******
LUTHER’S MANSION**
Martin hoped his dad won’t be around as he stepped into the house and his hope worked, he’s not in but what he saw broke his heart.
His mum’s face is swollen again.
“Mum!” He rushed to her.
She’s busy making food since Mr Luther refused to hire maids.
“Martin…how was school?” She asked, smiling.
“What happened again?, Why did he do this to your face again?” He said hurtfully.
“Don’t worry about me, I’m used to it” she replied.
“Mum …
“Go into your room and get changed, I’ll soon be done with your food* she said.
“I’m not hungry!, How can I be hungry when…
She hugged him, stopping him from talking again.
“I’m fine trust me, we just have to keep enduring cos of finances, this will end soon” she said.
“I can’t see the end” he replied, hugging her back.
“I do, trust me” she replied.
He got the kit and treated her face before going to his room..
He changed from his uniform and sat on the bed, thinking about his messed up life.
His mum is enduring cos of him, he’s enduring too cos….he really wants to go to school but it’s becoming too much.
He closed his eyes, took a deep breath before opening it again then the memory of how Starr hugged Lotus the other time flashed in his head.
He stood immediately and left the room.
******
LOTUS’S MANSION**
“You haven’t told me what actually happened mermaid” Anita said as she watched Lotus swim in the pool.
She has been swimming since she came back from school and hasn’t talked to her.
She dived in again and stayed underwater without talking.
“I’m curious!, What exactly is going on!” Anita said anxiously.
Lotus came out and rested on the pool wall, Anita squatted in front of her.
“I found my soulmate” she said.
“Really?, Wow!, Who’s he?, A merman?”
“A human, the boy in my school” Lotus replied with a slight pout, her lips healed already.
“Starr?”
“Yes, I almost kissed him when he touched my face, I almost lost control” she replied and Anita smiled.
“Then you should have kissed him and seal the bond, why did you resist?, I’m sure he’s feeling the sparks too” she said.
“I’m not sure since he’s a human, I can’t just seal the bond that way, humans believe in mutuality, I have to make it mutual first, but I’m scared”.
“About what?” Anita asked.
“The fact that he’s a human, isn’t this part of why goddess Rivera said I have a cruel fate?, There must be something attached to him about her warning” Lotus heaved.
“Why don’t you ask the goddess herself?” Anita suggested.
“She’s a deity who won’t tell you something just because you asked, she says it whenever she feels like it’s time” Lotus replied.
“That’s sad, but do you think you’ll be able to control the sparks forever?, That’s an obvious no, a day will come when you’ll just destroy his lips with that hot kiss” Anita winked and Lotus splashed water on her face with her tail.
Anita giggled.
“Perverted ghost” Lotus smiled.
“So he now knows you’re a mermaid?”
“No, I just told him I’m not human” Lotus replied.
“Why don’t you tell him?”
“I can’t trust him to keep my secret yet, and I was chosen to lead the singers at the president’s son birthday party on Tuesday next week” Lotus replied
“OMG!!, You must dress to kill to the party, I’ll definitely follow you I can’t wait!” Anita screamed.
“Practices starts tommorow anyways, but why don’t we visit the rehab first” Lotus smiled.
*****
REHAB**
Lotus appeared with Anita and they entered.
Each room has at least one crazy person who’s already out of his or her mind, saying gibberish so the place is loud .
The staffs are busy running around, trying to keep the patients in che check.
“There” Lotus pointed to a ward and they walked to it.
Inside the ward is Do Hyun, she’s screaming loudly, telling her dad to get away from her.
“Ghost!!!, Get away from me!!, Go away!!!!, Don’t come closer!!!”
“It’s me, your dad, Do Hyun come back to your senses” Mr Do said in tears.
“Go away!!!!, I h@të ghosts!, Please stay away from me!!!” She screamed again, gluing herself to the wall.
Mr Do wiped his tears and his wife came in.
“Please go out!!!!, Leave me alone!!!” Do Hyun screamed again.
Mr Do held his wife.
“She’s not getting better, we need to leave before she starts hurting herself again” he said and started pulling her out but he stopped when he got to the door and saw Anita and Lotus.
He stepped back.
“What’s wrong?” Mrs Do asked, looking at him.
“You….you….you’re dead” he said, pointing at Anita.
Mrs Do couldn’t see them.
“Who are you talking to?” She asked.
“You’ll reap everything you sowed” Anita said.
“She spoke!, Ghost!, Ghost!, Ghost!” He yelled out, running back into the ward, Anita appeared in front of him everywhere he turns to
“Honey! Honey!” Mrs Do called, chasing him around as he ran.
“Ghost!!!, Anita!!!!, She’s everywhere!!” He cried, still running.
Do Hyun resumed screaming too and Lotus left the place with Anita.
They landed back home and Anita asked the question with her eyes.
“Your split image will appear everywhere he turns to, either left or right, behind or ahead… he’ll be tortured just like his daughter till they’ll turn themselves in to the police as killers” Lotus said and Anita hugged her.
“Saranghea eonni”
“na do saranghea dongsaeng” Lotus smiled.
******
THE MCDONALD’S MANSION**
Starr roamed around his room, thinking about Lotus again.
“What can she be?, An angel?, A gumiho?, No, gumihos have red eyes, not blue, I can’t even guess!” He said, falling on the bed.
“I’m restless, I just want to know what she really is” he pouted.
He remembered the girl in his dreams again.
“She has same voice and hair, but I just have to confirm the face….and oh!, The violin, the girl plays the violin in my dreams but I’ve never seen Lotus playing the violin, I have to find out” he said and stood.
He left the room and went to his mum’s room.
She was speaking on phone but she quickly cut the call when he came in.
“Honey!” She smiled.
“Mum what creature has blue eyes?” He asked.
“Blue eyes?, I have no idea” she replied.
“Gosh! ” He said and left her room.
He went back to his room and returned to the bed.
“She has no idea, … And I’m not going for practice..I guess I’ll be bored till death throughout the weekend” he muttered.
******
NEXT DAY, PRACTICE STUDIO**
Lotus came with Anita and she has a lollipop in her mouth as they entered.
“Make sure you don’t make me talk unnecessarily” she said.
“Is Starr coming?, I need to see how handsome your soulmate is” Anita replied.
“He’s not coming but he’s handsome” Lotus replied.
“Hey cupcake” Martin said behind them and Lotus turned back.
He immediately removed the lollipop from her mouth and inserted it into his mouth instead.
“Who’s he?, He’s cute!” Anita gushed beside her.
“Shut up’ Lotus said silently.
“Huh?” Martin replied, licking the pop.
“Oh… good morning” Lotus smiled.
“Morning cupcake, good to see your lips healed already, but it’s fast” He said.
“I’m a fast healer” she replied quickly.
“Thanks for letting me steal your lollipop, let’s go in” he winked and went in first while she followed.
“Who’s he?” Anita whispered again.
“Martin, my friend” she replied.
“Who are you talking to?” Yolanda suddenly asked beside her.
“You scared me!, When did you get here” Lotus asked.
“Just now, I’m glad your lips healed” Yolanda replied and hugged her.
“Gosh I love your scent!” She said, inhaling it.
“Thanks” Lotus replied.
“Baby!” Bluey winked from the inside.
“Hey bud!” Lotus winked back and Martin smiled.
Her wink looks cute.
“Cutie!” Constance gave her an hug before taking her in.
Rhythm was already sitting in front of the piano so she just winked and waved which Lotus returned.
“Have fun!” Anita whispered as Mr Roger came in with Miss Stacy.
Lotus nodded and joined Constance and Martin.
The practice started and two hours later, they went for break.
“I’m so tired!” Lotus yawned .
“We brought snacks, let’s share it” Constance said, pulling her out of the booth
“No I need to pee first” she replied and rushed to one of the restrooms.
She peed and was walking back to the studio when she started feeling dizzy.
“What’s wrong?” Anita asked with concern.
“I didn’t swim this morning, I think it’s affecting me” she replied and leaned on the wall but it didn’t work.
She started feeling sleepy and too tired.
“Don’t fall asleep, don’t please!” Anita said as she started falling.
“Lotus!” Martin said from the entrance.
He ran to her and she fell into his arms .
“Hold me…” She whispered and closed her eyes.
He held her closely and she fell asleep.
TBC
