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It was Saturday morning when they first met. Felip was tasked to do the fishing since his father was sick that time. Felip gladly accepted the job since he wanted to try fishing too. He loves fishing as much as he loves the sea.
"Mag-iingat ka, nak." Felip's mother just smiled a little, as if she's saying that she's sorry for letting Felip doing the job.
Felip just shook his head and smiled genuinely in front of her mother, "Ma, okay lang. Naeenjoy ko kaya ang pangingisda.", he assured her.
Her mother inhaled and exhaled loudly, "Sigurado ka ha? Pasensya ka na talaga at naabala pa kita sa pag-aaral mo."
Felip sighed and held her mother's hand, "Nay, ayos lang po talaga. Masaya akong nangingisda atsaka baka totoo nga yung mga sirena. Baka makakita ako at maswertehan tayo."
His mother chuckled, "Swerte nga sila sabi ng lola't lolo mo. Oh sige na, umalis ka na. Mag-iingat ka Felip!"
Felip waved goodbye.
------------
"Yey! Madami akong isda nakuha ngayon."
Felip stood up on his boat to gather all the fishes he caught. Bigla na lamang hindi niya inasahan na siya ay madulas kung kaya't siya ay nahulog sa dagat. Fortunately, it was only him who fall down to the sea, at hindi ang mga isdang nakuha.
Felip knew how to swim. He believed that but because he was surprised by the moment, he had a hard time swimming up in order to get back on his boat.
Nabigla na lang siya na pagbukas ng kanyang mga mata, may nakita siyag napakagandang lalaki na nakatingin sa kanya.
"Asan a-ako?"
Felip roamed his eyes around and he saw he's now in the seashore but far away from the people in his village.
"I saved you. You were nearly drowning so.."
Felip looked at the man who suddenly spoke. It was the first time Felip saw him.
"Hi! Ako si Justin!"
Felip was mesmerized. Justin has a white skin complexion, mataas ang pilik mata nito, makinis ang balat, at mapula ang labi. He never thought that angels do exist because Felip believed that an angel was infront of him.
"J-Justin?"
"Hmm?"
"Thank you..for saving me. Akala ko katapusan ko na yun. Marunong naman akong lumangoy pero bigla akong napassed out na ewan."
Justin just chuckled, "Syempre crush kita eh."
"Nu sabi mo?"
"Wala. Sabi ko, mabuti nalang naligtas kita."
Ken just shrugged and smiled, "Well. Yeah. Thanks to you."
"Anyway, my name's Felip. You can call me Ken. Nice to meet you."
Felip offered his right hand, saying that he wants to shake hands with the man infront of him. Justin accepted his hand wholeheartedly, "Nice meeting you too, Ken."
When they let go of their hands, Felip realized something.
"Teka, taga dito ka ba? Bakit ngayon lang kita nakita?"
Justin looked away, trying to avoid the question.
"Hmmm?"
"Yeah, taga dito ako pero nasa malayo ako nakatira."
"Talaga? Akala ko iisang village lang ang nandito sa isla. Oh well, nice meeting you parin."
"Anyway, Ken, mauuna na ako ha? Baka hinahanap na ako sa amin."
Felip was kind of dissapointed. Gusto niya pa itong makausap. "Okay! Ingat ka pauwi sa inyo. Thank you ulit."
Justin smiled. Tumalikod si Felip upang kunin ang kanyang bag. Gusto niya sana bigyan ng regalo si Justin dahil sa pagsagip nito sa kanya ngunit laking gulat niya nung pagtingin niya sa harapan niya, wala na ang bagong kaibigan. Parang bula itong nawala.
The only thing that Felip heard was a splash of water.
And then there, Felip realized something. The whole time they were talking, Justin was hiding his legs. Hindi niya ito nakita.
"What the hell.."
-----------------
"Ahhhh omygad kilala na niya ako Stell!" kilig na kilig na sambit ni Justin sa kaibigan.
"Gagi ka! Nakipagkita ka sa tao, alam mo namang bawal yun diba? Naku, malilintian ka talaga ng nanay mo, sinasabi ko sayo."
"I'm sorry, okay? Its just, I can't leave him earlier if he's nearly drowning. I don't want him to die."
"Then sana iniwan mo na siya kaagad sa dalampasigan para di ka niya makita."
Justin frowned and then he looked away, "Pero gusto kong makilala niya ako."
Stell let out a deep breath. "Beh, mahal kita, okay? Gusto kong suportahan ka sa lovelife mo pero concern din ako sayo. What if malaman niyang may buntot ka? Hindi ka ba natatakot na baka gawin ka niyang inihaw na isda?"
Binatukan ni Justin ang kaibigan, "Hoy! Sira ka hahaha."
"De totoo na. Alam mo namang iba tayo sa kanila diba. Baka kasi masaktan ka lang. Ayokong masaktan ka."
"I've been admiring him for almost five years now, Stell. I just want him to know that I exist, that's it. Atsaka, hindi naman ako umaasa na magkakagusto siya sa akin. Just like what you said, Ken and I are different. We'll never be compatible."
Stell caressed his friend's back, "Pero pano ba yan, sa kanya ka masaya edi dapat support ako sayo?"
Hinampas ni Justin si Stell sa likuran, "Alam mo nakakalito ka!"
Tumawa lang si Stell saka lumangoy palayo sa kaibigan, "Basta kung iiyak ka, nandito lang ako."
-----------
Its been a year since Felip and Justin met. They meet, almost everyday.
Justin, who hides his true self behind those fake legs of him just to talk to the man he likes.
Felip, who knows all along that Justin's not a human but still talking to him.
"Jah?"
"Hmmm?"
Kasalukuyan silang nakaupo sa dalampasigan habang tinatanaw ang araw na palubog na.
"Alam mo bang favorite kong animal ay whale?"
Justin's eyes sparkled. Whenever sea creatures are the topic, naeexcite ito.
"Woah! Really? Have you seen one?"
Felip chuckled and stared at Justin. "Hindi pa eh. Pangarap ko kaso mukhang imposible. Wala yatang whale dito sa isla. Baka nasa pacific ocean."
"Don't worry. May kilala akong whale. Magugustuhan ka niya." Justin uttered without thinking.
Felip chuckled when he heard that. "Huli ka. Ang cute kainis." he said to himself.
"What? Come again?" Felip asked as if he didn't understand what Justin said.
"Ha? Ay shet. Ano, yung tatay ko. He encountered a whale before. Maybe I'll ask him then we can go to that place."
Felip tried his best not to laugh. Ang cute cute niya. Ang sarap ibulsa.
"Akala ko may kilala kang balyena."
Justin instantly shook his head, "Syempre wala! Ano ka ba! Ha ha ha!" aniya saka tumingin sa ibang direksyon. Ramdam niyang namumula ang buong mukha niya dahil sa sinabi.
"Pero alam mo, may favorite pa ako sa dagat aside sa whale." Felip admitted while looking at Justin.
"Yeah? Ano naman yun?"
"Ikaw.."
Napatingin si Justin sa lalaking nasa harapan niya at nakita niya itong ngumisi. "Ayun tumingin ka na rin sa akin."
Pakiramdam ni Justin ay pupunta na lahat ng kanyang dugo sa ulo niya. Sobrang pulang pula na ng mukha niya.
"W-what do you mean?"
"Joke lang. Nakatingin ka sa malayo eh. Akala ko nandyan na yung whale na tinutukoy mo."
Felip slowly stood up and then offered his hand to the younger. "Tara! Baka hinahanap ka na sa inyo. Gabi na oh."
Justin looked at the surrounding. Tama na si Felip, gabi na.
"Kitakits uli bukas?" Felip said.
"Oo naman."
Akmang aalis na si Justin pero bigla na lang nagsalita si Felip.
"Jah?"
"Hmmm?"
"Do you believe in mermaids? Merman? People who have fish tails?"
Justin looked at Ken and he saw how serious he's looking at him. "Ahh, h-hindi eh. B-bakit? Do you despise them?"
Ken just smiled genuinely and patted the younger's head.
"Ofcourse not! Pangarap kong makakita ng kagaya nila. I want to know and learn their world. I'm fascinated by the thought of people living under the sea. I want to embrace their beliefs. Sabi kasi ng lolo ko na mababait sila at sabi niya, ang kanyang first love daw ay isang sirena. Kaya until today, I'm still curious if they are true and I want to see them personally."
Justin was out of words. He didn't know what to say. Hearing those words from the man he likes makes his heart flatter. Ang sarap sa tenga.
"Hindi ka natatakot sa k-kanila?" tanong ni Justin.
"Hindi. Cute kaya sila."
"Hindi ba yan prank?"
"Ha? Kailan ako nagprank sayo?"
"Ngayon?"
Felip laughed and then played the younger's hair. "I'm not messing around with you. I love mermaids. I love mermans. I love their world. And I want to meet them."
"And I want to meet you as a merman, too.." Ken mumbled to himself.
----------
Justin went home with a wide smile plastered on his face. He was so happy hearing those words from Felip. It was the least thing he expected from him and hearing those words made him so so happy that he can't explain it. Basta masaya lang siya ng sobra.
"Bimbooooooo!" ani Jah sa kaibigang balyena.
"Jah, pumunta ka na naman sa lupa? Hmm?"
Niyakap niya ang kaibigang balyena saka ito hinalikan sa may pisngi niya. "Gusto ka raw makilala ni Ken. Favorite ka niya. Sana all. Sana ako rin favorite niya."
Bimbo sighed, "Malala ka na, Justin."
Justin just chuckled. "Wag kang KJ, masaya lang ako ngayong gabi. Atsaka, minsan sama ka sa akin sa lupa ha? Like dumaan ka lang ganun? Gusto ka kasi niya makita. Favorite niya mga kagaya mo eh."
"Sige jowain ko yung crush mong taga lupa."
"Bimbo naman!~" Justin whined. Bimbo laughed because of Justin's reaction.
"Pero seryoso, samahan mo ko minsan ha?"
Bimbo glared at him, showing Justin that he's not that interested of showing himself to a human.
"Sige na Bimbo. Minsan lang naman eh."
Bimbo heaved a sigh and nodded. "Sige na nga. Pasalamat ka mahal kita."
"YEY LOVEYOU BIMBO!"
Justin instantly hugged his whale friend.
--------
Sunday evening, Justin and Felip decided to meet on the seashore where they usually spend time together. May fireworks display kasi raw at gusto nila itong makita ng sabay.
"I brought foods!" ani Felip saka pinakita ang dalang mga prutas at chichirya.
"I brought Bimbo!" Justin exclaimed.
"Bimbo?"
Bimbo, hiding on the big rock mentally face palmed himself. Jusko tong Justin na ito. Mapapahamak tayo nito.
"Wala. You heard nothing!"
Napatawa lang si Felip sa inasta ng lalaking nasa harapan niya. Matagal na niyang nararamdaman sa puso niya na may gusto siya kay Justin. Sireno man o hindi, it doesn't matter to him. He just likes him so much. Period. No erase.
Justin, on the other hand, pinched himself just to reprimand himself that he's literally exposing his true identity. Gusto niyang umamin na isa siyang sireno ngunit may pumipigil sa kanya. Nandun parin ang doubts at second thoughts na what if bigla na lamang lumayo si Felip sa kanya pag nalaman niyang may buntot siya? Paano siya kung mangyari yun?
There are many questions but it can only be answered if he will confess.
"Bimbo, magpakita ka na!" Justin whispered to the whale.
Bimbo slowly swam infront of them. When Felip saw the huge whale infront of them, hindi niya mapigilan ang masigaw dahil sa sobrang mangha at saya.
"Woah! Woah! Is that a whale? Totoong whale??? What the heck??"
Justin was so happy seeing Felip so amazed by the whale infront of them. Palihim siyang nagthumbs up kay Bimbo ngunit ramdam niyang inirapan lang siya nito.
"Hindi ko inexpect na makakakita ako ng whale ngayong gabi. Grabe ang cute!" Ken uttered.
Bimbo heard that. Napatalon ito sa saya kaya mas lalong namangha si Felip. Tawang tawa si Justin sa gilid.
Bimbo napaka mo! Baka crush mo na si Felip niyan sinasabi ko sayo!
Mabuti na lamang at walang tao na malapit sa kanila. They always meet in a secluded place. It was not scary for them but it was peaceful. Its like they have their own world.
Later on, umalis na si Bimbo. Pinaalis na ni Jah kasi sumosobra na daw itong magpakitang gilas kay Felip. Tawang tawa si Bimbo na umuwi sa kaharian nila sa ilalim ng dagat.
"Wow! I'm so happy tonight. Nakakita ako ng balyena!"
Justin giggled and faced the sea, "Masaya akong masaya ka, Ken."
Parang nanlambot ang puso ni Felip nung marinig niya yun sa kasama.
"Uy, malapit na magnine pm. Magfafireworks na!" ani Felip sa kasama.
"Excited na ako!"
"Ako rin!"
Both of them were looking forward to the fireworks. But it was not only because of the fireworks, it was also because both of them decided to confess their feelings when the fireworks will start.
5..4..3..2..1..
When the fireworks suddenly showed up, both of them inhaled deeply and exhaled.
"I like you, Justin."
"Gusto kita, Ken. Matagal na."
Napatingin sila sa isa't isa matapos nilang sabihin iyon. Parehas silang nabigla sa narinig. Parehas nilang naramdaman ang bilig ng tibok ng kanilang mga puso kasabay ng pagsabog ng fireworks sa kalangitan.
"Y-you just confessed?"
"Matagal mo na akong gusto?"
They said in unison. Sabay din silang napatingin sa ibang direksyon. Bigla silang tinamaan ng hiya. Kahit na sobrang lakas ng fireworks, mas rinig nila ang bilis ng tibok ng kanilang mga puso.
Felip broke the silence and faced Justin.
"I know you're not a human, Jah.."
Justin was surprised to hear that from Felip. He knew? He knew what?
"I'm just waiting for you to tell me the truth because I don't want to pressure you. Kahit na ano ka man, may nararamdaman parin ako para sayo."
Slowly, he held Justin's hand and placed it on his chest.
"Can you feel the beating of my heart? Para sayo yan."
Hindi makasagot si Justin. Pakiramdam niya nawalan siya ng boses. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa narinig.
Everything is too good to be true.
"Can you transform into a merman?" Felip asked.
Justin's not sure if he will do it but because he saw how sincere Felip's eyes are. Ginawa na niya.
"Now, can you still feel how fast the beating of my heart is? Walang nagbago diba? Kahit sireno ka o kahit tao ka, ganun parin Jah. Ikaw parin yung tinitibok nito. Cringey man pakinggan pero tangina, hulog na hulog na ako sayo."
Hindi na napigilan ni Justin. Tears started to fall from his eyes. Hearing those words from the man he admired for a very long time makes him so so happy.
"Nasaktan ba kita? Why are you crying?" Felip leaned closer and wrapped his arms around the younger.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry. Masaya lang ako."
Felip caressed Justin's back, "Bakit ka masaya?"
"Because I've been admiring you since the day I met you. Actually, matagal na kitang kilala. Hinahangaan kita sa malayo kasi nakikita kitang nangingisda palagi. Seeing you happy in the sea makes me happy too. And the way you sing everytime you go fishing, hay kung alam mo lang kung gano ako napapasaya sa mga kinakanta mo. Atsaka, nung sinagip kita, yun ang isa sa pinakamasayang araw sa buhay ko kasi finally, nakilala mo na rin ako."
Felip tightened their hug. He was so happy hearing those words from Justin. Hindi niya inakala na kilala na siya nito noon palang. Hindi niya inakalang magugustuhan din siya kahit na hindi siya kagaya ni Justin na isang sireno.
"I'm sorry you waited so long for me."
"Okay lang atleast ngayon magkasama tayo."
They let go of the hug. Felip finally saw the tail of Justin. Napangiti ito kasi finally, nakita na rin niya at sobrang saya niya kasi ang ganda ng kanyang buntot.
"Your tail's so beautiful."
"T-thank you.." Justin responded shyly. First time niyang magpakita ng totoong anyo sa isang tao at sa kanyang minamahal pa
When the fireworks were finally done presenting, Felip leaned forward to Justin and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
"Hoy!"
"I love you, Justin ko." Felip said while smiling from ear to ear.
Justin saw how Felip's eyes were screaming pure genuineness and sincerity.
Ang saya saya ng puso niya. Wala na siyang mahihiling pa.
"I love you too, Felip."
And the night ended with a long passionate sweet kiss between a human and a merman.