SEA'S BRIDE (PHILMYTHO ROMANCE II)

CHAPTER 41

It makes me wonder though if I could still manage to struggle free even just for a bit then why didn't I do it in the first place. It's so lame to blame that something in my chest all the time when I am just denying the fact that I really like what is happening now. Right this moment, the pleasure from this kiss is slowly sinking in. I allowed the electrifying sensation to flow across my body and stirred up some warmth below my stomach. The kiss which I have always imagine to open the door up for some extra physical contact is somewhat coming of real as his free hand roams in my spine to further pressed me into him.

The way he sucks my tongue is slow in motion yet too aggressive and I felt as though it's weakening me too. As he progresses to nibble my lips and sucking in my tongue, I can't help but feel the lack of air as I could no longer get the right timing to gasp for it.

I was only able to breathe in when he finally released my lips in a way I can say as a slow lingering one. It was literally, a twenty-second breath-taking lip-lock experience I have never done before. And it ended with him luring his face closer to me as he utters, "That was a nice dessert." Before taking his leave first, leaving me totally stunned, if not completely dumbfounded, in my chair.

My lips were feeling swollen and I barely could even move from where I am when Leandro came to my side to hand over a piece of clean napkin, "Miss Emalia, I suggest you wipe off the stain from your mouth." He said that took me back to reality.

"Leandro, did you saw everything?" I immediately ask him even though it is totally embarrassing. It was too late when I realized that Leandro was also inside the dining area the whole time. He saw everything, just what kind of a question did I just ask him! How stupid!

"I did, Miss Emalia." It was a firm answer from him. I didn't sense anything else from his reply but it's now making me more embarrassed. What the heck did that Amanikable do to me just now?

I wanted to feel enraged but to my dismay, this body of mine won't just move. At this moment, all I wish to do is surge him in his room and knock him off but doing that would only make him think that I am being assertive to even follow him in his room. I don't want to give him the notion that I was following him because I want even more than that! Besides, I feel sort of weak after what happened. It suddenly became a mystery to me why did I feel like my energy has been drained after he kissed me.

***

"Miss Emalia? Didn't you sleep well last night?" Aya waves her hand before my face to bring me back from my daydream.

"Was I really daydreaming?" I even said what's inside my head out loud.

"Err...I think you are, miss Emalia." she firmly confirmed.

I think I instantly fell asleep just as Leandro was able to walk me back into my room. My body felt light and that I was feeling weary last night. I am not so full to even feel so sleepy and drained. Yet after that kiss last night, it was as though some of my body's energy was sucked out leaving me just enough portion to help me retire back to my room.

"Are you really all right, miss Emalia? Do you wish to return to your room and rest instead?" I felt the concern from Aya's eyes and words, but I don't feel like going back to my room right now.

"I'm fine. I don't like to go back to my room for now. Don't worry, I'll let you know if I feel the need to go." I reassured her so that she would stop worrying about me. We won't be able to continue working on my research when I keep distracting her with my health. I don't feel that sick anyway so it shouldn't be a bother if I push my body even more for today.

"If there's anything that you'll need, I'll be right at the shelves, miss Emalia." She told me after pointing to the shelves facing my left. I nodded back so we could continue with what we're doing.

For today, I decided to track back the remaining books I haven't finish reading from yesterday. I hope new books about Philippine Mythology and Folklores will arrive tomorrow. There isn't so much information about Amanikable and so I tried scanning for other deities from the pre-colonial pantheons.

Come to think of it, there are so many Gods and Goddesses across the Philippine Archipelago that are being worshipped differently in each region. Amanikable happens to be part of the Tagalog region, under the court of Bathala just like Mayari, the moon goddess and Thalia's was her incarnation. And as I scan the other pages to brush away my thoughts about Thalia and my friends, I suddenly come across a page where underwater mythical creatures were featured.

Included in the context where creatures that have been familiarized into folklores and even serialized into local films. Among these creatures were the Sirena, a sea creature with a human upper body and a fishtail instead of lower extremities. Its counterpart on the western side is the Mermaids. But unlike mermaids, Sirena's have these unique voices they use to lure fishermen and drown them under.

Another one is the Siyokoy, They are usually visualized as green-skinned humanoids with scales belonging to the bantay-tubig or merfolks clan. Siyokoys are horrifying sea creatures with webbed limbs, gill slits that are either colored brown or green, have scaly skin comparable to that of fishes, and long green tentacles. Just like the nature of the Sirena's, they also drown mortals and eat them.

Then the Berberoka, which is a nymph type of swamp creature that lures victims by sucking all the water out of a pond so the fish lay dead on the ground. They have the ability to suck up all the water in a swamp or lake. Also, many elderly people believed that they use water to attack their enemies. They discharge a large amount of water (just like a fire hose) at their victims until they drown. The Berberoka's, despite all their powers, are the type of water ogres that have a morbid and ironic fear of crabs.

I haven't heard of any of these and if they were really co-existing with us without our knowing, I might start fearing any place where there is a body of water. That's when I realized that I am actually under the sea, specifically inside of Amanikable's dome. I just hope that staying here is really safe.

Before I drop reading the book, my attention was caught by another context that tells about another creature that lives underwater which is the Kataw. And though they are also part of the merfolks or bantay-tubig cluster, the Kataws have a higher ranking than the Sirena's and Siyokoy's.

Basing on their physical features, the Kataws, along with the Sirena and Sireno, were the Bantay Tubig-creatures that bears a likeness to human while Siyokoys are those that resemble water-creatures. Unlike Sirena, they have feet instead of tails but they have gills on their bodies and fins in their arms. These marine creatures disguise themselves as fishermen asking for help. When approached by mortals, the Kataws drown them into the abyss. Kataws can manipulate and control water-type elements and related forces such as pressure, tides, waves, bubbles, and the likes. Also, they can change water to ice. It is believed that the Kataws are the reigning rulers of the kingdom Bantay Tubig.

And as I was reading through it, I remembered that Amanikable referred to those hideous sea creatures as 'cursed kataws' without explaining to me what are they and why were they cursed. The description of the kataws from the book is so far from the kataw who attacked us. Maybe because Amanikable could be right, maybe they were cursed. But why are they cursed? moreover, who could do such a thing to a ruling clan of the mythical sea?

*****