I've never seen V this happy since he came to our home. Well, he's generally a jolly kid but not he's not as happy as he is when he is in the water. I sat down by the pool and watched him do somersaults over and over again, flaunting his fish tail confidently. I'm still dazed and confused as to how he came here on land but, mostly because he's so beautiful.

I only knew mermaids from the Disney movies I used to watch when I was young. I never expected that I'd have a chance to see one and even talk to one in real life. V told me stories about when he was young and what's it's like to be in his tail. His stories are all so wonderful to the point that I can actually see myself in it. I used to like being in water too.

"Thank you, Haesung, for letting me use your swimming pool." V swam towards me and flashed me a grin, making my cheeks hot.

"I-It's not mine. It's the property of the school." I told him, "It just so happens that I'm part of the swim team and captain trusted me with a copy of the key here."

He cocked his head to the side with another confused look. "What's a swim team? And what's a captain?"

I sighed, telling myself to be more patient, "A swim team is a group of people who swims and the captain is the one who leads them."

"Oh, like what I used to do when I was young!" He chirped, floating far away again on his back, "Me and my friends used to swim together and I would lead because I swim the fastest."

"Yeah, something like that." I replied to him, but the truth is, I quit the team some time ago.

I haven't swam in a while ever since I lost the competition because of my incompetence. I fainted while swimming. Since then, I haven't had the face to show to my teammates anymore. I stopped coming to practice at one point and, at first, they persuaded me to continue but when soon they got tired and just accepted the fact that I gave up.

V floated near me again, studying the look on my face. "What's the matter, Haesung? You're sad and.. angry."

"What?" I was taken aback, "H-How did you know?"

"I can feel other people's emotions." V stared into my eyes but mine was fixed on some other thing under the water. He just turned his tail into human feet again.

My eyes widened as he pull himself out of the water and sat beside me in an Indian sit. "H-How did you do that? I thought-"

"I can turn my tail back to my feet anytime I want." V explained and I just sat there like a kid, marveling on a soda volcano in a science convention.

"Then why didn't you do that earlier!" I yelled at him and he winced at the shrillness of my voice, "You made me carry you all the way here like a wrapped up sardine."

"Because I can only do it once a day. Sorry, Haesung." He frowned and I felt bad big time. "If my feet get wet again after this, I won't be able to turn it back anymore."

I released a sigh again and reached my hand out to ruffle his hair gently, "Alright. I forgive you."

After V changed into his dry clothes, we headed to the mall, just aimlessly walking around because it's too hot to stay at home. I was a bit embarrassed to be with V since he's behaving like a total country bumpkin who just arrived in the city. He kept on touching things and being amazed by the smallest of things like that water fountain in the center. He almost jumped in it if I didn't drag him away from there.

"Do you want an ice cream?" I asked him as we sat down to rest on a bench.

He turned his head to me and raised his eyebrows, "What's an ice cream?"

"Okay, there's no point in asking you so I'm just gonna get you one and see if you'll like it. Stay right here." I strictly ordered him and he nodded his head gleefully.

I kept looking back at him while I wait for the person in front of me to finish ordering. I'm worried that he might see something again and chase after it but he was just sitting there, his head turned to follow a poodle on a leash. V jumped on his seat when it began to sniff his foot. He lifted both of his feet up and kept shooing the dog, making me laugh unconsciously.

"What will you have, Miss?"

My attention was brought back by the girl behind the counter, "Sorry. Can I get a chocolate one and a strawberry vanilla, please?"

She punched my order on the cashier thing, "That'll be five dollars." I handed her the exact bill and she smiled before preparing our ice cream.

"Is he your boyfriend?" The girl asked when she came back with the ice cream. She caught me smiling at V as he waved back at me.

"Oh no, he's, uh, my brother." I lied, because he can't be my boyfriend even in a lie.

"He's cute." She flashed me another smile while looking at V too. "Well then, enjoy your day."

"Thanks." I told her and then headed back to V who has been waiting for me patiently.

"Is that the ice cream?" He asked right away. I gave him the chocolate one. V looked at me, not sure what he's going to do with it.

"Take the little spoon and put in in your mouth." I said, demonstrating. He followed what I did and his eyes went big at the flavor of chocolate on his tongue.

"It's cold but it tastes good." He gave me a sheepish grin.

🐳

"Oh, you're in trouble sister." Jungkook had that annoying smirk on his face again when he saw V and I coming inside. He had opened his mouth so quick before I could even utter a comeback to crush his ass."Jin hyung look who's home!"

I attempted to grab at him but he got away from my grip and it was probably too late to chase after him because my oldest brother rushed to us, his hands on his hips and he had a very serious look on his face, "Where have you been, Haesung? Explain."

"Chill. I just went out with V." I told him carelessly.

"Chill?" He had that scary tone and I still kind of feared him, being reminded of how he used to be so scary when Jungkook and I were young. "Your brothers are out there looking for you. Why didn't you say anything before leaving?"

"I'm sorry, okay?" I mumbled, V hiding behind me. I heard Jin sigh and then his hand patted my head in a gentle manner.

"Go and get ready for dinner." Jin spoke kindly, "I'll call the others and tell them you're here."

I nodded and walked past him with V still close on my tail until Jin took hold of V's collar, "Not you. You're going to help me in the kitchen."

"Haesung?" V squeaked out.

"You'll be fine. He's not going to hurt you." I reassured him as he was being dragged into the kitchen by my brother.

Jin placed V near him as he rolled his sleeves up on his forearm. He grabbed the huge knife and brought it down with a thud, cutting off the poor fish's head, "Do you like fish, V?"