The Last Chapter ✔

Twelfth

Nine

I was beyond breathless and tried when we finally reached the summit. It felt like we were standing on top of the world.

But once we caught the sight of the sun’s soft light pouring over the mists blanketing the mountains below, revealing only the jungle-covered peaks in Laos. I knew all the tiredness was worth it.

It was beyond gorgeous. It looked etheral. "This is called the 'sea of mist'**." I heard Pavel informing me watching the sunrise with shining eyes just like me and Joong.

"This is beautiful." I whispered bewitched by the breath taking view. My concentration wavered only when I heard the shutter of a camera and on turning quickly found Joong angling his camera at me. He quickly hid it though looking at the mountains.

"Do you know what is the meaning of the name of this range?" Pavel asked getting my attention. I shook my head honestly.
"Phu Chi Fa, the name actually translates to 'the mountain that points to the sky'."

"It really does." I commented.
"So we will go back now?"

"No just wait a bit and you will see one more beautiful view." Pavel said and I immediately nodded walking over to Joong who was busy clicking pictures.

"Joong." I called him startling him a bit since he couldn't see me coming.

He hummed after composing himself.
"Who is Mia?" I asked straight causing his eyes to widen up.

"What?!"

"I told you my secret about my dream. Why don't you tell me yours too?" I asked indigently. It wasn't wrong to be curious about someone. Although I half expected him to not answer but it took a second before he started in a timid voice.

"Mia was my senior back in varsity."
I turned to face him completely waiting for him to continue.

"She was beautiful, energetic always smiling and radiating positive vibes. She was my first love and only one." He smiled continuing. "It was weird at first, we just clicked without any actual courting or dating. She was my everything. We dated for 5 years before I proposed her. And she agreed. Everything felt like a dream, so surreal. We were beyond happy, beyond satisfied. And I wanted nothing more than that. But fate was not pleased with me. And then one day I got a call." His voice almost choked at that. "She left me."

I didn't knew what to do. Didn't knew how to react so I went with my instinct. I rubbed his back breaking my own deal. But it didn't matter right now.

"You know we saw the dream to open an orphanage together. To give shelter to all those children who doesn't have their parents to be looked after or someone who could love them." There was a sadness in the voice as he spoke.

"Then why don't you make one?" I asked making him look at me, surprised.
"She couldn't make one but you are here. You can complete that dream of yours and hers. Both your dreams. Did you give up on it?" I repeated the same lines my Grandma had used thar day.

"But it was our dream. How can I make it alone?" He asked with vulnerable eyes, emphasizing the word 'ours'.

"If you believe that she's still with you, in your heart. Then how are you alone? Let's make a deal. I'll help you in order to complete your dream and in return you'll help me fulfill mine." I offered him spreading my palm open for him to seal the deal.
He hesitated a bit looking timid suddenly before accepting my hand. "Deal."

"Yes deal. Oh I'm so happy. We are going to help each other. Wait I'm not going to plan too much or it'll get jinxed." I cheered both of us shaking his warm hand violently.

He just smiled softly turning his attention back to the mountains.
We waited watching the sunrise transform the sky from dark blue to a perfect pinky-orange shade.

"Look over there." Pavel called me out pointing at the evaporating heat and fog of the surrounding.
"That is the Mekong River meander."

And I saw it ,gorgeously surrounded by the lush forests of Laos.

"Woooow so beautiful." I mumbled out drawn to the vibrant scenery. "I just loved this place. Everything is beautiful.  So beautiful."

Pavel chuckled out beside me. "Then stay here." He teased me. And although I really had fallen for the place I still couldn't leave my dream like that.

"Maybe I'll visit again in the futureeeee." I chimed in a sing song manner. Both of them burst out laughing.

I just eyed both of them sulking before pulling my phone out to click some pictures of the view.

I was just roaming my camera trying to capture the perfect shot but I stopped when I caught Joong in my screen. I peeked up from the phone to take a look at him. He was too focused in clicking pictures himself not noticing me. And I clicked the picture silently with the thought of keeping it with me after I go to China.

These would be the best memories.

** Tourists visit the mountain especially at dawn in order to catch a glimpse of the "sea of mist", the view of the fog-surrounded hills, with heights ranging between 1,200–1,600 m to the east of the mountain.

Source - Google