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Monday, February 9, 2009 @ 12:08 PM
ALOHA. (:
I had nothing to do on the weekends, so randomly, i decided to do a weekly story which i had always wanted to do. Well, the inspiration came from stephenie meyer. Yeahs, so enjoy.
PrefaceAt Marine sands, all you did was surf.
I am Ray. I love surfing. In fact, I had always. When I was a child, seeing people surf at Marine sands made me green. Everyone talked surf and board, and as I grew up, so did I. One piece of surf talk you would always hear, “you should have been here yesterday.” Surfing was my life, literally. I was good at it. No, I was actually the best.
But then, she came. She was beautiful. She was cool. Best of all, she surfed. As much as I hate to admit, she was better at it than me. Way better. At Marine sands, you could say I was popular among the guys, and of course, the girls. If you surfed great, the attention came automatically. Yet, she never so much as gave me a glance. This was surprising because it was a first. I was used to girls flocking over me and somehow, I found her mysteriously attractive.
That summer was the first time I caught her riding a wave. She was like a part of the sea, her red hair slicked with saltwater and her face arched in determination. The gently sea breeze and the sunset carved out her slim figure, and I could see her silhouette against the setting sky. The picture fit perfectly- her and the vast, blue ocean. It felt like a sad, lonely song, calling out to me. Just like the north and south poles of a magnet, I was irrevocably attracted. I wanted to know her name, who she was, where she lived and where she came from. I wanted to know everything about her.
For many days on end, I would go surfing with my buddies. Not for the thrill but in trying to spot her. I found her easily. Any warm-blooded male would immediately pull her out among the sea of heads. I noticed her hair changed colour everyday. Sometimes it was a shade of purple, other times, it was jet-black. It seemed like she dyed her hair daily. How she did it, I had no idea. One thing I knew, it was ever-changing.
My buddies were all hitting on her, yet none hit homerun. They were either mercilessly turned down, or given the cold shoulder. I had not the guts to say hi. Yet, I wished and wished a miracle would happen. Fortunately, fate decided to hand me luck and it did.
1. A Miracle
Great moments are born from great opportunities.Summer was over in a flash when school started. Everyone who lived in Marine sands went to WSC, also known as Wave-Side College. There was a reason to why the school was called Wave-Side. It was situated beside the sea. So, basically, I knew everybody, all except for one. She was the new girl I had seen at the beach. You see, in WSC, everyone knew everybody. News of this newcomer travelled fast and I found myself staring face to face with her on the first day of school.
“Class, this is a transfer student from the Pacific, she will be doing a brief introduction before we dwell on the history concerning …” Ms Elizabeth’s voice drowned out as I glanced towards the doorway.
The room silenced as she entered. Everyone had their eyes fixed on her, including mine. I was holding my breath the minute she stepped in. I could not quite believe my eyes. It was really happening. Her hair today was a shade of shimmering blue. A seashell necklace, I hadn’t noticed before, slung around her neck caught my eye. She wore a simple plain turquoise top with a matching pair of blue flip-flops. I could make out the tan she got from staying out under the sun and the way her slim waist peered out from under her top. Low whistles could be heard from behind me and it was all I could do to stop myself from going up and touching her.
“Hi. I’m Aquarelle and I’m from the Pacific. I know it sounds absurd but I am from the Pacific. Just don’t ask me how,” she said sardonically, eyes scanning across the room.
Her glance paused at me and her eyes met mine. At that moment, I swore my heart stopped. She surveyed me carefully and the gaze intensified. I tried not to stare back, feeling uncomfortable. She was staring at me? I could feel the flush gnawing at my face. For what seemed like eternity, her eyes never leaving mine, she continued formally, “I am pleased to meet you.”
She was assigned the seat in front of me and throughout the whole lesson, I found myself staring at her back. I tried talking to her, but she didn’t turn around. I could feel Flora’s eyes boring holes at my back but I couldn’t care less. Flora was one of those girls who wanted something more than a friend from me. When I told her politely that I was not interested, she became even more persistent. Her persistence became annoying and it was difficult to escape her.
“Ray, were you looking at that new girl just now? I’m so much sexier,” Flora purred in my ear immediately after classes while the bunch of girls beside her giggled.
I could see Aquarelle getting out of her seat. She was leaving. She threw a backward glimpse at me and I knew I had to talk to her, somehow.
“I’m sorry but I got to run,” I muttered. I grabbed my bag and hurriedly headed for the door, oblivious to Flora’s disappointment.
Aquarelle’s long bluish hair disappeared along the corridor. I widened my strikes, trailing her like a cat after a mouse. I did not know why I was following her, but there was an invisible force pulling me to her. Her gait widened as she stepped out of the school compound and I had to race after her. She seemed like she knew there was someone behind, yet she stalked gracefully on. We cut along the rocky ridges and it became obvious she was heading to the beach. When I reached there, panting heavily, she was already sitting by the sea.
The waves lapped softly at her feet. I crouched in the distance when she stood up. She stepped gradually, further and further away from shore. The water came up to her ankles, her knees, her thighs and then her shoulders. Suddenly, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore created a melodious tune. It was terrifying, yet electrifying. A huge wave rose and there she was, riding it. It was a magnificent view. She was such a natural surfer. I couldn’t help looking on in awe. The tide roared and swelled as she cut through it confidently. I caught the look of triumph in her eyes and then as fast as it happened, she disappeared. The waves broke into ripples and instantly, the sea became silent. The horizon was peaceful and except for the specks of grey in the sky, there was no sight of Aquarelle.
“Aquarelle! Are you out there?” I howled, facing the immense ocean, hearing only the echoes of my voice.
***
The next day, her seat was empty. So were the day after and the following. For two weeks, it was pretty much the same. I became increasingly irritated at her absence. Every morning, my high hopes would presumably fade away. Was she running away from me? Had my staring somehow unsettled her? And then, there were the rumours. Someone had seen her diving at midnight. Worst, she was called names- Aquarelle the sea-witch, Aquarelle the water demon. It all did not make sense. My moodiness affected my best pal, Lava. On the first day of the third week, he tried to cheer me up.
“Let’s surf! A challenge is up! The wave today is great. Clear skies and low wind speeds,” he rattled on excitedly. “Look Ray, I don’t know what’s up with you, but I know you need to surf. You haven’t been at it for two whole weeks!”
Surf, huh. Yeah, maybe that was the best way to go. What did she matter to me? I could forget about her and get on with life. Or so, I thought.
2. The truthTruth exists; only lies are invented. A lie told often enough becomes the truth.
“Yo, dude. Where have you been?” Reed exclaimed as he saw me heading to the surf with my board. His side-kick, Koi, watched me in distaste.
One thing I learnt on the surf- never provoke Koi. He was infamously ambitious and greedy to win. I knew, he would definitely have surpassed Reed, if it hadn’t been for his near-drowning incident.
“He’s been bummed out.” Lava replied quickly, casting me a look which said I-will-handle-it.
If Reed saw the exchange, he appeared like he did not. The guy definitely could star as an actor. He regarded me closely before thumping me on the back, “you’ll get over it, man. Let’s catch some wave!”
His holler was appropriate. It sparked the fire in me I had been familiar with. Reed went first. He executed a classic carve. We clapped supportively as he raised his hands in elation. Lava did a bottom turn before disappearing into the barrel.
“Did you see that? It was a bitchin’ wave!” Reed cried as he paddled over.
“It was epic!” Cross-stepping, I nodded encouragingly at Reed. Lava signaled when it was my turn to ride a wave. I pushed away from the line up and did a layback. It was nerve-racking to finally be able to accomplish something I had not done in a long time. Suddenly, the winds picked up speed. I realized I was caught inside. I was too far out and the waves were breaking further out.
“The surf’s blown out!” Lava shouted worriedly from the shore. The on-looking Reed seemed confused by the sudden weather change.
Then, I saw her. She dropped in on the wave as I lost my footing.
Before I had the time to respond, I was completely wiped out by the tide. I was engulfed in murky waters and all around me, bubbles. I could hear in the distance, shouting and the low droning of the sea. My lungs fought for oxygen as I tried to move my un-cooperating limbs. All I saw was a kaleidoscope of colours before darkness eclipsed my vision.
***
“Is he alright?” a girl’s voice rang out in my head. I tried to open my eyes but they were too heavily shut.
Someone touched my palm. “Give him time. He’s going to be alright in thirty seconds.”
I lifted my eyelids and stared groggily up. Trying to register the face before me, I managed to sit up. It was who I thought it was. But there was someone else; someone that looked exactly like her, but older.
“Are you okay?” Aquarelle inquired, concern scrawled all over her face. I was confused by her reaction. What did she care?
“How did you get on the wave so fast? You weren't even in the water before I entered,” I growled. “And where did you disappear to that day?”
“Your eyes must have been lying. I didn’t so much as touch a single drop of seawater just now,” she whispered, exchanging a dark look with the girl next to her.
“My eyes do not lie. I knew what I saw,” I snorted indignantly.
“Well, in that case, they malfunctioned. You need glasses.” She said hauntingly, looking right at me.
I stared at her. Up close, she was so pretty. Her eyes glistened in the sunlight as it shone directly on her pointed face. She looked breath-taking. “You dyed your hair again. It has streaks of yellow.” I said softly. As the words escaped my lips, I realized I had said them out. A blush immediately erupted, and I hurriedly look away.
Aquarelle stared at me with an unreadable expression, then, to my amazement, she laughed. It sounded like water trickling from an ice-berg. Her laughter was a melodious, tinkling tune. It was one I had not heard of, and one I would always remember.
“You think I dyed my hair?” She inquired in disbelief, more to herself, than to me. Her remark was so soft it was barely audible.
She turned her gaze on the older girl beside her. For what seemed like minutes, they stared at each other blankly. It looked like they were having a silent conversation, but it could not be so. People didn’t read each other’s mind. Then the older girl spoke as she extended her hand, “I’m Aquamarine, Aquarelle’s older sister. It’s a pleasure meeting you.”
I shook her hand formally. It was icy cold, like she had just taken her hand out of an icebox. “You were knocked out and my sister, Aquarelle happened to pass by. She saved you in time. Nothing more.” She said firmly, mouth shut tightly in a thin line.
My eyes flickered back to Aquarelle’s. She half-smirked and shrugged at me. I knew, then, that there was something going on between the two of them. What was it? I could not put a finger on. My suspicion heightened when I saw that I was at the far end. Had I not been at the stretch of beach nearest to school? Where were the guys?
As if to answer my question, Aquamarine declared, “An ambulance is on its way.”
I screwed my brows in concentration and squinted purposefully. This part of the beach was barren, except for a few coconut trees; all that came into view was sand and more sand.
“Your friends will know where to find you, please wait patiently,” Aquarelle interrupted, emphasizing each word. She probably thought I was making a run for it. She was wrong, there was no where for me to go but wait.
The medics came soon enough and I was brought to the hospital. On the way, both girls eyed me wearily. I said nothing, thinking through what had happened. It was unlikely for Aquarelle to be on the wave at once, and immediately after the tide swelled? It was impossible. There was only one logical explanation and Aquarelle knew it. I just had to find a way to make her talk.
“I know you are lying,” I hissed softly at Aquarelle when her sister went to attend to my medical check-up report.
“You don’t know anything,” she said tersely.
“Whenever there’s a tidal wave, you appear suddenly out of nowhere, how is this happening?” I interjected fiercely, banging my fist on the counter in frustration.
“Don’t think that I chose to keep my mouth shut means I’m blind. I am far from that,” I threatened, my voice dropping to a snarl. “I saw everything and I know you know what I’m talking about.”
“I do not know what you’re talking about,” she replied coldly. “Ray, you were unconscious. What you saw might have been a mistake.”
“Bullshit. There was no mistake. How do you explain your sudden disappearance then? How do you know my name as well?” I growled.
My face was inches away from hers now. I stared straight into her eyes, unblinking. What was she hiding? Why was she being so defensive? For what seemed like an eternity, she stared back at me.
“I‘ve had enough of the games,” she muttered tiredly.
“Try me,” I said stiffly, challenging her to come up with a plausible explanation. Aquarelle looked like she was about to say something. She hesitated, then, startled by something behind me, she stopped.
“Hey man, you alright?” Lava slapped me on my back at that crucial moment. I spun around immediately. My brain registered their faces slowly-Lava, Reed and Koi. Although I had not seen them for a mere hour, it felt like such a long time.
“You made us worried. During the lull, we looked for you everywhere. Those were some sick waves huh?” Reed continued. He stopped rattling when Lava nudged him. Their gazes flickered back and forth between me and Aquarelle.
“Oh, did we interrupt something?” Koi questioned deliberately. I felt like clubbing his fat head at that moment.
I gave them a stern look which said you-already-did. My silence spoke volumes and they immediately shushed.
“No, actually, we were just about to leave.” Aquamarine returned timely, grabbing hold of Aquarelle and dragging her away from us.
“See you at school.” I mumbled. Flipping her hair over her shoulders, Aquarelle paused to smile before sauntering off.
“Wow, dude. You struck big,” Lava hinted intentionally.
“Yeah, she sure is something,” I agreed, sticking both my hands into my jean pockets.
That night, as I laid on my bed, I thought about Aquarelle, how mysterious she was and what she was about to tell me. She was like a jigsaw puzzle. I had to find the missing piece before the answers came. When I finally dozed off, my dreams were full of her, too.
***
Dim sunlight filtered in through the windows. I blinked as I stretched serenely. It was early dawn, time to get ready for school. I turned, facing the window, expecting to see the rising sun; yet, whatever blocked me from view shocked me.
Someone sat on the window still, looking at me quietly. She resembled Aquarelle, but she could not possibly be here. Her hair was longer and she looked a lot slender. I was home and in bed. This was probably a dream. She was so surreal and beautiful. Her hair swayed lightly in the morning draft and she carried a salty scent. It reminded me of the days I spent in the orphanage, of childhood fantasies and lonely songs. I stumbled blindly towards her, thinking it was part of a dream. Just as I was about to caress her hair, she vanished.
Rubbing my eyes, I exhaled fully. Someone was haunting me in my dreams. Was it a dream? If it was, it seemed real enough.
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