Chapter 30

The sun scorched down on a beautiful sandy beach as a ten year old girl in a sparkling bathing suit ran towards it. Her feet dug in to the warm sand. Delighted, she ran over to the water and kicked it as she giggled.

Sasha then sat on the shore. The salt water covered her like a blanket, sliding back and forth to her waist, leaving beads of water and sand on her legs. Her eyes caught some seashells lying around, glistening in the sun. So she stood up and started collecting them.

A bunch of white seashells on her palms, she felt like she hit the jackpot. Later on, she will give it to her mother as souvenirs just like whenever they go to the beach. Digging up some sand, she made a small hole to place her seashells on while the water invited her to go in.

Bernie watched her as he laid himself out in one of the chaises under an umbrella. He didn't bother to change into a bathing suit as he feared his brown skin would get darker by the time he bathed himself in the sun. He just loved to lounge around at the beach in the summer and read his favorite book or magazine.

"Auntie! Come, let's swim!" called Sasha as she continued to go to the water. She wanted to go further so she could jump over the waves.

"It's okay, honey. You can go," Bernie coaxed her and he started opening the magazine to his favorite section, The Love Guru. The section was designated for all problems of the hearts in which readers asked for advice, and "the love guru" answered them accordingly.

He was so focused on it that he didn't notice that Sasha was far off from the shore and a little way deeper into the sea.

Sasha thought it would be nicer to go beyond her limit. As if in an impulse, she threaded through the water, not minding how it reached her chin.

'As long as I could feel the bottom, I'm safe,' she assured herself. She looked back at Bernie who was still engrossed at what he's reading.

She sighed, wishing her parents could have come with her instead. Her mom would truly love swimming and maybe his dad would, too. There was a part of her that she wished she had learned how to swim so she would not worry if there was a huge wave that would push her down. Drowning was the last thing she ever wanted.

Her heart was calm and silent as she observed the waves. They're not as big as she expected them to be so she casts off her fears. Taking a deep breath, she dunk her head in the water and closed her eyes. It didn't take a second before she popped her head up again and exhaled. That was enough for her hair to get wet.

She started to walk back when suddenly she saw water overhead and as she turned, her eyes grew wide as the wave of salt water crashed before her, sinking her back down. Gasping for air, she tried to reach the bottom with her feet but she couldn't feel it. Her heart hammered inside her chest, desperate to find it, but no luck. The wave must have moved the sand and made it unevenly.

Fear overcame her as water filled her mouth and her arms reached for something to hold on to.. but there was none.

'I don't want to die. Noooo!' her heart sank as the image of her mother flashed before her mind. She tried to cry but no tear fell from her cheeks as slowly her body gave in.

'Goodbye, mom...' she said, bidding her farewell.

It was a cruel world.

But then strong arms pulled her up, leading her back to the shore.

Her eyes squinted, trying to look at the person carrying her as the sun shone brightly on his face.

'Is he an angel?' she thought and she coughed up the water that filled her lungs.

"Sasha! Sasha! Oh my god!"

She could hear Aunt Bernie's voice shaking as the stranger started to speak.

"Hello, angel. Welcome back!" a cool male voice greeted her.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw the most beautiful smile she had ever seen in her entire childhood.

"How are you feeling?" he asked as he pulled her up. She felt like she saw an angel, the young teen, was staring at her. Sasha had never seen someone smile so sweetly and somehow she thought this boy looked so handsome.

'Am I dreaming?' she thought as she kept staring at him. Suddenly, she felt shy which she had never felt before, especially with boys.

Could it be that she like him?

'No way!' she thought.

"Hi, I'm Kellan. I live next door. Do you live in the mansion?" and he gave his hand for her to take.

"Y-Yeah. I'm Sasha," she answered, taking his hand.

"Thank you so much, Kellan. If you haven't come, I don't know what could have happened," Bernie said with deep worry in his voice. "You shouldn't have gone further, Sasha."

"I'm sorry, Auntie.."

He sighed.

"Very well. Why don't we get back to the house so I can introduce you to her daddy?"

"Mr. Robbie is your dad?" Kellan asked Sasha.

"You know my dad?" she asked.

"Yeah. I used to hang out with him a lot every summer."

"Really?"

"Yeah. My uncle was his friend."

"Uncle?"

"Uncle Kenneth. He used to come and visit every year but lately I don't see him anymore."

"Oh!" was all she could say. She didn't know who he was talking about but she assumed her dad must have lots of friends because of his business.

"Come, children. Let's go inside so both of you can have some refreshments," Bernie told them.

Kellan stood up first and offered his hand to Sasha. She looked up to him, and placed her hand on his palm. He then pulled her up. Gazing at his jade green eyes, she thought they were like jewels dancing in the sun. Her little heart skipped in delight as he gave her a smile.

'That's weird!' she thought. She never get nervous around boys but Kellan somehow made her feel that way.

Kellan was about three inches taller than her. Droplets of water dripped from his chestnut brown hair, trickling down his handsome face. For a little girl like her, he was definitely someone to admire. She thought he was strong and brave for saving her awhile ago.

'He's my hero,' she thought as he held her hand. She smiled as they walked through the path back to the mansion. It felt great to have his warm hands holding hers but she suddenly felt shy around him.

Is this how girls in the movies feel when they were around boys they like?

She would ask her mom about it when she got the chance as she felt weird feeling that way.

Kellan thought Sasha was cute. As he stared at her awhile ago, he couldn't help but be reminded of someone he knew when he was a kid. He had seen this lady just one summer when he was five. They have the same brown eyes, wavy black hair and plump lips.

'Could she be Ms. Allison's daughter?' he wondered.

Bernie smiled as he watched the two kids holding hands. It was amazing how the carefree little girl suddenly got so shy around a teenager like Kellan. He remembered how he was when he was younger. How he gushed over boys... and then suddenly he missed someone....

That guy whom he used to admire ten years ago vanished into thin air....

He missed him terribly and yet, he couldn't do anything to have him back...

Especially after that day...

He sighed, as he wished that things could have been different so he also had his happy ending...

Just like Robbie and Alex...