"Ugh, I'm so bored. I miss Mommy and Daddy."
Marella Oceane Aquitaine, the blonde girl, lay lazily on her bed, glaring at her missing cell phone with an exasperated sigh.
She rolled over in bed, her blue eyes taking in her room, decorated in pastel colors, which was still a pleasure to look at.
Suddenly, an idea crossed her mind as she watched a TV show that had aired a series about sea creatures with human bodies and fish tails countless times. She turned on the TV just to break the silence. She rested her head in her hands. "Noel loves the ocean, so if I became a mermaid, would he like me and fall head over heels for me again?" Marella asked herself, beginning to imagine something in her mind.
She picked up her phone and smiled happily when she saw the signal had returned. She started typing "how to become a mermaid" into the browser's search bar, and various websites popped up discussing exactly what Marella was looking for. Marella clicked on the top article and began reading it. "If you don't try, you'll never know," she said, getting out of bed and walking out.
She headed to the kitchen while continuing to read the text on her phone. "First, I have to find some fish. It must be in the fridge," she said to herself as she approached the fridge. Then she rummaged through it looking for fish.
One of her maids, who was nearby, approached her. "What are you looking for? Do you want me to get it for you?" the maid asked.
Marella shook her head slowly. "No need, thank you. Once I'm done, please tidy it up, okay?" Marella asked, and the servant nodded in agreement. She then left, leaving Marella still rummaging through the contents of her six-door refrigerator. If only her fridge were as small as her friend's, it would be much easier to find things.
After finding it, she took the fish outside and read the article on her phone again: "Wash the fish with rainwater, and collect rainwater to drink." Marella set out a container to collect rainwater and washed the fish with it. The timing was perfect since it was raining, and even the sky seemed to know how to liven up Marella's tedious task.
When she was done, she brought the cleaned fish along with the collected water back inside the house. Marella paused for a moment—she couldn't possibly eat the fish raw, but the article didn't mention what to do with the fish after cleaning it.
She decided to ask her maid to fry the fish and bring it to her room. As written in the article, Marella ate all the fish and drank the rainwater. She looked back at the article and recited the spell, Aru duel mermaíd Tarua
"Aru duel mermaíd tarua," Marella recited the spell she found on the website. "Is that it?" she asked, seeing no change in her legs. But then she thought about it again and realized how annoying it would be if she actually turned into a mermaid just by visiting a website. If that really happened, how would she get her legs back? Marella didn't need to worry because that was highly unlikely to happen. Besides, mermaids like that only exist in fairy tales, right? If they really existed, she would have asked her dad to buy a mermaid at the big aquarium a long time ago.
Marella read the last paragraph of the article again: "When your feet touch the seawater, a beautiful tail will appear to replace your legs."
The sea? There's no sea here. Well, Marella was starting to feel sleepy, so she decided to go to sleep. She lay down on the bed, moved her hand to pull the blanket up to her chest, then closed her eyes to fall asleep.
The sound of a cell phone ringing repeatedly could be heard, but Marella was already fast asleep and didn't hear it.
The next day, Marella was busy gathering all the necessary supplies and items. Early that morning, Karang had already called her repeatedly since yesterday. It turned out there was a school trip planned for that day to an island with a black-sand beach. Oh my gosh, time was so tight that Marella was at a loss. Her mom and dad were out of the country. If only she had magic to help her take care of everything. All the housekeepers were busy with their own tasks that morning. Marella didn't want to bother them or get in the way of their work. However, there was an upside to her parents not being home—they couldn't stop Marella from going to the beach. In her entire life, Marella had never seen a beach.
Marella was pulling some clothes out of the closet when she heard a car horn outside. "Oh no!" Marella shouted, stuffing a bunch of clothes and items from the closet into her suitcase without folding them first. She slammed the suitcase shut so she could hurry—oh, the school bus must already be waiting for her. She almost ran out dragging her bag, but she changed her mind. She'd forgotten the most important thing, which made her turn back and grab a necklace with a pendant shaped like a clear, hollow glass teardrop to wear around her neck. For some reason, she always carried that item with her. Maybe it was a habit because her mother always told her to wear it.
Marella dragged her suitcase and carried her backpack on her shoulder as she hurried onto the bus, looking for her friend. "Marella!" called a girl with red eyes and maroon hair sitting in a seat by the window, waving her hand slowly and greeting her warmly and cheerfully.
Marella smiled upon finding her friend and walked to the passenger seat next to her. Marella placed her belongings in the overhead compartment and sat down next to Karang, leaning back in her seat. "Phew, I'm exhausted," said Marella, fanning herself with her hand. She was quite worn out after packing all the things she needed to bring.
Karang chuckled, "Anyway, are you going on a school trip or running away?" Karang asked, puzzled to see her friend carrying two large suitcases and a big backpack when they were only going to be there for two or three days.
Marella looked around for someone when the bus stopped to pick up her crush. She accidentally spotted him with a girl who lived near her crush. Marella saw them get on the bus together and chatting. He was Noel, a guy with light brown hair, yellow eyes, and fair skin. Noel sat in the seat behind Marella, making her smile, but like a tug-of-war, her smile vanished instantly and was replaced by a gloomy expression when she saw a girl named Araya about to sit next to Noel.
Oh, Marella wasn't going to let that happen. She immediately stood up. "Where are you going?" Karang asked as Marella stood up and walked to the back of the bus, pushing Araya aside and sitting next to Noel. She stretched her body out deliberately, blocking Araya's path. "It's more comfortable sitting here, right?" she called out, leaning back in her seat with her hands behind her head as a pillow.
Noel glared at her disapprovingly. "Why did you move to the back? Araya wants to sit there," Noel asked. He didn't want Marella sitting next to him.
Marella hissed in annoyance. "There are plenty of empty seats, Araya. Just find somewhere else to sit," Marella said dismissively, glaring at Araya, making the girl's courage shrink.
Araya fidgeted nervously, her eyebrows raised. "Y-yeah, it's okay, Noel. I'll sit... somewhere else," said Araya, her voice trembling and stuttering like a remote control with dead batteries.
Marella smiled happily, very happily. "Okay, just be quiet." After being shooed away, Araya left, waving her hand as she went.
But for some reason, there were no rocks or ropes to trip her up, yet she still fell. "Ouch," Araya groaned, clutching her leg. She sat on the floor with an expression that made people feel sorry for her.
"Marella, move your leg," Noel ordered, causing Marella—who had been keeping her eyes closed—to open them again and glance at Noel listlessly.
She was really forcing herself, trying to help Araya even though Araya was right next to Noel, not considering him a potential partner at all. "What for? Mr. Lie already helped him," Marella exclaimed, referring to Araya, who had been helped by Mr. Lie, their physical education teacher.
Noel, his face full of disappointment, sat back down next to Marella, crossing his arms in annoyance.
Marella deliberately turned up the volume on her phone, swayed her body, and sang loudly so Noel could hear her. "What do you see in him? I'm clearly richer!" Noel rolled his eyes at Marella's singing, which made his ears ring.
Seeing Noel's indifferent response, Marella changed her plan. She played one of Taylor Swift's songs, "You Belong with Me," loudly, hoping Noel's ears could clearly hear the sincere feelings expressed in the song and realize them. If not, Marella would bring a speaker and play this song loudly right into Noel's ears.
The bus sped along the deserted roads toward the Black Sea in the Noune Islands, passing ships to reach the islands. And all the while, Marella tried to get Noel's attention, just as she was now trying to make him feel something. "Noel, do you know the difference between you and the Black Sea?" Marella asked. Noel rolled his eyes—this was the umpteenth time Marella had teased him. Noel replied flatly, "No," in a lazy tone.
Marella smiled, though it seemed only for a moment. She was glad Noel was still responding to her, even though she knew he was doing it reluctantly. "If the Black Sea makes me die and drown, you make me drown and can't get out of your heart," said Marella, teasing herself, while the person she was teasing seemed too lazy to respond. "Noel, you're so handsome. If Taylor said that, I'd feel like I'd drown and die," Marella said in an exaggerated tone, placing her hand on her forehead—just as Karang would say, very dramatically. Marella rested her head on Noel's shoulder. "Noel, if I drown, that means my love will also drown and be destroyed." For some reason, Marella didn't know why she suddenly said those words, but she felt they came from her heart.
Noel looked indifferent, turning his head toward the window, but for some reason, he didn't like hearing those words.
Upon arriving at the port, Marella dragged her suitcase toward the ship, regretting having brought so many belongings, which were also difficult to carry. Noel, whom she had wanted to ask for help, walked quickly away from her. "If only there were a prince willing to lift this princess's suitcase," Marella said dramatically.
Karang shook his head and pursed his lips at Marella's words. "What prince would want to help a spoiled princess? You're a crazy girl," said Karang, hurting Marella's feelings; she pouted angrily and stomped her foot in frustration.
A bespectacled boy approached Marella, his cheeks flushed. "Marella, let me help you carry your suitcase," the boy offered, nervously shifting his glasses.
Marella frowned; she wanted Noel. "Sorry, Princess, I don't need help, thank you," she said before dragging her suitcase quickly with all her might, though she nearly fell several times, leaving the young man with Karang, who remained silent in his spot.
Karang shook his head at his friend's behavior and looked at the man with concern. "Sorry, don't take it personally. He's crazy." After saying that, Karang went to follow Marella.
That night in Karang's room, she couldn't sleep because Marella had suddenly exploded in anger after catching the guy she liked constantly hanging out with a girl from her class named Araya. "HUAAA Karaaang, ... What should I do?" Marella asked hysterically, tugging at the pillow in frustration. If she could, she would have ripped the pillow apart, but she didn't want to because that wouldn't be elegant or pretty.
Karang was really sleepy now. Come on, she wanted to sleep. Wasn't there anyone who wanted to grab her friend and toss her into the ocean? Karang rolled her eyes. "You should just go. At this hour, they're having a barbecue, right? Go go after your dream guy," said Karang, who didn't care anymore and didn't want to listen to Marella's chatter anymore. She buried her head in the pillow.
Marella smiled. "Yeah, right. I won't let Noel get near that slimy girl." After saying that, Marella got out of bed, put on her sandals, and walked out of the room humming softly, "Noel, my future husband~"
Once she reached the deck, there were already many children there, including the one she was looking for. "Oh my God, you're so handsome," Marella thought to herself. If Karang had heard her, he would surely have smirked and mocked her words.
Marella tidied her appearance and her hair, then walked toward Imanuel Indiwiyata. She had been attracted to him ever since their parents introduced them at a corporate executives' party, and unfortunately, Marella had truly fallen in love with his charm. To be honest, their parents had arranged for Marella and Noel to be engaged at that event, but Noel firmly refused, saying he didn't like a foreign girl with a loud, spoiled voice like Marella's. However, his parents continued to pressure him to get engaged to Marella for the sake of their family business. Marella didn't lose hope in pursuing Noel's love. Even though she was always rejected, she wouldn't give up. Even though it had been more than three years since that engagement took place when they were still in eighth grade, she still hadn't given up.
However, Marella froze the moment she saw a girl hugging Noel from behind. Noel turned around and returned the girl's hug affectionately, then something shocking made Marella's heart feel incredibly tight—they kissed. Marella froze, staring at the scene with wide eyes. She ran quickly to the ship's railing, gripping the handrail tightly as if to hold back the pain in her chest. Her eyes felt hot, and tears began to well up in her eyelids. Had her struggles and the way she'd treated Noel all this time not been enough?
"So this is what heartbreak feels like—painful, isn't it?" She stared at the sea, whose waves seemed to be raging against something. Marella let her tears flow freely until they vanished, merging with the seawater. Suddenly, thunder and lightning roared, and the waves crashed even harder. The ship rocked like a sheet of paper on the water. People began moving away from the deck toward their cabins to protect themselves from the rain and thunder. Marella, who had just realized what was happening, hurried away from the ship's edge, but a wave struck the ship, causing a violent jolt. Caught off guard, she lost her balance and fell into the open sea.
"MARELLA!!"
...Eyes of the Sea...
...Enjoy the Story...