There's Magic Between Us
ā„ pairing:Ā hwang hyunjin x female reader ā„ genre:Ā one-shot, fluff, angst, attempted humour, low fantasy, frenemies to lovers, swimmer!hyunjin, merman!hyunjin, witch!reader, high school!au, modern-day setting ā„ rating: pg-13 ā„ warnings:Ā mentions of food, kissing, mentions and depictions of drowning (nothing bad happens), bullying (in reference to reader's past, portrayed once), one reference to drugs (as a joke), trespassing (it happens twice), let me know if i am missing something ā„word count:Ā 19.1k ā„ summary:Ā Hyunjin's life was perfect until it wasn't. After turning into a merman, everything he worked for is at risk: his place in the swimming team, his popularity amongst his colleagues and worse, his chance at entering a prestigious university. After coming to terms that turning into a merman was not a momentary occurrence, Hyunjin knows he needs a witch's help to get to the bottom of this. Luckily, he knows one. The not-so-good part? Her name is Y/N and she's known for hating guys like him. Will he be able to trust her with his secret and get his life back?
ā„ liaās note:Ā Hello, how are you? I'm publishing this fic again with some grammar and typo fixes and minor improvements. This is still one of my favourite fics I've ever written and it's also one of my longest oneshots (for now). This story is very special to me for many reasons, and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have writing and revising it. Please, like/reblog this post if you enjoyed reading it, and let me know your thoughts through an ask if you feel like it!Ā As always, happy reading!
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āI need your help.ā
Hyunjin couldnāt believe the words that left his mouth. Two weeks ago, if someone were to tell him he would be asking you for help, he would have laughed. In which situation would he need a witchās help? None. His life was perfectly fine without any magic, and he didnāt want anything to do with it. He was popular, captain of the swimming team, and he was sure he would go to a good university by the end of the school year. At least, that was him two weeks ago. Today, he wasnāt so sure about that.
āLet me guess,ā you closed your locker door and turned to face him, slightly amused, āyou need my help to improve your grades. What subjects?ā
He laughed. You were funny. Yes, he sucked at most subjects, but he would never study more than necessary. He didnāt need to improve his grades; he just had to be sure he wouldnāt fail any class. That, and his outstanding performance in the swimming team would get him far.
āThatās not the case.ā He cleared his throat and glanced around the corridor, moving closer to you. Suddenly, he didnāt know how to bring it up. āI need your help with other things.ā
āSuch asā¦?ā
āSuch as⦠magical things.ā
You rolled your eyes, disappointed.
āI donāt sell drugs. If you want that, find someone whoās always high. Not me.ā
After fixing the strap over your shoulder, you turned your back on Hyunjin, leaving him behind as you walked down the corridor. He blinked slowly, trying to understand what had just happened. Yes, he expected you to reject his offer at first, but after mentioning magic, he expected your eyes to shine or something. Instead, he got the cold shoulder, and you now thought he was into drugs.
Great, he thought. What now?
He pondered for a while, glancing between both ends of the corridor, wondering if he should go to his car or after you. His urgency to solve this matter spoke louder. Hyunjin sighed and went after you, half-walking, half-running until he was next to you.
āWhat do you know about mermen?ā
You glanced at him sideways for a while and shrugged.
āThe same as everyone else. They have a tail instead of legs and like to swim. They probably live in the ocean, I donāt know. Merfolk is not of my interest.ā
āWhy not?ā
āWhy do you care, Hyunjin? Did you bet with anyone that you could annoy me for a certain amount of time before I lost my patience?ā
He knew you were deflecting answering his question, probably to keep your identity hidden. Hyunjin knew you were a witch. He had known you were one ever since you were in first grade when you started to have witchcraft lessons. His mother worked in the bakery next to your auntās flower shop and she told him the stories about you. As a kid, Hyunjin thought they were a cautionary tale, but now, he saw them as a blessing in disguise.
Hyunjin gulped and glanced at the corridor once again. He took a few quick steps forward and stopped in front of you, causing you to almost trip on him. He caught the brief surprise in your eyes and held your gaze for as long as possible. He had never noticed you had such pretty eyes. In all honesty, Hyunjin never lost much time staring at you. You moved like a shadow, and he rarely noticed you. Until recently, that was.
āNow weāre doing a staring contest?ā You crossed your arms. āI have somewhere to be. Donāt make me waste my time, please.ā
āI know youāre a witch, and in this case, youāre the only person that can help me,ā he whispered. āI⦠need your help to deal⦠a situation.ā
You held his gaze as your expression grew sombre. Whether you were upset, disappointed, surprised, or all at once, Hyunjin didnāt know. However, he wanted to hide. Perhaps asking for your help while exposing your origin had been a bad idea.
You leaned closer to him and took a deep breath, closing your eyes. When you opened them again, you smiled at him. Your smile was pretty, too.
āYouāre a merman. How fun.ā
His eyes widened and he took a step back, shocked. āHow do you know?ā
āYou smell of sea and sand. Sunlight. Warmth. Your heart pulses differently, too. Besides, you asked for my help while mentioning merfolk. It could be a coincidence, but we both know youād never ask for my help unless you didnāt have any other option.ā
āDo witches read minds?ā
āAre mermen always annoying?ā
āI donāt know.ā Hyunjin ruffled his hair in frustration and started to pace around. How had you been able to read him so quickly? Was that some sort of spell? How powerful were you? āAre you inside my mind right now?ā
You rolled your eyes and shook your head.
āI donāt read minds. Witches canāt read minds, only energy.ā You cleared your throat and fixed your posture, focusing on Hyunjin again. āWhat do you need my help with?ā
āI need you to help me not turn into a merman every time I come into contact with water.ā When you raised an eyebrow, he shook his head, ready to reassure you. āI can pay you. I can do what you want. I can make you popular, introduce you to anyone, pay you with money, anything. Just please, help me.ā
āNo.ā Your answer was so blunt that Hyunjin took a bit to process it. āDonāt you ever attempt to ask me for such blasphemy ever again.ā
āBut⦠but you can help me.ā
āI canāt.ā
āYouāre a witch.ā
āAnd youāre refusing to accept your true origins.ā
āIt could ruin my life,ā Hyujin argued. āLook, I'm the captain of the swimming team, and I havenāt shown up for practice in two weeks. If I skip one more week, I'm out. I canāt afford that. I have worked too hard for this, and I'm not willing to give up now.ā
āWere you expecting me to feel sorry for you?ā You took a deep breath and walked closer to Hyunjin. āYouāre not asking me to help you. What you are asking me is for me to betray my values for you, which is something I wonāt do. I barely know you. Try to do a little study on merfolk, and perhaps we can talk about it. I wonāt help you any further, though.ā
You patted Hyunjinās shoulder and disappeared up the stairs, leaving him alone in the corridor. This entire conversation had been unexpected. He didnāt expect you to say yes right away, but he expected you to agree to help him eventually. However, you had bluntly refused his requests several times and even demanded he do some research about his origins.
This was why you didnāt have any friends. You were too demanding and lacked basic understanding and compassion for other people. You may have a pretty smile and beautiful eyes, but your personality was the worst.
Still, Hyunjin needed your help, and he wasnāt going to give up this easily. You hadnāt said no to him, and even though you hadnāt agreed to help him, you were willing to chat with him once he had done some research on merfolk.
He glanced at his watch and bit his lip. By now, he should be at swimming practice, surrounded by his friends, and training for all the championships he had left. However, he wouldnāt be able to do it. This afternoon, he wouldnāt waste his time, though.
For the first time in his life, Hyunjin would do something he had never done seriously before: he was going to research and study. Apparently, a simple search on a web browser wasnāt enough for the situation.
Your evenings were your favourite time of the day. After getting home and doing your homework, you had dinner with your parents and spent the rest of your time in your bedroom listening to music, reading books, and trying your best at crocheting. All of this happened while your cat gave you the most judgemental look possible, but you wouldnāt complain. He kept to his toys and whenever he demanded your attention, you took that as a cue to take a small break.
As you lied in your bed, mindlessly reading one of the last books you had gotten from your school library, you couldnāt help but focus on your conversation with Hyunjin. You tried not to read too much into what had happened, but the truth was that he knew you were a witch. How he had gotten this knowledge, you didnāt know, but it was worrisome. You knew other magical beings lived in this realm, but everyone was supposed to keep that a secret, and never talk about it with each other. He was the first person you met who, allegedly, had magical abilities too. You couldnāt trust his words too muchāyou had never spoken with him at school.
Everyone knew who Hyunjin was. Captain of the swimming team, he was known for being a good friend, easy to party with, and a very terrible student too. According to most teachers, he had to worry more about his grades and pay more attention in class, but he didnāt care. Hyunjin had put all of his eggs into the same basketāhis captain position on the swimming teamāand that decision was now biting him in the ass.
Itās what he deserves, you thought, flipping through the next page of your book. From across the room, your cat stared at you intently. You closed the book and sat on your bed, focusing your attention on him.
āWhat? Itās true, Whiskers. If he wasnāt so reckless, he wouldnāt be this stressed right now, and he wouldnāt need my help either.ā
Your cat blinked slowly, and after a while started to lick its body. So much for a companion to vent with. You took a deep breath and stood from your bed, making your way downstairs to make yourself some tea and talk to your parents about what had happened. If anyone needed to know about this conversation, it was them. You didnāt want to be the reason why your entire family line would be at risk.
āDoes anyone want tea?ā you asked as you got to the end of the stairs and peeked into the living room. Your mother turned to face you, offering you a polite smile that didn't reach her eyes. You raised an eyebrow. āIs everything alright?ā
āWe have a guest,ā she whispered, walking closer to you. She grabbed your hand and pulled you into the corridor, away from the kitchen and living room, and into the study room. āThere's a boy in the living room asking for you.ā
āA boy? Who?ā
āThatās what your father and I have been trying to figure out. He refuses to tell us why he wants to talk to you.ā Your mother narrowed her eyes. āYou didnāt get a boyfriend without telling us, did you?ā
You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms.
āOf course not. If I didāwhich, by the way, is very unlikelyāyou'd be the first people to know. Did he give you a name, at least?ā
Your mother nodded. āHyunjin. Do you know him?ā
Your soul left your body briefly before you returned to your senses. You had to close your eyes for a while and massage your temples. What the hell was Hyunjin doing here, this late at night? You thought asking him to do some research about merfolk would dissuade him from trying to talk to you again, but that had clearly backfired. What were you going to do now?
āHe's in the same class as me. I donāt know him that well.ā You leaned closer to your mother and whispered, āI think he might be merfolk. He knows Iām a witch.ā
Your mother nodded, taking in your words. She pondered on them for a while, and you waited for her reaction. However, instead of panic or worry, your mother seemed pretty relaxed and okay with the information you had just shared with her.
āOh.ā She smiled. āItās all good, then.ā
āWhat? Why?ā You gestured towards the living room. āWe donāt know him. Arenāt you worried he knows about me being a witch?ā
āNot in the slightest.ā She shook her head. āIf he's merfolk, then he's one of us.ā
Your mother grabbed your arm and pulled you with her to the living room. You tried your best not to trip on the rug when you entered the living room alongside her. Your mother helped you regain your balance and offered Hyunjin and your father a polite smile. You, however, couldnāt hide your disdain for seeing Hyunjin here.
āHere she is.ā Your mother patted your shoulder, sending your father a look he clearly understood.
āYes, Y/N is here. She wasā¦ā
āBusy.ā You glared at Hyunjin. āI'm still busy.ā
āItās eleven oāclock, Y/N. Besides, you were about to make yourself some tea, werenāt you?ā
āYes,ā you turned to face your mother, ābecause I want to go to sleep.ā
āI donāt plan on taking much of your time,ā Hyunjin said, offering you a polite smile. Your father kept his eyes on him which was making him visibly uncomfortable. āI just need to ask you a couple of questions.ā
āCouldnāt that wait until tomorrow? Or never?ā
āY/N!ā Your mother slapped your shoulder lightly. āIs that a way to treat a guest?ā
If he is Hwang Hyunjin, then yes, you thought. He had so much audacity that you were concerned his brain had been replaced by a fish.
āWhy donāt you and Hyunjin chat in the living room while your mother and I go prepare you some tea? Would you like some tea, Hyunjin?ā
āIām not into tea.ā He rubbed the back of his neck.
Your parents exchanged a confused look after Hyunjinās confession, but you were unbothered by it.
āHeās probably more into coffee or energy drinks,ā you whispered to your mother.
āWe donāt have any of those at home. Should I buy some?ā
You shrugged. āGive him a glass of water, then. Or juice, I donāt care.ā
āSee if youāre nice to Hyunjin. If not nice, be respectful to him. Even when we donāt see eye to eye with someone, we should still be polite.ā
You rolled your eyes. Apparently, that was all you did today.
āFine. Iāll be sure not to curse him.ā
Your mother gave you a warning look, but you smiled at her. She knew you wouldnāt curse anyone. You didnāt know how to do it, and it was against the witchās oath.
After your parents left the room, you and Hyunjin stood in silence for a while. You looked at him, expectantly, waiting for him to open his mouth and speak his business. He must be desperate to come to your house in the middle of the night.
āYour parents seem cool.ā
āTheyāre polite. Why are you here?ā
He nodded and removed the backpack from his back, opening the zipper and pulling a couple of books out.
āAfter our conversation today, I decided to do better research about merfolk, and I brought a couple of books. Could you let me know if theyāre worth a read? I donāt know if they're legit or fairytale-like.ā
Hyunjin extended two books to you, and you accepted them. You glanced at their hardcovers and read their titles, trying to remember if you had read any of them. Part of your training in witchcraft required you to know about different magical beings with active lineages, but you didnāt focus much of your attention on merfolk. This town was near a dense forest and far away from the sea and ocean. It was strange that Hyunjin, a merman, had found himself here.
āThis one is not good.ā You returned him the first book with a green cover. āItās outdated, and some of the information it presents was confirmed to be a myth and not factual. As for this oneā¦ā
You opened the second book and glanced at its index, reading the different topics it included. It had a brief history of merfolk, the myths associated with these magical creatures, and where one could find them. Nothing about merfolkās abilities or how to control their powers, which was what Hyunjin needed right now.
āThat one is a good read, but itās too broad. Let me see if we have anything in our library that can be more practical to you,ā you said, returning him the second book. āWait here.ā
āSure. And thank you.ā
You nodded at him and disappeared into the corridor, meeting your parents in the kitchen. By now, you were sure your mother had informed your father of what you had told her, so when they spotted you, they both stopped their tasks and waited for you to speak.
āCan I take Hyunjin to the library?ā
āYou mean the one in the study or the one behind the study?ā your father asked, pouring the boiling water inside two mugs.
āThe one behind the study,ā you said. āHyunjinās books donāt have what he needs. I want to see if we have any books on merfolk abilities and powers, and a guide on how to keep them hidden from others. Can I take him with me or not?ā
Your parents exchanged a knowing look, and you waited for their answer. Eventually, your father nodded, and your mother turned to you, smiling softly.
āYou can. Just make sure he doesnāt steal anything. Merfolk are like dragons: if they like something, they will want to have it.ā
āHeās not into books, Mom.ā
āThen, just keep him near the bookshelves,ā your father said. āDonāt let him peek into the other rooms in the library.ā
āFollow me.ā
When Hyunjin lifted his eyes from the books in his hands, you were gesturing to him to join you. At first, he didnāt move, but after your insistence and intense glaring, he shoved the books in his backpack and followed you to the corridor.
He wasnāt sure why he had come to your house this late at night. You were rightāthis was something you could have solved and looked at in school, but his urgency to solve this matter spoke louder. Besides, his house wasnāt that far away and he didnāt have a curfew anymore. He was in his last year of high school and his mother allowed him to stay out until later as long as he didnāt fail any classes and kept them informed of his whereabouts.
Tonight, he merely stated he was going to visit a friend, but didnāt elaborate any further. However, he texted his mother as soon as he arrived at your house and he planned on texting her again once he was out of here. He was already taking longer than he initially expected.
āCome on in.ā
After opening the door, you turned on the lights of the room, revealing a small study with walls covered in bookshelves. Hyunjin feared for his lifeāhe didnāt want to be drowned by the weight of knowledge, and this room looked like it could do that to him. Good thing he knew how to swim, though.
āThese are a lot of books,ā he said, nodding to himself. āFamily heirlooms?ā
You closed the door behind him and shrugged, walking towards the desk on the right of the room. Behind it was a portrait of three people on the wall, and it didnāt take long for him to recognise you and your parents. He wasnāt sure who the artist behind the painting was, but they had been able to capture the beauty of your eyes and the kindness of your smile. It was pretty.
āAh, that.ā You rolled your eyes after noticing what Hyunjin was looking at. āItās a family tradition. A weird one, but it wasnāt as awkward as I expected.ā
āYour parents seem niceā¦?ā
Hyunjin wasnāt sure if that was the right word to describe your parents. They had received him with open arms but were quick to ask him questions. Who was he and what kind of matter had brought him to talk to you, was he a friend or more than that? Not even his past girlfriendsā parents were this inquisitive about him.
However, he understood why. He didnāt just research merfolk. Hyunjin looked up some information about witches too. He had to if he was going to ask for your help. Although most of what he found was vague and at points contradictory, he was sure that witches werenāt evil. Besides, their homes were their refuges. Anyone who entered unannounced or uninvited would be questioned about their motives. The number of guides for witches on how to keep their homes safe he found was worrisome.
āI wouldnāt describe my parents as nice,ā you said, opening the drawers at the desk one at a time with your brows furrowed. āThey are overprotective and good people. Not nice or kind, though.ā
āWhy not?ā
You lifted your eyes to him, annoyed.
āWitches canāt be nice. They are cordial and respectful, but donāt confuse that for being nice or kind.ā
āTo me, that is being nice.ā He crossed his arms and leaned on one of the bookshelves, in front of the desk where you were. āWhat is kindness to you?ā
āKindness is pain wrapped in a denial bow. People are nice because they know what itās like to suffer, and they donāt want others to go through that. Witches acknowledge pain, they donāt ignore it. They arenāt nice or kind to others because they donāt deserve to feel pain. They recognise their equals and treat people according to their energies. If you sow fear, you will collect sorrow. If you sow light, you will collect the stars. Thatās what we believe in.ā
He nodded, confused and blown away by your answer. Hyunjin had never thought of kindness like that, but in all fairness, he wasnāt one to think deeply about worldly matters or how people reacted or behaved. It didnāt matter to him. After all, Hyunjin treated everyone with the same amount of respect and kindness.
āI think youāre wrong about that, you know.ā
āI didnāt ask for your opinion, and I donāt care about it.ā You lifted your eyes to stare at him. Hyunjin heard a click behind him. āIf I were you, I'd lean away from that shelf.ā
āWhyāā
The bookshelf behind him slid sideways, and he didnāt move away in time. He lost his balance and tripped backwards, the weight of his bag not helping his situation in the slightest. Thankfully, someone grabbed his hand before he fell to the ground. He couldnāt prevent a small scream from escaping his lips, though.
You pulled Hyunjin closer to you to help him regain his balance. He was unable to look away from your eyes. Although he had never been this close to you before, he knew he would long for this in the future. You were awfully comforting, and he was sure this was some sort of spell you had going on. No one could be this mesmerising, interesting and intelligent at the same time.
āIs everything alright in there?ā Your father spoke from outside the room, knocking lightly on the door.
You let go of Hyunjin and focused on the door. He wished you had held him for a bit longer.
āEverything's fine. Hyunjin leaned on the wrong bookshelf. He survived. Weāll go downstairs now.ā
āDownstairs?ā
His eyes widened as he turned around. The bookshelf was gone. Instead, Hyunjin spotted a flight of stairs going downwards. A shiver ran through his spine. This was not part of his plan when he decided to follow you.
āWhatās down there?ā
āFamily heirlooms.ā You shrugged, offering him a satisfied smile. āAnd more books. The ones that matter.ā
āIs it scary?ā He bit his lower lip. Was this how his life ended? āI could wait for you here.ā
You shrugged, moving past him and starting to climb down the stairs.
āFine by me. You can sit by the chair, read the book spinesā¦ā You turned to face him. āThis will close if you donāt follow me, but rest assured I'll be back. Whether as a nightmare or something to haunt you, I donāt know yet.ā
He let out a nervous laugh, nodding to himself.
āYouāre joking, right?ā You didnāt answer him. āRight? Y/N?ā
The bookshelf returned to its place before you answered him. Hyunjin started to pace around the room, messing with his hair. This is how I die, he said to himself, trying to come up with an escape plan. I canāt believe I allowed a witch to lure me into a room alone. Of course, this would happen. Why did I do this?
He looked through the room, checking the windows first. They were on the ground floor, so he could easily escape through them if they werenāt locked. He tried to open them, to no avail. They werenāt budging under his strength. Hyunjin tried the study door next. He turned the handle, but the door didnāt move. It was locked.
āHow is it locked?ā he whispered, furiously turning the handle, expecting a different result each time. āHow is it locked?ā
āEverything alright in there?ā your mother asked on the other side of the door.
āThe door is locked,ā Hyunjin said. āI canāt get out.ā
āAh, youāll have to wait until Y/N returns,ā she said in a calming voice. āYou didnāt go with her?ā
āI chose not to.ā He wasnāt going to admit out loud he had been afraid to follow you because he feared for his life. Hyunjin would admit to stupidity, but not to cowardness.
āWell, now you have to wait until she's back. The door locks automatically whenever someone goes downstairs and it can only be unlocked once that person is back.ā
āIs this some sort of spell?ā
āYes,ā she answered. āIām sure youāll learn to use your magic soon, too. Y/N wonāt take long. Sit by the chair near the desk or the small sofa near the window.ā
Although Hyunjin was mad that you had told your parents about his condition, he was surprised by what your mother had told him: would he be able to use magic too? Thatās kind of cool, he thought. It was the price to pay now that he had a fishtail instead of legs every time he was in contact with water.
As per your motherās advice, Hyunjin sat by the chair at the desk, staring intently at the bookshelf across from it. He knew doing so wouldnāt make time pass faster, but he had nothing better to do than to wait for you. Thankfully, your mother was right. After what felt like an eternityābut had only been five minutesāthe bookshelf moved again, and you emerged from downstairs with several books in your arms.
āIs that all for me to read?ā Hyunjin started to count the books but stopped after spotting five. āThatās a lot for me to read.ā
You placed all the books on the desk in front of him, not saying a word. He didnāt miss the sparkle in your eyes, though. You truly enjoyed reading and everything he considered boring, he was starting to realise.
After separating the books into two piles, you extended the smallest one to him, satisfied with your selection.
āThe first one tells you about merfolk abilities and the different active lineages. I would start there so you can figure out what kind of merfolk you are. I would suggest talking to your parents too. They, better than anyone, can help you through this process.ā
āI donāt want to tell my parents,ā Hyunjin said right away, certain of his choice. āThey never mentioned this to me, so I doubt they would know anything about it. Iāll do it on my own, they donāt need to know. I donāt want anyone to know.ā
Your eyes met his briefly with concern, but you didnāt say anything about his claims. He knew you probably had a spiteful comment brewing regarding his statement, but he appreciated your silence. You gulped and tapped the top of the pile, shifting Hyunjinās focus to it again.
āThe second book tells you about your power and abilities. Itās not a practical book, itās mostly theory. Iād suggest looking at the chapters that refer to your lineage to save you some time. The third one is about general magical theory. Each magical order has a code of conduct, but these are the general guidelines every magical being should abide by. The fourth is a general one, too, but it's about the magical orders and how they interact, their abilities, and a bunch of other stuff. I would suggest you read these first, and then I'll give you the rest.ā
āThe rest?ā he asked, glancing between the two piles. He gestured to the second one. āWill I also have to read that one?ā
āIāll read it first since I donāt know how practical they'll be for you. We donāt have a lot of books about merfolk, so Iāll see if these have anything of use for your situation. Still, you should tell your parents about it. Iām sure they have their reasons for not telling you about it, but they want the best for you. They might have useful books at home.ā
āWe donāt have those kinds of books at home.ā Hyunjin grabbed the books from the smallest pile and shoved them inside his bag. These were heavier than the ones he had brought you.
āWhere did you find the books you showed me earlier, then?ā
Hyunjin stopped in his tracks and glanced at you. This time, your comeback hadnāt been a snarky remark. You grinned at him, and he looked away, upset he hadnāt seen this coming.
āI'll see if I have any more books at home like the ones I brought to you today.ā
āSure.ā You walked to the study door and opened it, gesturing to him to leave. āIf you need anything else from me, meet me at the library or school. Unless I invite you to visit me at home, donāt appear here again.ā
āI understand.ā He nodded and smiled at you. āI appreciate your help. Thank you for everything youāre doing.ā
āJust make sure you return the books. If you donāt, I'll seriously haunt your dreams.ā
He laughed. Hyunjin was learning to love your sense of humour, and he hadnāt known you for that long yet.
āYou wouldnāt haunt them. Youāre too pretty for that. If I ever saw you in my dreams, that would be a blessing.ā
āIf you ever say anything like that, I'll curse you for eternity.ā
As much as you tried to hide it behind your glare, he could tell you were flustered. He was too; he was just better at hiding it.
āHave a good night of sleep, Y/N.ā
As he left the study room, he waved at your parents in the living room, thanking them for allowing him into your home this late at night and for the warmth they showed him.
āOf course!ā Your mother said, giving Hyunjin the biggest smile. āAny of Y/Nās friends are more than welcome into our home. You can visit anytime, even if she said otherwise.ā
āMom!ā you whined, crossing your arms. However, your mother ignored you.
āY/N is tough to deal with sometimes, but she has a very big heart. Donāt give up on her just yet.ā
āNow youāre scaring the boy,ā your father said, extending a hand to Hyunjin. āDo as you wish. Know that youāre always welcome here even if Y/N says otherwise.ā
āI canāt believe this.ā You threw your hands in the air, disappearing up the stairs with heavy steps. āWeāre not even friends.ā
Your parents offered Hyunjin polite smiles and he reciprocated them, guiding him to the entrance and waving him goodbye before closing the door. He took his phone from his pocket and messaged his mother, letting her know he was going home.
As Hyunjin walked home, he couldnāt shake off the last words you had told him. Yes, the two of you werenāt friends, but why did he want to change that? Being near you wasnāt easy, and your mother was right, you were tough to deal with. However, he wanted to get to know you better. Behind your snarky comments was always a valid feeling, even if he wasnāt sure where it came from.
Hyunjin wasnāt going to give up on you just yet. He didnāt have any other option, but even if he did, he would choose you over everything else. Whether it was a spell you had put on him, the truth was, it would take you a lot more than a curse and haunting his dreams to make you get rid of him now.
It had been a week since Hyunjin had last visited you at home. Despite you seeing him at school, he never said a word to you. Sometimes, he offered you a small smile or a shy greeting hand wave. However, whenever his lips parted for him to speak to you, he didnāt make any sound.
You had mixed feelings about it. As much as you were relieved you didnāt have to interact with Hyunjin anymore, you were upset he hadnāt even bothered to return the books he borrowed from you. Those were family heirlooms, passed through several generations of witches and other magical beings. Couldnāt he, at least, acknowledge how important those books were to you? He might not like to read, study, or do any research, but he could have some sort of consciousness. Still, this was exclusively your fault. You had chosen to trust the wrong people again, so you would have to deal with the consequences of your actions.
Not having to worry about Hyunjin and his worries meant you didnāt have to read more of the magic theory books you had planned on reading. Although your research had been brief, you had found something that didnāt please you: there was a way for witches to help other magical beings conceal their magic. It required a potion and a spellāboth of which you were unqualified to performābut that was a possibility. If you gave any of those books to Hyunjin, he would figure it out in no time, and having him pester you about spells and potions was worse than asking for your help.
As you sat by one of the library windows, you spent your afternoon organising your notes from classes and trying to come up with a study schedule for your upcoming month. You would be busier than usual in the upcoming weeks since it was a New Moon, and that would require you to perform some rituals, especially if you wanted to be granted access to the portal to the Otherworld.
You knew your parents werenāt pleased about your choice to want to leave this realm, but it was hindering your magic. You didnāt want to keep your magic hidden, you wanted to feel proud using it. You didnāt want to be outcasted for it, you wanted to be celebrated for it, instead. While you kept living here, you would have to hide your identity, and you werenāt happy about that. You knew you had more to offer elsewhere than here, and you would try it, even if your chances of succeeding were very low.
The other students around you started to whisper and giggle amongst themselves, shifting their focus from their notebooks and coloured pens to the person entering the library. At first, you tried to ignore them, but eventually, your curiosity got the best of you.
Hyunjin walked through the different corridors and bookshelves, clearly lost. He glanced at every table and every face around him, looking for someone. He was looking for you, you quickly figured out, when his eyes found yours and relief washed over his face. His steps became quick and his posture changed completely to one of confidence and certainty. Around you, people shifted their attention from Hyunjin to you. Their whispers didnāt subside, but their glares and stares toward you burned your skull. You hated the attention. You preferred the shadows.
āMind if I joined you?ā Hyunjin asked, grabbing the chair across from yours. You slowly looked up from your books, not hiding your displeasure.
āHere to return the books you borrowed?ā You turned back to your notes. āIf you didnāt intend on reading them, you could have said so.ā
āI read them all. Iām sorry for being such a slow reader. Iām not used to reading books.ā
āItās not hard to believe that.ā You lifted your eyes to him, gesturing to the chair across from you. āHave a seat. People are staring.ā
Hyunjin nodded and followed your suggestion, sitting across from you. He opened his backpack and pulled out the stack of books you had burrowed him, and you sighed in relief. They were all in good condition and you noticed some colourful sticky notes coming from some of the pages. For someone who didnāt know how to study or research, he did have a pretty good method for gathering information. Whether that information stayed in his brain was a different story.
āSo, I read the chapters you suggested, and I have some questions. For instance,ā he pulled one of the books and opened it one of the pages, āin this page, it says that I can identify my lineage through the colour of the scales on the tail butāā
People all around them urged them to hush and Hyunjin moved in his chair, slightly startled. After looking at his surroundings, he leaned closer to you, worried.
āDid I do something wrong?ā
You nodded and leaned closer to him, whispering, āWeāre at a library, Hyunjin. Weāre supposed to keep quiet and not talk. If we must talk, then we must whisper, okay?ā
Whether Hyunjin had heard anything you just said, you couldnāt tell. He kept staring at your lips, parting his as if inviting you to kiss him. It didnāt help that he continued to lean closer to you, closing the distance between the two of you. What had gotten into him? Yes, he was handsome and he had very nice lips, but you werenāt one to fall head over heels for anyone, let alone for someone you barely knew. You placed your hand on his shoulder and pushed him back gently, and Hyunjin blinked slowly.
You returned to your studies as Hyunjin dealt with whatever thoughts were running through his mind. Even though you couldnāt read his mind, you knew he was embarrassed. His aura was a shade of red with hues of yellow and violet. Underneath all of that was a beautiful shade of blue with golden tones he repulsed. That was the true aura of merfolk. So far, his aura resembled any other human, and if it wasnāt for his scent and certainty of getting help, you would have guessed he was pranking you.
Something else gave Hyunjin away. Since he was neglecting his magical side, he was looking more tired than usual. You remembered watching him in the corridors jumping and chatting with people, a certain glow associated with his person. Now, however, he looked exhausted. The dark circles under his eyes were something everyone else would notice, but underneath them, the shine in his eyes was missing, too. He needed to burst out his magic, at least every once in a while. If not, he would rot by denying himself his truth.
āAre you free this evening?ā you asked him. Hyunjin looked at you, confused, but merely nodded.
āI was supposed to have practice, but our teacher is sick and I still have a tail, so I'm free.ā
āGood,ā you closed your book, and stood from your chair, saving your belongings inside your bag, āmeet me tonight by the public pool building entrance.ā
āWhy? Didnāt you hear I canāt swim?ā
āDo you want to know your lineage and how to control your powers?ā
You pulled the books you had given Hyunjin closer to you and carefully saved them in your bag.
āOf course, I want to. But do I need to swim for that?ā
āHow else am I supposed to see your scales?ā
āYouāll see my scales?ā He stood up from his chair, panicking. āYou⦠I⦠Howā¦ā
You rolled your eyes, putting your bag over your shoulder. You wouldnāt be able to study for the rest of your afternoon and all this attention on you from strangers was making you uncomfortable.
āBring your swimming suit. Leave the rest up to me.ā
āYou tend to ask me to do weird things, you know. First, you asked me to follow you into that secret chamber, now youāre asking me this?ā
The fact Hyunjin considered a downstairs library with a hidden entrance as a secret chamber was hilarious to you. He truly needed to learn more about his identity because fairytales were clogging up his judgement.
āAnd just like that time at the secret chamber, you can refuse to accept my offer or request. Itās your life, Iām not telling you how to live it. However, you should know keeping your magic hidden for too long is dangerous. You need to set it free once in a while.ā
āOr else?ā He raised an eyebrow at you. āIs this another one of your lies to try to scare me? I read that witches canāt curse.ā
You smiled. The information did stay in his brain. That was wonderful progress and something youād be glad for soon, you were sure.
āMagic is like a second bloodstream. Do you know what happens when human veins get clogged because the blood isn't circulating?ā You leaned closer to Hyunjin one last time, whispering into his ear. āIn the worst case scenario, it can lead to death.ā
You sighed and leaned away from him, fixing the bag strap on your shoulder. Scaring Hyunjin was fun because he was too gullible and believed everything you told him. This time, however, you wanted him to be scared. Blocking his magic was dangerous, and you feared for Hyunjinās safety now more than ever.
For someone you didnāt know that well, you sure did care a lot about him, and you didnāt love that about yourself. Hopefully, this wouldnāt last much longer. The two of you didnāt have much in common besides being magical beings. But even then, you belonged to two completely different orders.
When Hyunjin got to the public pool building, everything was closed. The lights inside the building were turned off and only the safety one was visible. He glanced at his watch, fixing his swimming gear back on his shoulder. Although the night wasnāt particularly cold, whenever a soft breeze crossed his skin, he shivered slightly.
He had decided to arrive a couple of minutes earlier just to make sure he wouldnāt miss you. Whenever he got to class, you were already inside the classroom, either listening to music or reading a book. No matter your distraction, Hyunjin didnāt dare to bother you, mostly to avoid questions. You were an outcastāpeople didnāt generally speak to you. If he was seen with you, even for as little as five minutes, he knew it was only a matter of time before people inquired about your relationship.
Hyunjin would be fine if people assumed that you were friends or that you had been paired in a school work together that required you to meet every once in a while. He wouldnāt, however, tolerate people assuming he had made a bet with anyone to befriend you or that he was doing it because he felt pity towards you. You were one of the coolest people Hyunjin had met, and despite your attempts at keeping him away, he was learning to play your game.
For starters, he now knew a lot more about witches and their lineages. He also knew about witchesā abilities and he was certain that you could help him with his issue. Still, he first needed to figure out what kind of witch you were. Hopefully, tonight would answer some of Hyunjinās questions regarding your abilities and his powers, too.
You arrived right on time. Hyunjin spotted you walking from the main street at a slow pace, keeping your eyes on the trees and street lights nearby. Although this part of the town was near the centre, it was too late for people to be out. Besides, the public pool wasnāt open during the week which meant very few people came this way. When you were close enough to Hyunjin, you glanced at him from head to toe, saving your headphones inside your backpack. It was the same one you took to class, Hyunjin noticed.
āYou're here early,ā you said, walking towards the main door.
āWell,ā Hyunjin said, following you, āI didnāt want to be late. I know youāre punctual, so I wanted to be here when you arrived.ā
āThatās smart.ā You nodded and stopped in front of the entrance door, glancing at the inside. Everything was empty. āI think sneaking in will be easy.ā
Hyunjin panicked.
āSneaking in?ā He gulped. āI thought this was merely a meeting point! You canāt be serious.ā
āOh, I am.ā You smiled at him, delighted. āStep back for a bit. I need space to work. Make yourself useful and be on the lookout.ā
Hyunjin crossed his arms, disappointed. You were always giving him orders, and he was growing sick of it. However, what else was he supposed to do? As much as he wanted to admire your pretty face, it was better if he focused on your surroundings to make sure you were safe to do whatever you were planning on doing.
āTry focusing on the sounds.ā You kneeled and opened your bag, picking up two small thin pieces of metal. Was this your first time breaking into a place? Hyunjin was afraid to know.
āWhy the sounds? How about the streets I can see?ā
āMerfolk have a heightened sense of hearing. Only underwater can you see in the dark. Youāll locate people faster if you focus on the sounds around us.ā
āFine.ā
He didnāt focus on the sounds. Hyunjin stood still behind you, staring at the road across from the two of you, occasionally looking over his shoulder to look at what you were doing. Eventually, the door unlocked and you pushed it open, gesturing for him to follow you inside.
āIāll erase our presence from here before we leave, but try not to touch many things. Now, go get changed. Iāll meet you at the pool.ā
You started to walk towards the pool, but Hyunjin didnāt move. Eventually, you stopped in your tracks and turned to face him with your eyebrow furrowed.
āIs there any problem?ā
āActually,ā he walked towards you, āthere is.ā
āWhat is it?ā You crossed your arms, keeping your eyes on him.
āI donāt like when you boss me around.ā
āIām not bossing you around.ā
Hyunjin stopped when he was close enough to see your features clearly. Even in this low light, you were beautiful. He wished he could find the words to express how breathtaking you were. He knew that even expressing his entire heart to you was useless. You would never believe he could have any interest in you. Hyunjin truly wanted to know you, though.
āPerhaps,ā you bit your lip, staring at his mouth briefly. You cleared your throat and focused on his eyes. āPerhaps, I'm not thinking enough about my choice of words. How about you get changed while I make my way to the pool? Does that sound better, Hyunjin?ā
āMuch better.ā He smiled at you, starting to walk towards the changing rooms. āIāll see you at the pool.ā
It didnāt take long for Hyunjin to get changed. Whether it was the excitement to get back into the water or his fear of being alone while trespassing, he couldnāt tell, but in a matter of minutes, he was walking to the pool access and crossing the door to find you sitting at one of the benches near the front.
You didnāt lift your eyes when Hyunjin approached. He placed his bag next to you with his towel on top and glanced at what you were reading. It was about merfolk, specifically, the different lineages. Eventually, you lifted your eyes to look at him, glancing at his torso before finding his smile.
āWhenever you feel ready,ā you said, offering him a reassuring smile. āWe have all night, and the moon is quite pretty from here. In a few days, itāll be a New Moon.ā
You were prettier than the moon. However, he couldnāt help but compare you to it.
āSometimes, you remind me of the moon,ā he said, stretching his arms and legs.
āWhy is that?ā you said, unbothered. You lied on the bench, bending your legs so you could rest the book on them and read. āIs it because I'm a witch?ā
āItās because I canāt get to know you. Part of you is always hidden. That doesnāt stop you from being fascinating, though. It doesnāt reduce my curiosity, either.ā
āIt should, though.ā
You adjusted your position on the bench, pretending to be unbothered by his comment, but Hyunjin knew when you were flustered. It was adorable to see you fight a smile, and he couldnāt resist it. All of this made him highly pleased. He was a master at flirting, but with you, he had to get creative with his comments. Maybe reading a lot of books would come in handy, after all.
Hyunjin finished stretching and paced around the pool for a while, his hands behind his back. All of his life, he had loved swimming. When he lived with his parents in a small coastal town, nothing delighted him more than going to the beach and following the waves, allowing them to carry his small body to the shore. He always trusted the sea and he always believed their lives were somehow connected.
After his parentsā divorce, he moved away with his mother to this town, and he was disappointed by the lack of sea. However, he could still swim, and he kept doing it ever since he was young. He loved it. Nothing filled him with more excitement than being inside of water, swimming freely or against the clock.
Tonight, the pool wasnāt as inviting as usual. Whenever he glanced at his reflection on the waterās surface, he remembered the day it all changed. He was glad everything happened when he was alone in his bathtub and no one saw the strange shape he turned into. Hyunjin didnāt want this. His life was going well a couple of weeks ago, why couldnāt it stay that way?
He glanced across the pool to where you were lying on the bench, focused on the book. Although you had told him you could stay all night, he wasnāt willing to stay here forever.
He softly touched the waterās surface with his fingers as a wave of warmth took over his body. Where the water had touched his skin, small blue scales started to appear, reflecting the low light in the pool area. As soon as he took his hand from the pool, the scales disappeared. Hyunjin pursed his lips, glancing at his legs. Once they were underwater, they would be replaced with a tail. The more he delayed this, the harder it would be. Hyunjin couldnāt avoid this foreverāit would only delay his return to his ordinary life.
He jumped into the pool, allowing the water to tame his body. Suddenly, he was home. The urgency in his heart subsided as he took his first deep breath underwater, opening his eyes. The world was different here. It was secluded, hidden, safer. It was quiet, too.
Instead of returning to the surface, Hyunjin reached the bottom of the pool and swam for a while, never slowing down. Oh, how he had missed this. He wasnāt sure if you could hear him laughing underwater, but he missed the happiness that burst through his chest, that prevented his legs from keeping still. Tail, he corrected himself. Now, he had a tail, and swimming had never been easier. The water ran smoothly against his body, and his movements were no longer slowed down by friction. It was easy.
Eventually, he decided he had gotten enough swimming for a couple of weeks and returned to the surface. He sat by the edge of the pool near you, focusing on the scales of his tail that matched the ones on his elbows and fingers. Hyunjin wasnāt sure how long he had until they disappeared, so he called your name softly.
āWhat is it?ā you asked, lifting your eyes from your book to look at him. Hyunjin lifted his tail to the surface of the water and your eyes widened.
āI have a tail nowā¦ā
You closed the book and placed it on the bench, walking towards Hyunjin. He wished he could photograph the amazement and delight in your expression as you glanced at him. Although he felt like someone who was anything but normal, you werenāt scared or repelled by him. If having a tail meant you would look at Hyunjin with such wonder and amazement, then he wasnāt so upset by his circumstances anymore.
āItās pretty,ā you said, smiling at him. āHow do you feel?ā
āSurprisingly okay with everything.ā He nodded, and you sat next to him, leaning closer to his tail. When you smiled this genuinely, he was at a loss for words. He cleared his throat, focusing on the scales. āWhat colour do you think they are?ā
āIām not entirely sure.ā You lifted your eyes to look at him. āDid you not ask your parents about it?ā
āIām too embarrassed to mention this to anyone, so no, I didnāt ask.ā
You took a deep breath and leaned closer to Hyunjin, placing your open hand on top of his tail, and biting your lower lip. Although your hand wasnāt touching his tail, Hyunjinās tail started to warm up. He flinched slightly and you gulped, lowering your hand in defeat.
āI thought I could summon some light.ā You stood, slightly embarrassed. āIāll go grab a flashlight, hold on.ā
āYou can summon light?ā
āIn theory.ā You opened your bag and rummaged through its contents. āI'm lacking in many departments and light summoning happens to be one of them.ā
āWhat else can you do? Besides summoning light.ā
You pulled the flashlight from your bag and walked closer to him, shining the light on his tail. This wasnāt as pretty as having you light up his scales with your bare hands, but the effect was just as nice. His scales shifted in hues of green and blue, their edges shining a small golden tone.
āTheyāre so pretty,ā you whispered to yourself. āI'm a bit jealous.ā
He laughed and you glanced at him, biting your lip to hide your smile. You were allowed to smile and compliment his scales. Knowing they were pretty and lovely to you made it easier for Hyunjin to accept them, to accept himself.
āWhat lineage am I from?ā
āThe green and blue means youāre from the deep sea.ā You sat next to him, scooting closer to have a better look at the scales. āThe gold is the coolest part, though.ā
āHow is it cool?ā
āGold in magic means one is not bound by their lineageās magic. In other words,ā you looked at him, smiling, āyou can do whatever you want with your magic.ā
You turned off the flashlight and allowed it to roll back to the bench. Through the massive windows in front of you, Hyunjin spotted a thin slice of the moon that captured all of your attention.
He didnāt dare to distract you. Admiring you from this up close was an honour he wasnāt sure he would have again, and he was going to make it last for as long as possible.
āI come from a lineage of witches that work closely with the eternal phoenix,ā you said, your voice echoing in the space around the two of you. āItās one of the most sacred lineages. One of the rarest, too. There are many things we can do, in theory. Summon light. Summon fire. We can heal, but we can kill, too. Some even say we can fly. The most powerful witches of my lineage can grant someone or something the chance of rebirth. That isnāt without consequences, though.ā
āThat sounds very cool. In theory.ā
You nodded, taking a deep breath as you glanced at the moon outside again. You wiped the tears from your eyes discreetly.
āI canāt do any of that. I've been training to be a proficient witch since I was six. I know everything there is to know about magic, but I canāt practise magic.ā
If the two of you were closer to one another, he would suggest you rest your head on his shoulder so he could wrap an arm around your shoulders and let you know you werenāt alone. Still, the two of you were merely acquaintances brought together by some strange faith.
āWhy are you telling me this?ā
You shrugged. āI donāt know. I just felt like doing it.ā You pursed your lips together. āI donāt think Iāll ever get the chance to meet anyone my age who also happens to have magic pulsing through them, you know.ā
Hyunjin had never seen you like this. Yes, he didnāt know you that well, but the moments the two of you spent together told him you were outspoken, always annoyed with him, but underneath was someone with a kind heart and a desire to be helpful to others. You didnāt have to do everything you were doing for Hyunjin, and yet, you did. Perhaps what brought you together was far greater than what kept you apart.
āThank you for trusting me,ā he said, reaching for your hand. He stopped midway, not following through with his decision. āThank you for helping me, too.ā
You nodded and took a deep breath, wiping the tears from your eyes. You turned to face Hyunjin furrowing your brows.
āIf you tell anyone what just happened, I willāā
āYour secret is safe with me. No need to threaten me with empty curses.ā
āGood.ā You stood and fixed your clothes. āGet ready to leave. Weāve done what we wanted to do.ā
āIāll swim for a bit longer.ā
āTen minutes and then I'm leaving.ā
He smiled. Hyunjin returned to the water and took a deep dive, swimming near the bottom of the pool for a while. When he looked up, you were struggling to keep your body and your head above water.
You had been seven when it happened for the first time.
It was supposed to be a hide-and-seek game in the woods among classmates. You hadnāt even expected to be invited for such an occasionāyou had always been the outsider, but that afternoon, they had invited you.
āWeāre going to see some frogs by the lake, too,ā one of your classmates had said. āWhy donāt you come with us?ā
Even if they didnāt know you were a witch, they knew you loved animals. Ever since a very young age, you had been taught how they protected witches from evil and how they should be spared from death if that was an option. When bees rested on your head, you didnāt flinch. When birds chirped away, you smiled at the melody. When ladybugs entered the classroom to greet your classmatesā desks, you carefully grabbed them and placed them at the nearest plant.
That afternoon sounded too good to be true, and in hindsight, it had been. It was the perfect trap for a gullible girl like you, one who believed in peopleās kindness and goodness. Your parents raised you to see the better in everyone, to be good for everyone. And you wanted to make them proud. Blending in with your classmates would make them proud, you were sure.
Besides playing hide and seek and seeing frogs, the afternoon included a picnic by the lake. Everyone was supposed to take their meals, but you were set on making homemade cookies for everyone. You spent the evening preparing them, and when it was morning, you wrapped them in small packages to give to your classmates. They werenāt friends yet, but after they received the cookies, you were sure they would be, at least, more cordial to you.
You put on your best outfit. When entering a forest, a witch should always look her best, or wear ceremonial clothing. Forests were sacred to witches, places where offerings were made and where sacrifices were performed. You never glimpsed at them through a lens of marvelousness and wild nature. To you, a forest was a pillar to your life, an invitation to what you could become. As a child, you knew you were destined for great things even if at the time, the greatest thing you could conceive was having a friend.
That day, you had never seen your parents so happy. They walked you to the edge of the forest where most of your colleagues were. After kissing your forehead and hugging you tightly, they left. That was the first mistake you made. You should have asked them to stay a bit longer.
Only three of your classmates had come. The one who had invited you and his two best friends. After waiting for a while, the four of you walked into the forest. That was your second mistake. You should have gone home instead. Those boys were known as trouble. Following them meant you would become trouble or trouble would be following you.
You didnāt play hide and seek. They didnāt even accept your cookies. However, they were very adamant about finding frogs. You quickly let them know you were up for the task. You knew how to find frogs. You knew where they lived. You mistook the glint in their eyes for amazement when it had been malevolent. That was your third mistake. You shouldnāt have gone looking for frogs. This lake didnāt have frogs, and you knew it. However, you thought you could find one. You were a witch in a forest. You were supposed to prove yourself to them, so you trusted the forest would provide. All you needed was a lost frog. It never came.
The despicable comments started after a while. They asked if that was your home, the forest. They laughed when they implied you were just dirt living in this place. They tore flowers to make you cry and crushed beads to prove their evil. When you asked them to stop, they pushed further.
āYou're a witch,ā one of them said, his voice filled with rage. Youāll never forget the coldness in his eyes. āYou shouldnāt be allowed to live.ā
You tried to deny their claims. That was your fourth and final mistake. If you had run away instead of arguing with them, it would have been different. If you hadnāt cried, your tears wouldnāt have blurred your vision. Instead, your fear led you to your downfall and your weaknesses were used against you.
They pushed you into the lake. You fell on your back and the impact pulsed through your body as a wave of electricity. Your spine hurt, your mind went blank and the water pulled you down. You asked for help, fighting to keep afloat.
āI canāt swim,ā you screamed in between tears. āHelp me.ā
They laughed. Your screams were in vain, and they left. You were all alone, struggling to keep afloat, reaching for the nearest roots to find something to hold onto. Some were too weak, others too slippery. You always got back to the same place you were. Under the surface.
Eventually, you stopped fighting. You allowed the water to greet you softly, to drown you in its embrace. You closed your eyes and pictured what you loved the most. Your parents, your cat, your book of shadows.
You're destined for great things, Y/N. You smiled at the comfort of your motherās voice. Maybe this was the great thing you were destined for. You knew the myths of witches who became nymphs. Maybe you were meant to become a nymph in the forest and ward off the evil that lured in it. If that was it, then so be it.
I will make you proud.
You closed your eyes and took one final breath. This was supposed to be it. You waited for the darkness to take hold of you, for the coldness to empty your soul. Instead, warmth shadowed you, and you were drowning in light.
Far away, a bird chirped loudly, its sound growing louder as time passed. Slowly, you opened your eyes, coming to face with a creature you had only encountered in drawings from your family books.
Its wings were bright red flames, its eyes an intense yellow. Even at a distance, its light was blinding, its presence warm and soothing. It didnāt say anything to you. It merely flew close enough for a feather to fall on your face and after glimpsing into your eyes, it flew away.
When you took a deep breath, you regained consciousness. This time, however, you werenāt swimming back to shore, unsure of what had happened. This time, someone held you in their arms, soothing you with a low chant.
āYouāre okay, itās okay. Iāve got you. Youāre safe,ā Hyunjin whispered, his breathing brushing against your cheek. āTake a deep breath. Look at me. Look at me.ā
He tightened his grip around you, and you coughed, looking at him afterwards. Hyunjinās eyes glanced gently at your features with concern and worry.
āIāve got you,ā he whispered again, meeting your eyes. āAre you okay?ā
Were you okay? You couldnāt tell. Your past memory was so vivid as if just a few moments ago, you were back in that lake, so excited to make new friends, only to drown in a lake afterwards.
āIām fine,ā you said, resting your hands on his shoulders. āI fell and I canāt swimā¦ā
āY/N.ā Hyunjin called your name softly, moving the hair away from your eyes and forcing you to look at him. āI saw you. As a child. When I grabbed you, I briefly saw you in a lake. But then, you started to glow in my arms, and I returned to here and now. But thatās not the weirdest part.ā At the surprise in his expression and confusion of yours, Hyunjin added, āMy tail is gone.ā
Hyunjin was exhausted, but he refused to give up. After what had happened at the local swimming pool, he had made it his mission to figure out what could have possibly caused all of that and whether or not it had been due to magic or any other circumstance.
He refused to bring up what he saw when he held you. The images were still vivid in his mind, and whenever he closed his eyes, he was there again, at the lake, swimming towards your lifeless body until light blinded him. Sometimes, you were a child. Sometimes, he saw you as he had met you. It always ended abruptly, and he never knew whether you had survived or not. However, when he saw you at school or when you replied to one of his texts, relief washed over him.
You likely knew this would happen. Lately, whenever you were together, the atmosphere was heavier, and Hyunjin tiptoed around it. He told jokes and asked questions he knew you would be happy to answer, but whenever you were too close to that evening, you closed yourself off to him. He wanted to understand; perhaps he could help you. Hyunjin was sure talking about it would make it less burdensome to you. Whatever you had to endure in the past, he wanted you to know you didnāt have to do it alone.
That evening and that moment had clues that would help Hyunjin get his life back. His tail disappeared after he grabbed you. It stayed like that while he held you in his arms. Although he would not be able to carry you aroundānot that the option sounded unpleasant to himāperhaps there was a way to channel that magic somewhere. Hyunjin had a theory, and he was ready to share it with you. He had never studied or done so much research in his life, but this was worth it.
The two of you met at a cafe near your high school almost every day, mostly at Hyunjinās request. He wanted to share his discoveries with you which bored you occasionally. You knew all of that already, but he didnāt. Any small progress was worth celebrating to him. It hadnāt been a month since his life turned upside down, but he was more at peace with it.
āI have a question for you,ā he said, moving his iced americano aside and placing a thick book on the table. This one had engraved images on the cover of different sea motifs including merfolk.
āWhat is it?ā You leaned back and crossed your arms, glancing at the book. āHavenāt we looked at this one already? Youāve dissected your lineage to me already.ā
āYes, I know.ā He opened the book on one of the marked pages, turning it so you could read it. He pointed at an illustration. āDo you recognise it?ā
You furrowed your brows as you glanced at the image for a while.
āIts tail is similar to yours. What about it?ā
Hyunjin pointed to the merfolk in the illustration, more specifically his neck.
āWhat is this he is wearing?ā
āA necklace.ā You were confused. āGet to the point, please.ā
āItās an amulet.ā
āAn amulet?ā
āYes.ā He opened his bag and pulled another book out. This one had a thinner spine and its cover was less detailed. Its contents, however, were far more valuable to Hyunjin. āAfter I saw that image, I decided to do some research on merfolk history. It turns out that during the 15th century, to blend in and not be discovered, they wore a special amulet. Which got me to search more about it.ā
āAmulets are special ways to store magic,ā you said, pursing your lips. āThey are supposed to increase your magical abilities, not the other way around.ā
He smiled. For the first time, Hyunjin knew more than you did. How much he had dreamed of this moment. He had always been fascinated by you. Hyunjin hoped that, for a brief instant, you would be fascinated by him as well.
āTurns out,ā he opened the book and turned it to you, placing it on top of the previous one, āamulets can be used to curse, harm, or block magic. See where I am going with this?ā
You raised your eyes from the book to Hyunjin, smiling softly at him.
āI must say Iām impressed.ā You grabbed the book. āNever took you as the studious type.ā
āThis is more my kind of studying.ā
Your smile increased slightly. āSo is mine.ā
While he waited for you to read the book, Hyunjin enjoyed his beverage and glanced at the street outside the cafe. Since it was late in the afternoon, most people were done with work and were ready to enjoy the few hours of sun left with their friends or family at the local park. If Hyunjin had swimming practice, he would be at school still, probably getting ready to practise for two hours before heading home.
The more time he spent with you, the less appealing returning to swimming competitions was. However, his future was relying on that. He had to get back on the team, be the very best and head to a good university. As much as his afternoons with you were the new highlight of his day, he could not ignore the years of hard work behind him. Despite everything, this was still his goal.
āAccording to this, amulets can be created, but they need a spell to work properly. It helps if their material is connected to the desired effect. This means it would have to be made of something that blocks out merfolk magic. Did you research that far?ā
āNot really.ā He took a sip from his beverage and shook his head. āDo you have any idea what can block merfolk magic?ā
āNoā¦ā You sounded disappointed. After placing the book back on the table, you sighed and looked out the window. āIāll have to ask my parents about it. Maybe they know some books that might be useful. I donāt know any spells related to amulets, either.ā
Hyunjin nodded, pleased. After closing the books, he carefully saved them in his bag, knowing you were keeping an eye on him. As much as he wanted to return these books to you, he couldnāt part ways with them while he still had so many unanswered questions.
āHyunjin,ā you said his name softly. He lifted his eyes to look at you, smiling. You gulped and looked out the window again. āIf what is needed is a spell to make the amulet work, Iām afraid I wonāt be able to help you with that. You know,ā you lowered your eyes, āI canāt summon or use magic well, so Iām afraid I wonāt be able to enchant it for youā¦ā
There was another theory Hyunjin had been researching, and it related to your struggles with magic. He read about it in books he had at home, and one particular theory stuck with him: what if what you had experienced was preventing you from using your magic? Hyunjin wanted to suggest this to you, and even present to you what he had found about the topic. However, he wasnāt sure if you wanted him to bring it up. It was a painful memory, and even though Hyunjin hadnāt experienced it himself, the overwhelming pain he experienced through you still lingered on him.
āIād like you to try, at least.ā Hyunjin wasnāt sure where he was going with it. āYouāre a witch. Besides, look how much youāve been able to help me. Iām sure that you can help me with this too. You're destined for great things, Y/N.ā
Your eyes quickly met his and worry flashed through them. You shivered as your body tensed up at his words, and he worried you couldnāt breathe. He held your gaze, still. Hyunjin wasnāt going anywhere. At least, not regarding this. He, too, believed you were destined for great things.
The cafe bell rang as the door opened. A group of students entered the establishment talking loudly with each other. Hyunjin recognised a few of them: they were his teammates from swimming practice. If they were here at this hour, then it meant their coach was still sick.
āWould you like me to leave?ā you asked, wary. āIām sure you donāt want them to see you with me.ā
When Hyunjin first approached you, that would have been his request. Now, he was more than happy to be seen with you. Appearances or popularity werenāt as important to him as they used to be.
āStay,ā he said as he reached for your hand. āIf theyāre nasty towards you, Iāll put them in their place.ā
You glanced at Hyunjinās hand on top of yours, your expression unreadable. Was it worry that crossed your eyes? Perhaps it was fear, hope. He didnāt know. Part of you was still unreadable to him, but you were a book he couldnāt wait to explore and discover.
āI can handle myself, Hyunjin.ā You cleared your throat and pulled your hand from under his, glancing at the street outside.
āIām glad.ā He knew you were no damsel in distress. āIf you ever need help, Iāll gladly be there for you.ā
He winked but you merely rolled your eyes and grabbed your beverage taking another sip. Hyunjin smiled. You were adorable when you pretended his comments did not affect you in the slightest. He had grown to like you very much.
āHyunjin!ā
Someone waved at him from the counter and he returned the gesture, smiling brightly. His friends quickly turned to spot him, and it didnāt take long for them to walk closer to Hyunjinās table and start a conversation. You remained close to the window, biting your straw as you tried to melt with the wall.
āWe havenāt seen you at practice!ā Felix said, taking a sip of his drink. āWhatās up with you?ā
āIāve been sick,ā he said, glancing at you. What kind of excuse was he supposed to come up with? āIām not sure if I'm totally recovered, and I donāt want to risk it, you know.ā
He let out a nervous laugh, but his friends didnāt seem to catch that. However, they quickly caught on to who you were, and it didnāt take long for them to start whispering amongst each other with shy giggles.
āWhen Hana told me she saw you at the library, I thought she was joking but nowā¦ā Felix chuckled. āI guess you are sick, yes. I didnāt know you were afraid of not entering college through competitive swimming.ā
āIām not afraid,ā Hyunjin reassured him, glancing at you. He smiled. āY/N and I are friends. And what if I am studying more now? It would do you well once in a while.ā
āAish.ā Felix frowned. āMe? Studying? As long as I donāt fail, Iāll never do it. Itās not for me. Is she any fun, at least?ā
Hyunjin couldnāt ignore the look in Felixās eyes. He glanced at you with curiosity and wonder, but under all of that was a despicable fear and bitterness he couldnāt ignore. You also saw through all of his charades.
āI'm very fun, Felix,ā you said, forcing out a poisonous smile. āIām sure I'm not fun for your standards, though.ā
āYeah,ā he said, crossing his arms. āYouāre what I consider boring.ā
āLikewise. Iām glad weāre on the same page.ā
Felix chuckled, pointing at you as he looked at Hyunjin.
āShe is who you hang out with now? Why?ā
That was a question he couldnāt fully answer without exposing everything. However, he could cover a lie with a half-truth. It would hurt Felixās pride, but Hyunjin could live with that.
āSheās fun. Iāve found some really cool books thanks to her. She doesnāt accept book requests anymore, though. I keep her busy.ā
āWith book requests,ā you emphasised, glaring at Hyunjin. āLiterally.ā
Hyunjin was the one flustered after your words. He hadnāt thought too much about his statement to understand how his words could be taken out of context to mean something entirely different. He was thankful you had set the record straight because Felix was ready to pick Hyunjinās statement apart.
āI didnāt know you had a thing for bookworms. Good for you.ā Felix took a deep breath and fixed the bag over his shoulder. He grinned at Hyunjin. āIām throwing a party this weekend at my house. Why donāt you come with your friend? Perhaps she can have our kind of fun, too.ā
āWill there be food?ā you asked.
āAnd drinks,ā Felix added. āMusic, too. Not books, though.ā
āThose are boring, I already know.ā You gestured vaguely to him. āIāll see if I can go. Thank you for inviting me.ā
You shouldnāt be thanking Felix so early. This was a trap and Hyunjin was regretful you had accepted. He was like those kids who had tried to drown you when you were younger. This time, he hoped the damage wouldnāt be so drastic.
āMake sure you bring your swimsuits,ā Felix patted Hyunjin's shoulder, offering him a cold smile. āIāll look forward to seeing you at the party and your⦠friend.ā
Y/N. Her name is Y/N. Why Felix couldnāt refer to you by name was beyond Hyunjin.
He waited until his friends were gone to take a deep breath. He hadnāt realised his jaw was clenched and that his body was stiff until he met your eyes.
āI know Iām not great but your friends,ā you shook your head, āthey suck a bit.ā
āYou can say they suck a lot.ā Hyunjin massaged his temples, shaking his head. āI⦠Was I like them?ā
Your eyes softened as you glanced at him. You offered him a consoling smile, nodding slightly.
āYouāre still like them, Hyunjin. That doesnāt make you terrible or an awful person, but they are your crowd. You belong with them.ā
āI wish I belonged with you,ā he mumbled under his breath. He focused on you, confused. āWhy did you accept his invitation? You do realise this is a pool party, right?ā
You shrugged and stood from your chair, looking down at him.
āI guess we need to create an amulet and I need to learn how to swim. Besides,ā you leaned towards him, āwe donāt belong together. If we are successful, youāll get your life back. Isnāt that the reason why you asked for my help in the first place?ā
He didnāt answer. You sighed and waved him goodbye, letting him know youād meet him at the cafe again tomorrow with hopefully more information. He watched as you left the establishment, walking with your head down towards the bus stop, occasionally glancing at the trees and smiling at the birds.
Yes, Hyunjinās initial goal was to get his old life back. However, he was falling in love with his new life. He was falling in love with the idea of being next to you. Was it so bad to want that now?
You werenāt sure what made you happier today: Hyunjinās amazement as he glanced and explored the hidden library or your progress on the task at hand.
After spending a couple of days researching amulets and asking your parents the strangest of questions, you felt ready to perform the spell.
The first step was to gather the materials. Hyunjin wanted his amulet to be a necklace, so you had to find an enchanted string, a small glass vial, and the material to include inside the vial. This was the most important part since the material would be the one acting as the magic blocker. A spell would only enhance its properties, but it needed to have those characteristics to properly work.
Hyunjin and you read almost every book you had in the library about magic blockers. You found very little about the subject that could be useful to you, but that didnāt hinder your motivation to find solutions. Eventually, you came across a page that had all the answers you needed, but it also carried all the pain you wanted to avoid.
āA phoenixās feather,ā Hyunjin said, looking over your shoulder at the image in the book. He pointed at one of the sentences. āIt says here that it can be used as a magic blocker. Where do we find a phoenixās feather?ā
We donāt, was the answer you wanted to give him. It would require a whole ceremony to contact the phoenix, ask for its blessing and wait for a feather of approval which would be impossible to do on such short notice. Witches in your lineage spent decades preparing for such an encounter because connecting to the source of their power was an overwhelming fit. You, as a weak witch, would never be able to do it. Thankfully, you didnāt have to.
āI already have one.ā
You didnāt elaborate further. At this point, you didnāt have to. Hyunjin had seen what you went through when you were a child. That was how you met with the phoenix, and thatās how you got a feather. You had it ever since that day, hidden in your treasure box in your bedroom, always wondering if there would ever come a day when it would be useful. Even if it wouldnāt work, at least, you were willing to try for Hyunjinās sake.
Hyunjin was a great helper. He read you the instructions out loud while questioning the best approach to what was at hand. Although he refused to set hands on your work, he admired it from afar, complementing you whenever he could. At first, you found it annoying, but after a while it became endearing.
Sometimes, he got distracted. Although he had been in the hidden library a couple of times already, this was the first time all doors were unlocked and opened. Hyunjin stood from his bench and occasionally went to check what was in each room. He always returned with questions, all of which you were eager to answer. Although he stared at you while you spoke, his smile told you he was paying very little attention to your words.
āDid you hear anything I just said?ā you asked, cutting a small piece of the phoenix feather and placing it inside the vial. When you glanced at Hyunjin again, he was staring at a few pamphlets on the table.
āWhat are these?ā He grabbed them and you tried to pull them away to no success. Hyunjin stood up from the bench and paced around the room, reading its contents. āThereās a university for magical beings?ā
āYes.ā¦ā Your voice betrayed you. A few days ago, you were hoping youād get accepted. After your ceremony during the New Moon, you werenāt sure anymore. āCan you read me the next step? I already have the phoenix feathers inside the vial.ā
āAre you applying? Did you get accepted already?ā He smiled at you. āYou should apply, you know. Youāre the greatest witch I know.ā
āDo you know many witches, Hyunjin?ā You crossed your arms. Hyunjin pursed his lips, but the eagerness didnāt disappear from his eyes. You sighed and collapsed on the nearest bench. āI applied. Itās been my dream to attend that university ever since I knew it existed. Iām not hopeful Iāll get in, though.ā
āWhy not?ā
Hyunjin sat next to you, placing the flyers on the table. You pulled them closer to you, glancing at the images and the different programs they offered. All of them were compelling, but you were hoping to major in alchemy. However, that was a hope and a mere dream. You had allowed yourself to indulge in it for too long, though.
āI have great grades in school, but thatās not all I need to be accepted. There are rituals I must perform, and since I'm what they call an outside witch, I must prove my magical abilities are on par with those raised in the magical realm.ā You turned to look at him, offering him a defeated smile. āWe both know how I struggle with my magic.ā
He nodded, glancing at the flyers. Hyunjin grabbed them again, glancing between their words and you, a shy smile creeping up on his features.
āI think youāre great. I only know one witchāI mean, I technically know your parents tooābut youāre very knowledgeable about magic too. If I have questions, you have answers, and if you donāt have them right away, you work to find them. You donāt give yourself enough credit for your awesomeness, Y/N. If you saw yourself as I see you, youād be very pleased with yourself.ā
āWhat do you see?ā You couldnāt help but ask. āHow do you see in me?ā
Hyunjin glanced at your features slowly while pondering your words. You couldnāt help but do the same. The two of you had been close to one another, but this was different. You werenāt sharing a mere close space. Now, you were sharing your souls too, and it was special.
āWhen I first met you, I thought you were scary. Very ill-humoured too. I liked your smile, though. I remember your eyes too. Now,ā he leaned closer, āI struggle with words. I could call you pretty. I could say youāre intelligent, I could say youāre great. I would even dare the word kind, but youāre more than that. You'll always be more than how I see you, and you'll always be more than what you have gone through. Let your past guide you, but donāt allow it to define you, Y/N.ā
You were overwhelmed with emotion, but you didnāt know how to react. Part of you wanted to point out how he hadnāt answered your question, and how his words sounded more like a speech heād make to someone he wanted to charm than anything else. However, you were charmed by his words and by him as well. He couldāve said this to anyone, but he said it to you. It could all be a lie, one that you were so clearly falling for, but one you were so desperate to believe. Hyunjin knew you. He could have grabbed all of this from a book and recited it to you, but this wasnāt the case. His words had been carefully picked just for you. And for that, youād be eternally grateful even if unable to express all of that to him.
āI should,ā you cleared your throat and stood up from the bench, almost tripping on your feet, āI should finish that amulet. You still want to test it tonight, right?ā
āIf youāre down for a swimming lesson, yes. If not, we can do it some other day.ā
āWe should test it as soon as possible,ā you said, focusing on the materials in front of you, feeling your face warming up. āWe need to make sure itās working properly.ā
āI agree.ā He stood from his bench and walked across from you, glancing at the book with the instructions. āLetās finish this amulet, then.ā
You nodded and got back to work under Hyunjinās guidance. You expected him to be disappointed with your reaction to his words, but whenever you glanced his way, he had a silly smile on his face, and his eyes were glued to you, always with fondness.
When the two of you arrived at the local pool, the lights were out and you had to sneak in together like the last time, but this time, the mood was different. After the two of you got changed, you met at the swimming pool to start your swimming lesson.
āTake your time,ā Hyunjin said, offering you a reassuring smile. āLet me know when youāre ready to step inside.ā
āAre you sure you can teach me how to swim?ā You gulped, staring at the pool in front of you, arms crossed. āWhat if you canāt?ā
āI wonāt know without trying.ā
He didnāt wait for your reply. Hyunjin jumped into the pool and the water splashed around him, hitting your face and legs slightly. He moved the hair from his face to stare at you better, unable to hide his smile. This time, he wasnāt terrified to embrace his tail. He swam around the pool, testing his limits, laughing at himself. This was nice. He loved the freedom of being himself and was not scared of what would come of him. However, all of this came from the hope he had in the amulet you had built for him.
As much as he was okay with being merfolk now, he wanted what he had before back.
When he returned to the surface, you were sitting at the edge of the pool, swaying your legs in the water. You kept staring at the body of water, taking slow but deep breaths.
Hyunjin swam towards you and stopped when he was close enough to feel the movement of the water due to your legs moving. You lifted your eyes to meet him, trying your best to smile. That wasnāt enough for him to ignore the fear in your eyes.
āItās cold,ā you said. āArenāt you cold?ā
āIām used to it. Being underwater helps, you know.ā He placed both of his hands on each side of your thighs, looking up at you. Being this close to you made his heart jump wildly in his chest. āYour body becomes one with the water.ā
You rolled your eyes splashing his face with water.
āSays the merfolk to the witch.ā You chuckled. āOf course, your body becomes one with the water. Mine justā¦ā You shook your head. āNever mind.ā
āSwimming is a skill, Y/N. I was a swimmer before I was a merfolk. I learned how to swim. I'm good because I trained day and night to be the best. Yes, perhaps being merfolk helped me, but thatās not all.ā He offered you a hand. āI can help you, too. Take my hand. I wonāt let go of you.ā
You glanced between his hand and Hyunjinās eyes, pursing your lips together. He waited, hoping that you believed his words. They carried more than just a small promise. His words to you were timeless. He would always hold your hand and he would not let go of you, literally or figuratively. He was here for you. He would always be here for you.
āFine,ā you grabbed his hand, holding his gaze, ābut if you ever mention this to anyone ever, I will not think twice about using black magic on you.ā
āNo longer into cursing me?ā He smirked. āI guess Iāll have to research black magic next.ā
āShut up.ā You placed your hand on his shoulder, not shying away from applying all your strength to it. āHold me, okay?ā
In between many curses and complaints, you stepped into the pool, wrapping your arm around Hyunjinās shoulders, keeping one hand on the edge of the pool. You kept your eyes closed, and he held you by your waist, not letting go. Although this would not lead you to learn how to swim, he would not be mad if this was all you did this evening.
āYou can open your eyes, Y/N,ā he whispered. āYouāre safe. I'm here with you. Iām not letting go.ā
You shook your head, not opening your eyes. All your muscles tensed up, and you kept your grip strong around Hyunjin. He knew telling you to relax would be useless under these circumstances. However, Hyunjin didnāt have to use words. Knowing more about his abilities meant he had learned how to use them.
āWhatās your happy place?ā he whispered, glancing at you. āCan you describe it to me?ā
You nodded, slowly. Hyunjin reached for your hand on the edge of the pool and placed his hand on top of yours, focusing on the warmth of your skin under his.
āTell me about it. Where is it?ā
āItās a forest. The trees are tall. It smells of pinewood. Itās⦠daytime. I am near a lake Iāā
He closed his eyes and jumped into your mind. Hyunjin had been here before, the last time you were in this pool. Last time, he had to save you from drowning in the lake. This time, he could prevent it from happening.
Everything was different. You were no longer a kid; you were older, the girl Hyunjin was friends with now. The boys that had tormented you were nowhere to be found. The forest was the same, but not quite. The leaves didnāt shake with the wind. The smell in the air was of pinewood with earthy undertones. The water on the lake didnāt move. This wasnāt your past replaying. This was your imagination fuelled by Hyunjinās abilities.
āThere is no lake,ā Hyunjin said and you turned to face him, startled. When you turned to face the body of water, your eyes widened. āWhat would you like me to replace it with?ā
You remained still for a while, staring ahead. For the time being, Hyunjin replaced it with more trees. His work was sloppy; they looked like cardboard drawings instead of having three dimensions. Still, it wasnāt a bad attempt for someone doing this for the first time.
āA cabin.ā You smiled. āThereās smoke coming out of its chimney. It smells of gingerbread cookies.ā
āWhat is the cabin made of?ā
āWood. What else were you expecting?ā
A cabin appeared in front of you. It was big enough to have two windows and one door, but not big enough for anyone to live comfortably in it. This was even worse than the trees from earlier. The wood was too cartoonish; it lacked detail. The glass was merely orange, and when staring through it, Hyunjin saw nothing.
āWhat else is here?ā
He slowly walked closer to you, stopping when he was by your side. You gulped, staring at your surroundings before focusing on Hyunjin. You smiled, glancing at his features slowly, lingering on his lips. He was briefly in the pool again but he focused on returning to your mental image.
āJust us.ā
He almost missed it. Your words, your hand grabbing his, the kindness in your smile. The slight glint of your eyes. Hyunjin was a mess. The image around you started to fade until you were back in the pool, surrounded by the few safety lights around you. His hand remained around your waist, but your eyes werenāt closed anymore. You were staring at him, taking soft breaths, relaxed. Hyunjin removed your hand from the edge of the pool slowly, intertwining his fingers on yours.
āFirst, letās learn how to float,ā he said. āTry to stand horizontally on the waterās surface.ā
āIs that possible?ā
āYes. Try it. Iāll be holding you.ā
The swimming lesson went on. After you successfully learned how to float, he taught you how to swim. It was a slow process, and he didnāt realise how tiring it would be. However, none of you gave up. When you failed, you did it again. You didnāt freak out whenever you lost control or struggled to keep afloat. The first few times, Hyunjin went to your rescue, but afterwards, you regained control by yourself. The final step was having you swim from one side to the other of the pool. Once you were able to do this on your own more than once without grabbing the edge of the pool, he considered his work was done.
āThank you,ā you said as the two of you sat at the edge of the pool, slowly trying to recover your energies, āfor being patient with me. I know I can be a mouthful and complicated. You didnāt have to do all of this.ā
You were speaking nonsense. Hyunjin should be the one thanking you. Ever since he asked for your help, you were the one who kept stepping out of their comfort zone to help him. Tonight, you did it again. Of course he would be patient with you. This was a choice he was happy with. Asking for your help had been the right choice. Even if he could go back in time, he would choose to be merfolk all over again if it meant he would have such a wonderful person like you by his side.
āYouāre complex,ā he said, nudging your shoulder. āI like that about you. Itās not that you keep me on my toes, but I get to learn something new about you often. Thatās good.ā
āI would prefer it if I kept you on your toes.ā Your smile widened and you leaned back, focusing on the dark sky outside the large windows. āI guess having a tail makes that a bit hard.ā
He laughed. It was the dumbest joke he had ever heard, but it was funny. You were funny. And pretty. And smart. And independent. And reliable. And he loved you. More than swimming, more than a promising future. Hyunjin loved you.
āIāll go grab the amulet. Itās probably late, and we should leave this place soon since I donāt know how early they will open it.ā
Hyunjin nodded and moved his tail out of the water, waiting a few minutes before it disappeared. He stood up once his legs were back and walked to the bench to grab a towel and use it to dry his body. When he glanced your way, he noticed you were already dry.
āHow do you do that?ā Hyunjin asked.
āWhat?ā
āThat.ā He gestured to you, touching your shoulder. āYou stepped out of the water a few minutes ago and you're fully dry. Even your swimsuit looks like it hasnāt seen water today.ā
āAh, that.ā You shrugged. āItās a spell. One of the first ones I learned. It basically cleans my skin of everything that isnāt my skin. Dirt, mud, water, blood, you name it. Pretty useful in these kinds of situations.ā
Hyunjin nodded and sat down on the bench for a while, wiping the rest of his body. He could ask you to use your spell on him, but he didnāt want to do it now. Perhaps later after you tested the amulet since it would be more useful then.
You took a deep breath and pulled the amulet from the inside of your bag, staring at it for a while. After closing your bag, you joined Hyunjin on the bench. The two of you stayed in silence for a while, knowing very well what would follow next. Either you would both be laughing and celebrating or crying in disappointment.
āHow do you want to do this? Do you still want me to be the one activating it?ā
Despite the fear and worry in your eyes, Hyunjin trusted you.
āYes.ā He nodded. āYou should be the one to do it.ā
āFine, then.ā You turned to face him. āLetās get this done.ā
You placed the amulet between his heart and your palm, locking your eyes with him. He didnāt offer you any doubt. Instead, he nodded slowly, reassuring you. You closed your eyes as you recited the enchantment, bounding the amulet to Hyunjin. This meant only he could use it because only his magic would be concealed while he had it on.
He expected something to happen. Perhaps your hand would glow or the amulet would shine. Perhaps something within him would shift or the atmosphere around you would change. When you opened your eyes, you grabbed the amulet, placed the string over his head and allowed the small flask to rest on his chest.
āIt could be prettier.ā You frowned. āBut I hope it works. Are you ready to test it?ā
āIt will work, Y/N.ā He offered you a smile.
Hyunjin walked to the edge of the pool, staring at his reflection on the surface. You were rightāthis amulet was not pleasant to look at. However, he still hoped it would change. He had read that once the amulet was fully bound to its person, it would adapt to its effect.
He jumped into the pool, keeping his eyes closed. He allowed the water to surround him, an extension of him. Lately, he was capable of staying underwater for a long time, but right now, he couldnāt breathe after a few seconds.
When Hyunjin returned to the surface, he moved the hair away from his face and water away from his eyes and glanced down.
āY/N? You have to see this.ā
āWhat?ā
You glanced at the pool with your arms crossed and a disappointed expression. Hyunjin moved his legs upwards and allowed one of his feet to be out of the water. He shook it.
āIt worked?ā Your eyes widened as you leaned closer to the edge of the pool. āThe spell worked. I canāt believe it.ā
āI can,ā he said right away. Your eyes met his and he smiled. āI knew you'd succeed. Look!ā He started to swim around, happy that he could swim with his two legs. āI have my legs back! I can swim normally again. And you know what else can I do now?ā
āWhat can you do now?ā Although your tone was unbothered, he noticed a hint of curiosity in it.
Hyunjin swam to the edge of the pool and sat on it right away, before standing up and running towards you with open arms. You shook your head, warning him that he was covered in water and that would get you wet again, but he didnāt care. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you closer to him and spinning you in the air while you giggled and asked him to put you down.
āCalm down, Hyunjin. Iām getting dizzy.ā
He decided to stop spinning you, but he didnāt let go of you. He kept his arms resting on your waist while he stared fondly at you. You gulped, staring at his lips briefly before meeting his eyes. Your hands found his shoulders, a touch he found comforting. Having you close always left his heart in disharmony, jumping furiously in his chest.
Hyunjin refused to move away. As his eyes jumped between your eyes and your lips, he leaned closer to you, waiting for you to flinch or move away. Instead, your hands found the back of his neck as his nose brushed against yours, and you closed your eyes, smiling.
āThank you for believing in me,ā you whispered, brushing your lips against his.
You planted a soft kiss on his lips, almost unnoticeable. He couldnāt bear the lingering sensation. He kissed you again, and this time, you pulled him closer to you, allowing yourself to indulge in the kiss. Hyunjin couldnāt have asked for a better evening. He was over the moon about everything that had happened tonight.
He briefly kept his eyes closed after departing from the kiss. Hyunjin wanted to do it again, shower you with kisses, but he would do it some other time. He caressed your cheek, letting out a soft chuckle. He wouldnāt have known how long he had longed for this moment if it hadnāt happened.
āI will always believe in you, Y/N. Always.ā
Hyunjin meant it. Now, he just hoped you would start believing in yourself too. He wanted nothing more than for the world to see the extraordinary person you were when you allowed yourself to trust your abilities.
It had been about a month since Hyunjin returned to the swimming team, and you were enjoying not having to constantly research merfolk all of the time. Although he had gotten his life back, he hadnāt gotten back to his old ways. Every break at school, Hyunjin made sure he spent it with you. Every major event happening, he always invited you to join him. He made sure to hold your hand every chance he got and compliment you whenever he felt like it.
Life was different now for both of you but you thoroughly embraced this change. Your life was better with Hyunjin in it. He encouraged you to step out of your comfort zone, and that was paying off. Your magic was in full force now, and after another New Moon, you performed a new ritual, and this time, you were confident in your progress.
This time, all your efforts hadnāt been in vain.
āWhat does it say?ā
You lifted your eyes from the red envelope in your hands to your parents across from you. They stared at you, hopeful, while your father wrapped his arm around your motherās shoulders. Hyunjin sat next to you on the couch, his eyes glued to you. Although you had received this letter the previous evening, you refused to open it this morning. You had stared at the moon and sunās black wax seal on its back all night, coming up with scenarios in your mind. The worst case was not getting accepted. The best one was being accepted into the alchemy major.
āDo you want me to open it for you?ā Hyunjin offered, wrapping his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer to him. āI can do that if youād like.ā
āNo.ā You shook your head. āI have to open it. Only I can read it, right?ā
āYes,ā your father confirmed. āOnly you can read its contents.ā
āYou can always disarm the protection spell, though,ā your mother added, offering you a reassuring smile. āWhatever it says, we're here for you.ā
You took a deep breath and glanced at every face in your living room, gathering the courage to open the envelope. Your heart was a nervous wreck and you had never sweated so much in your life. This didnāt decide your life, but it decided what you would be doing for the next year.
āIāll open it now.ā
Everyone leaned closer to you. Hyunjinās breathing brushed against your neck as you opened the envelope, careful not to break the seal. You pulled the folded piece of paper from the inside, dropping the red envelope on the table. Slowly, you unfolded it as your heart thumped in your ears.
You waited for a while before the words started to unveil on the paper. From top to bottom, left to right, you read every word as it appeared. When you finished the letter, you read it again. And again. And again. And again.
āSo⦠what does it say?ā
You cleared your throat, fixing your position on the couch.
āThank you for choosing our university to further your magical studies. After careful deliberation with The Magical Council, it is our great honour to inform Y/N Y/L/N of your acceptance into our universityās alchemy major. You have demonstrated knowledge of magical theory and its history, as well as potion brewing and spell casting. Due to your place of birth, you are required to attend preparation classes during this summer to assess whether you are capable of following the established curriculum. The portal opens on the New Moon in June to allow for your crossing to the Otherworld. Best regards, The Leryan University.ā
You held the letter close to your chest, closing your eyes briefly to savour this moment. Your heart burst from your chest and you couldnāt hide your smile. You had been accepted. After everything you went through, you had been accepted.
Your mother clapped in excitement, pulling your father for a hug. She, too, couldnāt hide her happiness. Your father tried to calm her down as she went over all the things you had to do to prepare for your departure, but you werenāt focused on that. Your mind was still twirling around the words you had just read.
āI did it,ā you said, at last, as your eyes started to water up. āI did it.ā
āYou did it!ā Hyunjin kissed your cheek. āHow are you feeling?ā
Overwhelmed with happiness. Overjoyed with excitement. Worried about your future too. It was a new start again, one you couldnāt prepare for. Knowing magic theory wouldnāt help you make friends. However, now that you had a taste of what being surrounded by wonderful people was like, you would make meeting new people a priority. You had learned that made everything else easier and more enjoyable too.
āThis calls for a celebration!ā Your mother cheered, turning to Hyunjin. āWould you like to stay and have dinner with us?ā
āOf course!ā Hyunjin smiled. āThank you for the invitation.ā
āI'll bake a cake now, and I need to cook Y/Nās favourite meal!ā
After your mother disappeared into the kitchen, you chuckled and shook your head. You had never seen her this excited, but you werenāt complaining. This was a victory for all of you, after all. Every step of the way, your parents were there to support you.
āIāll go help your mom,ā your father announced, shrugging. āIf you need anything, you know where to find us.ā
Your father joined your mother in the kitchen and they quickly started to talk out loud with one another. You sighed and leaned back on the couch, resting your head on Hyunjinās shoulder. He kissed the top of your head softly, leaning his head on top of yours afterwards.
āIām glad they recognised your amazing skills,ā he said. āI guess we both get to celebrate our achievements.ā
You hummed, snuggling closer to him. Although you were excited about starting your magic journey in university, you would miss Hyunjin tremendously. This past couple of months had been wonderful and you hoped the two of you would still have summer to hang out with each other. You were looking forward to travelling to the beach with him and exploring some lovely forests as well.
Some other time, you thought to yourself, planting a soft kiss on his cheek. I can always come to visit and he can always go visit me as well. Hyunjin was a merfolk, after all. All magical beings, despite their place of birth, were always welcomed in the Magic Realm.
āI guess we should celebrate both of our achievements tonight.ā You leaned away from him, smirking. āAfter all, you also got accepted into the university of your choice and with good grades. Arenāt you proud of yourself?ā
āVery.ā He stole a kiss from you. āBut if I got here, it was because of you.ā
āYes,ā you nodded, āwe help each other out every once in a while. Itās our thing.ā
āWe also,ā he kissed you again, brushing his nose against yours, āmake each other better.ā
āWe do.ā
You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him closer for a kiss, not letting go. Although you still had him here with you, you were already missing him. You would miss his jokes and remarks. You would miss his curiosity and excitement about magic. You would miss his kisses and holding his hand. You would miss him dearly.
āDo phone calls work in the magic realm?ā he asked. āOr should I use a crystal ball?ā
You laughed, leaning your forehead against his.
āLetās think about that later, okay?ā You closed your eyes. āRight now, I want to have this moment. Whatever happens, weāll figure it out.ā
āYes,ā he caressed your cheek, āwe always figure it out, donāt we?ā
You hummed. What had brought you together had been worry, doubt and uncertainty. What kept you together now was your love for one another, your relentless desire to see each other succeed, and the certainty that you were better people when you were with each other.
Magic had brought you together and it would keep you together for many years to come. Whether together or apart, there was magic between the two of you, and no one could take that away. It was yours, forever. And hopefully, you would forever cherish it, even if to get there, you would have to be apart for a while.
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