Fountain

Four:

For the third time, I met him but that time it was so sudden. Without any words or explanation, he just suddenly grabs my hand and we run far from the fountain where we met for the second time.

I don't know what he was thinking that he just suddenly pulled me to a run. What are we running for? Because I really don't have any idea why did he do that?!

Yet, the feeling as if someone had followed us, that's how I felt but then because of his hand that holding my hand, I was no longer able to find out and look back at whatever or whoever had followed us. I just look at him and because he's at my front, I can only see his back so clearly that made me realize, he has broad and straight back.

With or without his shirt on, I'm so sure he has a muscular body even if he was only at my age or maybe he is older than me just like Chadd. For some reason, I feel like I am safe to be around him. He can definitely protect me no matter what.

*** ***

Claire's Friend House

Slowly, I walk closer to him and to my surprised he suddenly turned around and for the first time our eyes met. Not from the moon's reflection but through our eyes.

I am speechless as we stare to each other, but I am so sure, he was there right in front of me. But, how?!

I know I am not dreaming or maybe yes, I am just daydreaming. Awake but not fully awake, so, I am so sure he was real this time!

"Wh--"

"You can see me?" he suddenly spoke up. And his voice caught me off guard, he has a deep voice but not that will feel you cold but rather it's soothing and calming. But still I am speechless for a while before I swallowed first before I finally found my voice and asked.

"Wh-who are you?"

"Hey!" suddenly to my surprised Claire came in that caught me off guard. "What are you doing here?"

"Huh?" I look at her then quickly return my gaze back at him but to my surprised he was already gone. So fast I didn't even notice that he was gone. "Where did he go?" I asked as I look around the fountain but I didn't see him anymore.

"What are you talking about?"

"The guy! He was just here!" I said as I pointed my finger from where he was standing.

"Huh? Are you sure about that?"

"Yes!"

"But you were alone when I found you here."

"What?!"

"Yes, you were all alone. So, whoever or whatever you saw. It might be just an imagination or maybe worst there is some ghost roaming around here that I don't think was true. So, let's go and they've been waiting, okay?"

Claire was about to leave when I hold her wrist so tight and said. "Are you sure about what you said?"

"About what?"

I don't know and I don't want to know.

"Anne!" suddenly Chadd came unexpected.

"Oh, you came too." Claire said as she turned her head towards him. "I thought you have a practice."

"Yes but sadly we need to finish it early so," his gaze turns back at me. "I'm here to fetch Anne back home."

"But we aren't--"

"I go home. I'm sorry." I quickly replied and let go of her wrist.

"What! Anne!"

"Next time," it was Chadd who answered. "We promise, we'll treat you bye!"

Afterwards…

"What happened?" Chadd seriously asked me after my long silence.

We were at the playground near our house and fortunately he just let me stay there instead of going home because until now my mind is still confused about what happened earlier. I really don't know if I am just dreaming or hallucinating or maybe I'm just imagining things but I clearly and surely heard him talk.

And right now, I'm still clueless of that event and I am so glad that Chadd let me stay quiet for a longer time before he finally asked me that breaks my silence.

"Nothing." I hide the truth from him because even I couldn't believe what I just experienced.

"Are you sure nothing happened?"

"Of course! And it was you that I am surprised."

"Me? Why?"

"Because you know where I'm going."

"Ariel told me."

"Oh, your friend has a crush on Claire." I said and no wonder he found out where am I and just nodded as an answer. "Alright, I'll go home now."

"Jeanne." He called me by my name and not by my nickname, which only means he is serious. "I'm ready to listen and I'll wait for that time."

I don't know but there is something meaningful about what he said but then I just ignore it and understand it as friendly concerned since he is my only best friend.

*** ***

Dream World

Again, I'm here in this world. And I'm in front of a park where a beautiful fountain displays at the center.

"And what are we doing here?" I asked Dione that was standing at my side.

"To meet our dates," she simply answered.

Yeah, right! Now I remember, she had already told me that we were the ones who made up for the two lost friends on her sister's group date and that was the reason why we also need to lie about our age because we will going to meet the age of eighteen years old.

"Alright, where's your sister?"

"There!" she pointed her sister who's standing near at the fountain and for some reason I suddenly feel cold I don't know but I remember seeing 'him' beside the fountain.

Yes, I saw him there and as we get closer at the fountain. Slowly I begin to see him clearly, until he suddenly grabs my hand. Unexpected and unknown, we just run away from that place, away from everyone else.

*** ***