#malfern

Soft feet crunch against sand, carrying Mal’damba to the tide of water. Mal’damba crouches into the sand, shutting his eyes as water slowly gathers around his legs.

Everything is quiet. The sound of rushing water gathering around Mal’damba and his quiet contemplation fill the atmosphere, leading to a peaceful getaway for Mal’damba from his personal life.

Though, when a voice comes from the ocean, Mal’damba can’t help but open his eyes to look for the source. He stands up and scopes the water until he sees the source.

On a rock, somewhat far from his location, is a merman singing an enchanting tune. His upper half seems to be a man of beauty, a muscled torso with each ab telling a story of its own. His lower half is a simple tail, beautiful blue pattern flowing gracefully into the water.

“Excuse me!” Mal’damba calls out to the merman. The singing stops as the merman looks directly at Mal’damba. A faint “ah” sound can be heard from the merman as he splashes into the water, tail flapping above the water while the merman approaches Mal’damba by the ocean shore.

When the merman pokes his head above the water,

now close to Mal’damba, Mal’damba is quick to speak.

“Your singing is… beautiful,” Mal’damba whispers, a small blush forming on his cheeks, “What is your name?”

The merman laughs, returning a smile to the shorebound boy. “The name is Fernando. Charmed.”

Mal’damba lived in a home quite close to the shore. His mother wouldn’t allow him into the water, but Mal’damba decides to take a risk and go in anyways. Lifting his pantlegs slightly, he takes a dip into the water, his lower half submerged as the rest of him stays above to talk to Fernando.

“What are you?” Mal’damba asks.

“I’m a merman, which you seem to be attracted to,” Fernando says with a wink.

The blush on Mal’s face only seems to grow.

“Of course, who wouldn’t be?” Fernando adds, flexing his muscles to Mal’damba.

Mal’damba shares a giggle with Fernando’s booming laugh, and the two lock eyes for a moment.

“Mal, honey! Where are you?” comes a voice from the hill overlooking the ocean shore.

In a panic, Mal’damba grabs onto Fernando’s hands. “When can I see you again?”

“When fate allows it,” Fernando says compassionately.

Before Fernando swims back into the water, he leans up to Mal’damba for a kiss. Mal’s heart races as he leans in for the kiss, only to be interrupted by Fernando’s finger.

“Until next time~” Fernando coos, speedily swimming away back to the rock he once sat upon.

“Mal!” calls the voice again.

Mal’damba feels empty when he opens his eyes to realize Fernando had left. Though, the merman’s reassuring words left him with a shimmer of hope.

“Coming, mama!” Mal’damba yells out as he turns around and leaves the shore.