Gold Flower Legend

Chapter 24: Aquaphobia

*WAVINA JAVIER*

Murphy's house was just after two turns from the hotel yet I needed to send him. Upon reaching his address, my eyes almost wanted to jutt out and I drooled seeing how exquisite his house was. Though, it was already dusk but damn, the house structures really showed off its masterpiece.

"Is this your house?" I asked amusingly as we were already in front of the gate.

"Uhmmmm!" He moaned. 

"s**t!" I hissed. Such a perfect grown man was actually trash when it comes to alcohol. "Let's go!" I squeezed in my hands on his armpits and tugged him out from the car. 

"Murphy, how could you be so heavy? It was like I was lifting a 45 pounds Olympic barbell."

"Don't exaggerate it. You are just weak." He pouted and poke my nose.

"Don't move!" 

Assisting him to go inside his house was really a tough job I experienced in my whole life. Gladly, the gate lock was a palm scanner so I didn't need to grope his pockets again and then made him misunderstand me.

The house was serene. There was also a flower garden at the yard, mostly planted with rose flowers and gumamela. Every side of the hallways were beautified with jungle flames flowers.

As we finally reached the house, I was glued like a sculpture as I saw a big pool. 

Murphy was unable to stand alone. He was a complete mess, leaning in my shoulder. But now, it seemed I was more in trouble. 

Seeing the water that shines from the light coming through from the house, my head hurt so much and a resonating sound echoed in my head. I wagged my head to remain fine but the pain was really killing me and making me deaf.

My vision became  blurry and my body felt unwell as well as my stomach. After, an image appeared in my mind that made it more painful.

I couldn't last the feeling of standing at the side of the pool. Enduring the pain and undesirable things happening in my head, I dared to take a step with closed eyes. But unfortunately, my leg lost its strength and my body swayed. As expected I fell in the water with Murphy being dragged along.

I was drowning and struggling to float into the water but still I couldn't. As I attempted to surface my head, I saw a dragon hovering above me and trying to grab me with his claws. He was scary. His eyes were red like blood. 

I already drank a lot of water like anytime my stomach would grow bigger. I didn't want to come out anymore. Fear possessed my whole body. Afraid that if my head protruded from the water, the dragon would carry me away. Kill me mercilessly with his claws or maybe eat me. I didn't know. 

My strength was used up from struggling in the water and it was suffocating me to death. I surrendered. I closed my eyes and accepted my death. I thought I forgot the past already. The fear and pain from 12 years ago that I was also in the water fighting with death and escaping from the dragon chase. 

As my consciousness was about to collapse, a familiar hand hauled me. It was this. It was like this that the said man before saved me. The way he held my body and the way he took me out from the water was the same. 

But I dare not to open my eyes and let myself pass out instead.