Making The Sun Shine Again [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BRYLE'S POV

Bucket list: See snow.

"Both of you, take care, hmm?" Mom said as she gave us a hug.

I saw Randle nodding her head as she smiled back to my parents. "Maraming salamat po ulit sa kagabi."

"We only want to protect and care for our son's happiness, iha. So don't mention it, and stay happy," sagot naman ni Dad.

"Noted po. Salamat po ulit." She bowed a little before stepping back a little.

"Kayo rin, Mom, Dad. Take care. And thank you ulit po." It was my turn to give them both a hug.

They just bid their goodbyes for the last time before leaving our hotel room. When I finally closed the door, I saw Randle heading towards the kitchen.

"You're still hungry?" naiiling at natatawa kong tanong sa kaniya na sinagot niya lang naman ng gitnang daliri.

Sumunod na lang din ako sa kaniya saka inubos ang kapeng nahinto kong pag-inom nang dahil sa biglang pagbisita nila Mom nang ganito kaaga.

After last night's event, both Randle and I stayed inside the hotel room. I placed her in her bedroom and went to mine. Ganito naman kasi talaga ang naging set up namin sa loob ng ilang araw na magkasama. At first, I really didn't want to leave her when she was having an attack, but I respect her decision. She's a strong woman, I'll just have to assist her once the attack ends.

When we finally finished our breakfast, Randle went back to her room and quickly came back to the kitchen, holding her scrapbook. "May nakalimutan ako kagabi!"

I raised both of my eyebrows. "What is it?"

She sighed and sat on the stool chair she was occupying minutes ago. "Picture. Nakalimutan kong dalhin yung camera ko kagabi. Nakalimutan kong mag-picture."

Mukha naman siyang kawawang-kawawa sa itsura niya to the point na hindi ko napigilan ang mahinang tawang kumawala sa mga labi ko. I did receive a glare because of that. "Calm down. May photographer ang event kagabi. I'm pretty sure they took a photo of us."

Para namang nagliwanag ang mukha niya. "Sigurado ka riyan ha? I nodded my head. "Okay, fine. Kampante na ako."

Napailing naman ako sa sudden change of mood niya. While I was cleaning the counter table, I saw Randle flipping the page of her scrapbook. I knew what the next bucket list is and I'm pretty sure she thinks that it was impossible.

"So... May naisip ako." I turned my head to look in her direction. "May snow world sa Star City. Doon na lang tayo pumunta?"

I simply shrugged at her suggestion. "Would you prefer that more than Japan?"

Slowly, her eyes widened in shock. She opened her mouth but no words came out of it. A few minutes later, she finally got her voice back. "S-Seryoso? Japan?" I nodded firmly. Randle quickly left her chair and made her way to me, hugging me tightly. "Japan is amazing. It really is. Japan it is." She kept on chanting the word Japan, and it only made me smile.

Kahit medyo alanganin at kinakabahan, I slowly and carefully wrapped my arms around her waist before looking at her. "But we'll have to wait since—"

"It's fine." Inangat niya ang tingin niya sa akin habang nakangiti pa rin. Even her eyes are smiling. Good job, Bryle. "I can wait, I swear. Saka may klase ka pa 'no. Babalik na rin tayo mamaya para hindi ka na ulit um-absent bukas, diba?"

Tumango naman ako. "How about you? Don't you have classes?"

Randle shook her head. "Nah, tumigil na ako after first year." My forehead creased, curious about the reason. She did give me a look as if the answer was pretty obvious. "I'm gonna die soon, dummy. I don't wanna spend it in class when I could be free and roam around the world."

Right... S-She will leave this world soon. "Randle, about that—" My attempt to talk to her about getting treatment was cut off by a phone ringing loudly, coming from her bedroom.

Randle just excused herself and quickly went to her room to probably answer the call. It took her almost half an hour before coming back to the kitchen. "Sorry, si Leah kasi eh."

I smiled at her. "It's fine. Anyway, let's pack our stuff and make sure everything is set, hmm?" Tumango naman siya saka bumalik sa kwarto niya.

The days went by so quickly when we went back to our province. Papasok ako sa univ sa umaga, tapos uuwi at yayayain si Randle na kumain sa labas. Basically, it was the second round of her food trip. But we don't go out that much, madalas kasing mas gusto niyang sa bahay na lang kumain, and of course, my grandparents loved that.

Speaking of my grandparents, we constantly receive teasing smiles and questions from them about the status of our relationship, and as expected, Randle was persistent with answering, "Friends."

Hindi naman ako makapalag kasi 'yun ang gusto niya. She made that one clear, and me confessing to her might just ruin everything. She trusts me now. She's comfortable with me now. And I don't want that to change. If being her friend lets us continue to what we already have, then I'll just have to stick with that.

"It'll be our Christmas break next week. You got your things ready?" I asked her as we stared at the setting sun in front of us.

"Mmm-hmm. Are you really sure about traveling to another country? I mean... If this is just because of my bucket list, forget it. Don't go to that extent."

I turned my head in her direction and gave her a reassuring smile. "I'm doing this because I want to. Don't worry too much and burden yourself, hmm?" She just nodded her head and kept quiet.

It was a peaceful day that soon turned into a stressful but worth it week. Of course, we had our midterm exams before we proceeded to the Christmas break, and Randle gave me the space she said I'll need to focus on my studies. And then, in a blink of an eye, our day has finally come.

"This will be a whole new experience," I heard her mumble as we finally stepped out of the plane.

I got curious about her life. "Haven't you ever traveled the world?"

"Well, we have. I mean we have already gone to America, Italy, and Germany, but never nasasaktuhang may snow." She let out a chuckle. "Kaya siguro isa iyon sa bucket list ko. The only reason why we travel abroad is to find a cure for me. But oh well."

I looked at her and even if she had a smile on her lips, her eyes said otherwise. I reached for her hand and gently squeezed it. "Don't worry. As long as you're with me, we'll complete your bucket list."

Randle softly smiled at me. "Thanks, Bryle. You're an amazing friend."

I was quick to pick myself up before losing my smile because of what she said. "Y-Yeah."

We walked together hand in hand as we finally left the airport. At ang unang-unang bumungad sa amin ay ang namumuting mga nyebeng nahuhulog mula sa langit.

I felt Randle's hand squeezing mine as if she was trying her best to stop herself from actually diving into the pile of snow. She wasn't able to appreciate the snow when we left the plane, but now... I can see her childish side.

"Pinch me. Tell me I'm not dreaming," she whispered to my ear as she put her hand out to catch the snow.

I smiled at her words. "Come on. We have to hurry our way to the place we'll be staying at. Para naman hindi ka na magpigil diyan," pang-aasar ko sa kaniya pero hindi niya naman ako pinansin. She was too distracted by the snow.

We plan to stay here for a week, but she doesn't exactly know where we'll be staying. I wanted to surprise her. I wanted her to be free with what she wanted to say or do while we stayed here, so I rented a cabin near the woods. A place that was full of snow that I knew she would love. And that's where I hope I'll find the courage to finally tell her what I feel.