Lily smiled and looked around, feeling embarrassed.
“I...I understand you” she said and turned to Tristan. “You should eat the cupcake, I really put lot of energy in making that... it is really great, grandma make it for me every weekend when I was 9” she said and figured no one needs the piece of information.
Lily turned to leave.
“Thank you Lily... I will enjoy it”, Tristan said. She turned to him and smiled before walking out.
Tristan felt bad. He let out a sigh and pulled off his shirt, exposing his body, he stretched his arms and did push up.
He suddenly remembered and stood up, “a mermaid?” He said and grabbed his phone. “Mermaid are not even real, why on earth would I be seeing a mermaid in my sleep” he murmured and searched through the internet.
“One of the oldest and most well-known myths comes from Ancient Greece” he read and laughed softly “Then mermaids are from Greece then, I am not in Greece,” he thought and kept reading.
“Alexander the great’s sister, Thessalonike, turned into a mermaid upon her death and lived in Aegean” he read and looked up, “Are these stories even real? A half fish and half-human? Sounds like a fairy tale to me”.
“The first known mermaid stories appeared in Assyria c. 1000 BC” he read and laid on the bed, “this is getting interesting” he whispered.
“The goddess Atargatis, the mother of the Assyrian queen Semiramis. Loved a mortal?” he paused and kept going, “mortal like a human being yeah okay cool” he laughed nervously and kept going, “an unintentionally killed him?” he said out and put down his phone.
“Unintentionally? How can both of them be together? That is what happens when you try to date a creature, they unintentionally kill you. Sound like a scary bedtime story, that is ridiculous” he said.
“Who are you talking to?”
Tristan saw his sister staring at him, “who are you talking to?” she asked, looking confused.
He laughed nervously and moved closer to her, “nothing I was just... just”
“The truth Tristan”, Isabella said sharply.
He smiled and watched her sit next to him, “okay... I know this is weird but I was reading about mermaids” he said feeling a little ashamed.
Isabella stared at him for a short while, “mermaid? You believe in mermaid?” she asked curiously, excitedly. “You believe in mermaid Tristan?”
Tristan laughed and stood up, “no... No I don't believe in them, I was reading something about the fact that a goddess killed a mortal. Even if they are real, those things are dangerous” he said and saw his sister disappointed face, “listen Isabella, I don't mean to ruin your fairy tale for you okay? But they are dangerous and they existed in the past, they sing seductive songs to lure sailors to their death” he added.
Isabella noticed how restless he was, she stood up “why are you acting weird? Why are you suddenly interested in mermaids too?” she asked.
Tristan looked around and stooped in front of his sister, “promise you won't tell anyone alright?” he said and made a pinky promise with her. “Okay so I usually have this mare, I hear a voice calling out my name and I always find myself under the water drowning and she swim towards me but I couldn't really see what it was but I swear it is a female,” he said.
The young man saw his sister's expression, “no you gotta believe me, I swear. Remember the day you woke me up and you told me I was shivering in my dream, I was having the same dream” he added.
Isabella stared at him and folded her arms, “maybe she is trying to save you from drowning... You should stop thinking mermaids are bad because of what people write online, I think they are beautiful and a nice creatures” she said.
“So do you think they are real?” he asked nervously, “do you think they are still like living right now?” he asked.
Isabella nodded and walked away from him, her big eyes searched through “where Is it!” she whispered.
Tristan sit on the bed, “What I see in my dream, do you think it is a mermaid?” he asked.
Isabella turned to him sharply, “I guess and it is a weird dream and you yourself are acting weird so I am just gonna go” she said and turned to leave, “it is not here, he probably finished it or didn't buy more” she muttered and walked out.
Tristan let out a sigh, “I hope not... If it is true then I am definitely killing whoever it is before they kill me” he said and pulled off his shorts as he got in the shower.
The pale crescent moon shone like a silvery claw in the night sky, Mr. Charlie parked into his garage and stepped out, he walked in and saw his last child running towards him, he lifted her and kissed her cheek.
“How is my baby doing?” he asked. Mrs. Charlie who was in the kitchen when her husband arrived, walked towards him and kissed him.
“Ew,” Isabella said and looked away.
The man put her down gently and make her sit on his thigh, “did anyone bother you today? Tell me and I will take them to court” he said out of joke.
The girl laughed softly, “no daddy... No one” she replied.
Mr. Charlie looked around, “what about the boys?” he asked.
James came out of his room, “hi daddy... When did you arrive?” he asked and sit opposite his dad.
“Just now,” he said and knew one person was missing, “Is Tristan home yet?” he asked and immediately heard footsteps coming down the stairs. He turned and saw his first son coming towards him.
“Hello, dad. How was your outing?” Tristan asked and grabbed a juice from the refrigerator.
Everyone including Mr. Charlie was surprised, the man smiled and stared at his son, “you seem to be in a good mood today son, what's happening?” he asked surprisingly.
“I have always been in a good mood dad,” Tristan said and used his palm to clean the spilled juice off his mouth.
Mrs. Charlie moved towards him, “No you are not always in a good mood, I am so happy you can join us... The food would be ready in few minutes” she said and turned to her husband, “you should go shower and come out for dinner” she added and returned to the kitchen.
The man stood up and turned to his son, “I will be right back” he said and walked in excitedly.
James smirked, “he has never said that to me... Tristan has always been his favorite” he muttered and frowned.
After dinner, Tristan and his dad sat in the living room talking about football. James walked into his mom's room and saw her dressing up.
“Mom where are you going? Did you see Tristan and dad talking in the living room? They are getting along mom, do something” he said angrily.
Mrs. Charlie turned to him, “why are you getting worked up over this? I have got it under control” she said and turned to leave.
“You are going out, what can you do? When Tristan took everything and I am left with nothing, he is up to something with the change of behavior, I just know it” he added.
Mrs. Charlie let out a sigh and turned to his son, “I would never let that happen, while I am alive, I will make sure you get everything” she promised and walked out of the room.
She smiled and walked towards her husband and Tristan who was still talking.
“Hey boys, I am so glad you two are getting along now, that is one thing I have been looking forward to, so all of us can be one big family,” she said smiling.
Mr. Charlie held her hands and looked up at her, “thanks for being patient as well, you are a good woman” he replied and kissed her hands.
The woman smiled widely, “I will always make sure the family stay happy” she said, “oh and I would need to get some grocery down the street, I noticed we need somethings” she said.
Mr. Charlie looked up worried, “why do you have to stress yourself, darling, this is why I wanted you to have a maid but you refused, wait there I would bring key so I can drive you or Tristan could drive you” he suggested.
The woman smiled, “You two are having a conversation... Don't let me interrupt you guys, I will be back soon” she replied and looked at her husband, “I am glad you two are getting along well” she whispered to him and walked out.
Mr. Charlie smiled blushingly, “she is a good woman, Tristan, as time goes on you will see that” the man said, looking at his son.
---------------------
The night sky aglow with bright light, the occasional barking of faraway dogs, broke the silence of the night.
She looked around carefully before getting in a red car parked in front of lily’s apartment.
“I told you to stay farther... What if anyone sees me? What is wrong with you? Simple instructions” she said, not looking at the man in the driver seat.
He scoffed and drove down the street, he stopped and turned to her, “how much longer? Huh? I am tired of living alone, I miss you and James” he impatiently said.
The woman rolled her eyes, “if we come back what do you have to feed us? Me and your child are doing this for you, for us...just wait a little bit, we are not running away” she said and looked straight.
“We will soon get it all”.
Aksara