The Mermaid's Last Wish

Chapter 17 - Fireflies

The night was filled with joy as the students were gathered in a huge hall. The chandeliers were beautifully lit. The music filled their ears and the light became dim when the ball started.

"Good evening, my dear students. As we are about to start the night ball, may I invite you to please lend me your ears? This night ball shall impose the safety of everyone." The emcee has talked about the house rules inside the hall.

Erina was a minute late since the night ball started.

"Erina." She looked back at the gate. "Let me be your escort tonight." Morpheus was wearing a white tuxedo with a black necktie.

"But... We never talked about this." Erina touched her lower lip while Gavin held her hand and smiled.

"I apologize but she's with me tonight." He told Morpheus as he guided Erina to the stairs.

Morpheus couldn't believe that she was with that man. He was blaming himself for not telling her before the night ball. It was a big mistake since it should be the first time he would get to know her well.

He brushed his hair up and went into the hall.

"Oh, my God! He's the heartthrob here." He heard these comments as he walked near a small and tall table to get a drink.

He followed Erina by his eyes while Gavin made her sit on a seat. "This shouldn't happen in the first place. It's your mistake, Morpheus."

Nancy put out a bottle of beer and put it in a martini glass. She walked to Morpheus and gave him this drink. She was thinking about framing him to avoid Zack.

Erina was looking for Morpheus and she didn't know why. Her memories were coming back as she remembered his face in the ocean.

"Is there something bothering you?" Gavin was worried as he saw her glance at somewhere like she was searching for someone. "Maybe, it's Morpheus."

"Huh? Morpheus? No, I want to go with my friends." As she was looking for them, she saw Riza waving her hand.

"So, is this true? You're dating him." Riza was smiling so brightly.

"No, he's my - " Erina stopped talking when she heard Gavin speak, "She's my date tonight. Any violent reaction?"

Riza, Lily, and Rossana were astonished as he seriously smiled at them. They glared at Erina which made her giggle.

"Well, he is."

Riza pulled the two and waved her hand goodbye. She mouthed, "We'll be back!"

Erina looked at Gavin and there, she met his eyes. His white teeth were pretty and genuine with his smile. Her thoughts stopped as Morpheus walked to Gavin's back.

"Gavin, let me talk to you."

Gavin and Morpheus went outside the hall and went to the garden. The wind blew cold as they found each other's eyes. Both were calm at first but Gavin started the conversation. "So, what's with you?"

"Do you like Erina?" Morpheus had to say it directly before he was left hanging in the air.

"What about it? Do you have feelings for her?"

"Answer me now." Morpheus' tone was deep. He grabbed Gavin's collar and there he gritted his teeth. "She's mine."

Gavin smirked. "No, she's mine."

Morpheus was about to punch his cheek but Erina stopped them. "Stop it! I knew this would be difficult."

He freed him as Erina walked to them and slapped his right cheek. "Enough. He's my friend."

"Friend? In the same roof?" Morpheus' nostrils were flaring with anger. "That's not good."

Nancy on the other side was hiding beside a tree. She heard them about living under the same roof. She gasped and went out there.

"This should be reported to the administration board." She rushed to the hall but thought of making it a trump card. Morpheus grabbed her arm and she was full of nervousness.

"You shouldn't or else, I'll do the same thing for you." He was angry at her face. "I don't want to see your face, Nancy. You're disgusting."

"And you too. You're disgusting." Her eyes were teary as she wanted him to let her off.

"Just tell them and I'll say that you've been cheating on me on our first date." His nostrils were flaring and his breaths were shaking.

"Just let me off. I'll do whatever I want." She was struggling at his grasp. "Let me off." When she pulled her arm, she fell because he let her off. She cried a lot as she fell to the ground.

"Just let it be and you'll never see me." Morpheus left her sobbing there.

Erina and Gavin heard them but Morpheus just walked away. Erina tried helping Nancy but she cried too much. It was a real emotion that Erina had witnessed for the first time. She didn't know that this feeling would affect other people too.

Nancy stood up and went to the restroom. Meanwhile, Gavin was searching for Morpheus but he was gone.

"What's wrong?" Erina's face gave him a questioning look.

"Nothing. I wanted to say to him that you do not belong to him."

"Why are you affected?"

"All for nothing." He was smirking at her and left.

"Just tell the truth that you have a care for me." Erina was walking behind him, looking down on the floor. He stopped and her forehead bumped on his back.

"Just chin up and put your arm here." He put her arm crossed to his. They walked to the convention hall and all the students were giving them a puzzled look.

"Okay. Just let me have confidence." She smiled and straightened her posture. When the music was played, Gavin took the chance to dance with her. He wanted to make this night feel special for them in silence.

She was embarrassed at how she danced. He chuckled softly and patiently told her, "Put your feet on my shoes."

"What?" She was confused.

"Put your feet on my shoes to have a dance with you."

She stopped and pulled her hands back. He thought she would reject her but she bent her knees and took off her heels. "Okay, this might not hurt your toes."

He chuckled softly and when they danced, she could adapt well then, after the music played, they stopped and she put her heels beside the seat of Lily who was busy browsing her cellphone.

The music started playing slowly then, someone asked the DJ to change it to non-stop music and faster beats. So, they danced well on the dance floor which made them a center of attraction. They were smiling and happy with each other's company. They made the music alive as they danced and went with the flow of the mood of the music.

The teachers were inspired and entertained as well as some students who rarely watched things like this. They were amazed at how gracefully they moved to the beats. They were crowded and they were clapping their hands.

"That was amazing." She smiled while Gavin caught her waist with her arms around his neck and her right leg was lifted by his hand. It was the end of the music and everyone enjoyed the entertainment. It was an unforgettable moment that made them feel like a real couple and one but secretly, they didn't know. Only they felt how changing their feelings for each other was.

Erina went out to take a breath after they performed well on the dance floor. It was an amazing experience here on the land.

"I'm amused because of your dancing." Morpheus was behind her and when she looked back, he stepped forward. "I thought I would never ask you for a dance tonight. Maybe, shall we dance?" He gave his hand and she reached her hand on his.

They danced well too because the music could be heard outside. On the other side, Gavin was hiding in a tree and saw what was happening there. He gritted his teeth and waited for them to stop.

"Do you have any feelings for Gavin?" Morpheus broke the silence between them.

Erina was embarrassed at how he was boldly asking for a personal view. Gavin almost choked himself but refused to make a sound.

"Wait. Is there someone watching there?" Morpheus was furious about the sound behind a tree.

Gavin meowed but Erina laughed a little. "You are just paranoid. It's a cat wandering around here." She stopped the dance and let herself out of his closeness to his body. "I need to go."

"Please, don't choose him for me. Let me prove myself to you. I like you, Erina." Morpheus decided to tell her the truth about his feelings for her but Erina never looked back because she was embarrassed. She ran away from him. It was her first time hearing a confession from a man, She never imagined being liked or loved like this. When she was about to turn right, she bumped into a hard thing and when she looked, she recognized him. It was Gavin who was staring at her eyes. The fireflies were around their place and her heart started to pound loudly not because of running but because it was him in front of her.