His Aquatic Angel

9 - Two wishes

After their encounter, that night. Aaron ended off by telling her how she would come to the sea in the morning the next day.

And Nephrin considered that as an invite. Though she thought that it must be risky visiting him during the day. But she assumed he had his own reasons why.

Maybe it was because he would not he able to make it during the night because he was going to meet another one of those babies, she thought.

But she made up her mind and by morning, she scouted out for his boat a bit far from the sea that the humans might be able to reach.

And as promised, she spotted his boat far back. Dangerously close to where humans could spot her. So she waited till the boat put a little more distance between them and land.

So she swam out gingerly to the boat, nearing in. Then as she began to settle into her usual spot by the boat, she got.. stuck. Or rather caught in something.

She began to twist and free herself out of the net only to get entangled into it even more.

Aaron on the other hand had come fishing with his father and hadn't and wasn't aware of Nephrin. Not until he heard the noises.

"Check the net, I think we've got something." Aaron's father said as he settled the fish he had just caught.

"It sounds huge too." Aaron smiled as he bent down to receive what was caught in the net. It was just then that he realised that it was huge, too huge.

And it definetly was no dolphin either.

He immediately freed the catch of the day, otherwise known to him as Nephrin.

"Arkaron." He heard her say accusingly before she swam out to sea. He on the other hand was very confused on what had just happened. Why she had been here and where she said something accusingingly at him.

"What did you say? Where is the catch?" His father asked.

"Nothing. It was just a... dolphin."

♡.♡

And as his usual habit, he rode out into sea the night. He was looking for an answer to why she was out so close to land, so early in the day.

And when he reached his door on the water, he didn't have to wait. She had immediately popped out of the water. And placed her elbows on the ship.

"Traitor. You wanted to catch me as if I was prey, right?"

"No... why would you think that?" He asked genuinely

"The net, you put it there so I'd get stuck when I came."

"No Nephrin. That's not what I meant to achieve, I didn't even tell you to come at that time. I was actually suprised that you came

"But you said you'd be out at sea during the day..."

"Yes, to fish with my father."

Nephrin worked her eyebrows and thought that he could be right. But then, sue assumed he was just a smooth talker and was just trying to get away with his lies.

"I don't believe you." She crossed her arms.

"Why? I haven't told anyone about you and I have no intention of doing so anytime soon. And I am a man of my word."

"Aaron, there's really no way I can believe that you mean what you say." Nephrin honestly told him as she looked up at him.

Her words then got contradicted when she looked at him and believed him. She barely knew him but she already trusted that he wasn't crass or a traitor and she hated that she felt that way.

She didn't want let her guard down because...

"I have too much to risk talking to you Aaron. People change and you might not always be the honest, noble man I've come to be known to."

"Nephrin, I give you my oath, I swear to never –"

"No, don't. And it's not only you, I have things to do down under. And I cannot risk them finding out about you."

"Them? What can they possible do?"

"Nephrin smiled. You are stupid you know that? A stupid brave man."

"Is that a bad thing or..."

"Well, I consider it as a good thing."

"Good, a compliment. Aren't I supposed to get two wishes from you since you gave me a compliment?"

Nephrin shrugged. "Maybe it works the other way round, try and maybe you'll get your two wishes."

Aaron kind of knew that he wasn't getting those wishes but he still had to compliment her.

"I think you're very bubbly and compassionate. And I love your obliviousness to human culture."

Nephrin's tail began to move madly in the water and Aaron noticed which made him smile subtly.

"Hey! Being oblivious to your customs and culture isn't a compliment. It's an insult if you ask me." She crossed her arms.

"So does this mean I lose my two wishes?"

"Yes, mumdárk!" She voiced her voice at him. "And to think I was going to give you two wishes." She joked.

"A man like me? I'd only need one wish."

Nephrin was intrigued. "One wish? What would that one wish be?" She rested her head on the boat and looked up at him.

"I dunno. Maybe I'd wish for the lost time with my mother before she died, if not, I would probably just wish for just one day with her."

"Your birth giver isn't alive anymore?"

"Yes, she died a long time ago. Here at sea."

"That must be so hard for you, especially since humans are such needy beings. So, you're telling me that you nearly died the same way your mother did?"

"Yes, and it would have really been unfortunate. But I'd only die with less honour than her, my mother worked her way up to being a captain and that was no easy position to get as a female."

"Now I'm really glad I untangled you and brought you to safety. But, it is hard to get anything when you're female as we're inferior."

"You aren't inferior, okay." Aaron said, looking straight into her dark eyes.

"But we're from a generation of inf –"

"No, I will not hear it. You should never think less of yourself like that, you aren't inferior."

She looked down for a moment and then had the courage to look into his eyes. He didn't know better but she wanted to believe it.

And she did.

So she smiled and nodded at him. "I guess I'm not, I never felt like that any way." She said.

"I'm sure, you don't look like someone who thinks less of herself."

"I don't. It's what they teach us but I never learn and understand. I mean, they teach us not to pass the current line but here I am."

"That must make you a rebel m'lady. But I'd never wish differently." He said.

Nephrin smiled. "About the wishes, I don't understand something. Won't you wish for wealth, prosperity, power, fame, women..."

"I don't know. It all just seems so, unlike me. What would I ever do with those?"

"But you're man, that are your essentials."

"Yes, for many. But what I've learnt is that no amount of wealth and status will make troubles go away. I know, I've seen."

"From where?"

"I don't know. I watched my dad when I was younger, he'd slave away for us. He worked at a law firm, he was almost never home and when he was. He was always tired and unhappy. But when it was time for Christmas, he'd be able to buy us huge toys and my mom, diamond pearls. But at what cause? He'd be out the door for work and he's only get to spend that one day with us."

Aaron said honestly but when he felt like he had emphasised his point enough. Nephrin looked so intrigued by his story.

"And, after my mom died at sea, he was heartbroken. I bet it hurt more that he hadn't been to spend the time he needed to with her. Soon after, he quit his job and continued his work as a fisherman so he could raise us."

"So, he was happier raising you now?"

"Yes, he doesn't fret over little things like his social status and money. And he looks happier now to be able to be with his granddaughter."

Usually, Nephrin would resent the baby because Aaron usually gave Eva much notice than her. But today, she didn't upset her.

"I guess noticing little things like that made you smart."

"I guess it did. Do you have a family Nephrin?"