Page 40 of Coral Prince Conundrum
When the half dozen orbs spin around like their own solar system, everyone applauds. I look at his parents, and they nod and clap knowingly. Seero is so talented, so amazing.
But that’s nothing compared to what he does next. His arms move around in different positions, and, in response, the orbs combine and change shape. The water floats higher up, closer to us in the balcony box seats. I no longer see swirling orbs of ocean blue. Instead, Seero has created…
“No way,” I whisper to myself.
The water is shaped like a carafe and a giant cup. Like something out of a cartoon, the carafe tips over and pours liquid into the cup made of, well, liquid. And the cup floats to me. I stand up and reach over the balcony, enthralled at the sight.
It’s coffee. Seero has made a floating image of a coffee cup. The crowd applauds, percussion thrums in conjunction with the show, but I don’t notice any of it. My heart is so full from this display. I know he made that water sculpture just for me. When I look down at him, he gives a pained smile; it’s obvious he’s concentrating very hard to keep the liquid shapes intact.
When I reach out and touch the massive coffee cup, the water disperses. Like hundreds of raindrops flying horizontally, the ocean water spins and floats back down into the center pool. The structures are gone, and Seero shakes his hands out. The crowd roars, and my man bows. He looks up at me one last time before the lights come back up, and I presume intermission begins.
Fifteen minutes later, Seero appears at the elevator. I can’t wait; I rush up to him past the guards and hug him, twirling him around. “Woah!” he says.
“That was incredible!” I pull back and gaze at his face. “You didn’t tell me you were a professional water…bender artist guy.”
He laughs. “I am not. I simply wanted to do something special…for you, Daryl. And I wanted to be a part of it. To give you all the beauty you deserve.” He shrugs shyly. “I mean, I am very glad you enjoyed it.”
We’re soon joined by his parents. “What a dramatic display, son,” Queen Marites says.
“Just like his dad,” King Ero adds. He puts his arm around the queen and continues, “Doing whatever it takes to impress his betrothed. It keeps the relationship interesting.”
We all laugh and take our seats again, a fourth one appearing on my left for my fiancé. I’m starting to give up the fake part, because I have yet to find a piece of Seero I’m willing to lose.There’s so much I want to tell him, to ask him, and to beg from this beautiful prince of the sea. But the lights are low again, and the water mystics reappear in the center of the theater.
With the announcer speaking Corali, I can barely understand the theatrical plot line, some fairytale about a shark man falling in love with a human. Even if I spoke the language, I wouldn’t be able to pay attention. Because when the man to my left takes my hand, pieces of my soul that I thought were barren begin to blossom. No one can see us in the dark as he plays with my fingers. This isn’t for show, it’s just Seero wanting to connect to me.
His hand was made to hold mine.
Logically, I know I should pull away and keep things professional; we’re two friends bluffing. But tell that to my heart. Minute after minute, I fall deeper and deeper in love with the Coral Prince.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Seero
After the show, we bid my parents goodbye and take a sea dragon boat back to the surface house. It’s another lengthy trip in the dark, but time with Daryl seems to move faster. We laugh and chat, like we don’t have a care in the world. With him, I can be the Coral Prince, but also a normal guy named Seero Dagat. None of the other men I’ve been intimate with have made me smile this much.
It’s late when we make it home, and the house is already quiet. We take turns showering and getting ready for bed. I want so badly to spoon him to sleep, knowing this time I won’t be rudely interrupted by an army. But that would be asking for too much from this perfect American boy. So instead, I wait by the doorframe wearing a kelp robe until he exits the bathroom. He’s donning his tank top and boxer shorts, and I resist the urge to pry the clothes off him.
“You all good?” I ask.
“Yup.” He claps his hands and looks away. He seems nervous, and my heart pounds harder for some reason.
“Um…did…did you have a good time tonight?”
“I did.” He smiles at me. “The best. You are…so talented.” His words carry extra weight, like he wants to tell me more. Thetension between us is thick, but even if he wanted me, giving in to our desires would be dangerous.
I need to keep reminding myself that this is a fake courtship; Daryl Tishman is not mine to keep.
Clearing my throat, I clap my hands and look down. “Well, let us hope the talent carries over to the big Corali Court meeting tomorrow.”
“We’ve been working on it nonstop for a month. You’re gonna do amazing.” He walks closer to me and grins. “Believe in yourself, man.” His face in the lamplight makes me want to pull him in and kiss him breathless.
Instead, I put my fist out in a gesture he taught me was a platonic, friendship signal, and he bumps mine with his. Then, I take off my robe and open the door. “Thank you. Goodnight, Daryl Tishman.”
“Goodnight, Coral Prince,” he whispers.
I stride into the living room and lie on the couch. The entire area is dark and quiet, save for the sounds of the waves crashing in the distance. In my black undergarments, most would be cold at night, but the thick kelp fabric blanket keeps me warm. I stare at the ceiling for a minute, wondering what my life will be like after tomorrow.Daryl will have no reason to stay…
I shut my eyes and try to live in the moment and count my blessings. I have my family and a purpose in life. I hope to lead the Coral Kingdom into an age of prosperity and peace among the rest of the world. But I can only do that with restful sleep. My only wish is that I find my real soulmate someday, a kind man from the Coral Kingdom. He’ll be nothing like Daryl Tishman, but I need to swallow that disappointment. I cannot live my life with a foreigner; Corali are destined to be with other Corali, that much has always been reiterated since I was a child. I’ll just…need to find someone exactly like him?a gorgeous, smart,hardworking man who makes me smile and lights my very soul aflame.
