The sea was as calm as ever. The warm rays of the sun shone on the water surface and somewhere within was Isaac, who had his gaze on the moving waters as he watched his reflection fade and reappear with the fluctuating waves.
A hand softly rested on his shoulder. "Hey man."
Isaac shivered in shock, almost leaning over the ship's railing from where he had observed the sea below.
He crouched, holding his chest tightly. "You could have had me killed, bro," he said to James as he tried catching his breath.
"Well, it'd be counted as suicide because I didn't push you."
"Oh, shut up," Isaac taunted him.
"Quit being an ass and get up." He dragged Isaac by the arm, forcefully lifting him up.
Isaac plunged a fist blow at James' belly.
"Ouch!" He crouched to the ground with his hands on his belly.
"Payback's a bitch," Isaac shrugged, tilting his head to the side.
"Oh, really? So this what we doing, right?"
"Yeah."
"Let the game begin, then," James said, standing to his feet.
They were best friends going on a trip to a popular island in Venezuela. They were in their third year of college; one would think they were twins.
They got back into the ship, where the glimmering lights illuminated its enclosure. Drinks of all sorts and desserts were laid on the round tables laced with wine-red drapes. Couples and families took their positions at these multiple tables arranged in a circular fashion.
"We're gonna get broke after this," Jacob whispered into Isaac's ear.
Isaac nodded. "Definitely."
They stood at the entrance, absorbing its beauty before there was a sudden swerve, tilting everyone to the side.
The high-pitched screams were horrifying. Tables, chairs, and wine glasses all lost their orientation, clashing into people who were tilted to one side of the ship. It almost felt like it was about to overturn.
"James, you alright? Hang on," Isaac said as he clutched James' hand tightly.
James seemed quite disoriented. He had a red bruise on his forehead and was in a semi-conscious state—he had hit his head against one of the sliding tables.
"I think we're good," Isaac calmly muttered as the ship had returned to normal.
"Ouch! Thank God," James grunted, holding his head in distress.
There was a calmness within the ship as it seemed to have stabilized. Women held their husbands, children clutched unto their parents, while lovers embraced themselves.
Isaac stood, his hand holding onto James' hand, who still sat on the floor grunting in distress. His eyes got a glimpse of every single moment in the room. He saw scared children and people who were unaware of what the next minute could hold for them.
"Everyone okay?" a ship worker broke the silence.
But all that was heard were incoherent, faint mumbles scattered across the room as everyone was in a state of confusion.
A female passenger screamed, "Look!" pointing to a spot on the wall of the ship.
"Oh, my God," another woman screamed. Their voices conveyed horror and the fear of death.
Isaac quickly glanced at the spot where she had pointed.
"Oh, my God!" he gasped.
"What's happening?" James, who had eventually gotten himself, asked as he stood from the floor.
"It's... It's..." Isaac's mouth was agape, his eyes widened with his finger pointing at the same spot.
"It's what?" James turned to the direction of his buddy's hand, and at this point, he knew they were doomed.
Water sprouted through a tiny crack on the wall into the room.
"Oh, shit."
Tensions were rising, and everyone had their own thoughts. But it wasn't long before they were hit with the biggest reality of their lives.
A staff member suddenly ran to the center of the room. "Grab your life jackets, everyone. We have to plunge into the river. This ship might capsize really soon."
"What? What do you mean?" James asked, now seeming more tense than everyone.
"We either swim or sink," the staff screamed. "Choose one," he said as he grabbed one life jacket and scurried away towards the exit before plunging into the sea, which was illuminated by the sun.
It was at this point everyone went into a frenzy. They ran towards the room where the life jackets were placed. Mothers pushed children of other people away to get one for theirs, knowing the lifeguards wouldn't get to everyone. Men wrestled with one another to get a hold of one—no one was ready for death.
Meanwhile, in the corner, Isaac and James watched the chaos, confused on what to do. What seemed like a vacation turned into a nightmare.
"There's no way we're getting one for ourselves," Isaac whispered softly. He observed the life jackets, which were about 30 remaining, while hundreds of people struggled to get one for themselves.
"Hey, look!" James pointed at a man who had collapsed at an isolated corner away from the mass scuffle.
They both rushed to where he was, and Isaac took his life jacket off.
"Come on, let's go!" Isaac led James away as the water had begun covering their ankles.
"He... Help!" the stranger pleaded as James was about to run off.
He stopped in his steps and turned around to the old man lying on the floor, his arms outstretched towards James, his fingers flickering as though beckoning to him.
"James!!" Isaac's voice pulled James out of his thoughts. "What are you doing? Come over here," he said to James, who felt like he could help the old man.
Just as James reached the ship's exit, he had one more glance at the old man behind him before being pulled outside by a hand.
"What are you thinking of? We can barely help ourselves, and you're thinking of helping a stranger that can't even get on his feet?"
"I'm sorry, I'm just... I'm..."
"It's okay, man. Today, we're not dying. Now, let's swim." Isaac dived into the sea as James followed.
They both swam, floating in the warm, bright sea as they watched the ship behind them slowly sink into the depths of the Earth.
"When my limbs get weary, I'll give you the life jacket I have on," he placed one hand on James' shoulder.
"Help!!" They were interrupted by a frantic feminine scream behind them, and there she was, a lady who broke out of the water's surface momentarily in an attempt to breathe before sinking back into it. This repeated itself.
James tried advancing towards her.
"Stop!" Isaac placed his hand on his friend's chest, slowly pushing him backward.
"Save your energy. You'll be needing it." They both stared into each other's eyes for a moment, fear etched in them.
"This feels like the movie Titanic," James cut in, trying to ease the tension.
Isaac scoffed. "I know, right?" He paused, wearing a smile that concealed his despair.
"We've been here for two hours. One of us has to let go. We can't keep up with this for extra hours."
"No, there has to be another option!" Isaac was in disbelief.
"What's the option?"
Isaac's reply was silence. He realized there was actually no other option. He looked at his friend's eyes as tears welled up in them.
"But we can still..."
"Shhh," James cut in, placing a finger over his friend's lips. "You have a family at home waiting for you, and at the same time, you're the family I've got." The crack in his voice sent shivers down Isaac's spine.
"You mean a lot to the world, man. Thanks for always being there for me."
James drifted farther away and then nodded. Isaac nodded in response before they both voiced in unison:
"Aye aye, captain!"
He looked up at the sun as he zoomed deeply into it, flashing his mind with every memory and emotion he'd ever felt while he slowly sank into the ends of the Earth.
One week later
The electronic beep of machines echoed through the room, its white roof gorged with brightly illuminated light that shone directly into James' eyes.
"Welcome back, brother!" Isaac said, his face leaning over that of James as he wore a smile.
"Wh-where are we?" he stuttered.
"In a hospital." His smile broadened. "Rest and get your strength; there's a lot to discuss." He gently tapped James' chest with his palm.
"How did I—"
"Help came right on time. We pulled you out before it was too late," Isaac interrupted.
"I... I guess we can... now rewrite the Titanic movie, don't you think?" James replied, wearing a faint smile on his face as he lay on the hospital bed.
"Okay, wasn't expecting that, though," Isaac had a grin on his cheeks.
They both chuckled, and their eyes met. Only this time, it was the look of hope, one that had come to stay for a really long time.
