I Could Fall

Chapter Thirty-Nine

I heard the soft crashing of the waves before I saw the ocean in front of me. The sun was shining brightly and the sky was at its bluest. It was beautiful... and peaceful.

Warm fingers intertwined with mine. I glanced at it before trailing the arms. A smile covered my lips when I saw Ali. His chocolate brown eyes looked like amber under the sun. I could stare at it forever. He smiled back at me.

He didn't say anything. He just pulled me with him. My forehead creased.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

Tumuloy lang si Ali paghila sa akin hanggang sa naabot na ng alon ang mga paa ko. In a blink of an eye, we were on a boat.

My smile went bigger at the pictureseque view. Tumayo ako para pumunta sa harap ng bangka at sinalubong ang malamig hangin. My hair was wildly following the wind.

"Can you see this, Ali?" I joyfully asked and turned my head to look at Ali but he wasn't there.

Bumagsak ang ngiti ko at agad na tinubuan ng kaba sa dibdib.

"A-Ali?" I called out.

A loud splash hit the boat. My knee hit the wood. I winced and held on the edge to keep myself from falling out of it.

"Hyon!" a voice called me.

My heart dropped. I looked for the owner of the voice and my eyes went wide when I saw Atticus helplessly flailing in the water.

I breathed in sharply. "Atticus!" I screamed.

"Hyon, help! Please save me!" Desparation was laced in his voice. Umuubo dahil nakakainom ng tubig.

I didn't think twice. I jumped in the water and swam my way to where he was.

"Hyon!" he continued shouting my name and coughing.

"Papunta na ako, Atticus! I'll save you!" I yelled to assure him as I moved my arms alternately, kicking my legs with all my might.

"Hyon, please!" muling sigaw nito.

"Atticus!" I cried out. My eyes were starting to water. Pakiramdam ko ay kahit anong langoy ko ay hindi pa rin lumalapit ang distansya naming dalawa.

"Hyon," a different voice called my name but I continued with my strokes.

The salt water was getting in my eyes but I still kept it open to see where Atticus is. Bakit ang layo niya pa rin?

"No..." I cried out and I treaded the water harder and faster.

"Hyon!" A hand grabbed my arm.

Napasinghap ako nang malakas. I sat up and desperately gasped for air. My eyes were brimmed with hot liquid.

My eyes were wild as I scanned my surrounding. I was in my bedroom. There's no boat. No sea. No Atticus. The hole in my chest made its presence known.

"It's just a bad dream, Hyon," Mommy softly cooed. She brushed my forehead and gently caressed my back to calm me.

"Mommy, I saw Atticus drowning," I sobbed loudly. "Tinatawag niya ako. I tried to save him but I couldn't. Mommy, I couldn't save him."