I had started seeing Alec more often. He was nothing more than a friend, oddly enough. Not many people have befriended Merfolk before, but I was never one to follow whatever everyone else was doing. More people should consider it, and become more open-minded about these kind of things.
I enjoy getting to see him often. It was actually good for both of us. He wanted to escape life for a moment, and I needed to talk to someone to keep my mind occupied at night. There was no harm in it, so we just kept meeting up at night. It would always be just us, thankfully. It was calming, and I enjoyed it. Alec was also a great person the more I got to know him. He is awkward at times, but that doesn't change that he always listens to what I say and adds onto it. No matter what the subject is. Alec was a better listener than most people I knew, and I appreciated that. It was a pleasant change. He was an amazing person, and I wanted to keep him around. He always talks about leaving to somewhere else, and while I agree, I don't want him to. Not just because I'd be losing a friend, but I don't want to lose him. We both want to disappear, but the only difference between him and I is that he actually has something going for him. He has siblings who love him, and a part in his own society. I'm not anything here in Indonesia. If Ragnor and I left tomorrow, no one would notice. We're just there, not doing much, and I don't want that for myself. I want to be something. I want to help people, and this is not the place for me if I want to do that. Alec has told me I should do it, disappear and he will too, but as selfish as it is, I don't want to. I'd mean that I'd never see him again, and that's the last thing I'd ever want. It's not what either of us want.
Ragnor and I were working on the boat again. He was feeling well enough to come back to work after a bit, but I still didn't believe he was ill in the first place. He'd been giving me the cold shoulder lately though and I didn't like it. I haven't given him any reasons to be mad at me lately which bothered me. What did I do this time to make him so upset at me? "Ragnor, what did I do now?" He converted his face with his hands and sighed.
"Nothing, it's just that you can be completely insufferable. How have I put up with you so long?" How have I put up with you all this time?
"Well what 'insufferable' thing have I done this time?" He started laughing, and it wasn't a normal laugh.
"You are an idiot. A true idiot. Do you honestly think that I'm blind or stupid enough to not see it?"
"Maybe because even I can't tell what you're talking about. Ragnor just tell me. You're dragging this conversation on longer than it needs to be."
"I live right next to you, Magnus. That's the thing. I know when you go out, and that just so happens to be every night. At first I thought it was nothing. You go out to get some fresh air or go into town. That's what I thought the first few times, but then it became a daily thing. I was curious, so I followed you. I kept my distance, but I kept you in sight. Then I saw you with him and it all clicked. You have been spending your nights talking to that merman, and I don't know why. It will never work out, and even though you're a flexible person and can work with different types of people, he is not someone you can work with. He is a Merman. You are human. I just want you to realize that."
"I appreciate your concern, but it's not like that." Ragnor rolled his eyes. "He came to thank me for letting him go one day then after that we just kept talking to him. He's just a friend. Nothing else. I promise."
"Like I'll believe that. I know how you are. Just don't do anything stupid if it isn't too late. Wait, it's probably too late."
"It's nothing, no need to freak out over it. No big deal, at all. Do you get it now?"
"No. I'm done talking to you." He sighed and walked away. He ignored me every time I called him for something. After a long silence he spoke up. "Do you want to stay here a while longer? You seem to be smitten with him and can't leave him, so we might as well." I couldn't believe what he was saying. Of course he had to bring that in, but it enough the subject to my attention. Could I really leave Alec here? Right just I began talking to him? I wasn't sure.
"What are you saying? We've been talking about leaving for the longest time."
"It's nothing. We can't get the money anyways. Those Merpeople are hard to catch. Plus, I think I want to stay a little longer too. There's some friends I don't want to leave yet. Just give me some more time with them then we can leave whenever you're ready. It's no big deal." He smiled and in any other situation I would've believed it was genuine, but in this case there's no way he actually wants to stay.
"What's with the sudden change if heart?"
"I just want to see some friends and hang out with them a bit longer. I'm also giving you time. Let's see how your fling actually goes."
"It's not a 'fling' it isn't anything." Ragnor was just pushing my buttons at this point. He doesn't think it'll work, when there's nothing to work on. It's not an actual relationship.
"Whatever you say." He proceeded to say nothing the rest of the day. He was just being ridiculous. Alec was going to laugh when he heard about this.

Ahhh another short one I'm so sorry. I tried my best but it was just a filler and those are always impossible to write. And wow i actually updated on time for once thats amazing. Vote, comment, ans stay awesome.