The Ocean Meets The Sky

The Ocean Meets The Sky

By Mary Josefa M. Alolor

 

          Ashlie wakes up yet again from the same dream. Same place, same boy, same action. She looks at the clock beside her bed hazily. It's 7 AM. She hurriedly prepare to go to school and luckily, she wasn't late. As she entered her classroom, she felt different, like something was coming. Her classmates were noisy as usual when the teacher is not around.

 

          "Ashlie!" Bianca, her best friend, calls her name as she excitingly goes near her. "Ash, have you heard? There's a new student today! Well, a late enrollee I guess? But I heard the teachers talking a while ago saying it's a boy." Ashlie shook her head and said, "Hey, don't go eavesdropping anywhere!" Before Bianca could reply, the teacher went in with the new student. Everyone goes back to their seats and Biance faces the book in her hand to continue reading.

 

          "We have a new student today. Go ahead and introduce yourself, young lad." Noise and whispers start in response to the arrival of the new student while Ashlie continues to read. "Good morning everyone." A deep voice that greeted everyone made Ashlie stop flipping the pages of the book. "I am Maximilian Lopez." His name echoed in Ashlie's ear while everyone cheered for the boy as he finished introducing himself. Ashlie couldn't bring herself to raise her head to see the new boy. She felt the empty chair on her right make a sound, and there, Maximilian sat.

 

          Ashlie's eyes slowly trailed the boy's figure. As she investigates his face, their eyes land on each other. It felt like everything went in slow motion. Is this what Athena felt when Kenji bumped into her? (She's Dating The Gangster) It felt like time slowed down. It felt like time doesn't fly and they were paralyzed by it (All Too Well by Taylor Swift).

 

          The teacher cleared his throat and they averted their gaze away from each other. College school days feel so long but that day seemed short. It was short with how Maximilian was on her mind the whole day. The next thing you know, night fell as Ashlie's eyes did.

 

          It was the same dream as before. A vast ocean and clear blue skies greeted her with warmth. It was still the same location and summer outfit as the previous dreams. She breathes in the warm breeze and listens to the sound of the waves like Ariel was just playing around the sea with her friends (The Little Mermaid). She sat and played in the sand like usual.

 

          Ashlie sees a boy walking on the shore towards her from afar. It's the same boy of her dreams. The boy who gives an unknown warmth to this dream was walking barefoot. She held her head down as the boy got closer to her. The boy offered his hand for Ashlie to take. The tattoo on the boy's wrist was also there. "Maximilian", Ashlie suddenly blurts out the name in the tattoo.

 

          "What? I can't say that, right? That was not supposed to happen. It wasn't part of the dream. Is the dream changing?" Ashlie thought to herself. Ashlie's vision starts to blur. She raises her head to take a look at the boy. Too late, her vision was already hazy. She opens her eyes with her vision still blurred. It's morning once again, and she has to get ready for class.

 

          She was grumpy all morning as Math was her first subject of the day. She hated that subject to death. As she was walking in the hallway, she bumped into Maximilian, and her books fell. They both picked up the books on the floor quickly. Ashlie noticed the tattoo on the boy's wrist, it was his name just like what she saw in her dreams. Maximilian handed her the books and spoke, "Here, I'm sorry. Ashlie Raymundo, right?" Ashlie was surprised he knows her full name that she couldn't do anything but nod. The bell rang so Ashlie has to go to the next classroom, "The bell. Oh, thank you." As she took the books and turned her back, Maximilian smirked, "Found you."

 

          Months passed by and Maximilian adapted quickly. He wanted to make friends and tried to get close to Ashlie. Ashlie didn't mind much, thinking that the boy in her dreams and the new student can't be the same person. Soon enough, they became friends. But Maximilian knows to himself that he wants more than that. 

 

          The night came, and Ashlie fell fast asleep. Same dream but this time, she was able to see the face of the boy in front of her. Her vision was not hazy when she raised her head.

          "Max?"

          "Right, it's me, baby."

          "What's going on?" 

          "Let me introduce myself. I am Maximilian Lopez, a dream traveler. I've been visiting you for the past few years in hopes of breaking the cycle of this same dream of yours. It seems like I succeeded this time." Maximilian said with a proud look on his face.

 

          "What? I mean why?" Ashlie was still so confused and lost. "Dreamers with the same dream tend to be in danger. You're a special case, baby." Ashlie was gonna ask something again when they heard an alarm ringing from a distance. "Time's up," Maximilian said and snapped his fingers. Ashlie immediately woke up. She couldn't believe what just happened. She felt her heart beating fast and immediately breathed in and out to calm down.

 

          That day in school, she hasn't seen Maximilian for the whole day. It's just one day, but she misses his loud greetings, his warm smile, and his voice.

 

          Maximilian once again visited Ashlie in the dream. "Why were you absent today?" Ashlie looked at the boy beside her and asked. Maximilian stares at the ocean while they were sitting on the sands. "You know, out of all the dreams I have visited so far, yours is the best. This feels like a summer vacation." Ashlie could feel that Maximilian is shifting the topic so she decided to play along. The alarm once rang and it was morning again.

 

          Everyone hated mornings. But Ashlie loves it because she wakes up from a good dream and hates it because she has to wake up from it.

 

          At the school that day, he was once again absent. A day turned to a week, a week turned to weeks. And every time she brings it up to Maximilian every night, he shifts the topic. He talks sweetly to her and acts sweetly towards her. Every night felt like summertime. And she falls in love all over again every summertime (Every Summertime by NIKI).

 

          "Baby, you know what?" Maximilian cuts her thoughts and catches her intently staring at him. "Wait, why are you staring at me? Is there something wrong?" Maximilian asks. "Don't call me 'baby' unless you mean it. (Dive by Ed Sheeran)" Ashlie could feel her face heating up but she has to say it. She hates the blurred lines between them. She hates how he leads her on. She hates how he acts sweetly when they're just friends. Or is she the only one thinking about it?

 

          "When I offer my hand," Maximilian gulps. "Why don't you take it?"

 

          "See? I hang on to every word you say. Let me know the truth... before I dive right into you. (Dive by Ed Sheeran)"

 

          The next day, Ashlie goes into the lounge room of the teachers to get something and overhears the teachers' conversation. "So, will Maximilian not come back to school anymore?" Professor Martin asks Professor Chacha. "No, he won't. His sickness worsened, so he'll stay in the hospital. His health has deteriorated these past few weeks." 

 

          Later that night, Ashlie confronted him about it. "What did the teachers mean when they said you're in the hospital. What's really happening to you?" Maximilian was ready to tell her the truth any time from now. But seeing the girl in front of him cry broke his heart. He never meant to hurt her, so he didn't bother to talk about his health condition. But hiding is useless now that she knows about it. "Heart failure." Ashlie was taken aback by the words he said, "What?"

 

          "Two years ago, you came out of the blue on a rainy night. I'll tell you how I almost died while you're bringing me back to life. (Angel Baby by Troye Sivan)" Maximilian smiles sadly.

 

          Two years ago, Maximilian went out in the middle of the night crying. He found out about his heart's condition. It's a miracle he's alive until now. Ashlie was wearing a yellow hoodie and carrying a blue umbrella. Maximilian was sitting on the gutter under the rain, screaming and crying. Ashlie saw this and went over to him. She placed the umbrella above the boy's head to stop him from getting wet and offered her hand (Legend of the Blue Sea), "Why are you here? It's raining. You'll get very sick, you know? Go back to your house and get better, I have somewhere to go, so I cannot help you further. I'm sorry, I have to go." Ashlie was about to turn her back when she said, "By the way, I'm Ashlie. Return that umbrella to me when you feel better."

 

          Ashlie's tears wouldn't stop after hearing Maximilian's story. "Baby, you're an angel, my angel. I just want to live in this moment forever. 'Cause I'm afraid that living couldn't get any better (Angel Baby by Troye Sivan)," Maximilian smiled warmly as he tried to console and thank Ashlie. Ashlie just hugged him tightly, feeling sad and sorry. She feels her heartbreaking in two. She felt what Angelique felt when she knew about Caleb's real condition and Ashlie would do anything for him to get better. She would even be willing to find a goddess who could help Maximilian, even if she sacrifices a part of her to the goddess. (Lucid Dream by Aly Almario)

 

          The next nights came quickly and Ashlie decided to confess while there was still time. They were sitting on the sand while staring at the vast ocean. "Do you know why your dream's location is like this?" Maximilian asks and she shook her head. If you ask her, she honestly has no idea. Maximilian looks at her, "This place is like your heart. It's vast, clear, and pure. (Demon Slayer: Mugen Train). And to me, this feels like a warm home I'd gladly escape to every night in my dreams."

 

          Cinderella once said, a dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep. In dreams, you will lose your heartaches. Whatever you wish for, you keep (Cinderella). Ashlie stared at his lips and leaned in to kiss him. Maximilian was taken aback by her action and as she pulled away, she said, "I don't know how you do it but I'm forever ruined by you (Off My Face by Justin Bieber). I love you, Maximilian Lopez."

 

          Maximilian hugged her tightly and replied, "I love you too, baby." Maximilian lifted her feet off the ground and spun her around. They were both lost in each other's eyes and went crazier in love. (Crazier by Taylor Swift)

 

          But life is not all rainbows. The storm came and Maximilian got a cardiac arrest. Ashlie heard about this and visited the hospital. Luckily, his parents recognized her. Their son shared a lot of things about her and looked happy. They thanked her and left her in the room with Maximilian who was unconscious.

 

          When they were alone, Ashlie sat by his side and cried quietly. She could see how the boy she loved was having a hard time. Maximilian looks so strong and cheerful on the outside that you'll never think there was something wrong.

 

          She prayed so hard that night before she went to sleep. She wants him to stay. That night and the next ones, she told him all the sweetest words she could think of, showered him with love and affection, and did everything to make him happy.

 

          Days passed in the hospital, and Maximilian's heart couldn't take it anymore. Ashlie held his hand, placed them on her cheeks, and put down her head on the bedside. This might be their last night, last dream, and last memory. As she opened her eyes, she finds herself lying on the sands with her head in Maximilian's arms.

 

          "Oh, you're here?" Maximilian wakes up and faces her. They looked at each other lovingly as Ashlie hugged him and showered him with kisses. "You know, I like shiny things but as Taylor Swift said, I could marry you with paper rings (Paper Rings by Taylor Swift). So do you know what I did?"

 

          She showed her right ring finger which has been tattooed with the words "Ash" in front and "Max" at the back.

 

          Waves of laughter faded as they stared intently at each other. They can feel the end as it begins. Maximilian pulled Ashlie's head closer to his chest so she couldn't see the tears he was stopping.

          "Hush now, mo stóirín

          Close your eyes and sleep

          Waltzing the waves

          Diving in the deep"

 

          Ashlie started to sing the Song Of The Sea by Nolwenn Leroy, their favorite song from a movie they've seen before. Maximilian continued the rest of the song until the end of it.

          "Oh won't you come with me

          Where the ocean meets the sky

          And as the clouds roll by

          We'll sing the song of the sea"

 

          They sat up as the sun started to set for the first time in her dreams. Maximilian rested his head on her shoulders (Uncontrollably Fond). "You know, I'm like the water when your ship rolled in that night, rough on the surface but you cut through like a knife (Willow by Taylor Swift). But I can't thank you enough for everything, baby. And I'm sorry."

 

          "Well, don't be. Moreover, I disagree. I'm the ocean and you're the sky. The sky who witnesses all of my smooth and rough waves, my stable and unsteady emotions, the sky who looks over me."

 

          Maximilian smiled softly. Before, Ashlie offered her hand once which he didn't take. But he offered his more than a hundred times, which Ashlie didn't take. But now, they're finally holding their hands like they won't let go. After a lot of trial and error, he finally broke Ashlie free from the same dream. It's his payback for what Ashlie did for him two years ago.

 

          Maximilian cupped Ashlie's cheeks and planted a kiss, "I love you." Ashlie replied, "I love you more."

 

          Ashlie will always love him for what it's worth. It'll never fade like graffiti on the overpass (Overpass Graffiti by Ed Sheeran). "Let's meet again, to where the ocean meets the sky."

 

          They both closed their eyes as the sunset reflected on the ocean, while Maximilian's figure slowly fade away like dust in the wind. A tear escaped her eye and a deafening sound of a straight line could be heard from afar.

 

          She opened her eyes to an unconscious Maximilian, cold and dead. She's in pieces, it's tearing her up, but she knows that a heart that's been broken is a heart that's been loved (Supermarket Flowers by Ed Sheeran). And she can't follow him right away as there are things she has to achieve for herself and for both of them.

 

          Years passed but every line she writes is something about him, every guy she wants looks somethin' just like him, every book she read she only read for him, every art piece reminds her of him (could cry just thinking about you by Troye Sivan). If Caleb and Angelique got to meet in their lifetime (Lucid Dream by Aly Almario), if Romeo followed Juliet to her death right away (Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare), Ashlie waited to grow old 'til she could meet him again to the place the ocean meets the sky.

 

          It's a rainy day. An old Ashlie opens her blue umbrella as she puts down the flowers in Maximilian's tomb. Soon, the ocean will meet the sky.