wattys 2020 winner • mystery/thriller
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Everyone thinks she is dead. Even I thought so, too.
While the town spoke of her dead name, Amethyst Cambray is actually alive, and she is asking for my help.
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16
_____
A YEAR AGO, when I was sixteen, I saw Cinna enter the coffee shop, but she wasn't alone.
Behind her, another familiar girl walked in. There were two reasons why she was familiar: I've seen her always everywhere at the town, and Cinna had always been with her. From mouth to mouth, from people's murmurs, from loud rumors, from old teachers, I was able to know her name.
Amethyst.
Amethyst was her name.
—
"Amethyst!" I screamed.
I did not bother to take off my clothes. Dali dali akong sumisid sa dagat para hanapin si Amethyst.
It was so dark under, that it's impossible to see absolutely anything. Cold bit on my skin. I was panicking, my heart pounding . . .
Until I felt a finger brush against my skin.
I turned around.
—
I didn't really care who she was. Ang alam ko lang naman, siya 'yung babaeng sikat at mahal na mahal ng lahat. Wala siyang halaga sa 'kin. We were strangers in each other's lives.
Nasa counter ako nang pumasok silang dalawa. Cinna was smiling brightly, and so was the popular girl behind her. The time was so brief; when sunlight broke through the glass windows, Amethyst walked in, looked around, and our eyes met.
Hers were brown. I thought her eyes . . . weren't as alive as her smile was.
I looked away.
—
I am close to losing my breath.
It wasn't just a brush against my skin. Her fingers felt delicate and cold under the sea. I tried looking closely to the place where she might be, and I saw her . . . in the dark and the cold, cold waters, under the soft moonlight piercing through the sea surface.
I am close to losing my breath.
She is naked. She is looking straight at me, her long hair dancing with the bubbles and the sea water.
She pushes herself close to my body.
I am close to losing my breath.
—
Amethyst sat herself beside the glass window, the afternoon sunlight staining her wholeness. I was pouring coffee onto a cup. Cinna was opening the menu. The smell of coffee wandered around.
