SEA'S BRIDE (PHILMYTHO ROMANCE II)

CHAPTER 28

I've never been this scared for my life—like never. But while I am anticipating my apparent death from that approaching sea monster or whatever creature it is, I began to recall a life I had back before I got in this god-forsaken place. I saw a glimpse of myself playing with my younger twin sisters, especially those times when I was still fetching them after school. They were still very tiny back then. I then saw my mama Celia, a picture of her in her favorite place inside the house which is the kitchen, and her over. I guess I would never get to taste her baked Bibingka again. the sequence switch to my Papa, who always provides me with everything I need even if I don't really need them. I've been spoiled by my Papa but I try not to get it in my head as what he has been always telling me. I miss him so much, I believe I won't be able to hear his words of wisdom again. My Grandma loves giving me sweets and cooking me local dishes every time I drop by to visit her. I suppose eating her kare-kare from before the wedding would be the last time I get to taste her cooking skills too. And then my friends; Gab, Divina, and Thalia. I wish to see all of them again and work with them just like always. But looking at my situation right now, It seems like I could no longer do it anymore.

My eyes could nearly see a clear vision because of the tears that keep flooding it. The trembling of my body has not worn off and it even intensified as I finally see the creature striding left towards me. I am in full shock finally seeing it a few meters close to where I am while carrying the head of the maid in its sharp-clawed hand.

"What a fool you are Emalia," I told myself while thinking that I have been in a safe place not until now. If I only had taken the other route, If I only followed my instinct, then I would have ended up on a safer path than this--but then that would also be a probable thought. What if the other side was far worst than this?

The creature walks so slowly, slower than a snail, and yet, it found its way here so quickly. Each of its steps brings me closer to my death and there is nothing more horrifying than the fact that there is nothing in here that I could use to save me.

Left with no other option, I took the took sharp heeled shoes I'm wearing and threw the other one at him, like that would even work the least. I am being too stupid right now. What am I even hoping for? I can't open the door back inside nor find any weapon to use against this creature. I would even immediately die at once had I attempt to escape at its side. With those long sharp claws, It wouldn't even take the creature to sweat off in slicing me to pieces in mere seconds.

"Help me—" I said. Like someone would even help me at all. And that moment, seeing the creature almost a few steps away from me made me just kneel before it. My tears were too much to carry by my eyes that's why I allowed them to freely land on the ground. It was unbelievably endless.

Is this how it feels watching the last moments of your life on earth? Technically for me, it's under the sea?

I have never given thought to how I will die nor when I will die. But today, as I slowly get to that end-stage, I realized that life should really be cherished while we can. I have so many bucket lists I haven't done yet, so many dreams I haven't fulfilled, so many experiences I wish I could've done immediately and so many what if's I hope I got the chance to have an answer back when everything is still within my grasp.

What if I had pursued law school?

What if I become a stewardess?

What if I tried drinking so hard?

and even the idea of what if I tried making out with a stranger like Divina?

What If I tried hooking up with men like Gab?

What If I tried dating someone from other countries like Thalia?

What if I tried all of these back before? Could I be satisfied now knowing I'll be dying in a matter of moments?

What If I get the chance to love someone and end up being no-boyfriend-since-birth excess baggage from our group, would I be happy by now knowing I've finally experienced what it means to love and be love? and to date, exchange chats of I love you's and go to movies, have a romantic getaway outside San Ildefonso, and have some intimate evenings together? I wonder, what if I had my first kiss from the one I love? Would I be happy to face my death by now knowing at least I get to experience such?

But then, a glimpse of what happened with me and the master went to bombard my memories with so many flashbacks, from the tea moments we had, the weird way of his concern at the theater room, and then the shooting range which made me realize how he tried to stop himself of getting mad at me despite how my body tried to move on itself to hit him with the gun. and then everything comes down to one sequence that turns into a slow-motion picture in my memory, a back to back flashback from the time he kissed me in his study to save me from dehydrating and on our first meeting at the hallway before the dining hall where he forced his lips on me.

Why am I even thinking of this now?

I tried to shook of his memory in my head. If there is someone I would want to remember before I die, it would never be him. And yet, it was like fate played a fool of me as my mouth defied me by shouting for help and it was something I expected I would even say the least.

"MASTER, PLEASE SAVE ME!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. The echo runs all over the tunnel, and like a boomerang the sound waves keep on going back and forth that makes my ears feel so disturbed. Even the creature suddenly dispose the head from its hand to cover its ears.

And then all of a sudden, the elevator behind me slowly opens. I forced my head and body to turn around for escape but I quickly froze to where I am seeing the man standing behind me with those ferocious eyes glaring towards the beastly creature before us. I can't believe it either, but I've never been this glad seeing him around me—seeing the master of this dome standing right in front of my sight.