THE OCEANS GOLD

　　I swam far away from home with my best friend Chan, a small golden fish who fetch me from my house so that we can play in the sea garden full of different colors and shapes of sea flowers and beautiful corals.

　　"Catch me Chan!" I giggled as I swam far away from him.

　　"Wait for me Areum!" he called, his eyes were wide trying to swim after me.

　　Beautiful mermaids clapped their hands while colorful fishes flapped their fins cheering and laughing with us. They loved to watch us play especially when Chan cannot catch me because he's the slowest swimmer in the whole kingdom.

　　We were busy playing, Chan and other fishes surrounded me, dancing while I sing until I heard one of the mermaids screamed, making everyone scattered.

　　"A shark! There's a shark!" she shouted, swimming in the opposite direction and hiding herself in the huge sea rock.

　　I saw a shadow of a large fish, perhaps a shark approaching us.

　　Chan's eyes widened when a big shark came to our view, his mouth wide-opened and the razor sharp and triangular shaped-teeth ready to kill and eat his prey. Then he spotted Chan.

　　"Swim Chan! Swim faster!" I shouted.

　　"Areum!" He closed his eyes and started swimming away from the shark but because he's as slow as snail, the shark was now an inch away from him.

　　I wasted no time and swam towards them as fast as I can. And when the shark was about to eat him alive, I grabbed Chan and kicked the predator's face using my golden tail making him wobble, his eyes rolled from dizziness.

　　And before he could turn to see who did it to him, I swam towards the huge rock and hide, my head slightly peaked to see where he was going. Chan is still in my hold, I can feel his body trembling from fear.

　　"Areum," he whispered. "Thank you for saving me." a tear escaped from his eye and a pearl fell down.

　　"Don't cry Chan or you will scatter pearls." I smiled, caressing his face. "You're welcome."

　　I don't know but Chan has the ability to turn his tear into a pearl. He's the only fish in the ocean that has a power like that so when I see pearls, I know he cried.

　　I watch as the shark swam away from the sea garden. The mermaids and fishes who were hiding from different places suddenly appeared, and I sighed in relief as I see none of them were injured.

　　We continued playing and didn't realize that it was already dark when we stopped, and it was time to go home. Chan's face was nervous. Mother always scolded him every time we're late in going home.

　　"Areum let's go! We're in trouble again!" he said, leading the way home.

　　While on our way home, we saw a big white thing floating in the sea. Out of curiosity, I swam towards that thing and stopped 10 meters away from it, I turned to see Chan swimming closer.

　　" Areum let's go! Your mom will scold me again for sure." his face frowned but his eyes widened when he saw the big white thing floating in the sea.

　　"What is that thing called?" I asked him, my eyes not taking away from it.

　　"It's a yacht Areum!" he said smiling. "But it's not the perfect time to check on that, we have to go home now! Let's go!" he said, swimming away from me but I didn't pay attention on him as I swim closer to the yacht.

　　"Areum!" I heard him shouted.

　　When I was just a meter away from the yacht , I swam upwards and there I saw the full view of the beautiful yacht with a name written on its body. Jay. Is that the name of the owner of the yacht?

　　"Areum, let's go!" Chan was panting, his tongue was dangling from his mouth.

　　I let out a small laugh. He was the only fish who gets tired in swimming. Is he really a fish? And I laugh harder.

　　"What are you laughing at?" he said glaring at me.

　　"Nothing Chan, nothing."

　　When I turned to look at the yacht, I saw a man on the upper deck holding a bottle. He was punching the rails and it looked like he was crying because I saw glimpse of a tear sparkled on his face. Is he angry with the rails? Why is he punching it?

　　I felt sad and admiration when my eyes glanced at his face. He is very handsome like a prince. I have never seen a man as gorgeous as he is in our world under water. My heart beat suddenly raced. What is this? What am I feeling?

　　"Don't you dare Areum!" Chan yelled, his golden face turned red.

　　"What are you talking about?" I said, clueless of what he was saying.

　　"Don't you dare fall in love with a human!"

　　"Of course not--"

　　I can feel your heart beat, don't try to deny it." he said locking his eyes with mine."It's a mortal sin Areum."

　　I looked down, fiddling my hands with my tail. Is this love? How can I stop myself from falling in love with him?

　　"Let's go Areum," I heard Chan called.

　　I was about to swim away and follow him when suddenly I felt something hard hit my head. "Ouch!" I screamed in pain.

　　"What was that?" Chan turned on me, a bottle was floating beside me. I recognized it as the bottle that the man was holding a while ago. Without thinking twice, I picked up the bottle and threw it back on him. And it hit his head bull's eye!

　　I saw the man's eyes widened, his hand on his head. He then held onto the railings and looked down over the sea. He roamed his eyes and when his eyes passed by our spot, we sank our head down a little so that he can't see us.

　　When the man saw nothing, he stepped backwards and slowly turned his heels before he ran fast inside his cabin. We can even hear his loud and scared scream making I and Chan laugh hard as we swam away back home.

ROSE's POV

I still love you Jay, but I will never forgive you for everything you did to me.

My tears slowly falling down on my cheeks while looking at the two-storey house that was built right in front of the sea. It still hurts me, even though it was happened 18 years ago.

That house reminded me of everything that happened between me and Jay. Our memories together, the pains, the heartaches, everything.

As I swim away to continue looking for my daughter, I can't help but remember the past.

"Will you marry me Rose?" Jay asked, showing me the beautiful ring in a red velvet box, he was kneeled right in front of me while I laid on the sand, my tail in the salt water.

"Yes Jay, Yes! I will marry you!" I was teary-eyed when he pulled me closer and gave me a deep and passionate kiss before he shoved the ring in my finger.

I am so overwhelmed with what was happening right now. I never thought he would propose right away after a month of our relationship.

I had met Jay in the middle of the sea. He was having a vacation from his school and staying at the beach house that was owned by his father.

One day, he went fishing, and the boat he was riding sank. He was a good swimmer but he suddenly had leg cramps. When I saw him getting drowned, I wasted no time and saved him. "Thank you for saving me, I'm Jay and you are?"

"I'm Rose and I am a mermaid."

At first, he felt scared but when he learned that I was nice, not to mention my beautiful face, and an aqua eyes that made him mesmerized every time he looked at me, he eventually fell in love with me, even though I am different from him.

When I turned 18, I asked my mother to give me human legs as a gift but she declined my request. "Please mother, just this once. I want to be a human." I begged.

"No Rose, you can ask anything but not this one!"

I felt disappointed as I swim far away from home and I stopped by the seashore. Jay was already waiting for me. "I'm so sorry Jay but mother doesn't want to give me the legs I was asking." I looked down, my voice was trembling. "It's okay Rose, don't cry. I love you for what and for who you are. I will love you until the day I die." He promised.

"Oh Jay, I love you too." I pulled her through her nape and crashed his lips with mine.

"Tomorrow, I will be going back in Seoul to continue my studies. I will come back Rose, wait for me." he said, his thumb brushing my cheeks.

"I will wait for you Jay, no matter what. I love you so much."

And before he left, he proposed to me. He said he will marry me when he comes back.

But five years had passed and Jay didn't come back. Everyday I patiently waited for him on the seashore but he never appeared even once until I decided to steal the pearl from my mother. The purple pearl who gave me human legs.

AREUM'S POV

"We're in trouble now Areum," Chan said, his face frowned in nervousness.

"Areum, where have you been?" I saw Father Jin approached us, his face was tired and exhausted, maybe from looking at me.

"Father?" I was glad he was the one who found me first. He would always saved me from mother's angry blast.

"Your mother and I were looking for you everywhere. Where's Chan?" he asked, looking through my hair. Father knew him very well, he always hides inside my golden hair every time he knew that he would be scolded by mother.

"Ta-da!" Chan suddenly jumped out of my hair, making father startled. Chan and I laughed so hard.

"You--" father purred, his hand on his chest. "Go home Chan, if you don't want to be scolded by Rose."

"I'm so sorry father, it was my fault. I didn't realize it was already dark. I enjoyed playing with Chan and the mermaids." I said looking down.

"Daddy Jin, we saw a--"

"We saw a shark!" I said cutting Chan off. I knew he would talk about the yacht. I don't want them to know about me seeing a human. Mother forbade me to see human and I really don't know why. I gave Chan a warning look and he nodded, understood what I was trying to say.

"And Areum saved me."

"Are you okay Areum?" Father asked, his face was really worried. "Didn't you hurt yourself from that shark?"

" I'm fine father."

Father gently brushed my hair with his fingers away from my face." Okay then, let's go." he held my wrist and together we swam away from Chan.

"Bye Chan, see you tomorrow!" I said waving my hand at him.

"Bye Areum, bye daddy Jin." he grinned, teasing father.

Father glared at him and I laugh watching Chan covered his mouth with his fin. I winked at him as I turned around and swam away back home with father.

"Where have you been?" I was met by mother with an eye-flaming fire, her loud voice booms the entire house, the water waved angrily.

I flinched and swam to hide behind father, too afraid to face mother's rage.

"Rose, calm down your voice. You didn't have to shout." father Jin defended me.

Mother folded her arms across her chest, still glaring at us. "Tell me Areum, where have you been? Did you see a human?"

I looked down and shook my head. "No mother."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded.

She swam towards me and gave me a warm hug, her fingers brushed my golden hair. "I'm so sorry, I was just protecting you. You know humans are selfish, they're the worst creature in the world." she whispered in my ear. "Do not hesitate to swim away when you see one, okay?"

I nodded, not absorbing everything she said because I know it was all lies. How can humans be the worst, when they were the most beautiful creature I've ever seen in my life like the man in that yacht.

I've also heard from one of my mermaid friend Pearly, that her cousin fell in love with a man she met on the seashore and she's now living happily in the land with that man.

But Chan said falling in love with a human is a mortal sin for us mermaids. What could be the punishment? I have to ask Pearly about this tomorrow.

.

.

.

.

.

I was woken up by the phone ringing, my shell phone. "Hello?" I answered, my voice was hoarse.

"Areum!" Chan squealed. "Let's play, I'm here near the seashore!"

"What are you doing there?" I asked while I braid my hair using only one hand. "You know we're not allowed to get near the seashore."

"I saw a green seahorse and I followed him until I get here. I didn't know he went here to give birth, I thought we're going to play." I can see his mouth pouted and I smiled as I swam out of my bed room.

"Okay Chan, wait for me, I'll eat my meal fast." and I hung up.

As soon as I finished eating my breakfast, I knocked on my parent's bedroom door but there's no answer. I twisted the knob and found no one inside the room. Where did they go?

Well, I'll just get home early after playing so that mother won't scold me again. I smirked as I swam away from home, feeling excited to play near the seashore.

I saw Chan already waving at me, he was surrounded by small seahorses with different colors.

"Oh my god Chan, this is amazing!" I said and I started to dance with the baby seahorses.

"Yes Areum, they're so cute like me." he laughed happily, splashing water to the babies with his mouth.

The babies formed a circle around us as they dance with joy, their small squeals making their father watch them with proud on his face.

I decided to climb on the huge rock and settled myself as I sit on top while the babies and Chan looked up, waiting for me. I hummed a melodic song and started singing with all my heart.

My voice caught the attention of other fishes and they all floated in the water watching me with admiration and love in their eyes. They watched me like I was having a concert.

I was in the middle of my song when a deep voice of man interrupted me. My eyes widened, I wasted no time and jumped into the water.

"Hey Miss, wait!" I heard him say. I know it was a human even though I did not turn my back to check on him.

"Oh my god Areum, that was so close!" Chan said, his voice was trembling from nervousness. "Do you think he saw you?"

"I think I wasn't the one he's calling. He said hey! And hey isn't my name." I saw the fishes and sea horses scattered everywhere as they swam away in different directions. My concert was ruined.

"Oh okay, let's go to the sea garden?"

"No Chan, I'm going home. Mom didn't know I left the house."

Chan decided to go with me and when we're near the house, I heard mother and father talking, no they're arguing.

"Rose, Areum is old enough to go wherever she wants. Can you give her a freedom at least?" I heard father said, his voice was calm and cool.

"I was just protecting her! I don't want to see her repeating the same mistake I've done before." mother is yelling, she really can't control her emotions.

"Areum isn't you Rose, she's more matured than you!"

My eyes widened when mother slapped father across his face very hard, her eyes pooling with tears. "You don't tell me how to discipline my daughter!"

I can see the hurt in Father's eyes. "Really Rose? Your daughter only? I'm sorry, I'm sorry if you think I wasn't enough to be called as her father."

"Jin--I'm sorry, I didn't mean it."

But father swam away from her. I hide through the seaweeds so that father won't see me. My heart broke as I watch him with tears in his eyes. It hurts to know that he wasn't my real father.

Who is my father then? Why did they hide it from me? I don't want another father, I only want father Jin. He was the best and will always be the best father for me.

"Areum," Chan said, I almost forgot he was with me. "Are you okay?"

I shook my head and wiped the tears away from my face. I decided to follow father.

I saw him swimming in the left way, probably going to Uncle Cheol's house, his best friend. I watched them talk, I stayed far away, enough not to hear what they were talking about.

I waited some time before I decided to appear in front of them, father suddenly smiled when he saw me, pretending he was happy.

"Hi Areum, how are you?" Uncle Cheol greeted me, giving me a small smile.

"I'm fine Uncle," I answered before I turned to father. "Can I talk to father for a moment?" I asked without taking my eyes away from father.

Uncle Cheol looked on father and he nodded signaling him to go.

"Chan, let's go." Uncle Cheol ruffled my hair before he pulled Chan and swam away from us, giving us a little privacy.

"Wait Uncle Cheol, I want to be with Areum!"

I can still hear them arguing while they swim away.

"What is it that you want to talk about?" father smiled but it didn't reach his eyes.

I swam closer and hugged him. "I love you father, you know that right?"

"Of course, and I love you too Areum, so much." he said hugging me back.

I pulled away and locked my eyes with him. "I heard you and mother talking earlier. Is it true?"

"What do you mean?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Is it true that you're not my real father?"

"Areum," he looked down, avoiding my gaze.

"Why did you hide it from me?" the tears I was holding streamed down my face and I sobbed even more when father hugged me again, pulling me into a warm embrace.

"I'm sorry Areum, but for me, you are mine. You are my daughter." his shoulders were shaking, sobbing silently.

If I would get a chance to choose another father, I would still choose him over and over again because he was the best father ever.

"Do you know who my real father is?" I asked holding his arms, begging to tell me the truth.

"Yes, but I am not in the position to tell you Areum, I'm sorry. "

I nodded, understanding him. "Ok then, I'm going to ask mother the truth."

I swam away but instead of heading towards home, I swam out through the gate of our kingdom making sure I wasn't being noticed by anyone. I need to think. I need a quiet place to think after I heard the truth about my life.

But why am I afraid to know the truth? All I need to do is talk to mother. I swam far away until I knew I was far from our place. I kept swimming for a good twenty minutes minutes until I realized I was pulled by the water into a much deeper end.

The part of the ocean where I can't see any mermaid, only fishes that I didn't know existed. Tears started to pool in my eyes. What did I do? What kind of place is this? All I could see was dark. I swam in no particular direction and that's when I saw something fell in my head.

I avoided the thing and continued swimming in the opposite direction but the rope pulled me up and up until I couldn't feel the water in me, until I could feel my tail turned into human legs. I was trapped in a net and I felt scared.

I closed my eyes when the warm of sunlight tickled my eyes and I heard murmurs around me. "Dude, did you just catch a dead woman?"

"I don't know, I thought it was a big fish!"

"Maybe she was killed and thrown her into the water!"

"Check on her pulse! Maybe she's still alive!"

I held my breath when someone brought a finger to my nose, I pretended to be dead, I could still hear mother's words, "humans were the worst creature in the world!" I didn't believe in her but it's better to be safe than sorry.

"She's dead!"

"What should we do now?"

"Throw her on the surface, who knows if she wakes up?"

"Yeah, good idea!"

No please, just throw me back under water, to my place, to where I belong!

But they placed my naked body near the shore by the sand and I kept my eyes closed. Being on the land makes me weaker. I saw the water waved and I crawled towards it, reaching hardly on the water but my body felt so weak.

What am I going to do now? How would I swim back to mother, father and Chan. Oh god, I missed them already. Tears blurred my vision as I watch the water waved at me, telling me to come nearer but I can't and I couldn't do anything.

I cried and cried until I felt my body passing out and everything blacked out.