A story to tell my grandk (1/1)

Luna seemed completely entertained when she got her side of the story, and Jinki was fed up with his lack of evidence and the whole thing sounding completely derranged to the girl who was sitting right next to him. Some would wonder: why is Jinki so invested in this little mystery that sounded so bizarre for anyone to be able to handle? Since Jinki was the only one who saw the man in the water, he was the only one who could see how beautiful he was. Not to say he was into guys or was looking to hook up with the other or anything. He seemed like a man who couldn't have been human, and he had distinct features that backed up his theory. First, when he had dove from the water and up on the boat, his hair looked completely untouched from the water, and the blond bounced against his head. Any ordinary person would have drenched locks sticking like glue to their forehead, so that seemed out of the ordinary. Also his skin. Glowing and shimmering white skin that no one at this town had (everyone was tan to some degree from the heat here). Lastly, the whole experience with the man and everything strange that happened after that (see: starfish), he was dying to meet whoever this was and dump his questions on him. He'd sleep a lot better at night if some logic were added to his story."Well, I have an idea," Luna started, taking the whip cream from her milkshake and scooping it on her straw, "The last place you physically saw him was on your dad's boat, right? Maybe you should go on the boat again and see if he comes to you again.""Do you think that would actually work?" he asked in disbelief. After several relentless attempts to catch mystery man in action, he had been duped and played with by who he could only assume was him. "It is well worth a shot!" Luna said assuredly, and Jinki started to re-evaluate why he kept pursuring the meeting of the strange man. It was 80% curiousity, and 20% boredom of his dad's tiring business duties. He was getting sick and tired of riding his bike with a giant backpack on, delivering fishing bait and rods to people who didn't even tip him for his expenses. They grunted and would nod while they turned around. He dare not even say anything to his dad, the man would give him the longest lecture of parent lecture history on "YOU HAVE TO WORK FOR WHAT YOU WANT! Noting comes easy!" "Bring some more sandwiches with you this time," Luna added, smiling.-- "Somehow he let me use his boat by himself. I think that he is like, grooming me to take over the business," he told Luna over a text message, feeling the steady rock of the boat as it made its way out towards the shallow parts of the water. The fishing rod was leaning against the edge, and he found himself feeling guilty for not at least trying to catch some fish while he was out at sea. He got the bait hooked on and tossed it out, one hand holding the rod in place."I'm surprised he let you use it by yourself without a twenty five minute lecture on boat safety," she replied to him, to which he immediately responded."I've been getting his version of it the last ten times he's taken me out at the boat. Figures I have enough to get me by, I guess," he said with a smiley face.He put his phone down, eyes glancing over at the words that flashed on the screen."Tell me when you see mermaid man! Get a picture :)"He didn't bother to reply now unless he had conclusive evidence that his story was actually real and not some daydream he conjured in his head while boredly fishing with his old man. Settling back against the bench that had a cushioned bottom (nicely enough), he grabbed his legs and sat criss cross while he watched the waters' current go towards the shore. The fish must have suspected his intentions and not even bother with him. His dad told him that he had to be back before five, and since it was mid-afternoon on a tuesday, he didn't think that many people would be out here by now. It was usually little old couples and their timeless books, like a gathering book club at the beach. "Your food is stuck to a pointy thing."He nearly fell off of his seat when he heard the unfamiliar voice talk to him. His heart was going at a pace similar to that of a scary part in a movie. He found the owner of said voice fairly quickly, mystery man right in front of him, arms crossed over the edge of the boat and head resting between them. He looked fairly casual and Jinki was astounded by how he must have swam out here from shore. Wait, focus, Jinki."It's you!" he said."Can you get that food for me?" the man ignored his accusation and asked him."What- no! You... nevermind. I have some questions for you," his mind was like a train that was going a million miles an hour. "I might have some answers," he said, adjusting himself up, "But it'll cost you."He reached over in his bag and brought out the sandwich he made this morning, taking a triange and handing it to the demanding man. The other lit up with excitement like a kid and took the triange, taking a happy bite."Okay, first thing is first. Did you take my sandwich?""Yes," he said without any effort to hide his wrongdoings. Or did he think it was wrong?"Okay..." he drawed out, a bit confused and still watching the other. "Why did you smile at me last time? And then leave?""It's called being friendly. Duh," the man told him playfully, sass in his voice. Jinki arched his eyebrows and tried to think of how this man was talking to him so informally right now."How did you swim out here?" he asked another question."That one will cost you another slice," he gestured towards the sandwich bag next to him. Jinki resisted the urge to roll his eyes and gave him another slice."Why are you out here in the middle of the ocean?" the man answered his question with another question."You didn't answer my question," Jinki pointed out."Answer mine first," the man ordered firmly, with a curt nod."My dad is a fisherman and I was helping him catch some fish. Now tell me how you got out here. You couldn't have possibly swam from the shore and there are no boats. It's highly unlikely unless you're some sort of mermaid-""I am a mermaid," the man said, again, casually."Be serious," Jinki scoffed."You don't believe me?" the man accused him, eyebrows raised."Well-" Jinki began, but it was too late, because the man with only a portion of his upperbody in view to him pulled himself onto the boat using his palms to hoist him up, throwing his other half overboard. And his other half... well..."I'm going to faint."---"I'm not sure whether I am just confused, or excited, or scared. Maybe a mix of all three?" Jinki stated aloud, going into a bit of a hallucination period, wondering if he had a fever and how could his dad possibly have let him go out to sea when he was obviously unwell and picturing mermaid men who were stubborn and eating his sandwich."It's a bit of an adjusting period, I would guess," the man said, grabbing Jinki's last two triangles in both hands and taking a bite out of one, satisfied. His tail was glistening from the water and it connected so blendingly with his human half that it seemed too well made to be some sort of costume. The color was a sort of shimmery blue, like it could have been dyed to look like the water. It was gorgeous, like some sort of well-crafted masterpiece, you just had to admire it. Jinki was staring at it, gawking in awe, while the man ate his food shamelessly."My name is Kibum, but my school calls me Key," the man introduced himself."You have schools? Like high school?""No, silly," Kibum laughed, "Like my group of mermaids who travel around with me. What humans call... family?""Isn't mermaid like a girl? Aren't you a merman?""Mermaid is unisex," he answered shortly."Okay... I have a lot of questions now," Jinki said."I have some too, like what is this food called? It's so delicious!" Kibum seemed in awe himself over the handmade peanut butter and jelly Jinki threw together this morning in a matter of three minutes."You mean sandwiches? They are really simple," Jinki laughed, finding himself humored. He might still be in shock, and the aftermath of this day would probably send him on the next bus ride to an insane asylum. "Human food is the best," Kibum declared, eating the last bit of the remaining triangle."Do you interact with other humans?" Jinki's next question came, since Kibum was too preoccupied in the food. Next time he would have to bring more than one sandwich."No. You are my first one. I thought you seemed nice," Kibum told him."I guess I'm flattered then," Jinki smiled a goofy grin, "Does that mean we are friends then?""Ah, if you bring me more of those delicious things... whatever you called them- sand munchies?" "Sandwiches, and yes, I'll bring you more.""It's nice to meet you, Jinki," Kibum smiled. The other male's eyebrows shot up."I never told you my name!""I went through your phone last time when you weren't looking," Kibum said, sitting on the edge of the boat before diving into the water, dissapearing before Jinki could catch a goodbye from him. He decided not to bother Luna with the discovery, since the idea of being the only one knowing about it kind of seemed cool. Plus, Luna was never good at keeping secrets. She was the town's gossip. Another reason was he couldn't believe this even happened. He found himself getting a headache on the ride back thinking about it. Once he got back though, he couldn't help but smile at his encounter. Kibum the mermaid. That'll be a sure conversation sparker when he was an old grandfather.