SEA'S BRIDE (PHILMYTHO ROMANCE II)

CHAPTER 38

I didn't realize that I was actually staring at her for quite too long already. This made her feel a bit awkward as seen from the way she clasps her hands. Funny as I can see myself from her current state whenever the Master talks to me. I always go like a fraidy cat.

She suddenly twitched and bowed before me again while uttering words, "Forgive me miss Emalia for introducing myself. I hope it's not too late though but I was assigned to this area to maintain the cleanliness of miss Emalia's library. I will be attending to your needs as well while you are inside the library." the maid was so modest to do such courtesy. I don't like the formal accommodation she's treating me.

Here I am hopeful that she could be a potential friend for me and yet she's acting like one of the maids. I need to stop this quickly. "Please no more formal gestures from now on. just call me Emalia too. But wait a minute, what's your name by the way?" I suddenly don't recall if she ever mentioned it already but I haven't got her name just yet and now I'm already hoping we could be friends. My assertiveness is going beyond the level once more. How pitiful of me to yearn for so much friendship and people to talk to.

"Forgive me," She slightly bowed her head this time to avoid my eyes as she continued to answer, "I'm Aya, miss Emalia. I'm Aya Nisnama."

'Aya' What a fitting name for a delicate and fragile-looking woman like her. I wonder if she'll be interested to be my friend too.

***

"Are you a new maid here?" I promptly asked Aya. It's refreshing to see that I could actually talk to one of the maids inside this household unlike before. Most of the maids were pretty focused on their duties. They only answer me if deemed necessary. It was like interacting with me is forbidden. I find it nice to know that there are still servants here like Aya who are nice enough to take the initiative and talk to me.

"I recently got in, miss Emalia. Though I have heard so much about you already. You've been the top topic every night at the maid's quarters--forgive me, miss Emalia. I shouldn't have said that. We weren't talking ill of you, I promise." She said kneeling before me and nearly kissing the floor.

I was so disappointed not by what she told me, but by what she just did right now. Seeing her kneeling before me for something like that is outrageous. I am not even her master to make her do such a thing and even if I am, never would I ever treat housemaids like this sort. And so, I lowered down to pick her up, "Rise there Aya. There is nothing to worry. I don't mind whether they talk about me or not. But please, I don't like you doing that to me again." I told her with comforting eyes.

She sent me a wondering look followed by a query, "Doing what, miss Emalia?" the way she looks at me is giving me the notion that this maid might be thinking I'm weird or something for acting contrary to what she was expecting. To be honest, there is nothing to be mad about what she said. She didn't even say they're talking ill of me in the first place and even so, It's not like their words could kill me either.

My mama Celia would always tell me to refrain from acting towards these, and that as long as they don't prick my eyes, I should just completely ignore hearsays and rumors to avoid too much drama. And so I did as she told me. I suppose it may have been unlikely for maids like Aya that I didn't react badly when she said it. I can't blame her, she works for a tyrant master who easily gets triggered out of the small debate.

"Nothing. just don't kneel like that to me again. As a matter of fact, I would prefer if you'd act casually when it's just the two of us. Okay?" I smiled at her only to receive a confused facial expression from her instead.

"But miss Emalia?" I guess she wasn't able to continue what she is supposed to tell me that's why I quickly took the moment to change the topic before she feels awkward hanging around me.

"Well Aya, since you told me that you have been recently assigned here. Would you be able to help me find some books that I'll be needing?" I then ask of her. Hoping the sudden task would change the atmosphere around us a bit. When I tilted my direction back to the shelf, I realized that I haven't fixed the fallen books from a while ago. I quickly arranged them back in order.

She just smiled and swiftly answered me, "What kind of books were you trying to find just now, Miss Emalia?" she said as helps me arrange the titles. Making them stand according to volumes. It looks like she's really familiar with the library setting after all.

"I was hoping to find anything related to Philippine folklore and mythology. However, most from here are Philippine History books." I told her. I placed the last one on the shelf to satisfy my sight with the arranged books.

"We have some few books relating to that, miss Emalia." She suddenly broke out.

I think my eyes brightened up with her news, "Where is it?" I immediately asked her to send them for me at the long table placed on the center floor of the whole library. The table is long enough that can be used for around twenty to twenty-four people.

Aya helped me out with twelve books from different authors, and most of them unanimously account Amanikable as a tyrant god who used to be worshipped as the god of hunters. No wonder he was so skilled in taking down those sea creatures even with just his falfeg. Unfortunately, none of the books ever mention anything else about Amanikable.