Femme Fatale

Chapter 4: Worse things happen when you least expect it

Monday, 28th of February 1977, Dongbaek Island, Busan

I emerged from the sea after being underwater for a week, Dr. Tranter told me to count the seconds for my legs to grow when I’m already on the dry land and it took one minute and thirty-five seconds. It was a short time but it felt too long for me to get my legs back from having a mermaid tail, and what’s worst I almost get caught by a young man in my mermaid form. I’m literally half-naked on top with a bloody red fish-tail at the bottom, if not for the other young man who called him and diverted his attention, I’ll be damned!

Either that young man saw me as mermaid or human whose completely naked on the beach at late night, I’m in danger. It was my first time but even though I’m only a beginner for transformation process, there’s no room for any error because my life is at stake. I thought I chose the right spot and I’m completely safe there but I should have taken consideration the people who likes to wander around the beach.

“My heart almost stopped back there!” Dr. Tranter throw me a towel to cover my body and handed me my bag for my clothes to wear “Your father is preparing to commit a crime in case that young man gets more closer to your position.” staring at the sea while talking

“That minute felt like an hour and those seconds like minutes, it’s only 95 seconds but my body froze when we I met his eyes.” Wearing my clothes

“You couldn’t move because you were shocked that he saw you or you were stunned because of that young man’s handsome face?” father lighten up the tension as he walk towards me “That young man, he reminded me myself when I first saw your mother, I may not have the ability to read minds like Justin here,” pointing at Dr. Tranter “But I can say that man is absolutely attracted to your charming face, sweetheart.”

“It’ll be a shame if you hit his head Jack, you might hurt his face.” Dr. Tranter chuckles “He may be your future son-in-law.”

“Alright you two, let’s go home!” rolling my eyes to them “I know you’re just making jokes but it’s not funny, how could you two make fun of me after what happened, we’re all scared to death a while ago but now you’re laughing at me.” pouting at them as I walk towards the forest

“Well we got things under control so you don’t have to worry about it, I can just hypnotize them and put those two to sleep.” Dr. Tranter said calmly “But your father here is more into savagery than gentle solution to our problem.” walking at my right side while holding the oil lamp that light our way

“Better be safe than sorry, hitting them is quicker than your hypnotism.” father reasoning out while walking at my other side with an oil lamp too

We reached our vehicle after 17 minutes’ walk in the forest, and drove to the beach hotel where we stayed in the suite room for the meantime. We’re staying here for two weeks until I finally moved into the dormitory of the college I got admitted to. While my father will move to an apartment with Dr. Tranter, as they also continue their practice of profession in the island.

I was a normal person two weeks ago but when I turned 18 on Valentine’s day, I just got my birthday present from my late mother, a mermaid tail. I didn’t know I’ll turned to a mermaid in an instant after my legs got wet from water when I’m about to take a bath that day before I go to school for my final examinations. Because my legs won’t grow again until I’ve undergone the ritual undersea, I had to take the exam at home with the supervision of my class adviser. When the week was over though it’s hard for me not to march during graduation day, I had to resolve of my physical issue first.

Father and I already knew that we have to moved in to the village near the sea when I turned 18, and I must go to the undersea kingdom where my late mother born when I reached such age. That’s why the college I only took an exam for naval architecture program was National Maritime College in Busan. Fortunately, I passed the entrance exam at one of the most prestigious national institution so I don’t have much problem with my human and mermaid life since the whole campus is located inside an island.

“What was that??!” woke up the next morning when I felt my legs getting wet “Seriously, father?!!” annoyed

“Jack wants to make sure that you won’t turn into a mermaid when your legs get wet.” Dr. Tranter standing at the doorway of my bedroom

“Satisfied now??” rolling my eyes to father “I won’t be a mermaid unless I have that red flower near my body when I get wet.” pointing at the strange red feather-like plant I got from the undersea kingdom on the table near my bed “Since I’m originally born human I can only activate my mermaid powers and abilities when I touch it but still I have my human legs unless they get wet by water.”

“Since you’re already wide awake, why don’t you start telling us your underwater adventure?” father smile like a child “Also it’s already late morning.”

“Brunch is here.” Dr. Tranter went to the main door to receive our food “Thank you.” closed the door as soon as the staff leave our room “Tell us everything from the start, I’m from another kingdom called Secipons so I don’t know anything yours.” looking at me as I walk towards the table after father going at the same direction

“Well the kingdom is called Adnaran, everyone was flustered when they saw me for the first time though I also had the same reaction as them when sharks lead me the way, I thought they’re going to eat me because they might thought that I’m bleeding because of the color of my tail.” sipping my coffee before I continue my story “Apparently sharks are my best buddies underwater, we’re like a group of bullies when we entered the palace and I’m their leader.” start eating my meal as I talk with them

“Sharks, they’re only friendly to warrior type merfolk, even the royal family have to use their power to tame them.” Dr, Tranter added

“Maybe the sharks know that you’ve learned martial arts, hahaha.” father joking around

“Golden tailed mermaid, just what mother told me they give assistance, gifts and rewards toward humans but there could only six of them fifty years, unlike the red tailed there’s 300 of us every 3 years 1 month and 15 days.” enjoying my brunch as I calculate numbers in my head

“In our kingdom it’s the rainbow tailed that is rare to find.” Dr. Tranter can’t help to compare our different kingdoms “So have you found out your special power other than the normal abilities of a merfolk?”

“You’re right, it has something to do with my mouth.” making a sound of a dolphin “That means welcome in dolphin language.”

“I don’t understand, you only just sounded like a dolphin only in perfect pitch.” father not that impressed with my special power

“Then how about now?” impersonating father’s voice “But yeah, you’re right it wasn’t that impressive at all.” in Dr. Tranter’s voice

“Hahaha, well for a warrior type, you can use that voice impersonation for deceiving enemies but once your exposed you can only depend on your physical strength.” Dr. Tranter said

“Wait, do you mean my daughter have to go to war??!” father suddenly got worried about my safety

“If she has to, is Adnaran into war with other kingdoms?” Dr. Tranter said calmly

“They just won the war two decades ago and the seer said there will be no war for this century for them, but he told me that I’ll have a war on my own, the color of my tail clearly says it all he said before they let me see the royal family of Adnaran.” almost done with my brunch “I thought the seer was the biggest among them but he’s only 1/3 of the size of the royal children.”

“They’re actually monstrous in size for about thousand feet so if they acquired human legs, they’ll be considered giants here in land.” Dr. Tranter said

“Yeah I bet they are, the king is the biggest he’s 2,000 feet tall, it was like I’ve been talking with towers while looking at them.” sipping my coffee

“So, what name they baptized you?” Dr. Tranter asked and father’s anticipating from my answer

“They gave me the name Cherry, they’re onto human fruits this month, it’s a shame I missed the name strawberry.” chuckles

“Did you tell them what happened to Hyebin?” father inquired with sad eyes

“The seer found out when I put mother’s earrings to his magical golden plate.” looking down at the table “He told me that since mother acquired an immortal soul through marriage with father, only her physical body died but she’ll be reincarnated.” turn to my father who almost get teary

“In Secipons when a merfolk who have an everlasting soul reincarnated, they’ll be human or fish in next life.” Dr. Tranter said “But it all depends upon the soul bind with the human the merfolk obtained.”

“What do you mean Justin?” father looking at Dr. Tranter

“If the said human followed the merfolk’s soul in afterlife through drowning, that merfolk will be human when reincarnated and because sacrificing life is an act of true love the soul bind will help them to find each other again.”  Dr. Tranter explained “It’s similar to soulmates for humans.”

“That’s kind of romantic Justin-samchon, I’ll ask about it to the seer when I go undersea again, for now, I need to get my diploma and transcript of records at Andong High.” stand up from my seat “And you two are coming with me, I want to at least have a graduation photo even though I missed the marching on the stage and having my speech in front of everyone because of my fake illness.” giving them a meaningful look

“I better prepare my suit and tie.” Dr. Tranter stand up too “Don’t think too much about it, Jack.” pats father shoulder

“How many times do I have to tell you Justin?!!” father irritated “Stop reading my mind!”

“I told you too many times before too, I can’t help it, also you’re thinking out loud mate, even if I want to ignore it, you’re being too loud.” Dr. Tranter smiles “Come on mate, let’s prepare for our travel back to Andong.” encouraging father to stand up from his seat

We were too excited to go back to Andong when we realized that it’s Independence Day Movement, but since we’re already there we just stayed for the night at our old house. The next day we went to my high school to get my documents, and even it’s late to have a graduation photograph its better than nothing at all. And because my father is the best, he allowed me to have a farewell party with my friends in the evening before we returned to Busan the next afternoon.

Some will go to college like me but I’m the only one who’s going to province rather than universities in the capital or abroad, but most of our classmates will find a job to earn money for college, only few will continue their family business instead of pursuing college. Whatever we chose to do next we only have one thing in common, we’re starting a new chapter of our lives.

When Friday came, I went to National Maritime College for a campus tour and selecting my room at the dormitory. I just chose a quadruple room without looking who my dormmates might be. I moved out from the hotel suite Sunday morning and went straight to room 422, since it’s on the fourth floor and there’s no elevator, the two middle aged men who helped me with my stuffs suddenly became kids who can’t stop whining.

“You didn’t think before selecting this room, are you?” father said while looking around the room “You’re with juniors, and the bed space you got …”

“She passed away two months ago, suicide, she’s pressured with her grades, apparently her parents’ expectations were so high that she didn’t know what to do anymore.” Dr. Tranter said “You poor thing.” shaking his head “I’m going to Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi-do, today, then this room will be clean.”

“Are you seeing ghosts now, Justin?!!” father looking at Dr. Tranter with eyes widened from shocked

“No, just memories, Han Weeno’s misery is stuck in this room so the three girls here are also affected with negativity.” Dr. Tranter getting something under my designated bed “It’s too loud that I can’t just ignore it.” showing the diary to us with Han Weeno’s name on the cover

“You must help her Justin-samchon.” swallowing “Oh my, I didn’t know this room is haunted.” looking at my father

“Go now, Justin.” father said “Sometimes, you really scare me with your ability Justin.” getting goosebumps

“I can read living minds but I can see the memories of the souls still lingering in a place or thing.” Dr. Tranter explaining his ability “I’m going now.”

“Father will you stay here with me for a while?” still in shocked that I’m occupying a dead girl’s space

“Where else would I go?” father diverting his attention to my stuffs “It’s over, kitten, Justin already took the thing that made this place haunted no need to be afraid anymore.” gesturing me to go on the upper deck of the bed where Weeno used to sleep “That’s your bed now.”

“You only call me kitten when you want me to do something for you.” mustering up my courage to climbed up the ladder and get on the upper deck “I need to clean it first before we put the futon here.” looking at the dust piled up in every corner of the bed frame “They painted it new after the incident, those unnies they might endure the negativity that Dr. Tranter sensed until finals, do you think they’ll be back here, father??!” cleaning

“Their stuffs are still here so they’ll be back and in case they don’t, at least you have the room all by yourself, you’ve got a private bathroom, and balcony with the sea view.” father exploring the room “I like this room but I don’t like it being at the fourth floor.”

“Yeah, I know you don’t like too many steps on the stairs that’s why our rooms are only seven steps elevated from the middle part of the house.” cleaning thoroughly every space and corner of the bed frame “Come to think of it our house at Andong is really unique, I’ve never seen an interior like ours where the kitchen is at the center as if you’re on a cooking show in TV and its five steps elevated from dining and living room, our house was supposed to be two floor but you made it looked like we had three floors.”

“The reason I’m very proud of that house, the architectural design and interior construction of that house was all for free except for the furniture and fixtures of course.” father bragging about his famous architect friend again “I’m so glad that I’m friends with Rhea Opso, now she’s a Nevaeh.”

“If she didn’t divorce her former husband she won’t be where she is right now.” slipped of tongue “Oops, sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdropped.”

“Second time is a charm, currently she’s happily married to her second husband and she got six children with him.” father smiles at me

“How about you father, don’t you want to get married again?” climbing down the stairs “I’m fine having a stepmother but not an evil one please.”

“Hahaha.” father pats my head “I don’t need a second wife, Hyebin is the one and only woman for me, besides I have you and my job as a naval architect, I’m too busy that I don’t have time for such thing anymore, so don’t you dare get a boyfriend now that we’re not living together!”

“Oh, come on!” embracing my father “I’m here to be naval architect just like you, besides it’s hard to find someone like Jack Puth.”

“It’s my birth name but I really hate it, everyone makes fun of my name because it’s almost the same as jackfruit.” father embracing me back

After having a sweet talk with my father, we arranged my things and it all done late lunch. I parted with him after we went to the market to buy me some snacks as stock at my room in case, I get hungry while studying and to share with my roommates when they come. I originally wanted to have supper with them but they haven’t back yet, I thought that maybe they’ll come tomorrow so I lay in my bed to sleep and tuck myself with my blanket.

“!!!” a cold hand grabbed my foot and it just reminded me that I’m alone in the room at the moment “Dr. Tranter, you said it’s over!” murmuring to myself as I try to ignored what just happened “!!!” it grabbed me again that make me sit up while covering myself with my red blanket “Calm down …”

“Aaaaahh!!!” freaked out when the blanket was pulled away from me but the three ladies are also screaming at the top of their lungs as we all finally realized that we’re being ridiculous

“Wh-who are you?!!” lady with light yellow straight and long hair and fair white skin “What are you doing at Weeno’s bed space?!”

“I’m Nene Puth, my Korean name is Nene Lee, freshman, taking up Naval Architecture, I’m your new roommate.” climbed down my bed before I introduced myself to them properly “I heard that all of you are on your third year, so I must be the youngest in this room.”

“What happened?!” girls on the same floor start gathering on our doorway “We heard you girls screaming.” girls murmuring

“There’s just a misunderstanding, but we’re clearing it now.” lady with black straight and long hair and dark brown skin “Sorry to disturb everyone.”

“You scared us; you know that?!” lady with black short hair and light brown skin “Why does your blanket have to be red?! Don’t you know what happened to our former roommate Weeno?!” putting her hands on her waists as she looks at me in disbelief “We all thought that you’re a ghost that have a physical form and now you’re visible to us.”

“I didn’t mean to scare you unnies.” shaking my head “To be honest, I’m the one who got scared because of the cold hand that grabbed my foot.”

“That’s me, I just wanted to make sure that you’re human and not ghosts, I’m Meghan by the way, third year, taking up International Trade and Economics.” Lady with fair white skin reaching out her hand to shake my hand “Sorry for freaking out, you screamed first so I got scared too.”

“Nice to meet you, Meghan-unnie.” shaking her hand “That’s because you pulled my blanket, I’m already trembling in fear because of your cold hand.”

“Naranda, us three aren’t just roommates we’re also classmates from first year until this school year.” lady with dark brown skin also shake my hand

“Nice to meet you, Naranda-unnie.” looking at the other one after shaking Naranda’s hand

“I’m Taki, sorry if I raised my voice to you earlier.” lady with light brown skin shaking my hand too

“Nice to meet you, Taki-unnie.” smiling at her “It’s fine, I understand, and yes I’ve heard what happened to Han Weeno, but don’t worry this room isn’t haunted anymore, it’s just us who scared ourselves for nothing.”

“Well the aura of this room feels peaceful now.” Naranda said as she walks around “This is orangie red feather celosia, right?” looking at the flower at the center table that I got from undersea “But it’s species is celosia argentea, which is known as troublesome weed in my country, India.”

“I honestly don’t know anything about plants, thanks for telling me the name of this strange flower, Naranda-unnie.” feeling grateful to her

“What’s the commotion all about?!” dorm lady Lee making her way to our room “What are you girls doing at this hour, shouldn’t you be all in bed since it’s first day of school tomorrow?!” telling the outsider girls to go back to their rooms “Go on, time for bed, ladies!” when everyone’s gone she turned to us four who’s looking at her “I see you already met your new roommate, sorry again if I didn’t approve your request to transfer in another room.”

“I think we’re alright here until graduation, Lady Lee.” Taki said with a smile “This room has been cleansed, I guess.”

“I don’t know about supernatural stuff but I agree with my girls, this room doesn’t feel heavy now, so we’re fine staying here.” Meghan said

“I see, maybe this freshman here is your lucky charm, since she’s into red.” Lady Lee looking at my stuffs “Good night, girls.”

“Good night, Lady Lee!” four of us in chorus as Lady Lee closed the door for us

“Yeah, tomorrow is our first day, we shouldn’t be staying awake for too long tonight.” Naranda said “Meghan you want to clean up first, since you take time using the bathroom?” chuckles “She’s so, pretty right?” noticed me looking at Meghan

“Yes, she is, she looks like a doll to me.” can’t keep my eyes off at Meghan

“How can I be a doll if I’m this fat?!” Meghan feeling insecure to her body figure despite her beautiful face “I’m cleaning up first.” going into the bathroom without looking at me

“Did I offend Meghan-unnie??!” looking at the two “But she really looks like my American doll, and those beautiful blue eyes of her, I really like them.”

“Don’t mind her she’s overreacting most of the time, but she’s more sensitive now since Poseidon Nevaeh already graduated.” Taki explained to me

“Poseidon Nevaeh.” suddenly remembered the time when Rhea-imo showed her family picture in her wallet to me and father and told the names of her children “You mean the fourth child of Architect Rhea Opso-Nevaeh?!!” eyes wide opened “He’s an alumnus here??!”

“So, he’s not the reason you enrolled to this college?!!” Taki more surprised than I am “Everyone in this dormitory, admitted here because of that prince charming, now that he’s gone the only thing that motivates us to go on is of course to graduate and be alumni in the same college he graduated.”

“It’s a shame that you only got here late, you should have seen Don’s godlike visual!” Naranda having hearts on her eyes while dreaming about the man

“Oh, I see, well for me I chose this college because it’s the most prestigious national institution for ocean sciences and the whole campus is located inside an island, I want to be a naval architect just like my father that’s why I’m working on that dream of mine.” telling them my reason

“She’s a real student.” Taki said “You belong to the 2 out of 10 who’s interested with ocean sciences and technology, while us three belongs to 40% who’s taking up international studies and being true to ourselves that we’re only here for dating, but the 30% who are into engineering they are the serious competitors in the game as they also want to impress the males by pretending to be into the same field as them, and last but not the least the 10% who got the courage to take on maritime sciences to be in the same department with Don.” crossing her arms “Those conniving b*tches!”

“Ah, he’s in maritime sciences, I thought he’ll be a civil engineer like his father or an architect like his mother but instead he took a different path.”

“You didn’t know??!” Naranda filling me up with information “None of the Nevaeh have the same profession, though every male in their clan are all engineers but all of them are into different field of engineering, as for Don, he’s a marine engineering graduate, oh, his uniform really suits him!”

“I know right! He’s the most handsome when he’s wearing that marine student’s uniform!” Taki giggles with Naranda “He’s so hot even though he’s doing nothing and only standing still, that I couldn’t breath just by looking at him that way.”

“I’m done, who’s next?” Meghan came out from the bathroom wearing her nightdress while wiping her hair with the towel “So, you’re sleeping above.”

“You’re my bunkbed mate?” looking at Meghan in surprised “I thought it was Taki-unnie.” turn to Taki who’s getting out from Meghan’s bed

“I’m also at the upper deck.” Taki walk towards the bathroom after she pointed her bed across mine “The bathroom’s always steamy after Meghan, just so you know, for you not to be surprised when you’re next in line.” closed the bathroom door after she talked to me

“They let me go in first because I’m a slowpoke, but if you want to be first, I don’t mind at all.” Meghan said “Sorry if I acted up earlier.”

“It’s fine Meghan-unnie, if you don’t mind may I ask where you from in America?” noticed the photograph of a familiar place on her bulletin board

“I’m from Massachusetts.” sits on the chair in front of the vanity table

“Really??! Me too! I’m was born and lived in North Eastham for nine years.” I excitedly said “Then we moved in to Andong until I graduated in high school and now here in Busan two weeks ago.”

“I’m from Nantucket!” Meghan looking my reflection in the mirror while combing her hair “I came to Busan right after I graduated from high school to follow the man of my dreams, Poseidon Nevaeh, even though I never become his lover at least we’re friends, and I’m the closest girl to him.”

“That’s why Meghan became the president of Don’s Fanclub, because she’s the only one who could get the nearest to the prince and talked to him naturally, also Don comes first to Meghan sometimes, he never done it to any other girls except he needs something related to academics to them.” Naranda explaining the matters to me “Taki, Weeno and I were lucky that we could tag along with Meghan while being with Don but it’s all over now.”

“All what’s left are only memories.” Meghan having a bitter smile on her face “Any way, what time is your first-class tomorrow Nene?”

“7am, oh my, it’s already this late?!” noticed the time at the clock “I got carried away, I better go to sleep now or I’ll have dark circles beneath my eyes tomorrow.” climbing up to the ladder to get into my bed “Good night Meghan-unnie, Naranda-unnie, also Taki-unnie, if you can hear me there!”

“Nighty-night Nene!” Naranda replied with a sweet smile

“Sorry for the noise of the hairdryer.” Meghan said

“It’s alright, I’ll just think of it as my lullaby to sleep faster.” lay down in bed and tuck myself in with my blanket “It’s more comfortable to sleep now that I’m not alone in this bedroom.” muttered to myself as I face the wall

The next morning, I’m the first to woke up among us since I’m the one who got the earliest class, their class schedule was pinned at the corkboard hanging on our wall. It’s my first day in college and I’m so excited to go to my classroom for my first course, the room is quite big and good for 45 students, there’s 3 chairs for every long table, 3 columns and 5 rows. I didn’t know what’s on my mind that time but I just chose the center seat, third row and fifth seat from left or right, every professor who came in always noticed me first as if I don’t have seatmates on my left and right.

“I heard your program got the biggest number of students this year, is that true?” Taki sitting at the chair across mine while I’m doing my homework at the center table we had on or room “Is your class using the 45-seaters room?”

“Yes Taki-unnie, I’m crazy enough to sit at the center where everyone noticed me first, I only sit there to look for the best seat in the room but then my classmates started coming one-by-one and I’m already stuck in the middle.” sighing heavily as I reminisce what happened earlier during my classes

“And you’re only eight girls in the class?” Naranda followed Taki’s inquisition

“Yes Naranda-unnie, they all have us seated in the middle row as if we’re being surrounded, even the professors agreed to the boy’s suggestion.” sighs

“Well you have to endure it until the end of the semester, it’s alright Nene, you’ll get used to it besides you’ve chosen the program which most men likely to dominate in class, you’re lucky enough that you’ve got seven more girls.” Meghan consoling me “Show those boys that you girls run the class.”

“That’s what we all intend to do; I really hope we’re still eight until the graduation.” telling them what the girls’ goal in class

I survived the first semester along with the seven girls in class, so even if the boys put us again at the same spot on the second semester where we were before, it didn’t matter anymore since we just established our sorority in class. The next thing I know, it’s already mid-month of December and I’ll be home again with father and Dr. Tranter for winter break then be back at school the following year. I’m planning to go with Meghan-unnie tomorrow to buy presents for the two men in my life and also to girls but Dr, Tranter suddenly showed up when I’m about to have dinner with others.

“Nene …” Dr. Tranter can’t look at me straight in the eyes when I appeared at the lobby to meet him “We need to go to the hospital at this instant.”

“Why?? What happened to father?!” following his lead outside the dormitory “You’re making me nervous Justin-samchon, please answer me.”

“I’ll explain to you, when we get there.” Dr, Tranter opened the car door for me and rushed to the driver’s seat after I got in

“Is he critical? Does he need to go under complicated surgery??” I’m asking him continuously but he never answer even one of them until I had an unthinkable thought which I wished I never think of since he can read my mind

“Yes.” Dr. Tranter keep staring on the road but he’s trying too hard not to cry “I’m sorry Nene, I was too late to save your father, he concealed his mind perfectly and made me think he’s doing fine, he sent me to Apujeong to buy your present, that crazy man! What have he done?!!”