warning: word vomit
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They went to town first as they couldn't find James's car anywhere near the beach. Then they rode a bus going to the city where James lives. James was surprised to find out Nadine has never been to the city.
It was already afternoon when they arrived at James's home.
When they reached the front door, James stopped and turned to Nadine.
"My family... Well, they probably were worried so they might go crazy when they see me..." He warned Nadine.
Nadine nodded. "That's understandable."
James smiled. "Well, let's go."
James opened the door and stepped inside, Nadine followed close.
"Dad? Lauren?" He called out, walking forward.
Nadine heard a loud thunk, as if something was dropped and then someone was suddenly screaming.
Nadine registered there was a girl by the stairs and she watched as she runs towards them and crashed into James, being very hysterical.
"You're alive! Oh my God! DAD!!!! IT'S JAMES!!! HE'S HOME!!!"
There was another sound from one of the many doors in the hall and an older man--presumably James's dad, had take one look at the scene in front of them and also hurried towards them.
It took a while of James's family fuzzing over him and James trying to talk before they calmed down, with Nadine awkwardly standing by them.
When the girl--James called her Lauren, finally stopped crying, James seemingly unconsciously reached out to Nadine and pulled her closer to him, all the while sighing as if exhausted.
It seems that was when Lauren and James's dad noticed that James was with someone.
James felt the shift in Nadine's mood--she was feeling embarrassed, and noticed his family looking at her.
"Right." James said awkwardly. He didn't prepare any kind of introduction or story. It probably wasn't a good idea to go on about merpeople right now.
"This is Nadine." He started saying, just winging it. "Nadine, this is my dad and Lauren, my sister. We're twins."
He looked back at his dad and continued saying, "She, well, she was the one who found me. Saved my life, really. If it wasn't for her..." He trailed off, it was just registering to him right now. He would be dead if it wasn't for Nadine. He wouldn't be able to see his dad and sister again. He suddenly felt a great surge of gratitude for Nadine.
"Thank you." His dad suddenly said, not waiting for anything more and taking Nadine's hand in his. "Thank you for all you've done for our James."
Nadine blushed and hastily shook her head. "I don't think... I mean, I think anyone would have done so. Uhm."
James smiled, watching Nadine. She really was shy and doesn't take compliments or thanks well. It was cute.
"Anyway," James said, thinking up of something quick. "Her house is near the beach and with the tsunami and all, it's a mess there right now so I told her she can stay with us for a while."
Nadine looked at James but easily went along with his story. "Only if it's okay with you, sir." She said.
"Of course." James's dad said at once, smiling kindly at Nadine.
James's sister had urged all of them to go to the living room and for a while, they talked. James mostly talked, answering his family's questions about what happened and about Nadine. When Lauren had started asking more details about Nadine, James had hastily asked for dinner.
Lauren had immediately prepared dinner while James, Nadine and his dad stayed in the living room. James's dad started thanking Nadine once more and James could feel Nadine was feeling overwhelmed so he started asking about what happened in the four days he was gone.
Eventually, Lauren announced that dinner was ready and they all went to the dining room. Nadine didn't seem to have any problem with land food--Lauren prepared pesto pasta, unlike James did with food underwater, and he remembered she mentioned that she had lived on land. He mentally noted that he had to learn to eat the food they serve underwater.
Lauren had started chatting up Nadine as they ate but fortunately it was just about simple thinks like what she likes and Nadine could easily answer.
When they finished eating and Lauren was starting to asked details about Nadine's life once more, James had implied that they were both tired and suggested that they retired for the night.
James was sure Lauren noticed what he was doing, but he'd deal with her when he have to.
James lead Nadine to their guest room and left her to settle down. He then went to his own room, feeling as if it had been months--not just a few days since he'd been there. His life has drastically changed and he wasn't sure why, but he really didn't mind.
---
It was close to midnight when someone knocked on Nadine's door. She knew at once that it was James. She could feel him.
James for his part, couldn't sleep. He had wondered if it was the same with Nadine. Did their bond made them so connected that when one couldn't sleep, the other also couldn't? In all honesty, all he could think about that night was how he felt very much content that Nadine was with his family. Did she felt that, too?
So he tried going to her room to check if she was up.
James smiled when she opened the door.
"Can I invite you to have a drink?" He asked her.
Nadine just smiled and nodded.
---
James lead Nadine to their backyard, with James holding two glasses of milk that he prepared for the both of them.
James sat by their pool and Nadine took a seat by his side.
"Sorry..." James said as they settled.
"About what?" Nadine asked, confused.
"My family." James said with a shrug. "They can be quite nosy."
"Not at all." Said Nadine quickly. "They're very... warm." She said with a smile.
James couldn't help but smile, too. Without really thinking, he moved to face the pool and was about to let his legs drop to the pool but Nadine stopped him.
"You can't swim there anymore." She said.
"Huh?"
"Chloroform is bad for mer." Nadine said, looking apologetic.
"Oh..." James just said, moving back to his original position.
"Well, you can't at least until the separation." Nadine amended.
James didn't respond and instead gazed at the pool. Nadine watched him. His mood has shifted. She could feel he was... brooding. But she didn't know why.
"What are you thinking?" Nadine found herself asking.
James looked at her, his face not showing any expression.
He sighed and then looked away. Nadine was wondering if he would answer or if she shouldn't have asked. Before she could retract her question though, he started talking.
"I don't know why , but my heart rejects the separation." He said quietly. Nadine looked at him in surprised.
"I say my heart because logically, I know we should go through it." He continued saying, still not looking at Nadine. "You said so yourself, this bond is like marriage and we don't even know each other. Well, not much. But i just feel that if we go through it... it would be a mistake."
They were both quiet for a while. Nadine didn't know what to say, and James was still deep in his thoughts.
Eventually, James looked at Nadine and asked,
"What about you?"
"Me?"
"This isn't just about me. This is about you, too. What do you want? You're always asking me what I want, but what about you?" He askd her. "Even the king, he only asked me." He added as an afterthought.
"I..." Nadine started but then stopped and blushed. James could feel her mood shift but he was more focused on how red she was right now.
"I do know you." She said. "Not very much, but i've seen you a lot of times by the beach. I've... watched you. You always seem to get energy from the sea. Whenever you come, you look tired, even sad. But you'll stay for a while just watching the sea, and then you'd leave as if you're more alive. I knew you then that are a good person."
She said all of these very quickly that James was still absorbing everything after she finished talking. He was feeling a little out of it because Nadine's feeling was overwhelming him--and he still couldn't put a name on what it is she was feeling.
James tried to focus on their conversation.
"So you're saying that you do know me..?"
Nadine nodded.
Still feeling a little confused, he asked, "And..?"
Nadine didn't respond, and James couldn't believe it was possible but she grew a shade darker. And James could feel that overwhelming feeling again.
She abruptly stood up and said, "Uhm, thank you for the milk. Good night." And then she was hasten back inside the house.
It was when she was gone--when she was far and calm enough that James understood the overwhelming feeling.
Something like respect and...
He couldn't help but smile.
It made him happy that Nadine actually like him--even though he still couldn't quite understand all that she said.
"You're grinning."
James almost jumped--which would have been bad cause he would have fallen in the pool. Even before Nadine said anything, he had started feeling a bit nauseous with of the smell of chloroform.
"Lauren!" He admonished, his head on his chest.
Lauren laughed and plopped down beside him, dangling her feet down the pool. Some water splashed and James scrunched up his nose at the smell.
"How long have you been there?" James asked.
"I should be asking you that. what are you doing here grinning alone? You looked creepy." Lauren replied.
James shrugged and found himself smiling again.
"I'm just happy." He said simply.
"Because of Nadine?" Lauren asked without preamble.
James, used to his twin sister's frankness and her just knowing him well enough, just shrugged again. There's no use trying to lie to her.
"What do you think of her?" He asked her instead.
"I've just met her." Lauren said.
"I know that, obviously."
Lauren rolled her eyes at him. "And you keep stopping me when I try to get to know her more."
James didn't answer.
After a beat, Lauren said, "Well, she seems very nice."
James nodded, looking up their house to the guest room's window.
"She's very timid."
He nodded again. Lauren was watching him.
"Very pretty, too." She said.
James grinned and nodded.
Lauren's brow knitted together, trying to figure her brother out. He really had changed a lot in the time that he was gone.
"Are you in love with her?"
"Huh?"
"You look like a lovesick fool. What has she done? You've met what? About three days ago? What could have happen in that short amount of time to turn you into... this?" Lauren asked, sure she was missing something.
Instead of answering, James asked, "Is it bad?"
Lauren stopped and looked at his brother.
"No." She said quietly. "You look really happy. I've never seen you this happy. Not since mom died."
"Yeah." James just say. He knew it himself.
There was a pause in which the twins just stared at the pool, deep in thought.
"Well, about your question..." James started. "To be honest, I'm not sure. It could just be because she saved me or I don't know... hormones?" He couldn't exactly tell her about was the hormonalemotional thing he had with Nadine because of the bond.
Lauren glared at him.
"What?" James asked.
"She seems nice. I really like her, don't--"
He cut her off, "I did say she just save my life didn't I? Why would I? And even if it's not the case, would I?" He asked.
He didn't wait for Lauren to answer.
"I just... well, I wanna get to know her. We only have just a few more days left." He said without thinking.
"Huh? Why? Is she going somewhere?" Lauren asked.
"Something like that." James said. "They have a house by the sea, but her family is away right now. They only stay here for short periods of time." He explained. It wasn't exactly a lie.
Lauren just nodded. "It's really lucky she was there when... it happened." She said, looking scared at the thought.
James smiled at her sister.
"Yeah. Lucky."
"I'm really happy you're back and you're okay." She told him, placing an arm around his shoulder.
"Thanks."
TBC
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AN: might take a while before I can update Angel. sorry guys! 🙏