Chapter Text
Jeanne rested her forearm against the kitchen doorway as she watched her eldest daughter slowly finish putting away her teacup. The aroma of tea still lingered in the air when she cleared her throat softly, drawing her attention.
“Leo” she spoke in a firm but tired tone, calling out to her. “Darling, today you’ll have to accompany Pan to the aquarium. A few days ago they announced a new show and she’s very excited to go.”
Leonella looked at her with a mixture of resignation and mild annoyance reflected on her face. But she didn’t complain. Her mom stepped closer to her.
“I promised to take her, but your father and I had an emergency come up at work and we have to go. So i’m asking you to please accompany her.”
“Okay, Mom.” She knew arguing would be useless, but she still had her favor card available. “But you’re paying for the food.”
“Of course, darling!” Jeanne seemed to snap back to life and rummaged through the purse hanging from her shoulder. “Take your father’s card. Don’t tell him i borrowed it. Alright, i have to leave now because he’s waiting for me in the car. Take care, okay? I love you! Don’t spend too much! Have fun! Au revoir!”
Her mom finally disappeared through the front door. Leonella sighed and, much to her dismay, headed to her room to get ready.
Hours later, Leonella walked beside her sister through the wide corridors of the aquarium, surrounded by the constant murmur of visitors, the echo of children’s laughter, and the muffled sound of water behind the giant glass panels that sheltered the various marine species.
Panela moved forward with restless steps, tightly holding the aquarium brochure where a brightly colored announcement stood out.
The Great Mermaid Show.
Leonella, on the other hand, barely paid attention.
She had never been fond of shows that attempted to bring to life creatures that, in her opinion, were nothing more than elaborate inventions. She enjoyed real animals, not carefully planned fantasies.
They entered the amphitheater where the show would take place, taking seats in the front row at Panela’s request. They ended up just a few meters away from the enormous tank that stretched from floor to ceiling.
The venue began to darken. The audience’s murmur gradually lowered until it turned into an expectant silence. Leonella crossed her arms, not expecting much, as she watched the spotlights turn off one by one, leaving the water submerged in bluish darkness.
Then the music began.
A soft instrumental piece, filled with delicate and melancholic notes, flooded the space with a melody that felt strangely familiar, wrapping around the audience like a sonic caress.
From the top of the tank, a figure emerged that immediately captured every gaze: a young brunette with short black hair, whose long blue-and-white tail shimmered beneath the light with golden details that looked like fragments of sunlight trapped underwater.
Leonella straightened slightly in her seat without realizing it.
The mermaid moved with a grace impossible to ignore. Every turn, every undulation of her body seemed calculated with exquisite precision, as if the water were not an obstacle but a natural extension of herself. Her movements were delicate and hypnotic, perfectly synchronized with the rhythm of the music, which rose and fell like the tide.
The spotlight that illuminated her followed with devotion, like bees drawn to honey, and it wasn’t the only one. The audience’s eyes remained fixed on her, captivated, completely surrendered to the spectacle. Leonella felt her skepticism slowly dissolve, replaced by a silent fascination that spread across her chest.
When the mermaid spun through the water and the light reflected across the golden tones of her tail, Leonella held her breath, just like the rest of the audience. Her eyes couldn’t turn away from the scene; her mind had stopped questioning what she was seeing. In that instant, she reacted just like everyone else: completely spellbound by the mermaid’s performance.
Leonella admired her hair as it flowed with the dance in the water. Every turn made the short strands spread like soft ink, floating with a naturalness that seemed impossible to replicate outside the sea. There was no stiffness in her movements; she looked like a true mermaid, born to move among ocean currents.
At one point, the young woman approached the tank’s glass, reducing the distance between herself and the audience. Her lips curved into a playful smile before blowing kisses that turned into small rising bubbles, provoking laughter and delighted exclamations around her. She then swam along the edge, waving at the children pressing against the glass.
Among them, Panela stood out with bright eyes and a smile that barely fit her face; she waved back enthusiastically, bouncing lightly on the tips of her toes.
Leonella watched the scene with almost reverent attention, until something unexpected happened. The mermaid’s brilliant blue gaze lifted for a moment and met hers directly. It lasted only a second, but it felt like a gentle and precise blow to her chest. Her heart quickened without permission, beating to a rhythm different from the music still surrounding the room.
The mermaid pulled away from the glass and, with an elegant bow and one last smile directed at everyone, propelled herself upward, disappearing into the depths of the tank and out of the audience’s sight, which responded with loud applause and cheers.
The show continued.
Other mermaids emerged with complex choreographies, and there was even a merman performing impressive underwater acrobatics. Even so, by the end of the show, Leonella felt that the one who had truly stolen the performance had undoubtedly been the first girl.
Fortunately for Leonella, children were allowed to interact with the performers who portrayed the mermaids outside the water after the show ended. The anticipation of seeing her again remained strong as they waited for their turn, until she finally spotted her sitting on a rock by the edge of the large tank.
Out of the water, the mermaid retained that same captivating aura, as if the essence of the ocean refused to leave her entirely.
The staff informed them they could approach. Panela didn’t hesitate and rushed forward to hug her, which the mermaid returned with equal enthusiasm, wrapping her arms around the girl carefully while letting out a soft laugh. Leonella stood nearby with an enamored smile she couldn’t hide, watching as her sister chatted animatedly.
That was when the mermaid turned toward her.
“And what is the name of the princess accompanying you?”
Leonella felt heat rise to her face as those lapis lazuli-colored eyes fixed on her, paired with a friendly smile that completely disarmed her. Before she could react, Panela answered for her.
“She’s my big sister, Leonella! You can call her Leo. That’s our nickname for her.”
The mermaid nodded and gave a slight bow in greeting. Her bangs shifted slightly, falling out of place, and Leonella’s hands tingled with the impulse to fix them. She restrained herself, simply returning the gesture with a shy nod.
After their interaction, they took a photo together. The mermaid said goodbye with a warm smile.
“It was nice meeting you. I hope to see you again.”
Leonella didn’t want to stop looking at her. As they walked away, she felt the echo of that gaze still clinging to her skin. She felt like a pirate falling under the enchanting songs of sirens.
The exit door opened with a faint creak, allowing a different current of air to pass through, announcing without words that her turn had come to an end.
The hallway’s light contrasted with the carefully crafted atmosphere surrounding the tank, and that simple change was enough for reality to slowly settle back over Leonella.
Panela took a couple of steps forward, ready to leave, but Leonella paused for a second, with the persistent feeling that something had been left unfinished, like a sentence interrupted halfway through.
“Pan, wait a moment,” she said hurriedly, breaking the silence just before reaching the exit.
Her sister stopped in front of the open door and turned toward her, confusion written across her face. She said nothing, but the tilt of her head made it clear she didn’t understand the sudden urgency. Leonella, without offering further explanation, hurried back toward the room where the mermaid remained.
Her heart pounded as she walked. She felt her pulse in her ears and an unrelenting warmth in her cheeks, as if her body refused to calm down. When she arrived, she found her sitting in the same spot near the tank.
The mermaid was drinking water with calm movements, catching her breath before greeting the next visitor. Offstage, without lights or music, she still carried that enveloping presence that had left Leonella speechless minutes earlier.
“Hey! Hi again,” Leonella said, her voice barely louder than a whisper, nervous and flushed pink.
The mermaid looked up, surprised to see her again. For a second she seemed to evaluate the situation, but soon offered her an open and attentive smile, silently encouraging her to speak. That simple gesture made Leonella’s nerves intensify.
“I, uh… I wanted to know my sister… I mean. My sister to know… Oh, sorry, i tend to stumble when i’m nervous,” she confessed with a nervous smile, glancing away for a moment, aware of how her words tripped over each other.
The mermaid’s reaction was immediate, laughing softly while instinctively covering her mouth, and that light sound made something inside Leonella’s chest shrink and expand at the same time.
“Don’t worry, it happens to everyone.”
Hearing her laugh made Leonella’s heart race even faster. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to regain her train of thought before the courage she had gathered completely evaporated.
“My sister wanted to know your name.”
The mermaid observed her for several seconds that felt eternal. There was no rush in her expression, no discomfort, just a serene calm that contrasted with Leonella’s internal whirlwind. Finally, she smiled with charming naturalness.
“I’m the mermaid Bru.”
Leonella nodded slowly, biting her lower lip as if holding back a flood of words threatening to spill out without order. She felt time shortening, as if the moment were about to vanish, and urgency took hold of her again.
A staff member appeared at the entrance, discreetly announcing it was time to allow the next visitor in. The pressure of the moment became evident. Leonella looked at Bru, aware there would be no immediate second chance. Without further hesitation, she gathered the last of her courage and spoke.
“And i wanted to know your real name… if that’s okay.”
The mermaid visibly blushed. Her cheeks turned a soft shade that made her smile stand out even more, widening with a mixture of shyness and complicity.
“I'm Brunetta. Glad to meet you.”
The name lingered in the air, and Leonella stored it carefully, as if it were a fragile treasure. She smiled, even as her nerves consumed her from the inside, feeling that small exchange had been worth every second of anxiety.
The door opened again, revealing visitors waiting their turn to interact with the mermaid Bru. The constant flow of the show didn’t stop for anyone, and Leonella understood immediately. She had no more time. She stepped back, knowing she had to leave.
“So… see you later, Bru.”
The mermaid followed her with her gaze as she walked away, raising her hand and waving gently in farewell. Leonella felt that gaze cling to her back even after she crossed the threshold.
When she returned to Panela, she found her sitting on the floor with her back against the wall, wearing an obvious expression of boredom. The girl looked up as soon as she saw her approaching.
“Did you finish flirting with new my mermaid friend?”
Leonella’s smile vanished immediately and her eyes widened in surprise at the bluntness of the question. The comment caught her off guard, and for a moment she didn’t know how to react.
“Pan! Don’t be fussy…”
She sighed, releasing the accumulated tension, and gestured for her to get up and head toward the exit. Panela obeyed without protesting, dusting off her pants before standing up.
As they walked, Leonella regained her smile, this time calmer, more genuine. Simply, as if stating a truth impossible to hide, she added:
“Don’t blame me. Bru is very pretty.”
Panela narrowed her eyes, evaluating her silently, but Leonella barely paid attention. None of that mattered too much at that moment. Her mind was already working on other ideas.
As they left the venue, Leonella began planning her next visit to the aquarium, mentally reviewing every detail, every possible excuse, every opportunity to meet that beautiful mermaid again and discover a little more of the world that seemed to have opened before her without warning.