Romance with the Cursed Siren

CHAPTER 22. Genuine Friend

"Crystal! Thank goodness I found you! I've been looking out for you the entire day!" Pearl worriedly cried, and rapidly ran in Crystal's direction. She was under the Creekwood bridge that connects the city to another part of it across the sea. They also restricted this area from people to go down there, but the stars brought Pearl to that area and saw Crystal.

"I thought you already left the city." She added, carefully stepping onto the big rocks to get closer to her.

Crystal was curled up, sitting on a rock in a dark corner where the light from the post was hard to reach her. Bending down, her head on her knees with soaked clothes.

"Stay away from me." Crystal said in a low weary voice. Pearl only sighed with so much disappointment as she sat beside her.

"How are you?" 

"I'm not okay, I'm starving," Crystal responded with a shaky voice and welled up eyes.

Pearl quickly moves and fishes out something in her bag. Pulling out a chocolate snack bar and ripped the wrapping before she hands it to Crystal which the latter didn't hesitate to receive and took a big bite. Pearl smiled, watching her even in darkness. She also pulled out a new and dry sundress and underwear.

"Here, change your clothes, you might get cold." But suddenly became hesitant when Crystal's eyes turned to her.

"Oh, I'm sorry, aren't you getting cold? I mean, you stayed in the water for a long time, so I suppose your body is already used to it. Am I wrong or something?" She hesitantly inquired.

"Why are you doing this?"

"I told you, I just wanted to help." 

"But you know you can't, no one can." Crystal sadly stated before she took another bite.

"Just at least, I wanted to try it rather than doing nothing at all," Pearl responded with a sweet smile and reached for her hand.

"Crystal, don't be afraid. I have loved the ocean since I was a kid. My father and I used to dive in the deepest of the water and join fishes as they swam around. We even traveled to different parts of the world to visit wonderful underwater attractions and do outreach programs and educate people on how to take care of our water bodies. Unfortunately, you just can’t please everyone to do the same and that’s just a sad truth even though we all are receiving the benefit of having a healthy ocean.” She sighed and shrugged her shoulders.

“I devoted all my life protecting the ocean and now opening my daughter’s awareness about what I am doing and so when she grows up she will continue my father’s legacy. I love the ocean and care for its creatures. Trust me, I will never betray you but will protect you as much as I can."

"Gabriel also told me the same thing, yet he still betrayed me." 

“But I’m not Gabriel.” Pearl quickly retorted and extended her hands for a shake.

“So, friends?”

“Friends?” 

“Yes! True friends will never disappoint each other.”

“But Gabriel did.”

“Then, he is not a genuine friend.”

“Could you be my friend?” Crystal innocent asked.

“It’s my pleasure,” Pearl exclaimed, with a wide grin on her face.

Pearl convinces Crystal to come and stay with her in the meantime. Crystal has changed her dress and also wears underwear that proves to Pearl that she is not yet out of her mind.

“I have lots of questions running in my head.” Pearl suddenly opened up as she kept her gaze on the road ahead while driving. However, even without further ask, Crystal started her story of how she became the cursed siren, about the island including Gabriel, and how she met him, and what happened to her parents before she escaped the island.

“I can’t believe that the fishtail costume that my daughter told me is not a costume but a real fishtail!” Pearl mumbled, shaking her head in disbelief. 

“I thought sirens were just myths and tales that aged people used to tell, yet here you are slapping straight to my face that sirens are real.” She added and blew some air because of the surprise Crystal brought to her.

“I’ve been diving for more than a decade, but I never encounter someone like you underwater. Anyway, I think I should take you to fast food. A snack bar will not fulfill your hunger after an entire day of swimming for sure." But suddenly stop talking after realizing something and take a glance at Crystal.

"What?" the lady was bewildered by her look.

"Don't tell me you're eating raw fish meat underwater!?" Pearl unbelievably inquired.

"Of course not! Fishes are one of our kinds and I'm not a murderer, you know. Sirens are consuming seaweed and grasses, but for me, they taste gross." Crystal honestly complained, as she grimaced in disgust and suddenly frowned.

"Every day, after my switch, my father always serves me delicious food when I get home." And sighed, biting her lower lip to suppress her rising emotion.

"I'm missing them. I hope they are doing okay." She hopes.

"Don't worry, Crystal. Tomorrow I will try to rent a boat in the harbor, then we'll go to the island. We can also call the police and report to them about what happened. I'm sure that they can help us rescue your parents." She suggested, but Crystal seems not to be convinced about it.

"Police? You mean, the authorities who catch criminals, right? But my parents are not criminals." She innocently stated.

"Of course not, but the bandits who held your parents captive are. Don't worry Crystal, everything will be fine. Trust me." Pearl assured and winked at her.

“You sure they can help them?” 

“That’s part of their job description, so they have to. I believe they can.” and Crystal just nods as an answer.

Pearl steered the car into a fast-food drive-thru and ordered a set of meals for her newfound friend.

*****

“Crystal!” Roxanne welcomes her warmly, giving her a tight embrace.

“Why haven’t you gone back with my mama earlier? I thought you left already without saying goodbye to me.” the little girl asked with pouty lips, looking up to her. Crystal kneeled in front of the girl to match her height.

“Why are you still up? You should be on your bed by now,” she told her.

“Ma promised me to bring you back and so I waited.” 

“You’re so sweet, Roxanne.” 

“Crystal, this is my younger sister, Carol. She is a college student, but since it is summer break, she was helping me to look after Roxanne.” Pearl introduces her.

“And Carol, you knew Crystal already, right?”

“Why wouldn’t I? Roxanne keeps on telling me about how she cleans underwater.” Carol chuckled softly and smiled at their guest, extending her hand for a shake.

“I hope you enjoy your stay.”

“Thank you,” Crystal timidly responded, and received her hand.

“Already now baby girl, say goodnight to Crystal so you can go to bed already.” Pearl interrupted.

“Alright. Goodnight, Crystal,” then Roxanne pecked on her cheek and turned to her mother.

“Goodnight, ma.” also gave her mother a sweet kiss on the cheek and headed to her room.

“Let’s go, I’ll walk you to your room.” Pearl offered to lead Crystal to the same room where she used to stay last night.

“So, take a rest first, I know you’re tired and tomorrow before the sun rises, I’ll take you to the sea but we need to be early before people get plenty around,” Pearl explained, who is still leaning on the door frame of the room while Crystal has sat on the bed already.

“Pearl?”

“Yes? Do you need anything? By the way, here,” she gestured to the pile of folded clothes.

“Well, these are my clothes but you can wear them and since I know you prefer sundresses, here just choose anything you like. Of course, I also bought you new underwear.” She announced and grinned.

“Thank you so much for doing this to me. I promise to pay everything back once my parents are saved.”

“Don’t mention it. I am happy that I can help you. I just hope that we become successful tomorrow.”

“Me too, because I don’t know what my future will be if I don’t have my parents beside me. I felt like dying already.” She said, biting her lower lip to suppress her surging emotions.

The next morning, Pearl woke up early to fulfill her promise, but instead of taking Crystal to the sea, they both woke up three hours before Crystal switches into her siren form and went to the police station to ask for help from them. Unfortunately, the police did not believe Crystal because as per to them there is no such name of an island and that Christian Alonzo, the son of multibillionaire Teofilo Alonzo is impossible to live on an isolated island and just like what Pearl said, there is no information about his family’s whereabouts anywhere.

“Don’t worry, we’ll note your concern on the records and will check the said island once some officers are available.” The officer on the receptionist announced, even though most of them are just slouching around.

“Seriously?” Pearl unbelievably muttered, rolling her eyes at him. 

They didn't want to waste any more seconds and went to the harbor to rent a boat, and with the help of Crystal’s tears, they never had a hard time convincing the owner.

“Where did you get this?” the man asked as he checked the tiny pearls inside a small pouch. 

“My father gave me that as a souvenir when he traveled on an island, he said that it was a siren's tears.” Pearl enthusiastically explains while Crystal is just behind watching her as she can’t believe that Pearl uses the pearls she collected from her previous cries as a bribe to get the rent cheaper.

“I have never seen pearls like this before.” the man commented.

“Of course! You will never find something shiny as that even if you dive for an entire week straight under the ocean,” she added.

“Alright, alright. Just make sure you return it by tomorrow, okay?”

“Sure boss!” And they quickly hop in to start their sailing.

“I thought the police could help us.” Crystal felt disappointed after hearing their refusal.

“Well, it is too shameful to admit, but sometimes they are really disappointing.” Pearl utter honestly.