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Everyone knows the story of the little mermaid
an innocent young mermaid who fell in love with a human.
She gave up her voice to the sea witch in exchange for a potion,
which transformed her fish tail into human legs.
To us merfolks, this is a myth humans created,
to satisfy their own fantasies.
There is no sea witch, no potion,
no way for a mermaid or any merfolk to become human,
Nothing.
If there was, I would have been the first to follow the little mermaid’s way.
I too, fell in love.
It happened when I was still a young Merman.
Being naïve and full of curiosity, I met a young human girl.
As she opened her eyes, I saw her life flashed before my eyes,
and I fell in love at first sight.
Since that day, my view of the human world changed,
and my desire to be by her side grew stronger each day.
As the years passed, I continued watching her from a distance,
and couldn’t stop admiring her beauty.
She was the only one in my eyes,
the only one I love,
I’ll ever love,
and the only one I could never have.
Tormented by such cruel fate,
I screamed my heart out into the open seas.
My hopes,
my dreams,
everything was gone.
Staying below the surface for a long time,
trying to forget everything about her
I decided to see her face one last time before closing this chapter of my life.
That day, when I saw her,
my heart started pounding so hard.
As soon as I looked into her eyes,
Flashes of her life invaded my mind again.
Happy moments,
sad moments,
everything she ever felt inside her heart,
I felt her suffering, her fears and desires,
I felt and saw it all.
I can't let her go, I wanna be the one to dry her tears.
I want to be the one by her side. I want to be by her side.
“A merfolk’s tear… Such a precious sincere tear of despair can grant any miracle”
“Ask, and it shall be granted to you”
Any… Miracle?
I wanna be by her side.
I want to be Human.
“Your wish will be granted to you"
“However, remember"
"A merfolk’s first tear grants a miracle"
"the second grants eternal sleep”
Wow, you’ve improved your cooking skills. These almost taste like your mother’s.
Dad, I miss her. I miss Mom.
I miss her too.
Time seems to slowly pass us by since your Mother left us. Each minute feels like an eternity.
My lord, can I talk to you for a minute?
Sure. Let’s talk in the other room.
What happened? Did my wish come true?
I have legs, just like Humans.
Legs!! I have legs!!
I really need to get use to this.
There she is.
When you truly love someone, you’re there for that person, right?
But why isn’t Henry here?
Mom passed away a month ago and I’m all alone, I really need him by my side.
What’s wrong Mac? What are you barking at? Huh?
What? What is that? HUH?!!
AAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!
What was that?
It came from outside.
It sounded like Alana!
Pascal, check on him.
Yes, mu Lord.
Are you alright Alana?
I’m fine.
Poor guy, is he okay?
He’s unconscious.
Pascal, please put him in the visitor’s room.
Dad!! No!!
We can’t just leave him here. Seeing he has no clothes on,
he might have survived a shipwreck, and the waves drifted him to our shores.
I’m glad to see you’re awake. How are you feeling?
Dizzy and dry.
You came from the sea, do you know what happened to you?
I became human.
How is he doing?
I think you might have hit him too hard.
He says he’s a merman.
A merman?
He said it with such a serious face, I couldn’t say anything and left.
I’d hate to leave you alone with him but I need to go to the field.
What about Pascal?
He quit last night.
Our farmers did their best but you know how bad farming is this year.
It’s normal for them to get a job that can provide for their families.
So, you’ll be okay here alone?
Yeah. Don’t worry about me.
I won’t take long, I promise.
After my mother died of a weak heart, my father’s been working day and night in the field.
Being hardworking and persistent, he still has faith in a great harvest, which is truly impossible at this time.
I wonder if that man is hungry too. Maybe I should ask him what he wants to eat.
Hello?
Can I come in?
Hello?
I’m sorry. I opened the door because you didn’t answer.
So beautiful.
I’m glad I’m here to see you so closely.
Here? and to see me so closely??
Don’t get funny ideas!
Huh? He’s talking to candles?
Funny ideas? Hahaha.
Don’t worry, I won’t do anything to you. You’re too precious in my eyes.
What is this? Why am I blushing? I must be crazy!
Starting a new life as a human wasn’t what I expected.
As a merman I wandered around the ocean freely with no care in the world.
Now, everything’s about nurturing the earth and learning human’s way.
I was clueless about the things humans did inside their homes.
Who would have guessed they needed to clean their teeth every day.
Oh and “the bathroom” such incredible invention for human’s waste.
Yet irritating sometimes.
Stomachache, headache, soreness,
these physical pains are wearing me down.
But I don’t mind at all.
As long as I’m by her side, I’m happy.
Gold, can I ask you something?
Sure.
You’ve been staying with us for a couple months now because you had nowhere to go.
Don’t you miss your family?
I’ve never been attached to my family.
My parents nurtured my siblings and I until we could swim on our own.
Obligated to be independent, we went our separate ways to learn about the wonders of the sea.
One day, as I was traveling across the oceans, something shiny caught my eyes.
It was something belonging to a small girl. Hoping to give it back to her, I came here.
- Then, why did you tell my Father you were a…
- Then, why did you tell my Father you were a… - A Merman.
Would you believe me if I told you… I gave up my fish tail for you?
Henry? What are you doing here?
I’m sorry I couldn’t come sooner. It took me months just to get here.
I heard about your Mother’s death. I’m sincerely sorry. Are you alright?
I’m okay. Oh Henry, this is Gold.
He’s been a great help here. Gold, this is Henry.
Nice to meet you, I’m Henry, Alana’s fiancé.
Hi.
Gold, is it? He’s living here with you and your father?
Yeah. One day out of nowhere, we just found him on our shores.
Dad thinks he survived a shipwreck and since he had nowhere to go, we decided to let him stay with us.
But he’s been a great help to us, especially in the fields since all the farmers left.
I heard your Father’s harvest wasn’t good this year. If he needs money then my family and I will gladly help.
I know but it wouldn’t be right.
Then let’s make it right and become real families.
Let’s get married.
You know my family’s healthy. Once we’re married,
you and your Father won’t ever have to work so hard anymore.
I don’t know what to say.
Is it a yes? Alana, we’re already engaged, marriage is just the next step.
I know we’ve been apart for a long time but my feelings for you are still the same.
Good evening.
Are you alright? Did something happen?
Henry asked me to marry him.
Are you going to?
I don’t know…
Our families always have been in good terms.
When Henry and I were still little, they compromised to make us marry when we grow up.
When you marry someone, you accept everything about that person.
The good, the bad, you forgive and love them no matter what.
Your happiness, your pains, your struggles,
you share everything with that one person who you know will be there to comfort you through any situation.
When Mom died, he couldn’t be there for me.
At the most crucial period of my life, he wasn’t there when I needed someone by my side,
someone to hold me, and someone to tell me everything was going to be okay.
Gold? What are you doing?!
Your loneliness, Your anguish, Your desires,
From now on, please let me, be the one to comfort you, and make you happy.
Her lips against mine were unbelievably real.
I could hear her heart beating faster and faster, until…
Gold, I'm sorry.
Strangely, random people started to show up, arguing and trying to buy off Alana’s father’s land.
I’m still new to the ways of men and hardly know what’s going on inside their minds.
Can’t everyone live happily without having to care about finding money to keep a place they called “home”.
Don’t tell me you’re thinking about selling our land.
If we do then we’ll be able to repay the debts we accumulated because of the poor harvest.
If I marry Henry, would our problems go away?
Dad, his family is wealthy, right? They could help repay our debts and…
It’s true you’re engaged to him, but I can’t let you marry because we need money.
Even if we sell our land, it won’t be enough to repay back all the debts.
We won’t have anything left and you would have to work hard just to provide for ourselves.
You’ve suffered enough for us and I can’t let you suffer anymore.
Alana?
Can we talk?
I’m sorry Gold.
Alana, when I kissed you, you felt it. That satisfaction and comfort you’ve been looking for.
I know you’re scared that it won’t last but I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere, so don’t push me away.
When a merman falls in love, his love is real and eternal.
Alana, I’m a merman who fell in love with you.
Unable to be by your side, unable to erase the pain you felt,
I cried a tear of despair which granted me my deepest wish to be by your side.
And every day after that had been the best days of my life.
You’re my one and only reason to live. I live only for you.
Please stop. I’ve made up my mind. I’ve decided to marry Henry.
He has everything a girl could ever want: a good reputation, a great heritage, and wealth beyond imagination.
I may not love him as I used to, but I still love him.
I have to do this. I can’t let my father suffered anymore.
"A merfolk’s first tear grants a miracle, the second grants eternal sleep”
I understood what it meant.
Being granted a miracle for a better life, if that miracle was to give more pain than what already was,
then falling asleep never to wake up again would appease my conscious.
My very first tear grants me a chance to be by Alana’s side. My second would vanish me forever from her life.
All will end as it should have been from the start. A merman’s not meant to be a human.
As the winter season passed, Alana agreed to marry Henry.
Her Father felt uneasy about it but couldn’t do anything because it was her choice.
Henry’s family helped Alana’s father repay all the debts,
and as the spring season arrived,
so did the day of Alana and Henry’s wedding celebration.
The beautiful human girl I fell in love with, was going to accept a man she once loved,
because she wanted to stop her father’s suffering.
As for me, the thought of seeing her become another man’s possessions hurt me deeply.
You won't be able to make it to the wedding?
I understand. Well, I hope you take care of yourself.
You almost felt like a son to me.
I'm sorry for all the trouble I've caused you.
Don’t think that. You were a very reliable person
You’ve helped me with the harvest and looked upon Alana when I couldn’t.
If things were different you could have been the one marrying her today. Have you told her your feelings?
Yes, I did. But...
Henry is the only one who can give her what she needs. I’m sure she’ll be happier with him than with me.
Money and fame isn’t everything. Love surpasses all.
Today’s the big day, huh?
Yeah… Listen Gold,
I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me and my father. We’re forever in your debt.
If you need anything you can...
Gold! Hey let go! People might see us!!
Please, just for a bit longer, let me hold you for one last time.
This final embrace, I’ll treasure it forever.
If you say you’re better off without me, then I’ll believe you and let you go.
My love for you was real and will last forever.
You were the only person I gave my heart to. Goodbye now.
Farewell, my dear Alana. Be happy.
Hey Gold.
I wanted to thank you for being there for Alana when I couldn’t.
That time, it took me like forever to be by her side because I was an ocean away.
But now you’re here. No matter what, don’t ever leave her side again.
She may look strong but inside, she’s a delicate flower.
Shower her with all the love you can give and keep her warm when she’s cold.
She has a habit of not wearing warm clothes when she takes short walks at night.
If she says she can do something by herself, keep an eye on her just in case she hurts herself.
Oh and, always remind her how much you love and cherish her.
You love Alana, don’t you? These things you’re asking me to do, have you done them for her?
Yes, except the last one. Since you’re the one she chose, you should at least do that for her.
After your wedding, can you give this to her? It’s something she lost a long time ago: a gift from her mother.
Shouldn’t you be the one to give it to her?
I won’t be able to because I won’t be around anymore.
Not around? Are you leaving?
Yes. I’m sorry I won’t be able to attend your wedding, but I think it’ll be for the best.
Please don’t tell Alana. It would be hard for me to leave if I see her when I go back to the sea.
You look beautiful.
Thank you.
What were you thinking about?
Nothing, just enjoying the scenery.
Alana, you’re my best friend and the person I love most in this world
All my life you’ve been the only girl for me.
You don’t know how much joy I felt when you agreed to my proposal but…
Are you really marrying me because you love me or is it because you feel obligated to.
Henry…
When I couldn’t come to you when your mother passed away, you’ve changed.
You’re standing right in front of me, yet you seem so far away.
What happened to that bright energetic girl whose eyes were filled with dreams and wonders?
What happened to the old Alana who used to jump with excitementeverytime I came her way? What happened to us?
Henry, I’m marrying you because I love you.
But you love him too.
If you say you can’t marry me, then I won’t stop you. Don’t worry about the wedding and our parents.
I’ll take full responsibilities and tell them I was the one who called off the wedding.
Why? I thought you loved me.
It’s because I love you that I’m willing to let you go.
It scares me to death thinking you might love him more than me, but who am I to stand in your way.
My mother had someone she loved, but chose to marry my father because he was a wealthy man.
She doesn’t say it but her eyes are full of regrets.
Alana.
I won’t be able to live with myself if I become the person who kept you from following your heart.
Gold told me he was leaving and couldn’t attend the wedding.
You might be able to get to him if you go now. He might still be at your house.
I’ve already made up my mind. I can’t go.
Here. He asked me to give this to you after the wedding.
He said it was a gift from your mother that you lost.
A gift from my mother? It's...
Happy birthday Alana. Do you like it?
Yeah of course!!
Hey! Give it back! It’s mine! My mother gave it to me! Give it back!
Ah!! Oh no!!
How did Gold get this?
One day, as I was traveling across the oceans, something shiny caught my eyes.
It was something belonging to a small girl. Hoping to give it back to her, I came here.
Even though he said it’ll be hard for him to leave if he saw you when he went back to the sea,
I think you should at least tell him goodbye.
Henry, how does the story of the little mermaid ends?
People have derived that story with many happy endings but in the real story,
she went back to the sea to become seam foam because she couldn’t take away the life of the person she loved most.
She went back to the sea.
Alana, I'm a Merman who fell in love with you.
You’re my one and only reason to live. I live only for you.
Farewell my dear Alana. Be happy.
Henry! I have to go! I’m sorry
Alana. Whatever you choose, I’ll wait for you here until sundown.
If you decide to comeback, you’ll make me the happiest man on earth.
But if I don’t see you, then I’ll know where your heart lies.
Thank you.
Gold, please don’t do it. Don’t go back to the sea.
Poor guy, we can't just leave him here. Seeing he has no clothes on,
He might have survived a shipwreck, and the waves drifted him to our shores.
How are you feeling?
Dizzy and dry.
You came from the sea. Do you know what happened to you?
I became Human.
So beautiful. I'm glad I'm here to see you so closely.
Don't get any funny ideas!
Funny ideas? Hahaha. Don't worry, I won't do anything to you. You're too precious in my eyes.
When you marry someone, you accept everything about that person.
The good, the bad, you forgive and love them no matter what.
Your happiness, your pains, your struggles,
you share everything with that one person who you know will be there to comfort you through any situation.
Your loneliness, your anguish, your desires,
From now on, please let me, be the one to comfort you, and make you happy.
I'm not going anywhere so don't push me away. I'm a Merman who fell in love with you.
I'm sorry Gold. I've made up my mind. I've decided to marry Henry.
I am thankful I had a chance to make such wonderful memories with her.
I truly am happy to have loved her.
I have no regrets. Everything I’ve done in my life was only for her sake.
I don’t know what’s gonna happen but I hope I’ll get to watch over her while I’m put into an eternal sleep.
I… I love her…
I love her.
Gold! Don’t go! You can’t leave like that!!
Alana?
Gold?
I thought I told Henry not to tell you. It can’t be helped now can it?
I’m sorry to have to leave you like this but everything’s alright now.
I’ll forever be by your side no matter what.
What are you talking about? Gold, come out of that water. Are you thinking about becoming seam foam?
Sea foam? So you believe me now, that I am a merman?
Gold?
A merfolk’s first tear grants a miracle, the second grants eternal sleep.
A Golden tail...
I have no regrets. Alana, you were my most precious person. I’ll forever love you.
Farewell.
Gold?
It can't be.
Why?
Gold!!
Don’t cry, wherever I am, I’ll always watch over you.
~I don't know how to smile without you, I don't know how to wait for you~
~Tell myself I'd stop everyday knowing that I won't~
~Even if all the things were true, if I'd try~
When a merman falls in love, his love is real and eternal.
Gold was a merman who was granted a miracle to be by my side
This precious gift given to me, I let it slip away from me.
Even though he’s not here with me, I engraved his memories deep inside my heart.
~I know I'm missing you whole time, Don't say Goodbye~
I love you...
Gold? Gold!!!
“Only a human’s sincere tear of despair can bring back someone who’s been put into eternal sleep”
I love you.