She sat there on the barstool watching, viewing, observing everywhere in the bar. It was past eight in the night and the bar was filled with rich, wealthy and classy people. Both men and women. The deep house beat music was so loud and the sound of glasses clicking with people cheering and dancing enveloped the place too.
No one can see her. She's the only one capable of seeing anyone moving, sitting and those going in and walking out. But there's only one person she'd make herself visible for. He is amongst his friends, cheering with bottles of beer and shots of strong wine. Four men at the other side of the counter across hers. Two are in business suits and two are in casual outfits.
Few girls are flirting around them but one is likely not giving the girls attention while another next to him is doing the same too. But the remaining two are carried away by the hot women hovering around their bodies. It is also a night for the strippers. Men are lust in the strippers on the pole as they toss bundles of cash at them. The disk jockey keeps firing the music, taking the bar to another level.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head at the men being lust in the women. Flirting, touching and caressing. All these sinful acts wants to make her disappear but she has something to deliver. Not until she has done it, her mission won't be totally accomplished.
"Cheer up, man!" Max lifted his glass and click it with his friends. "You know, if not for me, that deal wouldn't have been signed."
Justin eyed him, "You? Remember you asked us to go back because of the tsunami and I insisted we continue our journey, so who has the credit now?"
Few minutes ago, they watched the news headlines concerning the tsunami. It was a drastic one but thank goodness no innocent lives were lost. They confirmed that few men coming from across the sea with a massive ship where armed and dangerous. So many weapons were seen in the ship. The ship later sank and all the men perished. Not a single soul survived to tell the story.
"Guys, guys, guys, let's merry." Harry Norman poured more wine into their glasses. "This is a call for celebration."
"Just imagine the whole of America die of armed men." Tristan added, picking up his glass.
"Ah," Max sipped his wine, grinning at Justin. "We both would have dined with the girls in hell, dude. Right?"
"You in particular could have gone to hell." Justin pointed at him.
"For a visit or a tour?"
"Both." Justin scoffed, sipping his wine. "Infact, for an adventure with the Lucifer."
"I met a hot chick today and guess what?" Harry sighed in disappointment.
"Fuck her." Tristan guessed.
Harry frowned, "Fucking her could have been enough but she stole my wristwatch after that." When the others laughed hard, he frowned deeper. "Am serious and you guys think it's a joke?"
Trying to coax him, Max said, "Have your wallet and credit card been stolen by a hook-up chick before? Well, I assume no, huh?"
"And you're here, complaining for just a simple Rolex. Dude, just know that you're never gonna get it back neither will you find the woman." Tristan added.
Justin was about to say something as he sips his wine but then, something caught his eyes off guard. And he paused on what he was about to say as he stares at the beautiful shining thing from afar.
He blinked his eyes twice and wiped it with his fists but still, the thing was seated there, waving at him with a bright smile. He smiled awkwardly and waved back in slow motion.
He looked around and whispered to Harry, "Hey, dude. Do you see that angel over there?"
"Huh? Where is she?" Harry flirtatiously looked around, eyeing all the girls that passed by half naked. "There are a lot of them, man."
Justin frowned slightly and shook his head, "No. Look over there, can't you see her? She's seated there on the barstool."
When Harry followed his gaze, his brows creased when he didn't see a soul there. "Dude, there's no one there. The barstool is empty."
Justin got confused. But he is seeing her still seated on the barstool. Why can't his friend see her too? Does it mean that he is the only one seeing her? What has she done to him that he now sees mortal and immortal beings?
"You've not taken two shots yet and you're acting drunk." Harry chuckled and continued his discussion with the others.
Justin looked at the direction where he saw her just to know if she's still there or not. Of course she was. He thought of himself for a while. He wasn't hallucinating anything about mermaids recently but how come did she suddenly appear out of the blue?
She winkle a finger at him, telling him to come to her. He quietly obeyed, and kept his glass on the counter before approaching her. Her smile was enough for any man to fall on his knees for her. When he came closer, he sat on the barstool next to hers, still keeping his eyes on her as he takes his seat.
He touched her shining tail to confirm Iif he was dreaming or not. She chuckled softly. "You're not dreaming." Her voice almost echoing.
"How did you know I thought of that? You didn't wait for me to fall asleep so you can come to my dreams." He complained.
"You asked me to stop coming to your dreams." She don't want to seem like his worst nightmare. "So I've faded out of your dreams. You'll only see me like this for some time."
He hissed. "Sorry I said awful things to you last night. It was crazy talking to a mermaid for the first time, you know."
She tilted her head to one side, "And still crazy now?"
"No." He smiled and pulled his seat closer to her. "Thank you. My mom is doing okay and the—"
She stopped him with one palm poked out. "I saw everything. You don't need to tell me. I'm happy for you."
"I wouldn't have accomplished that without your help."
"It wasn't just my doing, Justin. If you hadn't partnered with your obedience, it wouldn't have worked."
"Listen, tell me anything. I'll believe you. You're indeed trusted." He said, flirtatiously. "I thought mermaids are evil and merciless, but you're very much different."
When his thumb caressed the strands of her hair, she slapped his hand off, "Stop flirting with me."
He lifts his hands in the air. "Oh, never knew I was crossing my boundaries, sorry. But can I ask you a question?"
"Go on."
"When I was growing up, I heard some fairytales that mermaids and humans do fall in love, get married and have—"
"Don't let quacky books deceive you. It will never happen."
He touched her hair again, "I love your hair. It's so cold, soft, smooth and long." He took of the scrunchie on his hair, leaving it to fall on his shoulders. "See? My hair is way shorter." He touched her tail. Caressing the fins and scales. "Wow. It's a bit rough and shining."
She slapped his hand off, "Stop touching me, Justin. I'll disappear if you do that without my consent."
He scratched his head, grinning from ear to ear. "My apologies. I don't want you to disappear so soon. Let me buy you a drink. I'm celebrating my biggest deal, babe."
She shook her head helplessly in distaste. Not liking the term 'Babe' "Don't bother."
"Come on, I insist."
"They'll only think you've lost one nut from your brain cells because I'm not visible to everyone. Just you alone."
He was about to ask the bartender for two glasses of champagne but he paused, staring at her blankly for a while. "So, it was true when Harry said he couldn't see you."
"Do you want me to stop coming? I can go away for ever and you won't see me again." She doesn't like his lines.
"Go aw—" He shook his head, vigorously. "Hell no. You're my surviving grace. How do I live long if you stop telling me my tomorrows?"
He took her hand in his, holding it firmly. Justin will never understand simple instructions. He is so used to touching people especially ladies.
"Look, I won't let you go not even for one bit. You saved my mom and you saved me too. How much more things that are yet to come? I really need you by my side. I don't want to perish."
"You won't perish now, Justin." She retrieved her hands, slowly.
She won't lie. She regrets taking her hands off his grasp but it was the best thing to do. Though there was this electrifying current that moved through her spines and veins when they held hands. She felt it just Incase he didn't. She had never felt this way before.
He felt a bit disappointed whenever she takes back her hands from his. He loved the texture of her small hands in his grasp. He felt like holding onto it forever. He has no idea but he somehow feels save and alive whenever she's with him. Both physically and spiritually. His eyes went down from her fin to her tail to her pearl upper body to her cleavage to her unseen breasts which were hiding behind her long tan hair, to her collarbone, beautiful neck and then to her lips.
His eyes got stuck on her pink plumpy lips. The thought of kissing her right now made him gulp down deliciously. He shouldn't be feeling this way not for a mermaid. This feeling is so strange. What is he getting himself into?
"Justin?" She called him firmly when he didn't say a thing for a while.
"Um…um? Y..yes?"
"Are you drooling on me?"
He faked a frown, "Huh….what? Definitely not."
"Look, don't even think about it, okay? Because it's never gonna happen." She warned him, thoroughly.
Infact, to start with. Where and how is he gonna start with her? Take for instance it kinda happen for example. She's a mermaid. It makes him feel like he doesn't know where to put it.
"Am sorry, I was carried away." He massaged his head. "So, what's up?"
"I dropped a note in your breast pocket." Before he could fish out the note from his coat, she added. "But I'll just summarize the whole thing to you." When he leaned forward, she continued. "Your uncle, Rojas, is boarding to Stockholm tonight and your dad is going for a party tonight too. Make your uncle miss his flight because I see his plane crashing and your dad is going to be poisoned by someone people who wants him out if the presidency post."
Justin got shocked. "What? Fuck!" He stood up and was about to go but then, she held his wrist.
"Am not done yet. Your sister, Francesca, is hiding something from you. I wish I could save her from your wrath but you're just too stubborn and strong-headed."
"Tell me about my sister's secret. I promise to withhold my anger."
She disagreed. "Justin, you won't be able to stand it when you find out but promise me one thing. You won't cause any trouble and you won't temper with your sister's happiness."
He exhaled sharply, giving her a questioning look. "You know something and don't wanna tell me? What is it that my sister is hiding from me? Tell me now, maybe I'll be able to keep my cool."
"Maybe?" She pointed out. "You'll find out soon but don't do anything stupid. You hear me?"
He kept quiet for a while, "Fine. I'll try." Then he went to join his friends. "Maxwell, uncle Rojas is in big trouble, you have to save him now."
Max stood in confusion, not understanding his tone. "I don't get it, what is up with my dad?"
"A friend of mine that works in the airport said a bomb is planted in his plane." Justin had to lie this way or else, Max won't believe a thing he says.
"Holy blood of Jesus." Max grabbed his phone on the counter and ran out of the bar with immediate effect.
Justin turned towards the direction where she was but she was no longer there. He gulped the last wine in his glass and baded his friends 'See you later' Before rushing out too.
.........