Opening his eyes seemed as if it were the most difficult task Bae had to do that morning. The sight of sun light escaping from in between the slats of the window blinds seemed to increase his already intense headache pain. When he finally managed to fully open his eyes he felt as if someone were using his head for a drum. His mouth was so dry he could barely open it, his scales were dry and flaky, and that is when the nausea started to settle in.
He didn’t recognize the room at first as nothing seemed familiar to him at all. He was about to call for his Mom when he realized she was miles away. He left for university yesterday but was this, his new room? He looked around and recognized his clothes in the closet so it was safe to assume that he was in his own bedroom. The last thing he remembered was going to a frat party last night nothing else until he woke up this morning. How did he got home and out of his clothes? He woke up completely naked and the clothes he wore to the party were nowhere to be found. He really wanted to remember the events of the night before but his head hurt too much to think.
“I told you to be careful at those frat parties,” Cassidy said with a laugh. “We both know that merman are lightweights. Can pry yourself out of the bed and get yourself into some clothes. My girlfriend doesn’t need to see your naked ass again.”
That last bit of information was the last thing Bae wanted to hear. What the hell was he doing last night and why did Javiera have to see him? This morning was the worse and worse by the minute.
“Come on down,” Cassidy told him “I’ll give you something for that nasty headache I’m sure you have right now.”
Cassidy called his father to ask for a hangover cure the minute after seeing how drunk Bae was when he walked in the night before. His father worked as a bartender at El Torero ever since he arrived in this country and his father knew of a sure fire remedy.
Cassidy’s father Gino was originally from the Venegas Islands with a dream of making a better life for himself. Gino didn’t even know a word of English when he arrived and the only job he could get was working at the El Torero which was a bar where most of the Spanish population in Isla Paradiso hung out. Cassidy’s mother Ida also worked at the bar as a waitress and she offered to teach Gino to speak English and the two fell in love. Cassidy was born a year after the couple married. Cassidy was named after Butch Cassidy as the couple went to see Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid on their first date.
Life was not easy for an immigrant couple. Gino worked double shifts at the bar and Ida worked as a cleaning woman at the Isla Paradiso International resort during the day in addition to her shifts at the bar in the evening. They worked hard and were able to purchase their own home and educate their son. Cassidy was the first member of either family to go to university and they were indeed proud of him.
Cassidy knocked on the door again, “Bae are you ok in there?”
“I’ll be fine” Bae answered. “Let me just take a shower and shave my tongue.”
"You'll live." Cassidy said with a laugh.
His scales were beginning to flake so he knew a shower would be fine for now but he was going to need a trip to the beach. Classes started the day after tomorrow so it was better that he dive into some salt water before the week started especially in this condition. As a merman he needed to schedule regular trips to the beach to avoid dehydration. He figured he could make that drive on the weekends and he arranged his class schedule to be light on Wednesdays. He was warned by his father several times that drinking too much could accelerate dehydration process and now he knew for a fact that this was true. He had one beer and planned to stop at that but then one of the guys handed him a red cup with what he thought was punch. The next thing he remembers was waking up in his room completely naked and with a killer headache. After he took a long shower and managed to dress himself he walked into the kitchen. He kept his sunglasses on the hide his red eyes and protect them from the light.
Cass pushed a glass with what looked like green slime across the table and told me to drink it. He said it was a hangover cure made with spinach, kale and he added kelp as that is the main staple of a merman's diet. Bae drank it but it really didn’t help too much and it tasted awful.
“So buddy, what happened last night?” Cassidy asked.
“I haven’t the slightest idea how I got that wasted,” Bae answered. “I only drank one beer and some punch.”
“You idiot” Cass said while trying to hold back laughter. "Don't you know that you never drink punch at a frat party. The punch is always spiked."
"My Grandfather warned me about that," Bae said. "I guess this is worse than the time that we swiped the bottle of tequila from the bar your father works in. I didn't remember anything that night either."
"You did find out the police brought both of us back home and we were grounded for a long time. We would have been fine if you didn't go skinny dipping in the Sweet Water Pool." Cassidy said. "You seem to have trouble keeping your clothes on when you're drunk."
"I think it was running around naked outside of the pool that got us in trouble," Bae somehow managed a chuckle, "my tail covered everything when I hit the water. At least we can laugh about that now."
“Good Morning,” Bae answered while putting his head down and his fingers on his temples to try and massage his headache away. He was doing anything to avoid eye contact or conversation with her. Maybe after the beach and this nasty headache went away, he would be able to tolerate her more.
“Damn!” he said while wanting to kick himself. He forgot all about Shanta last night. He was supposed to call her before going to the party.
“If you guys will excuse me,” Bae said “I have some phone calls to return and some damage to control.”
Javiera walked over to Cassidy. “We need to talk. I really don’t think this living situation is going to work out.”
Cassidy put his arm around her and said, “I know it is a lot to ask love but I’m sure that once the two of you spend some more time together things will change. You and Bae are the two most important people in my life and I really want both of you to get along.”
“I’m trying for your sake dear but” she paused to decide if this was best left unsaid but completed the sentence anyway, “your friend doesn’t like me at all and I'm not too fond of him. Once you tell him that plans have changed things are going to get worse.”
Cassidy had to admit that Javiera was right. Bae was having a hard time accepting the fact that sometimes the plans you make when you are younger change as you grow older. Cassidy loved Javiera dearly and couldn’t imagine a life without her. If they were going to stay friends Bae would have to accept this fact whether he liked it or not. Cassidy was hoping that this living arrangement could change both of their feelings for each other but they were not off to a very good start.
“You are right. I’ll have a talk with him when he comes down. After I tell him our big news.” Cassidy said. “For now maybe try to avoid him.”
“Avoid him?” she asked, “this place is not that big.”
“It won’t be as impossible as it seems. On days off he will be spending many hours at the beach and when classes start on Monday you might be a bit surprised at what you see.” Cassidy explained.
“I’ll do it for you,” she said, “but I hope time passes quickly.”
Bae walked back into his room and started making phone calls. He called his mother first and Shanta next. His mother was just relieved to hear he arrived safely but Shanta needed a little sweet talk. He told her that he got caught up with settling in at university and that he wasn’t feeling well at all. Once he said that he wished he had a beautiful nurse like her to take care of him. Everything was forgotten in a heartbeat.
The problem with Bae’s scales was getting worse and he needed to get to the beach ASAP. Bae thought about that girl Layla he met yesterday and how hot she would look in a bikini. He sent a text message Layla to ask if she would like to go with him. She agreed and he said he would pick her up at the sorority house she lived in.
On his way out to the car he saw that Cassidy and Javiera were on the couch in the living room cuddled up while watching a movie together.
“Guys, I have a merman issue to take care of so I will be at the beach. Later.” Bae yelled while running for the door.
"When are you going to talk to him?" Javiera asked.
"Tonight I promise," Cassidy answered. "He isn't going to take the news very well that I decided not to join the navy with him and I'll be taking a job at the science facility when I get home."
"I understand your hesitation to tell him that but shouldn't the fact that we were just married be good news."
