That evening,same day, Celestine strolled out of the school gate with the rest of the students, heading home. It had been a long day, though the week itself had only just begun—gentle, unassuming.
Boys and girls poured out of Pacific Crest High, relieved to be done for the day. Some were picked up by parents and chauffeurs in sleek, polished cars. Others boarded the school bus. Most—like her—trusted their feet to carry them home.
It had been a good day…
Still, she wished it had ended differently.
She wished she had crossed paths with Mike again. Or better yet—walked beside him, talking about... nothing.
"Well," Raho said, fluttering onto her shoulder as a colourful butterfly, "he did stare at you for minutes at the cafeteria. That's something to be proud of."
"But he didn't even wave back," Celestine snapped, grabbing her hair with both hands and tugging in frustration until the sting forced her to let go. "He just ignored me."
"Easy there," Raho said gently. "You'll pull your hair out with that dramatic anger. Stop overreacting. He did notice you, Celestine."
"Yes. He did." Celestine exhaled sharply. "And then what?"
"Maybe the moment wasn't right," Raho said, slipping into the calm, big-sister tone she used when she was trying not to scold her.
Celestine sighed. She was just about to snap at herself, and Raho, when the sharp ring of a bicycle bell chimed behind her. She stepped aside instinctively and glanced back. Behind the handlebars stood the last person she expected.
"Good evening, Cely," Maya greeted, hopping off her bicycle.
"Good evening," Celestine replied, clutching the straps of her bag as if a sudden gust of wind might blow it off her back.
"Thank goodness I found you," Maya said letting her bicycle lean on her hips. "I've been looking for you."
"For what?" Celestine asked, her tone flat. There was something about Maya that always drained her interest.
"Your Arts book," Maya said, pulling it out of her bag. "You forgot it."
"We didn't have an Arts lesson today," Celestine replied.
"Oh." Maya shrugged. "Well… here it is."
Celestine took it, turned away briefly, slipped it into her bag, zipped it shut, then faced her again.
"I saw you at the cafeteria," Maya said casually. "Sitting alone like a lone wolf. Don't you have girlfriends? Or boyfriends?"
Celestine froze.
"I have one friend," she said after a beat. "And that's Raho." She reached into the breast pocket of her shirt and pulled out a small, black-dotted red ladybug.
"Eww," Maya said, leaning back instinctively.
Celestine said nothing—just returned Raho to her pocket.
"I've got something too," Maya said, reaching into her own pocket. She pulled out a folded piece of paper, unfolded it, and held it up.
"Any idea what this is?"
Celestine glanced at it and nodded. "Yeah. Did you draw that yourself?"
"Nope. I picked it up from someone's table," Maya said. "Do you know what it depicts?"
Celestine hesitated, then answered, "A merman. What about it?"
Maya smiled faintly. "Nothing. Just confirming my theory." She folded the paper again and slipped it back into her pocket. "If you don't mind, I should get going."
She climbed onto her bicycle.
"See you tomorrow, Cely."
And just like that, she rode off.
"That girl is something else," Raho muttered, reappearing on her shoulder in her previous ladybug form.
"Let's get out of here," Celestine said, walking on.
******************************
*Rockie & Ruksy_
That evening, as the sky melted into shades of gold and burnt orange, Ruksy sat perched on the edge of a tall building, facing the sinking sun. Far ahead, the ocean glimmered like molten glass, stretching endlessly toward the horizon. Behind her, the city rose in layers—millions of buildings and glowing windows humming with life.
She hugged her knees to her chest.
Out of thin air, Rockie appeared lightly beside her, carrying two packets of juice and a small paper bag of donuts.
"Hey, siz," he said softly as he approached.
She turned her head just enough to acknowledge him. "Back already?"
"Yep. Sneaking around isn't exactly hard for me," he replied, settling down beside her and placing the snacks between them.
Ruksy picked up one juice packet but didn't open it. Her eyes remained fixed on the distant gleaming ocean, as though she might slip back into it if she stared long enough.
Rockie tore open his donut bag and took a bite.
"Have you ever wondered how much things have changed back home?" she asked quietly.
He chewed, swallowed, then shrugged. "Probably not much. Same tides. Same waves. Same seaweed and sand."
"Whatever," she muttered, finally piercing the juice pack with a straw and taking a slow sip.
Rockie glanced at her. "Homesick?"
"Mm. Very."
He nodded, reaching for his last donut. "We'll figure out how to get back into the ocean. We always do."
She didn't answer right away.
"What about Mike?" she asked at last. "He doesn't remember anything."
Rockie's jaw tightened slightly. "That's his path now. Whatever fate...or curse he's carrying, it's his to face."
Her voice wavered. "He doesn't like me."
Rockie turned toward her. "He never did. And that hurts, yeah—but it doesn't define you. Someone better will come along. Someone who sees you."
Her eyes shimmered. She leaned into him, and the tears she'd been holding back finally slipped free.
Rockie wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer, his hand moving gently up and down her back.
"What if…" she whispered between sobs, "what if the curse barring us from the ocean is still there?"
"Hey," he said softly. "No more dark thoughts. We've survived on land for over three years. That counts for something. Luck's still on our side."
He reached for her hand and laced his fingers through hers.
"Remember this?" He asked.
A sudden spark leapt between their entwined hands.
Orange light flared—brief but intense—and an energy bubble bloomed around them, translucent and glowing, enclosing them in warm radiance.
Ruksy gasped and looked at him. Then she wrapped her arms around Rockie in a tight hug.
The bubble expanded violently and burst.
A circular wave of orange energy rippled outward, surging across rooftops and streets below. Lights flickered. Power died. Nearby buildings plunged into darkness within a twenty-meter radius.
Five seconds later, electricity surged back to life. The city resumed its hum.But the rooftop was empty.
No twins.
No juice packets.
No donuts.
Only the fading warmth of magic lingering in the air.
>>>>