PSLE: Soulmates

The real Rael and Asher :)

“I bet you won’t be catching any fish,” the lanky Rael teased mercilessly. “The last time you only got a miserable shoe and I caught five fishes. Hahaha!” Asher, the handsome-looking boy, just flashed a grin and rolled his marble eyes.

The two boys were at a canal under the natural awning of an Angsana tree. Silvers of sunlight were dancing through the canopy of leaves as a gentle breeze blew and caressed their faces. Rael was sitting on the metal railing, swinging his legs back and forth while he fished with a rod. As for Asher, he was leaning forward against the railing, holding his rod while whistling a merry tune to himself.

However, Rael swung too hard and a slipper fell from his foot and ended in the shallow murky waters. Grumbling to himself, Rael leapt off from the cool metallic railing and stepped into the warm waters, his fingers groping inside to look for it. 

Out of the blue, a strange rumbling sound resounded and grew louder and louder! The water level was rising higher and higher! The muddy waters then started turning rough and swirled in torrents. It was a flash flood! Unbelievable! A gush of undercurrents was heading straight towards Rael. The impact was so strong that he lost his footing and plunged into the rough waters!

“Save me, Asher!” His desperate cry pierced through the air. His hands were flailing wildly and his head bobbed up and down.

Asher was stunned at the sight! A tingling chill ran down his spine and his face blanched white in trepidation. Terror was etched all over his face. Fortunately, a brainwave hit him like a lightning bolt. He whipped around and spotted a broken tree branch. Tying his fishing line tightly to it, he sprinted like an Olympic athlete forward in record time and threw the branch hard towards Rael. Bullseye! It fell right next to him. 

Rael gripped it like a vice. His body grabbed around it as if his life depended upon it. Water was invading his nostrils as he coughed and spluttered. Meanwhile, Asher was trying hard to reel in as fast as he could. However, Rael was too heavy and the currents were strong for him. The gnarled branch cut deep into Rael's palms and they started to bleed. 

“Don’t give up!” Asher cried aloud. He certainly did not want his dear friend to die! 

Miraculously, the currents died down as fast as they had come. After what seemed like eternity, Asher managed to pull him towards the edge of the canal where the staircase was. By this time, Rael had already lost consciousness. Asher was in sobs and tears. “Please don’t die!” he cried. He rushed forward to resuscitate him.

Soon, Rael regained consciousness and he kept spurting murky waters out of his mouth. Asher's tears fell like two gushing taps when he saw that his friend had been revived! "Rael! You are alive! You are alive!" Asher was overjoyed! The two boys collapsed in a tight embrace. 

"You know what? Rael, you've turned out to be the biggest 'shoe' I have ever caught!" Asher teased. Rael flashed a guilty grin and scratched his head in embarrassment. He was immensely grateful that Asher had saved him. He knew he would have died if not for Asher. That day, the boys became soulmates for life.

Horror of a flash flood