Philip’s POV
“I watch her keenly with my passion for her ablaze. I am certain that whatever it is that she is hiding from me is substantial. Some allergy or phobia makes more sense than the myths that have fallen in my research. I don’t think it is possible for a person to be afraid of land but even if a lass does not want to untidy her feet with sand is the reason then I am ready to ask another question: how did Ariel get into the waters in the first place?
She has a deep liking for the seashells. She considers them gifts from the seas and holds them as precious. Every time I meet her, my senses hit a sharp tang with curiosity and wonder burning brightly together. I tell all my darkest secrets in an attempt to erase any distance and discomfort between us. After all, the best way to win a heart is by gaining adequate trust. And I want to win her heart…”
Philip typed into his open, waiting word document. He often looked at the blank canvas, empty with the cursor blinking like a waiting insect that is lightly flapping its wings, waiting to fly laterally as he punched the keys of his laptop. But at times such as those, Philip was always silent, feeling guilt unfold deep within him. But why he felt that way was completely unclear to him.
At other times, Philip never let disorganized thoughts breed in his mind. He knew where to tuck them away and lead his life that had goals and ambitions. During those nights, he filled pages of documents and attached relevant pictures to them. After all, a picture was worth a thousand words. It added to the truth of what he said.
Several people thought of Philip as an emerging fiction writer who loved to play with his camera. His pictures always went viral. People loved his mesmerizing clicks and he was never an un-recognized dude. After all, the portraits and subjects he chose were beyond unique
Ariel’s POV
Philip stood in a sky blue button-down, light cotton shirt with his khaki shorts. He had a slight beard growing on his cheeks though Ariel thought that he looked handsome nonetheless. But deep down, Ariel was agitated. Even though the little lass had made her decision yet she felt an unsettled feeling dawn on her.
Often the hours before the truth comes out are the hardest. Once it is in open, the jitters accompanying its disclosure are usually gone. Philip knew there was something on Ariel’s mind the moment he landed his eyes on her. He was just not sure what.
Ariel, on the other hand, was delighted that Philip knew her so well. As she watched sincerity glow in his eyes, she pushed away all suspicion and told him everything. From who she was, a mermaid, and everything about her kingdom. She told him that she was not allowed to come to this part of the sea because it had a sand opening.
Ariel watched as Philip’s face remained steady as she spoke, gently urging her to carry on whenever she stopped short due to her nervousness. He assured her that it was only natural that the sea was inhabited with mermaids but when he asked her about how they had remained hidden all this while, Ariel found herself unprepared.
