SEA'S BRIDE (PHILMYTHO ROMANCE II)

CHAPTER 57

Impossible! I remember running across the shoreline in search for him--for the source of his voice, when all this time, the reason why his voice sounded so far was that because he was calling out to me while standing from the shoreline, when I was consumed by my thoughts as I walk into the sea with my consciousness taken away by my hallucinations.

"I was looking for you?" I calmly told him. His raged tone still lingers in my head that I remain to be too nervous, especially when both of his hands were gripping tightly on my arms to cage me in.

And as the waves slowly becomes more stronger, Florante immediately pulled me back with him to the shore. "Are you trying to kill yourself?" He abruptly ask when we finally made it back. And he even added, "Why did you go to the sea when you can't even swim?!" his last question suddenly woke me up into the reality. And not just a reality but also my unanswered questions and now, there might be more additional questions that have just sprout out from his own statement.

My eyes were a bit widened as I fixed them on him, "How did you know that I can't swim?" I suddenly asked.

But as I wait for his response, Florante just stood still in front of me. His face visibly shows a faltering gesture. I can tell from the way he looks at me that what he just said was something he shouldn't have told me. And now that he accidentally did, he can't just take it back. I'm all the more confused and curious how on earth does he know so much about me?

"It was just a guess." He suddenly answered, yet his eyes can't even look straight into my side.

"A guess? You want me to believe that now, Florante? Or should I say, Amanikable?" I told him back, hoping that if I mention Amanikable, it would stir up something or might somehow hit a nerve. But I was even more surprised when he rather said, "Wasn't it supposed to be easier to tell? You look so feeble, of course you can't swim." he said. I understand he was still trying to cover it up, but too bad that I can read well between the lines. If there was something I can be proud of, it is the special skills I have for decoding things and reading between the lines is no exception--especially when it's the obvious.

"I'll ask you once again, how did you know that I can't swim?" repeating in a tone supported by threat could probably work on him.

Though he still tried to covered it up by saying, "Don't be ridiculous, woman. Let's go!"

I'm hyped by the way his eyes can't look straight into mine every time tries to respond to me. He's pretty obvious. This man's lying skills is so poor. I struggle to get off from his strong hold and replied, "You really won't answer me? Then how about if I change my question?" or more like question him instead. I can see that he was a bit hesitant of me and my actions towards him. It was as if he was trying to avoid what I already have assumed.

"You haven't tell me everything about you anyway. It feels like you are still hiding things about yourself and just filtering the details you prefer telling me."

"You know what, let's go." He's indeed avoiding the question with his forceful attempt to drag me away from the shore and off the topic.

And once I again, I move to withdraw myself from him. "I won't come with you unless you tell me who you really are! Are you really Florante or Amanikable?" My question was full of determination to know the truth.

"I am Florante. Haven't I told you that already?"

"Really? Then how can you explain to me why can you wield the Sinawalatan? How can you possess a weapon owned by the Gods? and how can you explain to me what happened ten years ago?"

"Ten years ago?"

"Yes. It was thanks to my recent dream and your question that I finally get to remember. ten years ago when I accidentally got myself drowned at the beach of San Ildefonso. You were there, with the Sinawalatan and with illuminating pearl. Will you still deny it? Will you still deny the fact that you're Amanikable?"

***

The coldness of the air kissing my damped clothes from below my waist have been sending me cold shivers ever since I've been pulled away from the sea water. But nothing beats the icy glare coming from the oceanic-blue eyes of this man in front of me after I asked him about his real name.

"Wasn't I clear when I told you that I am Florante?"

"You still didn't answer my question."

"There is nothing more to answer. I've already told you who I am, so cut off with that illusion of yours!"

He's wrong. It couldn't just be a figment of my imagination. I saw him in my dream, he saved me back then. He is Amanikable and that hunch won't just go away unless he admit it himself.

"If you won't answer that, then at least tell why can you wield the sinawalatan?"

"Enough."

"Why does a God's weapon is in your possession?"

"ENOUGH, EMALIA!" He yelled that stunned me, which he immediately followed with, "I am not hearing anymore of these senseless tales!"

"You really won't tell me the truth. Won't you? Fine. I'll see it for myself." I told him as I attempt to run back to the sea. I wanted to prove him wrong, If I drowned myself and he comes to my aid, the same way he did ten years ago then it's needless for it to come directly from his mouth. Because his actions will just say so.

But I didn't expect him to actually say, "Suite yourself." to me. I became frozen from where I stood as the gentle waves brushes my feet.

"You won't go after me?"

"Why would I?"

What a horror to even hear it from him face to face. It seems that all this time, I am just indeed hallucinating that he actually has feelings for me. Why did I ever thought about that when this man is not capable of loving anyone but just himself.

"Because I thought--"I stop myself before even saying what I feel. I would only look pathetic in his eyes. It's obvious that he has no feelings for me, why am I making myself even more hurt then?