loved by everyone and you can't deny that you will fall in love with it. Despite having this wonderful talent, the prince wasn’t given the chance to see the world. The name of the blind prince was Eri.

 

Prince Eri always plays the piano whenever he feels happy. Breathing and being alive make him happy enough. Hearing how the waves reached the shore and feeling the cold breeze on his skin also makes him happy enough. But then one fateful day, when he was peacefully making music, he was distracted by hearing someone singing along with his melody. It also stops when he manages to walk near his window. It is his first time hearing an angel-like voice like he was in heaven. What a lovely voice, he thought.

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The next day, expecting that he would be hearing that voice again, prince Eri pressed the keys in the piano with full determination and confidence. And while he is in the middle part of the song, he hears it again. The sea was singing again but when he stopped playing again, the voice was gone along with it. At this moment, he thought that he would not be going to miss any chance again, so he asked one of his servants to make him a piano that he can carry everywhere. After that night, a little piano was born. It has a classic design that no one will believe that it is also a magical instrument.
 

Noon, the prince was now sitting on a rock not so far from the castle but near the seashore. He was embracing the air hugging him, it was nice to be out again. Placing the little piano on his lap, he started playing once more.

He is hearing the voice again, but this time it was louder, the words were being sung clearly. He is loving it so he will not be going to stop this time, he will finish the whole composition.

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He was smiling and vibing while playing. He was enjoying and thinking nothing but admiring how this voice perfectly fits the piece. He finally finds another reason to keep on playing and be happy. 

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"May I know what is the name behind this euphonious voice?" prince Eri, manages to ask before he finally hits the last keys. Sadly that no one is answering him so he standup and slowly reaches where his feet feel the waves. "I may cause no harm to you, my noblewoman."

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Seconds to minutes has been passed after something, someone response. "My given name is Ari," the lady replied with hesitation. She was hiding in the compiled rocks, afraid that the man calling her was going to freak out. Ari is a mermaid. She was a clever lady that loves to swim with her beloved fish friends near the castle. When the day he heard Eri playing, she was caught by it. Ari keeps on going back and after days of hearing the same melody, she unconsciously came up with those alluring lyrics. During the piano will play and stops,  she will hinder herself from singing and just swim away, thinking that the one who is playing doesn't like the outcome.

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The next day, Ari wants to check if she will be able to hear the melody again, she sings along with it but stops for the second time so it's time for her to swim away again. Now that she was able to hear up close the usual piece, she tried to sing once again and Ari felt happy when the genius behind the composition turned out to be a man, continuing it until the end. She was observing the man from afar, realizes that there is something wrong with his sense of sight. 

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She spoke up but still hiding. 

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"Thank you for the opportunity to hear you sing, Ari," he smiles while facing the sea. 

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"Thank you for giving me the chance to hear your playing..."

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"My name is Eri, I live from the castle... ahh there," he points, "If it is okay to invite you for a dinner?"

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Ari let out a little chortle because he was pointing the wrong way, making her relieved that the man is really can't see but still stays where she is.

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"I am sorry but I need to decline your offer," she answered with obvious disbelief.

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"Kindly give me the reason why? I want to introduce you and your talent to the world!" the latter delightfully explained but didn't persuade the lady.

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"I think I need to go now, Eri. It was nice to meet you," Ari immediately leave. Even though she wants to go, she can't because of the truth that she is not what the man was expecting.

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A mermaid can never be friends with humans. Humans will never accept her kind.

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"Wait! Why is it so sudden? I am telling you the truth," the waves are the only thing that Eri hears again. He felt downhearted.

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Prince Eri can't help himself to sleep because he was too distressed about the lady that he met, he was thinking that his unavailability to see is the reason why his offer has been rejected. But our prince is not that easy to give up, reminding himself that Ari loves his playing serves as his silver lining.

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The next morning, Eri came to visit that place again. Waiting peacefully while listening to the calm waves. He brought his little piano but he ceased to play, he wanted to know if the lady will come too without it. He doesn't want to hurt himself but he still hopes that she will visit again.

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"You're too early this time," the time Eri heard those words, his lips form into a sweet smile. Without knowing that the mermaid is just a meter away from where he was sitting.

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"Are you here to wait for me as well?" the both of them chuckled.

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Starting that day, the two became close with each other, they always meet in that place for the prince to play his piano and for the mermaid to sing. They share smiles, singing sessions, sweet treats from the castle. They also talked about themselves, fears, more hidden talents, past memories, and dreams.

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Within that days, no one will expect that from the two hearts, love will grow as one. But none of them has the guts to confess because they both don't want to ruin the comfort of each other. Afraid that one of them doesn't feel the same way.

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"Is there something you are wishing to happen?" Eri asked Ari. Ari looked at the lad through his eyes. Ari finally had the courage to at least sit beside the man, still hiding her true identity.

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"I hope that, even for a short moment, I would be able to walk with you along this shore."

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Eri shoves his head in where Ari sits like he was looking through the lady's eyes too. "I hope that, even for a short moment, I would be able to see you."

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Ari smiles, "If you finally see me, I hope that you won't regret that." 

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"Why would I regret that? Meeting you is the most unbelievable miracle that happened in my life already," Eri's smile makes the lady shed a tear.

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Another day will come to an end. Eri will go back to the castle, and Ari will go back under the sea where her kind is supposed to be. Another day passed and still, no one is willing to open their hearts. Confessing their love indirectly is their only way of expressing their true feelings. 

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Another week run in just a blink of an eye. Where the sun will shine and winds soft touching their skins, waves singing along rhythmically. Eri wearing his white, long-sleeved collared shirt with the sleeves-rolled-up, teal blue trousers. 

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"What..." he was taken aback by what is happening right now. "Is this a dream or not?" he asked himself looking at the mirror. Checking every angle of his face and body. 

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He can see, everything.

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Without a second thought, he immediately makes his way and runs where he usually meets Ari. His heart was beating so fast, not because he was running out of breath or being nervous but because of the excitement that he will finally see the love of his life. He is decided that he will tell Ari what he really feels for the lady. 

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"Ari!" he shouted when he sees a figure in white standing near those rocks. "I can see! I can see everything now!"

The lady was just waiting for him. Ari started crying when he hears the man's voice. She was happy and makes her heart beat fast as well.

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"T-that's good news, isn't it?" they shared a hug, and both of them was bursting into tears.

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"At first I can't believe it either, this is real, right? I am not dreaming, right?" the lady pulled from the hug and instead hold Eri's both cheeks. 

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"Yes, you are right, this is real and you are not dreaming," she smiles and looked Eri through his eyes. "Did you know that your eyes remind me of the sea?" 

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"How come?" he also holds the lady's face, sliding a strand of hair behind her ear.

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"Whenever I looked at you like this, I love how the way your blue irises shimmer whenever you look at me too," she flashed a sweet and endearing smile, "... even though you can't see me, and I am somehow thankful that you can't see me because... I won't be able to look at you more, or even stay by your side."

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"What do you mean by all of those? Why does it seems like you are bidding goodbye to me, Ari?" the man was confused.

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"I will not let this opportunity put into waste again, Eri," Ari suddenly pecks his nose, "I love you and I don't have any dream but your happiness."

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"Ari, I love you too, more than you know. And I don't have any dreams but to see you and live my life with you..." tears starting to flow from his eyes again.

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"I would love to, but there is still something that you need to know..." her thumbs touch the man's cheeks, "We can't be together, Eri, we are living in two different worlds."

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Eri was full of questions not until Ari's ears tip grows longer. She also started to have scaled skin which leave Eri shocked. "You are a mermaid?"

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"I am. It was nice to be with you, Eri-"

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"Wait, you are really leaving me?"

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"Are you not scared or disgusted with... me?"

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"Why would I, I accept you for whatever and whoever you are," said he, now holding the lady's both hands. 

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"I am sorry, Eri. We really can't be together..." and more scales grow back in her arms and her legs started to feel weak, losing her balance. "I am sorry, Eri. I love you..." she pushed the man away with all her might and run away back to the sea.

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"Ari!" the man called and followed but the waves became big and strong. He keeps on pushing himself to swim but the waves bring him back, all he can do is resist while witnessing the lady's transformation, meeting Ari's gazes.

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     He reached sea through her eyes. 
     Waves came in slowly and he had no choice. 
     He stood there and just looked her eyes in awe.
     "Mermaid, mermaid," he murmured slowly.

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Ari came back from his family crying, without even knowing what happened to the lady. Everyone was alarmed when they can't hear her sobs. Ari tries to at least utter a word but nothing is coming out. 

This is it. She made an agreement with a witch that she is giving her own voice as a mortgage in exchange for Eri's eyesight, with that, Ari will be able to have legs for an hour, promised to return, and will never go back from the surface. 

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Prince Eri has been crowned as the new king after a year. He never stopped playing the piece that the certain lady was able to sing for him. Hoping that he will be hearing that lovely voice, also, seeing that sweet smile again.

Not until the new king decided to sail the sea. Bringing his piano and plays it when the waves are strong. Playing every morning, during noon, and every night, he never fails to keep on searching. All is there is just the cold breeze, the waves dancing, and the lingering color of the water. Obliviously that the sea already sings for him.

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