Chapter 8
"Aiko," came a faint voice.
Aiko was still sleeping, peacefully dreaming of swimming through the corals near her underwater home. A smile bloomed on her face.
"Aiko!"
It was a happy dream, many different types of fish were swimming around her, and every so often a fish would brush against her side.
"Aiko!" came a voice even louder, followed by her being violently shaken.
"WoooaaAAAAAH!" screamed Aiko, falling off the most comfortable thing she had ever laid on.
Hitting the ground with a thud, she let out a small "ow," and "how dare you,"
Pushing herself up with her hands she propped herself up and leaned on her elbows. Giving off the best glare she could master. Failing, as she kept thinking about how funny she would have looked. She flopped back onto the floor laughing. She must have laughed for a while as Taekjoo suddenly said,
"Are you done laughing yet? I've got some places in mind that I would like to show you," He said, crossing his arms over his chest. He was fully dressed in a new set of clothes, a simple black tee and dark blue jeans. To pull the fit all together he wore a pair of simple white sneakers. Aiko then looked at herself, a simple white tee, light blue jean shorts and a pair of thongs. Basic but it does the job of covering her up.
Aiko took a breath to compose herself, stopping her laughter. She then stood up and brushed out her shirt.
"Here," that was the only warning Aiko got before a small object was thrown at her. Thumbling to catch the object thrown at her. It was… strange. It was small and. Spikey?
"What is this?" She asked, tossing the object from one hand to the other.
"It's a hairbrush, and before you ask what does it do, you use it to get rid of the knots in your hair," a small "oooh," left her lips as she continued to stare at the hairbrush in her hands. She had never needed to brush her fair as being a mer made it so she never had to. How was she meant to brush her hair? Would some magical force make the hairbrush do its thing? Or would she have to say a spell to make it work?
Taekjoo sensing her confusion snatched the brush out of her hands with a small "Fuck this shit," whispered underneath his breath. He pushed her onto her bed and sat down beside her, moving his way further onto the bed to be behind her. Before Aiko could ask what he was doing she felt a gentle hand run through her hair, sending a shock through her spine. The last time someone ran their fingers through her hair was the night before her mother had died. Feeling comfort in the action she leaned into the hand, it was soothing and before she knew it a few minutes must have passed and Taekjoo was moving away. Aiko pouted at the feeling of being gone, but she now forever treasured this small moment between them.
The rest of the two getting ready passed by in a blur. And soon enough they were both out of the hotel door standing in the streets of Fukuoka. People were constantly pushing against Aiko as they walked past, not aware of the panic rising inside of her. Needing something to hold onto she grabbed Taekjoo's wrist and held on tight. Although she had walked through the city before, though she never really paid attention to all that was around her. So now that she was taking in more of the city, she realized how daunting it actually was.
The two walked for a while. Aiko had no idea where they were going but they eventually reached an area where there were heaps of things just out in the open. They walked along for a while, Aiko looking at all the objects on display when she saw something that caught her eye. She strayed away from Taekjoo and went to grab the item when her hand was suddenly stopped by some mysterious force. Puzzled, she turned around and asked Taekjoo.
"Taekjoo! What's this invisible thing here?" She said, tilting her head to the side in curiosity. After hearing his name. Taekjoo made is way over to her and stood beside her,
"It's a window, it's so things don't get inside but we can still see through it," He said tapping the so-called window.
"Woaaaaaaaah," She turned her head back to the window and pressed her face against it and looked at all the stuff on the inside.
"Wanna go in?" asked Taekjoo, already walking into the building. Nodding quickly she followed in behind him.
Once inside her eyes widened at the clothes inside, spinning around on the spot taking everything in. She walked up to each item feeling the odd textures run across her fingers. She moved from item to item picking out the ones she liked, and before she knew it she was at the other end of the building with many items in hand. After she was happy with what she picked out she made her way back over to Taekjoo.
"You gonna pay for that?" he asked, taking a glance at the many clothing items in her hands.
"Pay? What's that?" she asked, looking up and down between the clothes in hand and taekjoo.
"Money, and you pay people to give you things, that's how the world runs," he turned around and walked towards a counter with a person standing behind it, "also three things, pick three things out of the million you have there," he gestured to the clothes in her hand and continued on his way over to the counter.
Aiko stood for a moment gazing over the items in her hand. If she had to only pick three of them, she was going to pick the best.
In the end she decided on a blue swim looking crop top, a pair of light blue denim shorts, and a plain black hoodie. Happy with her selection of clothing, she walked over and placed the items on the counter.
The person behind the counter does some weird thing with the clothes, and places them in a bag. The person says something to Taekjoo, but Aiko wasn't paying attention, too busy looking out the window watching people walk by.
Once everything was "paid for" they were given the bag full of clothes and headed out of the store. On their way out Aiko asked if they could go to the beach, although Taekjoo said 'yeah sure' he looked apprehensive.
After a bit of walking they finally made it to the beach. The ocean looked so beautiful from on land. The waves lapping on the sand, the sun reflecting perfectly on the water's surface creating a soft glow. It was all in all beautiful.
Not wanting to waste time, Aiko ran straight into the water, giggling at the sensation of being in the water without having a tail. It was a weird feeling, but invited none the less.
After playing around in the water for a while she dropped to her knees and played with the water between her fingers, a feeling she was definitely used to. Tearing her eyes away from her hands in the water, she looked towards Taekjoo and,
Wow
He looked so pretty in the sun's rays, the sun reflecting his eyes perfectly. The purple and orange shining so brightly, like this was where he was meant to be. Suddenly Taekjoo looked up and their eyes met. Aiko quickly looked away when she felt her cheeks heating up. She cast her eyes back down to her that were still swaying slightly in the water.
God why was her face warm? It was an odd feeling, one she had never experienced before. Although it was new, it was almost comforting? In some way.
She turned to face the open ocean, the sun making the small fish gleam under the water. Turning away from the ocean she walked back towards the shore, taking a seat beside Taekjoo.
The sand beneath her was warm, a contrast to the freezing depths of the ocean. She pulled her knees up to her chest and placed her head on them. Staring out towards the ocean once more. A sudden thought crossed her mind
'Does Taekjoo miss it?'
"Taekjoo," she softly mumbled.
"Yeah?" came an equally soft reply.
"Do you ever want to go back to the sea… or at least go into the water?" She tilted her head to the side and smooched her cheek against her knees, looking at Taekjoo expectantly.
"I'm terrified of the sea, I will never go into the sea… ever," came the reply, as Taekjoo leaned back on his arms.
Aiko turned her head back towards the ocean, a small frown graced her lips.
'How could someone born with the oceans touch, hate it so much?'
Soon day was becoming night and both Aiko and Taekjoo made their way back to the hotel in silence.
Once they made it inside the hotel was when the silence was broken.
"Aiko," said Taekjoo from behind her. She spun around on the spot confused as to why the silence was now finally being broken.
"Yes?" she asked, tilting her head to the side, a common habit she's just now realised she does.
"Sleep in the bed closest to the… wait do you know what the bathroom is?" He asked, a quizzical look plastered on his face as he stared at Aiko.
"The room you first found me in?" turning to face the room and gesturing towards it.
She receives a nod in return,
"Yeah.. yep sleep in the bed closest to the bathroom," Pointing to said bed.
Aiko nods and makes her way over to the bed, gently sitting down for a moment before she decided to lay down. Once her head hit the pillow she was struck with the realisation that this was the most comfortable thing she has ever had the privilege to sleep on.
Sleep quickly took Aiko as soon as she closed her eyes.
Aiko woke with a large yawn, stretching her arms up above her head, hitting the bed's backboard as she did so. She slowly sat up, once again stretching her arms. She sat on the bed for a few minutes, pondering what to do, when the sudden thought of 'I should explore the room,' popped up.
Deciding to indulge in that thought, she removed herself from the comfort of her bed and walked around the room. There wasn't much to explore, a large black box attached to the wall, a table with two chairs, one big one small, a weird small white rectangular box with weird silver handels???, a small looking table between the two beds, and a box that held all of the clothes that she had gotten yesterday. Not wanting to prod and poke at things she does not know, and being utterly bored, Aiko decided to wake up Taekjoo.
She walked over to the sleeping Taekjoo, bending over to take a closer look at him. He seemed so peaceful sleeping, the creases always present on his forehead seemed more relaxed. It was an odd sight to say the least.
Wanting to not see the sight anymore she poked his nose. Aiko waited for a few moments. Nothing happened. She poked again, once more nothing happened.
She did over and over again, calling out his name now she kept going.
'Taekjoo," poke, "Taekjoo," poke, "Taekjooooooooooo," poke.
As she was about to poke his nose again a hand wrapped around her wrist. She moved her eyes away from Taekoo's nose and was met with a fierce glare.
"What in the ever living fuck do you want woman," grumbled Taekjoo, as he sat up. Letting go of her wrist as he did so.
"What the fuck is the time… wheres my phone?" Taekjoo then asked, not knowing what a phone was, she simply walked back over to her bed and sat down, staring at him as he looked around the room, presumably finding the phone when he looked down and picked the object up.
A shocked expression crossed his face before he yelled,
"PM?!?"
He then moved around the room quickly taking off his clothes, waiting. Taking off his clothes. Oh god he was taking off his clothes. Aiko quickly turned away facing the wall, a warm feeling blooming on her face.
After what she felt like enough time, she turned her head back and looked at Taekjoo expectantly. He seemed to pause in what he was doing before suddenly saying,
"Wanna get food?"
She didn't even get to answer as Taekjoo was already out the door, but who was she to complain? She was definitely hungry. So she followed him out the door and to wherever they were going for food.
It turned out that they went to some ramen place. What ramen is? Aiko couldn't tell you, but what she could tell you was that it was absolutely delicious! Some of the best food she has ever eaten!
They ate in silence for a while before Aiko decided to look around. As soon as she looked up and away from her bowl she was met with the eyes she never thought she would see again. Deep purple irises stared right back at her, flashing with recognition before morphing into an expression Aiko had never seen before.
It was as if Aiko had blinked, and suddenly Taekjoo was blocking her from the piercing gaze of her father.
"Are you okay?" Taekjoo asked.
Too caught up in her head, she almost missed the question. She nodded slightly, going back to her food, not bothering to eat it anymore, just pushing the ramen around in the bowl, like a child who was avoiding eating their vegetables.
Again it was if she blinked and suddenly a hand had grabbed hers, pulling her along to who knows where.
The walk to the hotel was quick, they spared on lookers their attention and made their way up to their room. Once inside the room Taekjoo questioned her,
"Okay Aiko what the fuck was that?! Why was your dad there?!"
Oh if only she could provide an answer for that, and since she didn't she simply replied what she knew,
"I-I don't know, I didn't th-think we would see him again! I'm sorry," Her voice quivered at the end, her breath shallowing, she could feel her erratic heartbeat trying to beat out of chest and fly away.
"Aiko sit down,"
She did so, with no hesitance.
"we just need to calm down and think yeah?"
And that was true, she needed to calm down and think. A hand landed on her shoulder, rubbing it hesitantly. It was nice, comforting. She felt her body relax, her breath returning to normal, and her heartbeat no longer wanting to escape her ribcage.
With this new found peace, she let out a small sigh of relief.
"Let's just not go out for the rest of the day, yeah? We'll stay within the hotel and just go to the cafe in the hotel on the third floor, I'll buy everything," Taekjoo suggested, and yeah that sounded really good right now.
After a few moments they both stood up and decided to go down to the hotel's cafe. Before they left, Taekjoo placed a card in her hand.
"Whats this?" She asked, bringing the card up to her face to examine it better.
"It's a key card, lets you get into our room," She let out a small "oooooh," still examining the card.
"Here lemme show you how it works," and so he did, and woah. That is so weird. Who knew a card could unlock a door?
As soon as she understood how the keycard worked they made their way down to the hotel's cafe. They took a seat by the window, the sight outside was beautiful. The trees swaying slightly with the wind, the people walking quickly to get inside to warmth, and the people in other cafes nearby, laughing and enjoying hot beverages.
It was peaceful.
Then it started to snow, and if Aiko couldn't be even more mesmerized, she was absolutely proven wrong. The snow made it even better, covering the city in a blanket of white. She'll have to ask Taekjoo if they can go outside later and go touch it. Speaking of Taekjoo, what was he doing?
She looked away from the window, glancing down at the table, spotting a small white plate. Looking across the table she saw Taekjoo sit back down with his plate full of food. Realizing what she had to do she grabbed her plate and stood up, walking over to where all of the food was. Glancing at all the food options available she noticed some chicken, covered in some weird sauce. Not noticing there was a person in the way she pushed past and picked up the chicken, which she later learnt was called teriyaki.
Once she had all of the food she wanted she walked back over to taekjoo. They ate in silence and once they were done made their way back up to their room.
Once in their room, Taekjoo grabbed some weird rectangular thing and sat on his bed. While Aiko went over to the large black box on the wall and turned it on. Watching as colourers flew across the box. Mesmerized by the colours on the screen, she slowly sat down on a chair, never letting her eyes leave the box.