PROLOGUE

Aixela's Pov:

The ground was shaking. The trees were swaying. Chairs were moving. And I do nothing but hold her hand.

"Mimi, I'm scared!" I cried.

"Xela, what did I tell you if something like this happened?" She asked, looking into my eyes, convincing me to quit crying yet her eyes look so sorrowful.

"You told me to pray," I sniffed.

"Ok, so stop crying and just pray. You know that Jesus will save us, always."

I nodded.

I was in the middle of my prayer when I heard something. When I lifted my head, I saw something's about to fall on me.

"Aixelaaaa!!!"

That scream! Her scream! That was the last second that I heard her voice.

"Uh--- Mimiiiii!"

She pushed me to be safe from the crumbling ground. She sacrificed her life just to save me. She was the one who got buried in the ground instead of me.

"Mimiiii!" I cried, attempting to reach her with my small hands. Until an enormous shake happened.

The ground fell and I was caught from the stones and soils. It's dull and dusty. I can't breathe properly. But still I tried to scream. I managed to ask for help.

I screamed many times, but no one rescued me. I thought it was my time. Until I heard a voice.

"Little girl, can you hear me?" someone asked. "Can you hear me? Hey, do you hear me?"

I was catching up my breath. I barely breathe and speak. "H-help.. M-mister.. Please.. H-help.."

I don't have enough strength to move. I already accepted that I am not able to escape death that time, but again, the man spoke.

"Just wait, little girl, ok? I will put you out from there," He said. I heard him grumbling as he pushes the blocks. I wanted to help him, but I can't manage to move.

"Just-- few-- pushes-- more---"

Bit by bit, I can see the light. My spastic eyes keep on looking at the light, then a man showed up.

"You are safe, don't worry," He said.

I smiled gently. He carried me. He was about to ran me away but I whispered. "M-my h-handkerchief..."

He looked around until he saw my handkerchief. He took it and smiled. "Here it is."

He carried me through but when we are nearly over the opening, the ground trembled again and more rocks fell. The ground we were standing on swamped. It feels like the ground was eating the both of us.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"There's no way we can survive," I cried again.

He didn't spoke back. Instead, he pushed the rocks.

"We can survive if you would just help me," He said. "Let's push these rocks for them not to lower and bury us."

Even though I was really weak, I gave my best to push the rocks. His plan worked. The ground stopped from lowering. Maybe the rocks blocked some soils. It gave us enough space.

We were stuck under the rubble until the earthquake stopped. Aftershocks followed yet we remained calm as he talk to me genuinely.

"You know what, I have a son. He's like you, smart and a good kid."

"Do you think you will still be able to see him?"

"Yes! I know they will rescue us."

"But we've been stuck here for forty-five minutes already."

He just smiled and I looked away.

"I shouldn't have celebrated my birthday," I started to mourn.

"Oh? Is it your birthday? Happy birthday."

"Is this still a happy birthday? Can't you see our situation?"

"We are still alive so you must be happy."

"But until when? Until when are we going to survive?"

He took a deep breath.

"We came here because my son got an award from his school. Also, I got my promotion, so I brought him here."

He get something from his pocket.

"I am very proud of my son. I love him very much. And if ever, you would have the chance to see him... Please give this to him. And tell him, he is my only son. I love him and I am very proud of him."

His voice started to break and I can see the sadness in his face.

"How will I give it to him? Both of us are going to die tonight," I said.

"No," He said. "You will survive."

He started pulling the rocks that we pushed earlier.

"Hey, Mister? What are you doing? Do you want to die now already?" I screamed.

"There is only one way out. If you want to survive, help me pull these rocks," He said as he held my arms.

"But if we do that, the ground will lower and we will get more stuck."

"That's the only way to make a passage from this enclosure."

"But--"

"Just listen to me!"

And so I did what he commanded me to do. I was more frightened by the fact that despite the block had an opening, the two of us were sinking.

"Look! Is the opening enough for you to get away?" He asked.

"I think so."

"Great. Now come here. Place your feet on my knees. On the count of three, you'll jump and reach that hole, ok?"

I looked at him.

"And how about you?"

He got silent.

"Do you think I don't know what you're planning about?"

"You are smarter than I thought," He smirked. "But yeah, what you think is right. So come on, and leave this place."

"No," I refused and stepped back.

He looked shocked. "What? What are you waiting for? Come on now before the ground trembles again."

"I said no!" I screamed. "I would not let anyone die again because of me."

He sighed. "Child, listen. This is the only way to get out. If we won't do this, both of us will die."

"It's fine!"

"What?!"

I looked at him and cried. "My Mimi sacrificed herself in order to rescue me. And now, you want to let yourself die just to save me?"

"Because that is my duty, to save people. So please, come on here and save yourself."

"No, I won't leave you here. Let's die together."

He walked towards me and put his hands on my shoulders.

"Your Mimi sacrificed her life in order to save you, and now you just want to die. Do you want to waste your Mimi's sacrifice?"

"But you will get buried if I pass through the hole," I cried.

"That doesn't matter. I am old enough. But you..." He placed his hand over my head. "You are still young. You have to finish your studies and make a family."

"Please promise me you will tell my son what I told you earlier," He added. He wiped my tears and held my cheeks to convince me. And I nodded.

That night, I promised myself to pray for that man everyday. Even though we don't know each other, he still helped me and is willing to die just to save me.

"Mister," I said and hugged him tightly. "I am sorry."

He again wiped my tears out. "Don't be sorry. Always be thankful, child. Always be.."

He held me tightly and lifted me. "J-just place your e-elbows from anything a-above there."

I gave my full effort to lift myself. That Mister is pushing me upwards that makes him drowned from the ground. He is gradually declining until I reached the top.

"Mister!" I screamed and tried to reach his hand.

"Promise me to give those to my son, ok?" He said.

"Mister!!!" I cried.

The man smiled until the ground has shaken again and he got swallowed by the ground. I screamed and tried to dig to rescue him but a man carried me and took me away from there.

"Mister!!!"

The rocks and soils fall from Mister's spot and now I know what happened to him. My heart feels like it began to stop beating.

Mister, thank you for saving me. I'm sorry.

"MISTER!" That was the word that I had said after I opened my eyes and woke up.