Stranded: A Lovestruck Merman's Tale (BL)

They walked to an outdoor dining space near the adjacent shore, where many of the food stall visitors ate their food. Marnthe sat down on a bench with bags of skewered seafood, meats, and drinks.

Geale plopped beside him while happily munching on a stick of glazed, deep fried meatballs.

"How's the food so far?" Marnthe asked, picking up a stick grilled squid as they faced the calm waves of the ocean.

"It's really tasty. There's so much flavor and texture. And there's so many colors! The food looks so delicious. The smell makes my mouth water."

"Land spices can do that," Marnthe said before taking a bite of the squid.

"Is that your favorite?" Geale asked, noticing the small smile on Marnthe's lips as he chewed.

"One of many."

"Can I have some?"

"Sure."

Geale took a bite of the squid and grinned in delight at the complex savory, slightly spicy taste that filled his mouth.

"I bought you one too in case you want more."

"Thank you!"

The sound of the festive music playing behind them filled the cool, evening breeze soothing their warm skin. Geale observed Marnthe as the singer stared at the sea. There was a hint of sadness in his calm gaze.

"Were they really claimed by the sea?" Geale asked.

"Who?" Marnthe replied, surprised at his sudden question.

"Your sister and grandfather."

"Who told you that?"

"A little flounder. Is it true?"

"Yes."

"They rode a boat and disappeared?"

"No."

Geale had a feeling that was the case. "Was your grandmother a mermaid?"

Marnthe smiled. "She wasn't my grandmother."

Geale's eyes went wide. "She was your mother?"

"No," Marnthe chuckled. "She was a friend - a very precious friend." He then stared at his half-eaten skewered squid. "This was her favorite food."

Geale froze, anxiety slowly seeping into his veins.

He had read stories about merfolk risking their existence to follow a loved one who had been captured by humans on land. They often ended up trapped in the human world, unable to save their lover from death.

Such stories were mostly fiction: romantic tragedies that sometimes evolved into mystery and action tales depending on the author. Some of them even turned into theatre shows and movies.

While it might not be true, it was still possible. There were still entities who chose to break laws against human contact. Marnthe's "very precious friend" could be one of those people.

The human, Marnthe's pretend grandfather, could have been her captor. Marnthe sneaked onto the island, most likely during a Crescent Moon Festival, to rescue her.

In the end, he was left stranded and alone on the island - the mermaid perishing with her human captor. He probably stayed on the island because he didn't have any reason to return home anymore.

It could explain the sad song he sang during the night Geale met him.

Geale stiffly looked away, his chest throbbing as he put the pieces of the puzzle together. He felt hurt, not because Marnthe betrayed him, but because the singer was indeed in love with someone else.

He felt hatred toward the mermaid and her human captor. He felt anger at fate who kept him from meeting Marnthe sooner.

No. He was just jealous…Jealous that Marnthe was still in love with someone else.

***

The walk back to the beach house had been mostly filled with an awkward silence. Marnthe thought Geale was simply tired.

They had walked on land for quite a long time after all, something Geale likely wasn't used to yet. He felt guilty that he forced the younger man to exhaust his legs so soon.

"We're almost there," Marnthe said, hoping it would encourage Geale. "I'll show you your room when we get home. You'll love it."

Geale tried to smile. He knew what Marnthe was doing. It made him feel awful that he couldn't pretend that he was okay.

A part of him wanted to ask Marnthe more about his "very precious friend" to shatter his painful assumptions, but he was afraid to hear the confirmation that his suspicions were true.

"There it is! Do you see it?" Marnthe asked, pointing at the end of the road they were taking.

Geale looked ahead and saw the beach house waiting for them - the place Marnthe once shared with his beloved. Could he replace those memories with a better one?

Could he encourage Marnthe to move on and take another chance at love? Could Geale make him fall in love with him?

He pondered the question as he followed Marnthe into the beach house. He barely registered what Marnthe was telling him until he heard his name echoing from the kitchen.

Geale followed Marnthe's voice and found him at a narrow hallway with three doors facing each other.

"What took you so long?" Marnthe asked, chuckling slightly. "Stay close behind me, okay?"

Geale watched him open one of the doors, revealing a dark space. He frowned as a familiar scent tickled his nose.

"This is the attic," Marnthe explained as his hand reached over the side of the wall.

He flicked a switch, filling the space with white light that revealed a narrow staircase. "No one is allowed here except for you and me. I'll give you a key to the door later. Follow me."

Geale watched Marnthe descend the steps into a small room filled with wooden cabinets and shelves. He followed close behind him and scrunched his brows as the familiar scent wafted in the air.

"Now watch me closely," Marnthe instructed. "Remember how to do this so you can come here anytime you want." He slipped his hand inside one of the shelves and grabbed a book with four letters scribbled on its spine.

"Porn?"

"It's a horrible joke, I know," Marnthe muttered as he pulled the book out. It leaned out of the shelf, triggering a clicking sound. He then pushed the shelf back.

It squeaked as it swung backward like a door, revealing another dark space.

Geale gasped as the familiar scent filled his senses.

Marnthe reached over the wall, flicked another switch and filled the room with soft green, purple and blue glow coming from fairy lights hanging from the ceiling.

More wardrobes, shelves, and tables leaned against the room's rock, uneven walls. Books and piles of paper were stacked on desks.

A glass-enclosed shower stood on a corner of the room, next to a marble counter with a sink.

In the middle of the room's polished stone floor was a pool filled with sparkling sea water.

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