When the Water Called

1 / Present Day

I was home, in my apartment in New York, legs-stretched laying on a couch with my dog, Hayate, beside me. I tried to calm myself after I worn out my mind because of coding so much. My head reeling, as soon as I lay my head on the soft pillow of my couch my eyes shifted to sleep, or in my case, haunting nightmares.
I always had this recurring dream that haunts me every month when December comes along. I'll be in a cold dark pool under my old highschool's gymnasium, underneath its waters cuddled up alone while a faceless man watches me up in the water waiting for me to wake up.
Then, I'll see his hand reach out turning the pool dark red making me more scared trying to wake up.

Colby: ngah! (I said while panting)

I was woken up by my dog leaping over my chest then running towards the door looking towards me.

Seeing his reaction, I brushed off my panting and tried to calm myself down again. I took my prepared potty bags and got outside putting my coat on, leashing him before I opened the door.

Everything was always busy in New York, I never liked how noisy it was even in December. You always needed to squeeze into a crowd  just to properly walk at rush hour.

For my lucky ass, I walked there at that time. I was bumping around like a ball being passed on by a group of soccer players while my only sense of direction was Hayate leading me wherever he goes.
Good thing it wasn't snowing.

Then, suddenly he stopped and took his pooping escapades. I took a look around towards the scenery trying to not look at my dog pooping. While looking around, someone passed by me while looking at his watch walking fast. It took me off guard, I only saw his fluffy hair and the back of his jacket with a embroidery of a letter "M". I tried taking a glance once more but when I almost had a chance of looking again my dog wanted to go and run towards the other direction of the road he was standing in. Swiftly, I took the poop bag and scoop the poop out as cleanly as possible, then I continued his walk.

I was wondering why he looked so familiar. Why his black hair looked like a lingering memory I've already seen before or maybe how the shape of the letter "M" feels like something I saw several years ago. The embroidery was very unique, it wasn't something that you can see everyday. It was lined with golden yellow thread that gleamed while the person walked towards me.

Colby: He must be very known to be wearing such a statement.

After some time, I got home. The time I got back, I was greeted by a missed call from Anthony. He texted me, "Hi Colby, u free on Friday?".

That's weird, Anthony is my coworker, if you can call it that. He works at the same company I'm in but he's a manager inside the company so every instruction the boss sends goes to him and gets sent to the other employees. We were close back at highschool but now our conversations are rather distant and cold. I usually don't talk to him about my personal life unless it will affect my work.

Colby: I can't leave him hanging, but why did he ask me all of a sudden.

I texted him, "why?"

Anthony: We have a swimming reunion on Friday happening at our old school. I was wondering if you'd like to come.

Even though it's stupid to come, something urged me to go. My body felt like it was the best opportunity to do something. I just didn't know why. Some part of me thinks I'll find an answer there on this ringing in my ear, this  haunting, that has been going on for years and still recurring till this goddamn season.

Colby: Owh, I'd like to come. What time?

Anthony: At noon.

Colby: ok see you there

I closed my phone immediately. It was the first time I texted someone again that's not my parents or some Telecom, saying some sim plan that I don't need or my therapist calling out my next session to stop my dream terrors. I took it as a sign that I should probably go there.