Love is just Illusion

CHAPTER 7

Love is just Illusion by Swapie Achilles

CHAPTER VII

MAY

Because of panic taking over his mind, he turns his head sideways trying to find where the rustling sound of coming from. The sound is getting closer and the motion of his head as well.

The sweats are building up fast on his forehead and temple. And the moment the bullet of sweats he has cascaded on the side of his face a strong tap on his shoulder brought him much terror.

“Ah!” He screamed on top of his lungs and stumble away from the unknown touch. To his panic his feet tumble to a stone and closing his eyes on the impact he fell down on the river, soaking his clothes.

“Mori!” He heard a woman’s voice and the sound of water as someone walking towards him. “You’re safe!” The voice said overjoyed.

He could not comprehend what is happening but he knew the warmth that this person is giving. It is his beloved aunt.

As his mind and heart finally calm down, the view on his front eventually registered to him. People with lights and Carmel leading them, are there on the shore while his aunt Isabell is with him.

“Come on, let’s go.” Isabell said as she pulled herself away from Mori and stood up.

When they stood up, Mori realized that they are in the middle of river. He thought that he was in the shore, “how did I-”

“Mori?” he was cut off when Isabell asked him again, “what’s wrong?”

“…nothing.” He muttered.

“He got lucky.” Someone from the crowd mutter in whisper but Isabell heard it. She wanted to ask them but she’s to busy with Mori’s situation.

Carmel put on Mori’s petite shoulders the cloth as shield from the cold wind as she said, “let’s go Mori.”

They are now inside the manor, with Isabell, Carmel, and Mori beside the fireplace. The sound of fire and the cracks of woods burning was heard between the three of them.

Mori is covered with thick blanket with a warm cup of untouched cocoa in his hands. He is just staring at the flickering light of fire.

Isabell and Carmel looked at each other before they try to make a conversation to which Carmel started, “Mori, how are you feeling?”

The young veterinarian slowly faces them, with unreadable expression. “Hey, tell me…” he trailed. “What happened?”

The two older women shared a confused look with each other, “what do you mean?” Isabell inquired.

“All I remember is that I was in the shore.” He whispered but nonetheless his two companions heard him. “But when I finally realized it, I was being hug by aunt Isabell… in the middle of river.”

There was a thick silence before Carmel answered him, “before and after the dinner we didn’t see you. So, we decided to find you inside the manor, but you are not here.”

“And we searched you all over the hacienda, and luckily we found you at the shore.” Isabell continued the explanation. “And we called you. But I think you didn’t hear us.”

“And what we didn’t expected is that you turned your back and walked away from us. Isabell called your name over and over but you just kept walking to the other side of river.” Carmel explained, blowing the hot cup of cocoa on her hand.

“Yes, and when I touch you, I you screamed so loud.” Now Isabell is doing the same with her coffee.

“What’s on the other side of the river?” He asked quietly.

“…We.” Carmel trailed as she remembered how Lance and Lukas didn’t know what to say when she asked why they didn’t know what is on the river. “We don’t know.”

Isabell was speechless, but inside her mind she is thinking, ‘what’s on the other side of the river?’

“Oh, I see.” Mori only muttered.

The next day, Isabell went out earlier than expected. She went to where the care taker of the manor is. She then banged loudly the door to which awaken the man.

“My, my, aren’t you too early for the morning coffee?” Jack said politely to Isabell.

“What is on the other side of the river?” She asked without thinking twice.

The man in front of her was taken aback. “Woah, too straight forward.”

“Spit it out, old man.” She glared at Jack.

The man was about to close the door when Isabell step her foot between the door and the jamb to stop him. There was a bit of force that comes from each side, the from Isabell who’s forcing the door to open and from Jack who’s trying his best to close the door.

“Please, it’s not even sunrise yet.” He whined.

Isabell put her arms inside and grabbed the collar of his night attire. “Tell me!” She growled at him.

Jack pinched her arms to which she immediately pulled back because of pain. And with that, the care taker took advantage of this and close the door on her face.

“Enjoy your day, Mr. Wilford.” Isabell said menacingly as she rubbed the aching part of her arm.

On the other hand, Carmel is peacefully sleeping on their shared bed when she found that her lover is not on her side. She rubbed her eyes trying to shoo the sleepiness away.

“Where she might be at this hour?” She asked sleepily, but soon the thought of their conversation last night pour in her dazed mind, “don’t tell me…”

She hurriedly put in her clothes and her boots as she remembered their previous talk, “their hiding something from us.” Isabell mumbled.

“What do you think is that?” Carmel asked as she put on her the thick comforter on top of them.

Isabell strongly bump her fist on her left palm, making a sound of slick slap which made Carmel tensed up, worried on what may her lover do.

Before she could even say anything, her fiancée beat her to do so with a sly grin on her lips she said, “I will know before the sun even rises.”