Busy with the day, Guilin started to deal with all the documents that had piled up by now. The pile was so big that he didn't even make a dent in it after working the whole day. Sighing, he laid down on the table, gazing at the pool. "He won't even come up and talk to me… Do you think he is angry with me?" he gazed at his personal servant.
The man bowed his head and whispered, "The creature would not have such feelings, young master."
Guilin frowned. "Creature? He has a name. Call him Kui. Better yet, call him young master."
The servant raised his head in shock. "Young master!"
"Yes, that's how he must be addressed. As for the younger mer, you can call him as you wish. I have a sharp distaste for that creature," he mumbled, flipping through the scroll.
The servant bit his lips anxiously. "Y-yes… young master."
Late at night, Guilin set off to sleep after having a short towel bath. He gazed at the pool once again with trepidation. "Good night, Kui," he whispered ever so softly.
Suddenly, he heard a soft splatter.
A hand popped up from the corner of the pool, and Kui poked his head out hesitantly.
"Kui~" He ran up to him. "I'm glad you came up. I thought you were angry with me. Wait…" His eyes peered at the mer's features sharply. He noticed the swollen eyes instantly. "Did you cry?"
"No…" Kui wiped his face slightly. "Anyways, I came up here to strike a deal. I want my brush. And you can have this in exchange." He held up a small sack.
"What is it?" Guilin took it with interest. Inside lay twenty or so round shiny pearls. With trembling hands, he picked one up and held it up to the light. They were slightly translucent, making them shine brighter. They were about the size of a pea, but he knew these were worth more than that. "These are your tears…"
"No! No, they're not. They're harvested from the best seashells from under the ocean. They are worth a lot. You can give that brush in exchange." Kui peered up at him innocently. "Please…"
Guilin touched the little pearls with a sad look on his face. "Did that young mer hurt you? Why did you cry?" His hands hesitantly hovered close to Kui's face. "I'm so sorry you were sad last night. I should have come down to see you."
Kui moved away a bit. "Just give me the brush."
"Do you want it that desperately?" Guilin peered into his eyes.
He nodded slightly. "That… that belongs to me. It's my only way home…"
Sighing, Guilin handed the brush to him along with the bag of pearls. "Here."
Kui gazed up at him in shock. "I only want the brush…"
"And I don't want to see your tears. These remind me that I hurt you inadvertently yesterday. It makes me feel like dog poo."
Kui chuckled. "You are dog poo."
"I know. I'm a very bad person," he chuckled and handed the bag to him. His gaze went serious. "Kui, you must not, under any circumstances, tell anyone that you can cry pearls. Do you hear me?"
Kui pouted slightly. "I have common sense."
"But you revealed it to me…" Guilin's lips rose into a handsome smile. "So you trust me."
Kui rolled his eyes at him. "No, I was just a bit stupid."
"I refuse to believe that."
Their eyes met. Kui could see it right then—the deep feelings this human had for him. It was… intense. He had never once seen his ex look at him like that. Like he was looking at a precious treasure. He didn't know how to react to this.
Clearing his throat, he reached out for the brush.
Suddenly, the door opened with a bang. A servant ran in frantically.
Kui shrank back into the water.
"Young master… this is bad." The servant panted, with his hands on his knees. "The merkind is here. They're here to apprehend the mers we have!"
Guilin shot up. "Do not let them in." He quickly put on his coat and gazed at Kui, who was looking up at him in disbelief. "I swear I didn't do this…"
Kui swam away quickly into the depths.