Fragments of Us

3: Ella

I felt the warm rays of the sun on my face as I slowly opened my eyes. I found myself on a soft mattress inside a house made of bamboo and nipa.

The last thing I remembered from last night was me trying to drown myself. Well, apparently, fate had other plans. Someone must have found me and brought me back ashore.

My soaked clothes were gone, replaced by a shirt I'm quite comfortable in.

I got up and approached the window to find that I'm somewhere a bit far from the beach where I was pouring all my sentiments last night.

"Dad, she's awake!"

A girl from around fifteen called out to his dad as she saw me by the window and just stared at me in silence as her dad approached us.

"Uhm, good morning. Thanks for saving my life and for letting me stay through the night."

I awkwardly said. Well, I wasn't exactly thankful, but I still managed to survive.

"Is there any chance I can go back to the beach? My things are still at the place I'm staying."

I said it while scratching my nape and forcing a smile.

"Don't you want to stay for breakfast?"

The man in his forties asked me, flashing a big smile on his face.

"Thanks, but I think I already caused enough trouble for you."

I politely declined while forcing a grin.

"It's no big, but if you don't really want to stay for breakfast, my daughter can accompany you back to the beach."

The generous stranger said.

"You can call me Tatay Jessie, by the way."

He plastered his wide smile again.

"Thanks again, Tatay Jessie."

I thanked him again while helping myself down the nipa hut.

"You can come visit us sometimes."

He shouted as her daughter led the way for us to the beach.

"I sure will!"

I answered him while waving my hand from afar.

"So, you were trying to kill yourself, right?"

The kid directly asked me.

"What?"

I laughed at the way she just literally said it to my face.

"I said you were trying to kill yourself last night."

She repeated what she said as we continued to stride to our destination.

"I was not."

I laughed again.

"Well, anyhow, it's none of my business. I'm Mafe, by the way."

She stopped walking to face me.

"Ella."

I replied by giving her my hand, but she turned her back to me and started walking again.

"You're pretty. Whatever it is you're going through, especially if it's just about love, it's not worth ending your life over."

She straight-forwardly said it again.

"Coming from a fifteen-year-old?"

I scoffed.

"I'm sixteen!"

She faced me again with her brows furrowed.

"And we're here."

She immediately headed directly back to her home.

"You owe me some pancakes and shakes. I'm already starving."

She said as she did an "I'm watching you" sign with her fingers.

"Next time."

I smiled at her.

Well, she's cute.

This day isn't so bad at all.