11 Bird Call
Falling to her death in slow motion, upon the brutal edge of the solid stone stairs, hard as a gem and carved out of the premium mountain rocks of Z Nation, Goldie's whole life flashes before her eyes as her thoughts recite a parting epilogue on her behalf.
...
'So, this is how I die… falling so miserably, headfirst, upon the merciless stone stairs of my school after living an unfulfilled life.
I always felt school could kill. It could bore you to death, but actually dying at school?… No, I never expected this could happen, much less to pretty little me.
What a weird way to die!
I never got to confess my feelings for Ryan. Scratch that! I never even got to speak to him even once.
I never even got to find out what I am. I only got to know that I'm not even human, just this morning, (darn my lovely parents… keeping secrets from me…)
Well, I guess it wasn't their fault as they were trying their hardest to protect me, but I would really have loved to know I wasn't human earlier, and where I came from.
Born out of a golden egg… growing wings! Hah!
I mean, I could be a chicken for all I care, but I guess we would never find out.
Am I okay with this?
No, I am not okay with this! I am not okay with dying like this…
Heck, I didn't even get to have breakfast. I'm hungry. I only got to smell Mom's delicious pancakes before darting out of the house… I wonder, who's going to eat them when I die?...
They better not go to waste!
I might not be okay with dying like this, with so much unfinished business left behind, but I guess I had better be content that I got what I got…
Sweet parents, lovely Jasmine as a best friend, and I also got to experience a good dose of unrequited love, so I'll take it.
I got to see Ryan's beautiful face in this life. That was good too! A blessing indeed…
Even though there was so much I wanted to do that I didn't get to do, such as getting my driving license, driving, talking to Ryan, dating Ryan, kissing Ryan, marrying Ryan, and all the other much less important stuff on my bucket list, I still gotta be grateful. Cos Mom says to be grateful in all things and to never complain…
So. Goodbye world, Mom, Dad, Jasmine, Ryan… I love you.
And if there is an afterlife, I hope I get to know my true identity this time!'
___
Goldie says her goodbyes, with few regrets.
At least, she was funny till her last moments.
But suddenly, right when all hope is lost for Goldie's beautiful face, someone catches her from behind, grabbing her swiftly in one hand by her backpack strung against her back, leaving her suspended just about two inches away from the dangerous, stone edge of the Hugher High main building's front entrance stairs.
"gasp!"
She gasps when she opens back up her eyes to see herself suspended just inches away from impact.
After the incident with Jasmine nearly taking off her jacket, she had fixed her jacket and worn both straps of her backpack properly on her back as extra security to ensure that there was no repeat of such a close call.
Now the backpack, again, was saving her life!
Who knew, right?
…
The strength holding Goldie up pulls her backwards by the top strap of her backpack, lifting her up and away from danger, with one powerful swing, to lean into the strong arms of her saviour.
Her knight in shining armour.
At the same time, a male voice speaks;
"Hey, watch your step-"
Ryan's words freeze in his mouth when he looks down at the girl he just rescued, steadying her in his arms.
Never before in his life had he been so up close with such a beautiful girl. An unearthly beauty with the face of a goddess!
Instantly, two cupids flutter around, taking aim at Ryan's heart.
Strike!
The arrows dig straight into his heart, and just like that, he is instantly raptured!
Whoever this girl was, she was the most incredible beauty he had ever seen. Her sudden, innocent gaze and large, enchanting hazel-green eyes with a golden hue left him speechless. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before.
She was way too pretty and radiant, with a face that could stop hearts. Her lips were glossy and lush, but in a natural colour and tone, and she smelled so good too!
It was an attack, straight to his heart.
'Who is this?... Why have I never seen her before?', questions Ryan within himself, momentarily forgetting everything…
…forgetting what he meant to say, his very name and purpose in life as he stares with wonder, utterly speechless.
It is love at first sight.
___
Goldie, stunned, looks up at the face of her rescuer.
'Ryan!...'
She was caught leaning back into his firm arms!
He was speaking to her with his face lowered, her face just inches away from his!
His brooding gaze was focused on her with rapt attention!
Goldie's brain goes into full panic as she stares frozen speechless, face to face with Ryan's handsome face, and he stares back equally speechless.
'So close!!', she gasps silently, swallowing.
He was so close!
Way too close!
Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!
Goldie's heart starts pounding out loud, picking up pace with each thump as her heart begins to race.
___
Everyone in the vicinity, stops in their tracks, attracted by the magnificent spectacle before them; the drop-dead gorgeous school damsel, caught rather romantically in the arms of the amazing Ryan Muller!
They all watch in speechless awe with mouths agape, including Jasmine who had remained frozen in shock from the moment she saw her friend fall so suddenly, and tried and failed at catching her, leaving her to nearly face-plant upon stairs made purely of stone, to this point when she was being cradled in the arms of the amazing Ryan Muller, of all people!
How was this happening? And what would happen next?
…
Ba-dump! Ba-dump! Ba-dump!
At this point, Goldie can hear her heartbeat deafening her, and so can Ryan! But that is nothing compared to what comes next.
Ryan's hands grab on tighter to Goldie in an attempt to lift her to a standing position, gently bringing her up closer to his face!
"gasp!"
Goldie gasps, her body forcing her to breathe by reflex and suddenly, what feels like a hiccup bubbles its way up and out of her mouth followed in the millisecond by a more shocking sound…
"Hic- Kee-eee-arr!!!"
A loud, piercing bird call, resembling the sound a hawk makes while soaring high up in the skies suddenly erupts out of Goldie's mouth!
(Dear readers, it is important to note that hawks also make this "kee-eeee-arr" sound as a mating call, apart from as a hunting call.)
"Kee-eee-arr!"
The sound echoes loud and clear to the hearing of everyone remotely around the vicinity, causing the once bustling environment to come to a complete standstill as everyone looks in the direction of the sudden unique sound.
Instantly, Goldie claps a hand over her mouth, her eyes widening in shock.
'What- What was that?!', she questions within herself in shock.
She had just screeched in birdcall!
…
She turns her head slowly and stiffly, ridden with dread to look about her, and finds everyone's gaze fixated on her.
Her shocking, unexpected birdcall… they had heard it!
EVERYONE had heard it!
'Oh no!'
___
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