It's about time for the moonlight party to come. All that smells all over the waters and Crums was the fragrance of celebration. The bells that jingle were a reminder of the annual festival and this made every half human happy.
All were in preparation for the forthcoming festival.
The young ones were the most excited of all because it was during the party that they got to mingle with their peers and most of all, some found the love of their lives too.
The old ones were not left out either. They got to enjoy themselves to the fullest just like every other half humans would do. They don't go to work during the periods of preparation for the festival and most especially, on the day of the festival.
All they do is sit and be entertained. They eat all manner of dishes they want and stay happy all through.
The young ones don't also deny themselves of catching a cruise and they at the same time participate in all manner of activities that will make the very festival memorable.
During this season, the Blue sea overflows more often as it would have during the rainy season and when it does, it doesn't subside without engulfing two to three humans. Reason being that they need those humans to generate enough worms for their consumption during and after the festival.
Some also show so much love and care to their loved ones by gifting them during that period.
Every being running hither thither as preparations were the order of the moments regarding the festival that was already at hand.
The throne had taken shape already. Standing out and elegant, looking stylish and charming also. It has been decorated with all manner of foreign expensive pearls. The Empress's seat and that of the princess had been replaced with a new and better ones.
Everything that Princess Belina needed to stand out during the moonlight party was made ready even beforehand. All that was left was for her to wear them at the exact time.
Mira on the other hand hadn't anything but the moon goddess showed up for her. She was gifted all manner of things by her friends and well wishers.
The kindness and love that was showered on her were huge and she never expected such from them.
The way almost everyone treated her as one of the very important beings shocked her tremendously because she was just a mere orphan whom fortune frowned at, at first but not until then.
The attention she got made her feel valued, important and special. She was so overwhelmed with joy. The only way she was able to express gratitude was through the innocent tears that rolled down her delicate cheeks. She was lost of words to say. Her cheeks were hurting because all she was able to do amidst those joyful tears was to smile.
All this attention and the rest got Empress Lulu and the daughter very jealous. Their jealousy grew to the point that they can't contain anymore.
They then resorted to finding a means to pour it on the innocent Mira.
On the very day of the festival, things were already taking shape. All over the waters was covered with the harmonious sounds of the musical lyrics resonating from Crums.
Happiness and celebration covered the face of the Crums as the party kicked off.
The spirits of the goddesses were at peace as they chanted prayers of protection to their god just so that she could see them throughout the periods of the festival and ayond.
Still in the spirit of the festival, every being danced around their idol, worshipping and offering praises for keeping them till then. Most offered reasonable sacrifices to show gratitude.
The party continued in high spirit till every of the items in their agenda was exhausted.
The young mermaids and mermen were left behind to meet their peers as others diverged to their various chambers to rest for the day.
This moment is the most craved moment of the festival by the young ones. They look their best majorly because of this moment.
Every young one curled up in various corners with their peers.
At this moment, most of them confessed love to the ones they had fallen for.
It was funny and surprising how none of the mermen approached Princess Bellina even as she was the one on the most expensive apparel. She was lonely to a fault and this made her cry in her heart.
Mira's case was different. Many mermen gathered around her just to confess their love for her.
Of course, there was not a way to marry all of them at once. She was left to make a choice among them of which she never did because her heart was already with someone else of which happened to be human.
At one point, she got tired of the whole thing. She separated herself from them because she was already feeling uncomfortable and insecure. She only found a little coverage and comfortability with Gilmore.
Gilmore too was not left out. It was at that point that Gilmore opened up the feelings that he had been wanting to let out for a while but didn't know how to just because of the fear of losing her as a friend.
He mustered up courage to pour it and was ready to face anything that may come up as a result of that.
"I love you, Mira," he said, breaking the conversation that was going on at that moment. He stared closely in her face to see her reactions and hear her response.
Mira, whose words were already failing, could not hold herself from staring at him in awe.
"And I seriously do," he confidently added the second time, drew closer to her and held her hands.
A little silence enveloped them.
Though she already knew that he loved her through the green lights that he had shown her countless times but she pretended not to know because she never wanted to hurt his fragile feelings but that was just exactly the right time to let him know. She fought herself severally just within a jiffy to air it.
She, at this point, felt a little pain of what Gilmore would feel when she would turn him down. She became sorry in her heart but she could not help the moment other than to clear the air to avoid them hurting the more.
"But....I...do..n't," her voice cracked its way out of the thick silence.
This sent chills down their bones and sadness evolved from within.
"My heart is already with another man, I found the love of my life, I have fought myself to let him off my heart but I can't, and he's only a hu…ma..n!" She let out her tears, hugging him tightly.
Gilmore could not hold himself because he was seriously hurting. Tears broke out of his eyes as they were still hugged.
Mira was badly hurting too. First is because she doesn't even know where and how to start looking out for Eureal and secondly, Gilmore was hurting because of her.
All Gilmore could do at that moment was to make her stop crying because he could not stand the tears of someone he loved.
Sadness became the other of the moment.
Princess Bellina who was hidden and watching them from a corner, left secretly to her chamber.