Love Me, like the Old Times

Chapter 2: First Encounter

Emilia

I grabbed my Mamá's hand while we were going down from the ship for support. I looked around at the sea, they call it Manila Bay. It was really beautiful and peaceful.

I hope I can meet new friends here. I thought.

I froze when I spotted the Captain bid farewells and thank yous to all his passengers at the end of the ship's bridge. The bridge was just a wooden plank just centimeters long only good for one person at a time with a rope at the side used as a railing for support. We were already at the middle of it, my mother first and then me.

Shocked and a little scared that the Captain would recognize me.
I quickly yanked my mother's long skirt to hide my face so the Captain won't see me. My mother was startled by my sudden action of exposing her legs with skinned tone tights. She jerked away and grabbed her skirt, screamed as we both lost balance while crossing the bridge.

I lost grip from my mother's hand and stumbled down the ship's bridge and then fell into the water.

I really don't know how to swim.

I felt the water as I splashed into it. It stings. I heard my mother screaming for my name as I struggled to breath. My hands were desperately trying to make myself float. I was already panicking. Then I lost consciousness while I drank ocean water while breathing.

Then I felt a hand gripped my waist up while unconscious.

Am I dead?

I heard my mother crying calling my name. "Emilia! Emilia!"

I opened my eyes as air coming through my lungs. I felt a wet kiss.

Desperately trying to catch my breath I saw my rescuer's face. I heard my mother's sigh with relief.

He was a boy, I think about my age. Taller than me, with brown eyes and brown skin. His hair and clothes were soaked. He wore a black pants and a while polo shirt. We met eye to eye. He smiled at me and walked away as the crowd circled me with curiosity.

"Wait" I shouted with all the air in my lungs as I felt my mother hugged me with relief.

Still trying to find my rescuer. I searched the crowd and saw him shaking hands with the Captain and my father then waved goodbye.

"Don't go! I still need to thank you". I thought to myself as he went inside a wooden carriage with a golden brown horse and road to the street. Disappearing from my sight.

My mother assisted me to walk to our vehicle.

"You scared me to death Iha" she said while sobbing a little.

"Sorry Mamá, I'll never do it again" I assured her.

"Mamá, who was that boy who rescued me?" I asked her while still feeling guilty of what happened.

" I don't know Emilia, when I screamed at you when you fell, he just suddenly jumped into the water to save you. Your father was already on the port with the Captain, so he did not really know what to do. It was really so sudden." she answered while letting out a huged sigh.

"Do you think Papá knows him? I saw them shaking hands while the boy disappear" I said to my mother with a glimpse of hope in my voice.

"Let's ask him when we arrived to our new home" she assures me and hugged me tightly.

I smiled at her and kissed her cheek to let her know how much sorry I was of what I caused.

The ride to our new home was really long. I was so excited before to see our new town but now, I was really out of patience. I want to know who that boy is.

Bored by our ride. I tried to just look outside.

Our new town was full of big houses, all wooden two storey houses. They have a touch of spanish style in every details of the house. Every house has a beautiful garden surrounded the yard. The church was massive like Spain's. Blocks of cemented pile of eggshells, seashells and corals, that was what it's made of. It was also surrounded with a tall tower and walls with small rectangular holes just below the knees.

I wonder what it was used for.

Then we turned left leaving the town as I saw tall trees everywhere. My mother told me those were coconut trees.

As we pass to the coconut trees, I saw small houses. Nipa huts, children were playing outside while the adults were gardening .

They seem more contented with their lives than those town people. I thought to myself while our vehicle turned again to another road with tall gates.

As we enter the gates, there was a massive ranch with horses running around. I smiled giddily to my mother as I can't hide my excitement.

She smiled back and then winked at me.

"Wow. This place is like a dream" I said to myself out loud.

I heard my mother laugh a little while she tapped my father's elbow at the front.

The vehicle stopped in front of a mansion with big wooden pillars. It was a bit similar to the houses in the town, a two storey building but it was bigger, with a patio and a balcony at the second floor.

I looked around and saw our beautiful yard filled with different flowers and plants.

I am inlove with this place. Birds chirping everywhere, trees made sound when the wind blew the leaves, it was really peaceful and more than I had imagined.

I know this will be a fresh start for us. A new life.

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She's a bit clumsy right? I had fun writing this chapter. Hope to hear your thoughts.

Credit to the owner of the picture.

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