fully 20. So, when I turn 19, I must return to the mermaid kingdom. I won't be able to surface for a whole year, but I must go.
I currently have human form, but whenever I want to return to being a mermaid, I can simply fall into the sea. And the day I return to the mermaid kingdom is in a month. After that, I absolutely must return. If I don't want anyone to find out I've been meeting humans, I must return as quickly as possible.
And today is the day I return to my mermaid form. Because I have to visit the kingdom for a while today.
With this necklace.
***
"Dawon, wake up."
"Dawon, Mingyu is here."
"Huh... Already..?"
"Are you sleeping on the sofa instead of the bed in your room?"
"You go to your room."
"Okay... but when is he going?"
"I see. Jeonghan, when are you coming?"
"I have to go today. See me off."
" already..? "
"It's a shame, but I understand."
"I'm going now."
"That... Dawon."
" huh? "
"The blue necklace in the room... bring it out."
***
Late one night, I went out to the beach with Jeonghan. I brought the necklace he asked me to bring. But why did he ask me to bring it?
"Why did you ask me to bring this necklace?"
"Who gave you that necklace?"
" this? "
" ... "
My memory is hazy. When and from whom did I receive this necklace? It's frustrating not to remember. I think I remember a little bit.
"If you don't remember, just don't think about it. It'll just make your head hurt."
"Ah... yeah... I see."
"Can I borrow that for a moment?"
" huh? "
"Can I return it tomorrow?"
"Yeah, it's okay. Take it."
Why does Jeonghan want to borrow this necklace? Jeonghan took it from me. He groaned as he wore it around his neck.
At that moment, a blue light emitted from the blue necklace. It was as bright as if it had found its owner. It shone brightly, like the ocean reflecting sunlight.
"I'm going out."
" for a moment, "
Jeonghan plunged into the ocean. Where did he plan to go? Why am I so anxious? Jeonghan swam away without looking back. It seemed like I'd never see him again...
After Jeonghan left, I stood there, blankly, my mind blank. It felt like all the things Jeonghan had said to me up until then were flashing through my mind.
'I came to get back something I lent you 11 years ago.'
'But I don't think that kid remembers me.'
'ย I first saw a human being 11 years ago.'
'Yeah. She was a little girl.'
'That kid also has the necklace I was talking about.'
'Right here. You're sitting here, and I laid you down here.'
'I was wearing a bracelet with angel wings on it. The same one you're wearing now.'
'But what's really really too bad is that girl doesn't remember me.'
'We met again a few weeks ago.'
I just remembered now.
Eleven years ago, I saw a mermaid. So, I remembered its appearance in detail, and I realized that the mermaid I'd met 11 years ago was Jeonghan. And I also understood why the blue necklace glowed when it touched Jeonghan. Because it truly belonged to Jeonghan.
Jeonghan gave me a lot of hints, but I'm only just now remembering them. How stupid.
One month and two days...
I'm sorry๐ญ๐ญ