Chapter 011
1092 Words
"They've been lovers," Cara whispers.
I examine Tora. Compared to Cara, she's voluptuous and already had all the womanly charm in her. She seems older as well, probably nineteen? Cara, on the other hand, is callous, especially with how she treats him. Does Ethan like the feminine types who are caring to him?
"But I don't care!" Cara shouts. She pulls Aicelle from her chair and says, "Come on, let's dance."
Tora looks knowingly and says, "I better let the music begin then."
When they leave, Ethan scoots closer to me and whispers, "How long have you been looking at me?"
I sputter my drink. "What?" I ask and wipe my mouth.
"I look good, I know, and well, you are in the list of my type."
My mouth hung open again. "Wait." Is that why he's constantly throwing s****l jokes on me that border offensive?
I can't believe what I'm hearing. I look away from Ethan. Then to Al, who is busy drowning himself in alcohol. And to Cara and Aicelle, dancing in the restaurant's center, and Ethan again. There is this smile that I find disgusting.
"I don't like you that way. You are just my friend."
"You can't deny it, Holly. Are you worried about Cara?" he leans closer, and I push my chair back. "Nothing's between us."
"To all the anitos, why would I deny it?"
"You tell me," he says and imprisons me on the chair. His eyes close. He's about to kiss me when I push him and escape from the chair.
"Where did you get that idea?"
He looks visibly surprised.
"You realized that I can use ocean waves. You can only know that if you are paying so much attention to me, more than I look at myself. That kind of affection cannot be faked."
I close my eyes and take a deep sigh. I only know it because I returned from the future. If not, I won't even know what kind of blessing Amanikable gave to him. When I exhale, he's still dazed. Damn, this will be a huge misunderstanding. I sit back on the chair beside him and gulp a whole glass of liquor. What kind of excuse am I going to say?
"I am a weak mage."
"That's not--" he starts, but when I stare at him with reproach, he stops.
"I'm more of a support mage, so to be able to survive, I look at you guys, at my friends," I explain. Is lying the result of me living those extra six years?
"I study you and learned that you can use more than just the ability of a hunter."
I point at the wasted Al and add, "I know that he can also use water because of his anito."
"Damn. He's still going to get stronger?" I nod. "Then who do you think will become the Scepter first?"
I smile and say, "Unfortunately, I'll bet my money on Al."
"I knew it! You like him more than me!"
"He's more likable than you. Besides, I can't believe you haven't courted Cara yet."
"I'm not even thinking of that," he says. "Speaking of Cara, other than the vines, what else do you think she has?"
"Is Cara also your rival?"
"Is that not obvious?"
"Cara is an exception. She already knows most and I think she only needs to get more skilled on what she knows."
"And Aicelle?"
"You've seen her earlier. She'll get so much stronger than you or Al, even Cara."
"You're saying that Cara is stronger than me and Al."
"Isn't she? She's also smarter."
"Then why did you not tell us?"
"I don't know. I guess I never had the chance." Now that I've told him the truth, let's mix in the lies. "After last year's activity, it made me think. I guess the earlier activity reminded me of that."
There's silence, and I know he's deciding whether to accept my explanation or not.
"Why do I feel like you are lying?" he finally says. "I guess there's only one way to find out."
He pulls my chair closer, reaches up to my neck, and presses his lips on mine. For a few seconds, I did not protest. When he begins to move, that's when I feel all the disgust blowing over. As if I did something that no one can forgive. So I push him without thinking, and he hurls four--no, five feet away from me, hitting the table of the noble-born girls that Tora told me about moments before. I look at my palm. Did Anitun Tabu just assisted me and let me use her wind?
"Don't do that again! I told you, you are just a friend!"
I wipe my mouth harder this time and am about to say something vile to him when I notice the silence in the room. I look around; people stop eating and drinking while Al wakes up from his stupor. Cara and Aicelle stop dancing and are just looking at Ethan and me.
"You never knew, you might see me more than that if I push the issue," he says. He wipes the side of his mouth, and there is blood trickling from the side of it.
I feel guilty, but my pride did not allow me to apologize. Then my eyes shift to the man beside the table that Ethan hits. It's Aaron! I feel my cheeks get warm, and somehow, I am embarrassed at my situation.
Ethan looks like he's enjoying the attention and notices my shame. "You don't like anyone, so it will be easy for you to fall in love with another."
He stands up. Good thing that his anito is Amanikable. If not, he might have already broken a bone or two. Still, I take a step back.
"I like someone."
Ethan snorts, so much like Cara. "Who would that imaginary man be?"
My attention goes back to Aaron, and I find myself approaching him. When I'm standing right in front of him, I look up, and he looks down at me as if he's in a trance.
"With him," I say, not breaking the connection.
"Wow, now you're picking up whoever is the first guy you see."
I ignore Ethan and look at Aaron's hand. I reach out to it and say, "Let's go somewhere?"
Aaron nods without a problem.
"I hope you got a horse." I say.
"Yes, but with a cart," he finally answers.
"Perfect," I say and pull him with me out of the tavern.
To be continued…
- Writer
