Harker had been scouting the entire pub for Mina, and it turned out that she was actually in disguise. If it weren't for his stupid stoner professor, he wouldn't have sensed her body heat upstairs and chased after the mermaid wearing the skin of his best friend.
Harker managed to corner Mina in an alley. She tried to run away as soon as she saw him, but Harker managed to pin her, though he did it as gently as he could and placed a hand behind her head so she wouldn't bump it against the wall.
"Let me go, Harker! I already told you, I need to do this!" Mina exclaimed.
It was strange to hear her speaking through Roland's mouth. He thought if Roland knew she was pretending to be him again, he'd definitely lose his cool and another war would start between them.
But more importantly, he thought of how relieved he was to see her again. He kept hold of Mina's wrists tightly but not too hard.
"Listen to me first, Mina! I'm not going to stop you! I just wish that you would have talked to me first and trust me!" Harker said. "You still need my DNA to stay human! I can't let you get in danger from getting caught as a mermaid!"
Mina stopped struggling at this, and looked sheepish. "Y-Your right. I'm starting to de-transform. I thought that I could maybe kiss you and get your DNA in your sleep, and I know how wrong that was. But I just…. I know how protective you were. You wouldn't even let Chloe join us in Victoria's lab. She could have sensed where she went to if she was nearer to her."
Harker's lips parted slightly at this. She was right, it really would have been easier to catch Victoria during the explosion if they had Chloe's sense towards her spectacles.
But that would also put her in danger, so even if Harker did think about it at the time, he wouldn't have agreed to it.
Harker looked down. "I…. That's just how I am, Mina. My family, my friends, you….. You're the world to me. If I lose any of you, I'd collapse. I'm not that strong. I want to be the one to make the sacrifice if I had to."
Mina sighed at this, placing a hand on the side of his face. "I know. I feel that way too, that's why I'm doing this in the first place. But there's no need to worry, Harker."
"How can I not worry?" Harker took her hand and gripped it tightly. "It's because I love you, okay!? Do you really expect me to not lose my goddamn mind when you suddenly bail out on me like that!?"
""I know, but…. I'm sorry. I don't have much time." Mina apologized. "If I don't follow the trail, I might lose that bastard. I need to gut him for what he has done to my parents."
Harker closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
"Then kiss me first! You have to. I promise I'll let you go and take your revenge….. But you have to kiss me, please. I just want you to be safe."
Mina's deep blue eyes were a little teary at this, and she nodded. "Alright. I love you too, Harker."
She took off her wig and let her golden hair cascade over her shoulders. She changed her features to be like her former one. Her breast had to be binded by ASE bandages though, and she had no time to take it off.
"I'm ready. I don't want to go so soon, but we have to make this quick." She said in her natural voice.
Harker frowned. "Yan said 15 minutes would be enough for two weeks. But are you sure you'd be able to catch him in two weeks?"
She nodded. "I was so close. His friend took him to that pub 2 days ago. I asked around who this friend was, and one of the waitresses said he lived in Oregon. They seem to be headed there next."
"Oregon?" Harker furrowed his brows. "But that's too far away. That's on the other side of the country itself."
"I'll be back soon before the SS cells run out." Mina promised.
"What about the RH null blood? We have lost supply ever since Victoria left." Harker thought.
Mina scratched her head. "Well…. I did ask Alejandro to give me some of Roland's blood bank donations that's stored in the hospitals before I left. I know it's terrible since there could be humans who needed that, and I'll repay Roland someday. I did notice that I'm needing less and less RH null blood the longer I stay human."
"I see. Maybe the human DNA you acquired is getting imprinted in your system." Harker felt hopeful about this. "Maybe you won't need any blood and just my SS cells soon."
They made out in this alleyway, locked in a tight embrace and never wanting to let go. It was deep and their tongues swirled around each other.
Mina stopped for a moment and said. "Pin me again."
Harker did as told, and grabbed both of her wrists. He could feel the scales that have grown there, but he didn't care. The longer they kissed, the more the scales seemed to fade. The SS cells were taking effect.
Once it was over, Harker didn't know what to say. There was so much he wanted to tell her before they part ways for a while, but in the end, he could only say:
"You look good in a suit."
Mina chuckled, and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Haha, thank you. I'd like to see you in a suit too."
"If you attend the graduation, I'd be wearing a suit underneath the grad gown." He said. "But…. I guess you wouldn't make it since you'll be in Oregon."
She nodded. "I'm sorry. I hate to be away during an important moment in your life, and I've always wanted to see what that's like."
"It's alright." He reassured her. "Roland will take pictures. He always does. Just…. Take care."
"I will."
Mina gave him one last hug, before she rushed out faster than the eyes could see. She scaled the walls and jumped from building to building, too fast to fall down. This was how she remained undetected for a long time.
Harker could only hope for the best, looking at his lover longingly. He was completely smitten with this mermaid, and he doesn't think he'll ever love someone this way.
Being alone felt a lot worse the longer he was in love.
That's just the curse that comes with the feeling, he supposed. The so-called 'lovesickness'. It can eat you from the inside out, leaving you hollow and wanting to use anything to fill the void.
Some give in, and some don't. Harker promised himself that he would never give in. But…