"This was not I ordered!" The girl was wearing a navy blue tank top and a short skirt paired with high heels. "I definitely said, NO SUGAR, why does this matcha tea taste sweet?!"
What shocked me--I mean everyone in the cafe the most, was when the girl threw her grapefruit ade to the part-timer. The girl was soaked with the drink thrown into her. I stood up, brought my mint chocolate drink with me, and positioned myself right next to the part-timer. I raised my left eyebrow to look sassy.
"Excuse me?" I said, " I can't believe that in this generation, I can still see people trying to abuse someone. Did you throw your drink at this innocent part-timer?"
She rolled her eyes and raised the corners of her mouth as if I was asking a dumb question, "Yes, so what?"
"May I ask why?"
"Well, the matcha tea tastes sweet! I said not to put any sugar on my tea!"
"I see, you shouldn't have done that."
"What right makes you say that? My father is a lawyer!"
"I see, great! But the sad part is that she didn't teach you proper manners and about the law too," I gave her my sweetest smile. "What you did was simple assault, and if I may have to enlighten you, you can get six months to one year in jail."
"Ha-ha, my father is a lawyer!" She laughed, "You can't get me imprisoned."
"Well, let's see about that." I pointed at the several CCTV's in every corner of the room, "Do you see those cute little things? They are the proof, not also that everyone in this room can be a witness! I think it doesn't matter how great a lawyer your father is. You can't escape the eyes of the law."
"Y-you, bitch!" She raised her arm, intending to slap me. "How dare you blackmail me?"
Everyone gasped.
"Bang Yejin!" The part-timer girl shouted and held the mean girl's arm to stop her. "I have had enough of this! I have had enough of getting bullied by you!" Her voice quivered as I noticed that her eyes were changing into turquoise green, just like mine. She screamed, and I saw the girl in front of us weak to the knees, to the point of kneeling. The cup of glass that the matcha tea used for slightly cracked.
Another reincarnated mermaid?
+++
"Are you feeling okay?" I asked the part-timer girl to finish settling things in the police station. We are taking a seat while waiting for our bus to come. "I hope you were not that scared, dear."
"Of course she was scared," Rina-sunbae chimed in. "But my Ssuji was so brave that you helped her when she was in need! I'm so proud of you!
I smiled at her, "My Rina-sunbae also did well recording that bitch's whole act."
She gave me a finger heart and a wink, then I turned to the part-timer girl, "Miss Kim Mira? Are you okay?"
Mira turned to look at me, and I noticed that she was crying a lot, "Thank you so much, ma'am! I don't know what could have happened if you were not there!"
I gave her a comforting hug, Rina-sunbae also joined the hug. We could settle things and ask for physical and emotional damages for the perpetrator. She's not ready to go to court, and I agree that it's best to settle it within the spot. Mira didn't want to sue, so we both decided to agree with monetary compensation for the damages.
"Don't call me ma'am. You are younger than we are, right? Are you still a student?"
"Yes," Mira nodded. "What shall I call you then?"
"You can call me and Rina-sunbae, eonni," I patted her head. Her full bangs and long black straight hair was adorable, and she has deer-like, almond-shaped eyes staring at me. "If that Bang Yejin terrorizes you again, call me. You have my contact number already? And I'll come running full speed, make her lids pop out, and do a roundhouse kick aiming at her nose."
"Ssuji-ya," Rina-sunbae called my attention in a monotonous tone, "I never knew you were that good at roundhouse kicks."
The three of us laughed as the bus approached near. We stood up and got inside the bus. It was already time to go home, I guess, I acquired a new friend, and it would be good to know her better since she's the same as I am.
A reincarnated mermaid.
It was a strange occurrence. Mira had a sonic voice, and it seemed like she has known about her condition as a reincarnated mermaid with a unique ability. I haven't discovered mine at almost twenty-five years of living in this world. Most of us can speak with sea animals and turn into mermaids when our legs get wet. Both are a given, of course,
I should make her an ally of mine and share opinions and progress about removing our curse and exist like a normal human being.
+++
I was writing with my diary when my smartphone notified me that I received a call. It was from CEO Seo.
"Did you get home safely?" His voice seemed manly and soft at the same time.
It made me smile. "Yes! How about you, CEO Seo?"
"I am in front of your house." He answered, "If it's not too much to ask, can I meet you?
"Okay,"
I went outside the gate, and I saw CEO Seo wearing the same suit he was wearing earlier at the event.
He coughed, "It's nice to see you. Sorry if I came here unannounced but may I ask who you were with?"
"I'm with a colleague," I answered discreetly.
"Who--?"
"Um, Rina-sunbae."
"Okay," he sighed in relief. "I thought it was a male colleague,"
I just laughed, "No, haha. Rina-sunbae in the editing team, too, a very close sunbae of mine."
"I see," he smiled, and his eyes turned violet again. Being a sea witch, he reminded me of our unusual being. "What were you doing earlier? Did I disturb you?"
"No, it's okay! I was writing in my diary. I like doing it." I replied. "There's something that I'd like to ask you, though,"
"Yes, what is it?"
"I'd like to ask you again if you are the crown prince that I have been looking for,"
"What do you think?" he asked carefully.
"To be honest, I don't think it's you." I said honestly, "I mean, you saying that you were can be a lie."
"I got caught, I guess?" He laughed, "I thought if I lied, you would come to me."
"I appreciate your efforts, sir," I looked away from him and thought of how to express myself. "Our story goes way beyond; I was fond of the letters that you sent me back when we were still in college. But you know that my time is ticking,"
"And that you have to make the real reincarnated prince fall in love with you?" He paused, "Frankly, you do know that history will try to repeat itself, right?"
I didn't respond but just stared at him.
"The true reincarnated crown prince will not fall in love with you," he said spitefully. "The same way he did not fall in love with you a thousand years ago."
"I guess I may never understand why you lied, but you'll never understand how important it is for me to find the reincarnated prince in this life."
"I want you to come to me," he said as he tried to convince me. "You know that I am a descendant of a sea witch. I can make you a human forever,"
"But I have to give something in exchange, right?" I replied and smiled at him. "Thank you so much for caring about me and my well-being, but I don't want to make the same mistake as I did years ago. I hope you understand that."
"Just think that I am always here for you, okay?" he gave up and patted my head. "Please don't think of me less just because I lied to you,"
"Don't worry, I won't, CEO Seo."
"I like you very much," he said. "But I don't want to force myself into you, and I am willing to wait."