Carmela felt a profound sense of relief when she finally managed to calm her child, but in the haze of her exhaustion, she couldn’t even remember how long it had taken or how much patience she had to summon. The scene had been overwhelming, not only for Clarissa, who was just a young child grappling with emotions too complex for her age, but also for Carmela, who struggled with how little she could offer in terms of answers.Clarissa’s questions came one after another, tumbling out in a torrent of confusion and curiosity that only a child can bring forth. She wanted to understand everything, but there were too many pieces missing, and even Anthony, who usually had a solution for most things, was at a loss this time. The unanswered questions settled heavily in Carmela’s heart, a weight she carried alone, and it only grew heavier each time she saw the worried look in Clarissa’s eyes.The days that followed were long and uncertain, filled with careful decisions and delicate balances. Cla
“GETTING lost? How is that possible?”Anthony asked, his voice tinged with confusion and concern. The two of them sat in silence for a moment, watching Clarissa sleep soundly on the bench Anthony had carefully set up by the mini pool, which was only half-filled with water. It was a strange sight, the child resting peacefully with her tail still submerged in the water, as if it were an integral part of her. Carmela’s heart ached as she looked at her daughter, wondering just how long they would have to live like this.Clarissa had often complained about the sting that came from having her tail out of the water for too long. It wasn’t just a discomfort—it was something that seemed to affect her physically, and Carmela couldn’t stand seeing her daughter in pain. As a mother, it felt unbearable to watch her child suffer in such an unnatural way, with no clear solution in sight. The child’s condition had turned their lives upside down, forcing them to adapt to a world they didn’t understand
As the days passed, Clarissa’s life remained stagnant. The routine felt endless, each day blurring into the next with no significant changes or progress. Martin, however, always trying to find ways to provide for his daughter’s needs, had come up with a plan to bring a small sense of the outside world into their home. He decided to pay someone to fill their swimming pool with seawater. The idea was simple—Clarissa could still feel connected to the ocean, the place she loved, without having to leave the house. The saltwater would remind her of the times spent on the beach, the sun on her skin, and the sound of the waves crashing against the shore. However, the reality was far less freeing. Clarissa rarely left her room, preferring instead to stay in the bathtub, the water soaking into her skin as she tried to drown out her thoughts. She often spent hours there, her mind drifting between memories and the cold emptiness of the present.Carmela, on the other hand, was finding it harder t
The old man’s voice cracked with a strange conviction as he held up the scales, his weathered eyes alight with something more than just drunken enthusiasm. “Those are mermaid scales, believe me!” The words hung in the air, and for a moment, there was a flicker of seriousness in Mang Omar’s gaze—something that made the usual ridiculousness of his claims feel oddly compelling. The scales themselves were beautiful, their vibrant green and sky-blue colors shimmering in the dim light of the shack, but the absurdity of the statement made it impossible to take the old man seriously. Yet, there was something about the way he held the scales, the reverence with which he spoke, that made it harder to laugh off.Marlon’s laughter rang out, harsh and mocking, the sound of it harsh against the heavy air. “Oh, come on, Mang Omar, you’re too old to still believe in mermaids,” he said, his words dripping with disbelief. He took a long gulp of his gin, trying to swallow down the unease that clung to
Just as Marlon had promised Emil, his curiosity pushed him to investigate the strange scales he had found in Don Martin’s swimming pool. The sight of them had lingered in his mind, their vibrant, metallic colors sparking a question he couldn’t shake. What were they? And where had they come from? He couldn’t ignore the possibility that the pool, which was being filled with seawater, had something to do with it. Don Martin’s unusual request for seawater seemed out of place to Marlon, especially when considering that he had never seen anyone else in the town take such measures. There was a strange feeling that something was being hidden, something beyond their understanding.The mansion was surrounded by high walls, and the sense of forbidden territory weighed on Marlon. But his curiosity overpowered his hesitation. The scales, which Mang Omar had claimed belonged to a mermaid, filled Marlon’s thoughts. The old man’s words seemed outlandish at first, but now, standing in front of the ma
The sudden shout pierced the air, and Martin was immediately on his feet, his eyes wide with alarm. “What was that?” he demanded, his voice rough with urgency as he rushed outside without another thought. His steps were quick and determined, his mind already racing through possibilities. Anthony, never one to hesitate, followed closely behind. There was no time to waste. Without sparing Carmela a glance, he darted past her, heading straight for the garden to find out who had shouted and why. His movements were swift and purposeful, his instincts telling him that something was terribly wrong. Carmela was left standing there in shock for a moment, trying to process the tension that had suddenly gripped the air. Her arms instinctively wrapped around Clarissa, pulling her daughter close. Clarissa was shaking in her mother’s embrace, her small body trembling uncontrollably. Her wide eyes were filled with fear, her lips parted as if she were about to speak, but no words came. Carmel
PRESENT DAY A sweet smile spread across Jessa’s lips as she glanced at Clarissa. Her eyes sparkled with the hint of mischief, the kind that only someone as close as Jessa could manage. “Come on, Queen Marasela is looking for you,” she said, her voice light and teasing. Reaching out with a gentle but insistent hand, she tried to pull Clarissa along, guiding her through the cool, shimmering waters that lapped at the edges of the rocky shore. The water sparkled beneath the sun, and the air was thick with the sounds of the waves crashing gently against the rocks. It was the perfect moment for a peaceful stroll, yet Jessa’s impatience was palpable. But to Jessa’s surprise, Clarissa didn’t move. She remained seated on the large, smooth rock that jutted out from the water, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Her posture was still, as if she was lost in thought, caught in the depths of her own world. Her fingers lightly gripped the rock beside her, her knuckles white as she seemed to an
"IT'S GOOD you thought of visiting us, dear," Carmela said, her voice warm and gentle as she carefully combed her hair, the soft brush strokes providing a rhythmic comfort. Her words held the familiarity of a mother’s love, and though she was busy with her task, her gaze never strayed too far from Clarissa, the quiet concern in her eyes evident. She had always been attentive to the smallest changes in her daughter’s demeanor, and it wasn’t lost on her that something seemed different today. But she didn’t press; for now, she allowed Clarissa the space she needed.Clarissa smiled at her mother, her lips curving upward in a way that felt more automatic than genuine. She felt a deep warmth in her chest at Carmela’s words, but her thoughts were scattered, tangled in the emotions she had tried to suppress. As her mother’s gaze moved toward the mirror, Clarissa’s attention drifted to the vastness of the sea outside the window, its endless stretch of blue almost beckoning to her. She sta
Jessa was right. Clarissa’s death had broken the curse that had been placed upon her, the curse that had prevented her from living freely, from choosing her own path. Queen Marasela had the power to undo it, to restore Clarissa’s life and give her the opportunity to live as a human, free from the shadows of her past.The Queen knew that, deep within her, she had the ability to make that happen. But a new fear gripped her heart—if she brought Clarissa back, what guarantee was there that Victoria wouldn’t kill her again?As a human, Clarissa would be even more vulnerable to Victoria’s wrath. And if Clarissa died a second time, this time as a human, Marasela would never be able to bring her back again. The thought of losing Clarissa permanently was something she could not bear.“I will bring her back,” Queen Marasela said at last, her voice firm and steady, as she wiped away the last traces of her tears.Her gaze never wavered as she met Jessa’s eyes, and in that moment, it felt as if the
"SON?" Victoria's voice trembled with both relief and fear as she gently grasped her son's hand.Lucas had been in a coma for three long days, and the anxiety that had consumed her during that time was almost unbearable. She had stayed by his side, watching him, praying for his recovery, but the uncertainty had gnawed at her. Now, seeing him slowly open his eyes and blink at the harsh hospital lights, it felt like a weight had been lifted from her chest. She had feared losing him, but here he was, awake and breathing, a sign that perhaps the worst was over.Lucas’s voice was weak, barely a whisper, but the concern in his eyes was evident as he tried to focus on her. "M-Mama, how’s Clarissa? Is she okay?"His question struck her like a blow, and her heart faltered. Clarissa. The name hung in the air, filling the space between them with an unbearable silence. Victoria felt her throat tighten, her eyes welling up as she fought to control the flood of emotions threatening to overwhelm her
“MY SON must not see that mermaid again. I want you to kill her, Marlon!” Victoria's voice cut through the air with chilling command, her face contorted with fury.The words tumbled from her lips, each one a venomous strike aimed at the very heart of what she could not control. Her eyes, typically calm and calculating, were now wide with rage, the fire of her anger burning through her every word. This was no longer a mere request—it was an ultimatum.Her hands clenched around the steering wheel, knuckles pale from the force, as she glared at the man beside her. Every fiber of her being trembled with the thought of her son, the light of her life, being tainted by the mermaid, Clarissa. She would not—could not—allow such a thing to happen. The idea of losing her son to someone so foreign, so incomprehensible, drove her into a frenzy. No, this mermaid was an obstacle she was determined to eliminate.Victoria’s heart pounded in her chest, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts, but at its core
She had always longed for a connection with him, something pure and filled with love. But instead, all she had now were painful, fragmented memories of a man who had been driven by revenge rather than affection. The sobs wracked her body as the emotional turmoil threatened to swallow her whole.She felt as if everything she had known about her life had been a lie, and her father's absence in her world now felt like a deep, unhealable wound. The grief mixed with fury, and the sobs came harder, each one more desperate than the last.“That’s how cruel humans are, Clarissa,” Queen Marasela said softly, her voice filled with both sorrow and understanding. She gently took Clarissa’s trembling hand in her own, offering what little comfort she could in this moment of raw emotional turmoil. As the queen held her hand, there was a quiet strength in her touch, a silent reminder that even in the most heartbreaking moments, Clarissa was not entirely alone. Marasela's eyes glistened with compassio
“What is your relationship with that man from the human world, Clarissa?” Queen Marasela asked, her voice firm and tinged with a seriousness that demanded an honest answer. The weight of the queen’s question struck Clarissa like a tidal wave, leaving her breathless. Her heart pounded relentlessly, as if trying to escape the mounting tension in the room.But it wasn’t just the question itself that had her in turmoil. The piercing tone of authority in Queen Marasela’s voice and the unwavering intensity in her eyes as she locked gazes with Clarissa made it impossible for her to hide the truth any longer. For a moment, the room felt stiflingly silent, save for the sound of Clarissa’s quickened breaths. She could sense the weight of the queen’s expectations pressing down on her shoulders. Still, she hesitated, her lips parting as though to speak, only for her courage to falter. “I thought we had already reached an understanding long ago,” Queen Marasela continued, her words heavy with a
The sound of Clarissa’s voice was like a jolt to Lucas’s system. It made his heart leap in his chest, and for a moment, he was frozen. He had spent so many sleepless nights thinking about her, wondering if they would ever cross paths again. And now, here she was, walking toward him with a warm, familiar smile that seemed to light up everything around her. He felt a mix of relief and joy flood his chest as his eyes locked onto her form, drawing closer with every step.Without thinking, Lucas stood up from the large rock he had been sitting on, as if his body was reacting to the instinctive pull of her presence. His fingers subconsciously reached into his pocket, a nervous habit he hadn’t realized he’d picked up over the years, but he didn’t mind. His heart was pounding in his ears as he watched Clarissa move toward him, her graceful steps carrying her closer. He couldn’t tear his eyes away from her, unable to stop smiling as he took in the sight of her. She had changed, grown even mor
“NEXT WEEK, will you come back? Your grandfather will be arriving with Nanny Norma. I’ll be heading back to the mansion, and your daddy has to go to the clinic,” Carmela informed Clarissa later that same day, after breakfast had passed. The light from the late afternoon sun filtered in through the windows, casting a warm glow across the room. There was a calmness in the air, but Carmela’s words brought with them a ripple of change, signaling another shift in their already complicated lives.“Daddy is going to Manila?” Clarissa asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and a touch of sadness. The thought of her father being away, even for a short time, felt like another piece of her already fragmented world slipping out of reach. The house in Eldoria, while full of love and comfort, never quite felt the same without him close by.Carmela nodded, understanding the weight of her daughter’s unspoken emotions. “Don’t worry. It won’t be long before he moves here to Eldoria. We’re selling
"IT'S GOOD you thought of visiting us, dear," Carmela said, her voice warm and gentle as she carefully combed her hair, the soft brush strokes providing a rhythmic comfort. Her words held the familiarity of a mother’s love, and though she was busy with her task, her gaze never strayed too far from Clarissa, the quiet concern in her eyes evident. She had always been attentive to the smallest changes in her daughter’s demeanor, and it wasn’t lost on her that something seemed different today. But she didn’t press; for now, she allowed Clarissa the space she needed.Clarissa smiled at her mother, her lips curving upward in a way that felt more automatic than genuine. She felt a deep warmth in her chest at Carmela’s words, but her thoughts were scattered, tangled in the emotions she had tried to suppress. As her mother’s gaze moved toward the mirror, Clarissa’s attention drifted to the vastness of the sea outside the window, its endless stretch of blue almost beckoning to her. She sta
PRESENT DAY A sweet smile spread across Jessa’s lips as she glanced at Clarissa. Her eyes sparkled with the hint of mischief, the kind that only someone as close as Jessa could manage. “Come on, Queen Marasela is looking for you,” she said, her voice light and teasing. Reaching out with a gentle but insistent hand, she tried to pull Clarissa along, guiding her through the cool, shimmering waters that lapped at the edges of the rocky shore. The water sparkled beneath the sun, and the air was thick with the sounds of the waves crashing gently against the rocks. It was the perfect moment for a peaceful stroll, yet Jessa’s impatience was palpable. But to Jessa’s surprise, Clarissa didn’t move. She remained seated on the large, smooth rock that jutted out from the water, her gaze fixed on the horizon. Her posture was still, as if she was lost in thought, caught in the depths of her own world. Her fingers lightly gripped the rock beside her, her knuckles white as she seemed to an