Chapter Text
"Why did you bring alot of things?" Yoongi huffed at the end as he placed the boxes on the floor.
Seokjin shrugged and brought the last few boxes down from the truck bed of his car.
"Well he is moving in to this old abandoned hut of yours, Jagi. He's 25, he has to decorate it to make it look like home!" Hoseok chimed as he turned his head slightly to face them while unlocking the door.
Seokjin smiled warmly and carried the boxes along with Yoongi. "Thanks again for letting me-" Yoongi walked passed him briskly, "Yeah, yeah".
Seokjin pursed his lips and adjusted his grib on the boxes and followed Yoongi in.
Hoseok showed the room where Seokjin is going to sleep at and the two placed some of the boxes neatly against the wall.
"You know, I heard from the fisher folks that there's mermaids living in that very ocean!"Hoseok pointed at the Ocean through the open window.
Yoongi smiled lightly, trying not to laugh at his boyfriend's ridiculous remarks
. "I mean I would like to meet one. I heard that they're beautiful creatures,"Seokjin responded.
Yoongi submerged himself deeper into the couch and rolled his eyes. "Mermaids doesn't exist. They're merely creatures that are made-up by single horny old men!". Hoseok nudged Yoongi on his ribs and scoffed.
Seokjin laughed and he never felt like home until now.
Yoongi excused himself to the toilet and Hoseok seeked this chance to talk to Seokjin. Hoseok strained his neck to look over at the other side of the wall to make sure that his boyfriend is in the bathroom. Seokjin raised a questioning brow at him and Hoseok tiptoed to the seat next to him.
"Well Yoongi hyung won't believe me. So I'll pass you this since you're living here from now on," Hoseok opened one of Seokjin's hand and placed a bracelet in it before securing it to a fist.
"W-what is this?"Seokjin unravelled his fist.
Hoseok scooted closer and started whispering, "It's one of a mermaid's treasures. A fisherman at the wet market gave it to me some time ago,".
Seokjin examined it. It has a string of small golden chains, decorated with beads of rose quartz and one of the beads were red. It has a golden initial of 'V' engraved on it. Before Seokjin could ask what those initials stands for, as if Hoseok read his mind.
"Neither of us knows what that means but the fisherman guessed that it was initial of the mermaid that owns it." The two heard the toilet door clicking open. "Wear it, okay?" Hoseok winked and stood up from his seat.
After helping Jin rearranging the boxes, Hoseok and Yoongi are headed out to attend Jaehwan's farewell party. He is going to England to continue his studies of Chemical Engineering.
"Seokjin, you sure you don't want to come? I mean he's your bestfriend," Yoongi asked out of curiosity and concern.
Hoseok frowned lightly and linked his arm with his boyfriend's.
Seokjin just nodded and continued playing his nintendo 3DS. Pretending he wasn't interested. Yoongi was still staring at him and he could feel his stare burning at the back of his head. Seokjin raised his hand and waved it slowly, retrieving it back shortly. Hoseok tugged on Yoongi's arm. He sighed in defeat and the couple went out without another word.
Seokjin let his arm fall and dropped his nintendo next to him as he did. He turned his head to look at the closed door and let out a sigh. He ran his hand down his face and let out a frustrated groan, exchanging gazes to his wrist watch and it was already dusk.
Seokjin took a good look around the hut. It was made of cobble stones and it was still in a good shape. It was quite big for a hut. Seokjin's favourite part was the balcony; he could see the beach perfectly. The sky was dark and stars showed up more than usual compared to the polluted city he once lived recently.
He rested his arms on the fence of his balcony, "Jaehwan? My bestfriend? Oh please, Yoongi. You're more of a bestfriend than he is,".
He continued to propped his head on his hand and stared at the night ocean. "How I wish I could tell you what happened between me and him, Yoongi-ah. You'll just call me a coward and a dick head," Seokjin chuckled helplessly and wiped a tear that started to trickle down.
He mindlessly fiddled with the bracelet around his wrist. "V, huh? Whether you're real or not. Let me borrow your bracelet, it helps me clear my mind and it's quite pretty. I wonder how much it's worth though," Seokjin mumbled, rubbing his thumb across the initial once in a while. "Let's visit the jewellery store tomorrow,".
It was the next day.
Instead of staring at the ocean from his balcony. Seokjin chose to sit on the rocks by the sea. The beach was deserted, everybody did not take the time to appreciate the nature's beauty. But Seokjin likes it this way, he has the whole beach to himself. He was staring at the bracelet and how it beautifully curved around his wrist perfectly. As promised, he went to the jewellery store to get it checked and the scene kept on replaying in his mind.
···
"Oh my! Dear child, where did you find such treasure?" the old man behind the counter was in awe as he inspects the bracelet deeper with his magnifying glass that hangs around his neck loosely.
"A friend of mine got it from a fisherman at the wet market not far from here. Why? Is it valuable?" Seokjin leaned closer to the counter until his stomach hits it.
The old man's spectacle glistened and he explained that it was from the 20th century.
"It's a very rare healing stone! You see these pink beads? It's a rose quartz that most female adore, this probably belongs to a girl. Rose Quartz also inspires the love of beauty, in oneself and others, in nature, and especially that which stimulates the imagination - art, music and the written word. It speaks directly to the Heart Chakra, dissolving emotional wounds, fears and resentments, and circulates a Divine loving energy throughout the entire aura. This odd red gem is called a red crystal! Yes, it does exist and there are only a few in existence."
Seokjin's jaw dropped upon hearing the information about the precious pretty bracelet Hoseok gave him. The old man took his specs out and scanned Seokjin.
"You're a handsome man. Do you have a girlfriend? Are you giving this to her". The two man laughed and Seokjin politely told him that he was single.
"What am I suppose to do, ahjussi. I own such a handsome face yet single." The duo shared another good laugh together.The old man huffed and took a good look at the bracelet before handing it back to Seokjin.
"How much does this worth, ahjusshi?" Seokjin rolled the bracelet back to his wrist.
"How much it's worth? It's priceless! If you give it to the museum, I promise you that you'll be a billionaire!"
···
"Shit, I should return this to Hoseok or to the original owner. I shouldn't keep something this valuable that doesn't belong to me," Seokjin took the bracelet off and played with it inbetween his fingers. The small waves splashing against his toes occasionally.
Seokjin was caught by surprise when a big wave washed over him. It nearly knocked Seokjin off the rocks.
"Fuck!" He grabbed the edges of the rocks to prevent from slipping. Then he realised that his bracelet was missing when he went to a safer surface on the sand.
"Oh fucking hell! Where is it?" Seokjin rushed back to
work his way up the rocks. He ruffled his wet hair vigorously in frustration and kicked his right foot against the rock.
"I lost it!" He yells desperately and sat on the rocks, hugging his knees.
"My, my. You humans are such clumsy creatures!" a deep voice echoed which made Seokjin to snap his head to the direction of the source.
"Hello?" Seokjin stood up in defence but he was only replied with the still empty beach and sounds of the ocean waves.
Seokjin looked around the beach to see if anyone was there but to no avail. He felt the goosebumps at his nape when he saw a person with blonde hair hiding behind one of the large rocks.
"Hey," Seokjin slowly took small steps towards the large rock that lays right beside the water.
"I mean no harm, you can show yourself." Seokjin stopped midway when he saw the blondie swimming beside a smaller rock and resting his arms on it.
"Hi!" he greeted, looking up at Seokjin bravely. Seokjin's eyes twitched and he blurted, "Y-you have a tail!".
The blondie glanced back at himself and raised it a little higher for Seokjin to see. It was a gradient of red and yellow and at the end it was decorated with pure pearls to enhance it.
"Oh I'm Taehyung of the Yellow sea by the way," He quickly made swift actions by lifting himself on top of the rock. Hanging his tail at the edge of the rock cutely.
Yellow sea? Yellow sea is between China and Korea, right? Damnit. I didn't listen during Geography class, Seokjin screamed internally.
Seokjin tried not to freak out and he saw Taehyung patting at the empty spot next to him. He obliged, sitting next to him and he tried not to stare at his beautiful scales on his tail. For some reason he felt like he was at a vulnerable state. Taehyung was a merman and he could pull Seokjin down to the sea and let him drown but Seokjin felt that he could trust Taehyung.
"I'm Kim Seokjin, n-nice to meet you,"Seokjin rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.
There was an awkward silence between them maybe because Seokjin must be contemplating about his existence to be sitting next to a merman and the merman remained smiling at him.
"I apologise that I splashed water on you, though. You had something that belongs to me," Taehyung played with his own fingers.
Seokjin didn't respond so Taehyung took the courage to wave his hand infront of Seokjin which brought him back to reality.
"W-what did you say?". Taehyung chuckled softly and repeated himself. The merman kept on smiling warmly at Seokjin. He looked at Taehyung's wrist and he was wearing the bracelet that Hoseok gave him.
"You seem to like this bracelet alot, though. Would you like to keep it?"Taehyung lowered his head and leaned closer to fix gazes with him.
Seokjin declined the offer but Taehyung took the bracelet off and shoved it at Seokjin.
"I'm f-fine! You can keep it. It's yours to begin with!"Seokjin pushed his hands back. When Taehyung pushed it back, Seokjin could feel his strength and gave in(and he really didn't want to tell Hoseok that he met a merman).
"T-thanks," Seokjin timidly kept it in his front pocket. When Seokjin turned his head to face Taehyung. He gasped when Taehyung's face was close with his. He could clearly see the almond eyes Taehyung has and the cute mole on his nose.
"B-but when I give, I must take too."Taehyung spoke softly and his hot breath hitting Seokjin's nose which made him shiver slightly. The human was already thinking of scenarios like Taehyung would suck his soul out or take his beautiful voice that he adored like he watched in The Little Mermaid.
"Can you help me find my friend?". Seokjin sighed in relief and shifted his position so he was sitting cross-legged. He nodded and he could see Taehyung's face brightens up.
"You will help me? Are you sure?" he cupped Seokjin's cheeks and squished it. Seokjin nodded once again but slowly since his head was held. Taehyung made a high-pitched noise and hugged Seokjin for his generosity. Seokjin was stunned when Taehyung hugged him. Seokjin was expecting to feel coldness from him but there was only warmth. Seokjin didn't even had the time to return the hug back when Taehyung pulled back and quickly got his tail out of the water.
"W-what are you doing?- Oh," Seokjin observed that the scales on his tail slowly faded away. The fin at the end of Taehyung's tail contracted and detached into two to form his feet. Before the transformation could continue, Seokjin quickly undress his oversized sweater and threw it at Taehyung's direction. Seokjin turned his back on Taehyung.
"What is this for, Kim Seokjin?"Taehyung asked and Seokjin could feel that Taehyung was curiously looking at the sweater.
"Wear it, it should be long enough to cover you till your knees,". Seokjin heard some rustling and it turned quiet. A few seconds later he heard a sigh, "Done!". Seokjin took a breath before turning around to see Taehyung trying to stand up but failed miserably. Seeing him in his oversized sweater makes Taehyung look so innocent which kind of melt Seokjin's heart.
"You okay there?"Seokjin hurried to Taehyung's side to support him.
"No- woah,"Taehyung gasped dramatically when he saw Seokjin. Taehyung couldn't think of a more handsome man than Seokjin. Well Taehyung thinks he's a man. He has no breasts but just a very big chest.
Seokjin looks really good with his hair sticking to his forehead and shirtless, Taehyung thought.
Taehyung held Seokjin's biceps for support and he felt the muscles flexing as Seokjin moved. Taehyung was enjoying this more than he is supposed to.
"Uhm. I know we just met Kim Seokjin, but uh can you perhaps carry me? I've never been out of the water in my entire life. So I don't know how to walk," Taehyung chuckled awkwardly.
Seokjin could only curse at himself for sitting at the shore at the first place. Seokjin nodded because he knew if he spoke, his voice would turn out as a stutter. Taehyung slowly let go of Seokjin so he could get to position. Seokjin kneeled down at a slow pace and Taehyung already pounded on his back. Seokjin almost lost his balance but he quickly regained it.
Thanks Taekwondo for teaching me reflexing. Taehyung soon wrapped his arms around Seokjin's neck. Seokjin grabbed Taehyung's thighs before lifting himself up. Seokjin took baby steps down the rocks.
"So who's this friend of yours that you're searching for?"Seokjin asked when they get to the ground level. Taehyung readjusted himself and got comfortable, placing his chin on top of Seokjin's head as he looked around. He likes the streetlights. It reminds him of the beautiful corals back at his home. And he couldn't take his eyes off his legs too. He does look calm in the outside but he was actually partying in the inside upon seeing his legs for the first time
"Uh, his name is Jimin. He said he wanted to go to Butan? Bucan?"Taehyung was trying to remember the place Jimin mentioned before.
"Busan?"Seokjin tried not to die out of cuteness.
"Yes! Busan and he said that he's going to find his human friend. Staying with the human for a week but it's already a month and he's not back. So his father is worried. And well, I decided to find him,"Taehyung raised his legs up for a slight moment as he thought that he is doing a good deed and he should be proud of it.
"Hm, Busan? Well we are now in Daegu. It's not that far, though. You have to go through around three cities to get there and if you take an airplane, you'll get there in no time,"Seokjin explained and squinted his eyes when he sees his hut.
"What's an airplane?" Taehyung asked, hooking his chin on his shoulder to get a better view of Seokjin.
And that is when Seokjin knew that he had to teach Taehyung alot of things.