Before I Fall

Author's Note:
This is a "flash fiction" or a type of literary genre providing complete story within 500-1,500 words. I wrote this story as an requirement for our 21st Literature subject, but hey I've decided to share it with you guys. Hope you enjoy reading this!

This is UNEDITED and all purely product of my imagination. Do not copy, reproduce, or distribute. Please obtain permission.

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Today is the day.
Unlike my usual days, I woke up earlier today. I didn’t wait for my alarm to wake me up.
I properly fold my beddings, a very unusual for me.

“Are you not going to eat breakfast?” My mom asked, when I went to our dining room and I just shrugged and let out my heavy breath. I smiled at her and it seems like she was shocked when she saw my smile. Maybe because she haven’t seen this smile for a long time now.

“Janelle? Wha—I kn—“My mom couldn’t construct a single word. And I just laughed at her and say goodbye. I know mom, you are still wondering what comes to me and I know you are hoping that this smile will stay for good.. But I’m sorry mom.

When I arrived at school, as usual these three ladies are waiting for me. They got my bag and as usual they took all the things inside of it. “No snacks for today huh?” Lily asked when she noticed I don’t have any packed snacks inside my bag, and I just looked at her.

“Where’s our money?” Mori asked, and I gave her my whole wallet and I didn’t say anything.

“Can I get my bag now?” I asked, and I saw their glances on each other.

“What’s wrong with you today Janelle?” Kesha asked, and as usual she gave me her annoying smirk.
“Nothing.” I said and left them.

I know it’s a little bit unusual too, I didn’t fight back with them today and I just let them took everything, and that’s okay for me.

I walked on the hallway, and looked on the surroundings. I didn’t notice an unusual thing, or maybe it’s just me who are very unusual today.

“Good morning Janelle!” Our school janitor greeted me again and unlike my usual days..

“Good morning Kuya!” I greeted him back, and just like my mom earlier he looks so shocked because I know this is my first time that I greeted him back.

Meanwhile, in the middle of hallway as usual, there was him again.
“Oppps, I’m sorry! I didn’t meant to do that.” He said after he bumped me, but I know he meant to do that.

In my two years stay here in our school, there’s no day he will not do that, he will bumped me here and will say that line. I still don’t know why he keeps doing that, and sadly I will never be able to know why.

I looked at him, and I smiled at him. “Don’t worry, it’s okay.” I said and I know he’s in shocked too. For a long time, this is my first time to talk to him again and stare at him for a few seconds.

I heard he called me but I didn’t bother to look back.

“Miss Vera? No project again?” Our Philosophy professor asked me, and as usual some of my classmates started to laugh and looked at me again like I’m a piece of trash.

But, I smiled at them and went in front.  I handed to our professor my project that I made last night, and just like my classmates, our professor was shocked. Doing a school project is very unusual for me, I know.

My day went well.
And when 5pm comes, I let out my heavy breath and went to this place, our school rooftop. I placed my bag at one side and walked to the end of side rails of rooftop.

I took off my eyeglasses and I closed my eyes.  I let the cold wind blew my hair.

I saw nothing but darkness, but after a while I saw a girl smiling at me. I felt my lips, automatically smiled back. Two years ago, in this rooftop I lost my sister. 

I wasn’t able to save her and until now, the scar she left here in my heart is still here.

I felt the hot liquid flowing down on my cheeks. I know, I shouldn’t be like this but the pain in me still destroying me alive. They say, I should move on and bring back my old self. The happy and sweet one, but I can’t. I can’t.

Two years ago, I came late. I thought I could still save her, but I’m too late. The moment I went up here, and saw her jump down I knew I lost her. That’s my fault. If I just listen to her before, if I just hugged her and comfort her before, maybe she’s still here, smiling.

When I lost my sister, I also lost my will to live.

I opened my eyes and saw the sun slowly going down, and I look down and saw the busy city. The heavy traffic, and people who are in hurry to go home.

I stand on the side of rails and stepped up. Now, I can feel more the cold wind. I look down, and realized how high it is, but I’m not scared anymore. If this is the only way to end the pain in me, I will not be scared.
I moved my feet, and I know one more move everything will end up here.

I let out my heavy breath, and I will move my feet to finally end this. The cold wind makes my sweat dry. The noise down there, makes me calmer.

When everything in me is ready to move, I heard someone is calling me.
“Megane-chan!!!” I heard, and even though I will not look back I knew him already.

But I didn’t bother to look back, I really want to end this.

“Megane-chan, don’t do this please!” I heard he shouted, but I don’t care. He will not understand me.

“Leave me alone! Let me do this!” I shouted and move my right foot to the end of the rails. One more move and I will die, finally.

“Megane, please.” I heard he whispers but I still don’t give a care.
“Megane, before you fall please think of me. Think of us.” He said and I don’t want to listen anymore.

“Megane, every morning in the middle of hallway, I always bumped you and say that I’m sorry, and I wasn’t meant to do that… but I actually meant it. Because I’m hoping, one day you can finally see me again, and realized that I’m still here for you. And glad, you finally noticed me earlier, but I never knew that it was just a lie. I thought, we can finally make our dreams happen.” He said, and my heart started to rush.

I shouldn’t listen to him, I shouldn’t. There’s no more reason for me to stay here.

“Janelle, please don’t forget that you have me. For two years, I’m always behind your back. You may not noticed but I’m always behind your back. The dreams we build was still here in my mind. You may forget those, but still remember that I am just here.” He said and I felt there’s hot liquid again flowing down on my cheeks.

“Janelle, remember the first time I called you megane-chan? I still remember the smile you are wearing that time and I’ve been longing for that smile, I’ve been longing for you.”

I felt the heavy pain forming inside my chest and suddenly my mind flash back some memories. Memories that I thought I already forget.

“Megane, if I will lost you today.. I will also lose my will to live.” I heard he said and I realized I still have him.
“Megane…” He called me and I automatically looked back.

I saw the tears slowly flowing down on his cheeks. He smiled at me, and he offered his hand to me. “Before you fall, would you stay with me?” He asked and I knew this moment, everything will not go on the way I planned.

“Ye—yes. I want to.” I said before I took his hand.

Two years ago, when I lost my will to live here. Two years ago, I came too late to save someone here, but now it’s not too late for him. Because before I fall, he made me stay.