You Don't Deserve a Mermaid's Love

My boyfriend and his new love returned while I was hunched over the toilet, violently throwing up "Is she trying to tie you down by claiming she's pregnant?" the new girlfriend sneered at me. My boyfriend unceremoniously ushered me out, warning me not to cause any more trouble. I left quietly, disappearing into the vast sea. After all, I was a mermaid, and the ocean was my home. Later, clutching the terminal gastric cancer diagnosis, he frantically rushed to the seaside, jumping into the waves in a desperate attempt to find me. But I was swimming freely in the ocean, choosing never to return. ***** I collapsed beside the toilet, bile rising in my throat. Weak and trembling, I dialed Hugo's number, but a cold, automated voice answered, "Sorry, the number you dialed is busy. Please try again later." After three consecutive failed attempts, I gritted my teeth and pressed Hugo's name on my phone again. One more try, then I'd give up. This time, after a few rings, the call connected. "Hugo," I rasped. "I feel awful..." A sweet, unfamiliar voice answered, "Is this Hugo's ex-girlfriend?" I froze. Then, Hugo's impatient voice cut in, "Meghan, we're over. Why are you still clinging to me? I'm taking Libby home now. Pack your things and leave! It's awkward for everyone." Before I could respond, the line went dead. I stared at the darkened screen, a bitter smile forming on my lips. It seemed I had been dumped, just like that. I struggled to stand, but my legs buckled, and I crashed to the floor. The impact sent another wave of nausea through me, and I clung to the toilet bowl, retching. When I could no longer even dry heave, I lay there, catching my breath. It took a long time before I could stand again. I turned to find Hugo standing in the bathroom doorway with a beautiful, delicate-looking woman. She held her nose, looking at me with disgust. She scanned me from head to toe, then tugged timidly at Hugo's sleeve. "Hugo, is this… your ex-girlfriend?" she asked, her voice full of disbelief. I caught my reflection in the mirror, pale, dull eyes staring back. I chuckled humorlessly. I couldn't blame her. Even I could hardly recognize the haggard face staring back at me. Hugo cleared his throat awkwardly and frowned at me. "Meghan, why are you still here?" I gave him a knowing smile. He must have thought I was going to make a scene. He turned to the woman and said gently, "Libby, why don't you wait in the living room? I need to speak with her." As soon as Libby was out of earshot, Hugo pulled me aside. He was surprisingly strong. I felt even dizzier from the force of his grip. "Since we've run into each other, I'll be blunt," he said coldly, crossing his arms. "I only saved you from the sea out of the goodness of my heart. I took you in because you had nowhere to go. But after meeting Libby, I realized that true love shouldn't be as bland and tasteless as our relationship. We're over." I curled my lip. When we were dating, he used to say that he was content with a simple life: two people, three meals a day, four seasons. But now, with a new love interest, he had come to see our time together as dull. Love was indeed the most fickle thing, easily swayed and fleeting. Since the feeling was gone, I wouldn't cling to it. I looked at Hugo calmly. "I'll leave now." Hugo frowned, surprised by my easy agreement. He must have thought I had something else up my sleeve. My steps faltered as I walked into the living room. Libby saw Hugo behind me and hurried over to link her arm with his. Hugo patted her hand reassuringly. "It's over. We're done. It'll be fine from now on." But Libby's eyes were fixed on my hand, which was resting on my stomach. "I just saw her throwing up so badly, and now she's holding her stomach. Don't tell me she's pregnant. Hugo, what do we do? She's trying to trap you with a baby!" Libby cried, clinging to Hugo. Hugo's gaze followed hers to my stomach. His expression flickered with understanding. "That explains why you agreed to break up so easily. You're planning to use the baby to blackmail me, aren't you?" He sneered. "Meghan, why are you so stubborn? You were penniless, undocumented, and didn't even have a name. I gave you all that and helped you adapt to city life. Wasn't that enough?" I looked at the man in front of me. Without love, all the quirks he used to find cute and endearing now seemed repugnant. Five years ago, he had saved me from the sea. Back then, everything about modern life was new and fascinating to me. I made countless blunders, but he would just chuckle, shake his head, and patiently teach me, calling me silly. When he learned I had no name, he gazed at me with tenderness and said, "You were as beautiful as a pearl when I first saw you. Why don't we call you Meghan?" But his tenderness was no longer mine. Now, he looked at me with coldness, as if I were the enemy. Libby snuggled into his arms, her voice dripping with sweetness. "Hugo, why don't I have a word with her?" Hugo nodded. Libby came over and took my hand, her touch deceptively friendly, and led me to the master bedroom. The moment the door clicked shut, her demeanor changed. The gentle, charming facade vanished, replaced by a triumphant smirk. "Let me tell you something, sister. This isn't some cheesy drama from the past. You think you can keep a man by trapping him with a baby?" She sauntered over to the bed and ran her hand suggestively over the silky sheets. "You may be content playing the woman behind Hugo, but to him, you're just a free maid. Did you know? There were many times when Hugo sent you out on errands just so he could be with me…"