Chasing Endless Sunsets

Chapter 06

"Bye, Mom! Bye, Tito Art!" I kissed their cheeks. "Have a safe flight going back home."

"Take care, Kayla!" Tito Art smiled and gave me a quick hug.

"Bye, my darling. See you soon!" Mom said and gave me a quick hug before they went inside the airport.

Mom and Tito Art got here last week. Biglaan din since Tito Art had to attend some business meetings. Good thing I was already back and it didn't coincide with my trip to Melbourne so I was able to meet them and hang out with them. I gave them all the stuff I got from Melbourne too. I was really excited for them to try it and really hoped they enjoy the wines and chocolates.

"Hi Kams!!!" Clara screamed while running and hugged me while I was at the lobby of my condo building about to head out to grab food.

"Hey!" I greeted her. "You don't have to shout." My lips curved a little while shaking my head.

"Whatever!" she countered and waved her hand as if to dismiss what I just said. "Tita Monique and Tito Art already left?" she asked.

"Yeah. Kanina pa."

"Sayang, I didn't get to say hi to them."

I laughed. "It's not like you don't see them in Manila. Mom told me you're always there sa house."

"That's true." She grinned at me. "Tita and Alexis are so fun to hang out with kaya! And Kaeden is also fun when I want to play video games!"

"Uh-huh. I'm pretty sure you have lots of friends so–"

"Of course, I do!" she quickly cut me off and made a face.

I laughed at her. "See. So why? I'm not complaining, okay? They love having you around too. Just that, maybe you should hang out with other people? Hindi ka naman anti-social eh."

"Hindi nga. But I just really like hanging out with them. Ikaw kasi, you moved your ass here. Wala tuloy akong default hangout buddy." She rolled her eyes.

"It's not as if I'll be stuck here forever, C!" I laughed. "Uuwi na rin naman ako soon."

"Kahit na!" She pouted.

She continued to complain about me being here in Sydney while we went up to my unit. She told me I was missing out a lot already. But I knew this was just her brooding about us not getting to hangout as much as we used to. Of course, she supported my decision to do this exchange program.

"How long are you going to be here?" I asked her while she was fixing her things in my room.

"Just until Monday. I have to fly back on Tuesday since classes resume on Wednesday. Aren't you touched that I went here even just for a few days?" she teased.

"Ako ba talaga pinunta mo rito?" I teased back.

She arched a brow. "Sino naman?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Fling? Boyfriend?"

"Gags! I don't put that amount of effort. I won't fly 8 hours just to see someone or fly out just to casually spend a long weekend with someone out of the country," she detailed. "Besides, if I had a boyfriend, malamang alam mo, diba?" She laughed.

"Touché."

Clara told me that she'd go around first while I was in class and demanded that I tour her around after. She said that even if she had been here a few times, it would be different to see it from the perspective of someone living here. As if I'd been here long enough to know a lot of off the beaten track. It was not like I really knew a lot of those hidden gems here in Sydney. Saan ko naman siya itotour? I might end up bringing her to touristy places.