After finishing all his office work, Alexander headed home to Moonlight Manor. Before Coral came into his life, he used to live in an apartment near his office, finding convenience in its proximity.
But now, things were different. Now, he couldn't wait to get home to see the little angel who had stolen his heart.
As he walked into the grand hallway of Moonlight Manor, the familiar warmth of the place washed over him. The dining room was lit softly, and the table was set, everyone gathered around waiting for him.
He looked around the room, his eyes landing on Coral. She sat quietly, not even glancing in his direction.
'What happened to her?' he wondered, his heart sinking a little as everyone started dinner.
"How was your day, Alex?" his uncle Nolan asked, breaking the silence. Alexander's hands paused mid-air as he replied, "It's fine."
The room fell silent again, a heavy, uncomfortable silence that Alexander couldn't quite place.
Finally, Sofia spoke, breaking the tension. "Coral, tomorrow your uniform will arrive, and you'll start school. Have you thought about any extra courses you might want to take, like sports, music, or arts for fun?" she asked, her voice warm and encouraging.
"I don't know," Coral shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'll see if there's anything I like." she said, and Sofia nodded, lost in thought.
Alexander watched Coral closely. She wasn't paying any attention to him. She used to look at him and smile, a bright, infectious smile that made his heart soar.
But now, she wasn't even glancing in his direction. It felt like a thorn poking at his heart, each silent moment a reminder of the growing distance between them.
After dinner, he couldn't take it any longer. He followed her to her room, his footsteps quiet on the soft carpet. As she reached her door, he gently held her wrist, stopping her.
"Are you angry with me?" Alexander asked, his voice soft but urgent, as Coral turned to look at him.
"No," Coral replied, her voice strained as she tried to shake his hand off her wrist.
"Yes, you are." Alexander insisted, stepping closer, his eyes searching hers for answers.
"No!" Coral's big blue eyes looked into his, filled with a mix of frustration and sadness. "I noticed you don't like me around at all. You find me annoying. I'm sorry I'm staying in your house and making you feel that way. I'll keep my distance and won't bother you anymore." Her voice was soft, almost breaking, as she freed her hands from his grip. She gave him a small, sad smile.
"Goodnight," she said, her voice barely a whisper as she closed the door behind her, leaving Alexander standing there in stunned silence.
He stood there, staring at the closed door, his mind racing. How had things gone so wrong?
He walked back into the room and lay on his bed, lost in thought. "Oh!" he remembered, sitting up abruptly.
That day, Coral had come into his ward. He had been so busy that he barely paid attention to her. Is that why she was angry? He pondered different ways to apologize to Coral. He hadn't meant to ignore her.
***
When Coral fell asleep, she woke up the next second. Everything around her was foggy.
"Super bee..." she shouted, looking around slowly. The more she walked, the foggier it became.
She was stunned when something crashed near her feet. She looked down and saw it was a little Pixie.
Seeing her, the Pixie's small cheeks flushed. It started jumping around her. "Wow! I heard mermaids are beautiful, but I've never seen one before. You're much more beautiful than any mermaid I ever imagined." the Pixie exclaimed, making Coral blink.
"Where am I?" Coral asked, raising her palm. The Pixie sat on her hand, looking up at her.
"This is your space, and I am the Spirit Fairy of this space," the Pixie explained.
"Space? My space?" Coral looked confused.
"Yes, this space is for a special royal-blooded mermaid, and that's you. That's why you're here. I've been waiting for you for more than a decade." the Spirit Fairy said with a smile.
"Royal blood? Me?" Coral was bewildered. She was an orphan mermaid; how could she be of royal blood?
"Yes, would you like to connect this space with you?" the Fairy asked, flying up from Coral's hands.
"Sure," Coral replied. Suddenly, she felt the Fairy fly towards her. "Ouch!" she cried as the Fairy bit her finger.
Blood dropped on the space, and everything became clear.
When Coral looked around, her eyes widened in amazement.