My Once True North

Finding True North Once Again

Sebastian couldn't bring himself to leave the place that held so many memories. Memories that now felt tainted with betrayal and confusion. As he walked, his mind kept going back to Maya and the discovery he made about their trip being orchestrated by his own family. It felt like the ground beneath him had shifted, and he was struggling to find his footing again.

He knew he needed to clear his head, to find some sort of clarity amidst the chaos. And so, he found himself walking towards the boulder where Maya and his ex-fiance had carved their initials - M heart B. It felt like a lifetime ago, but the carving was still there, a testament to the love they once shared.

Sebastian sat down beside the boulder, feeling the weight of everything that had happened over the past few days. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing thoughts. For the first time, he allowed himself to truly feel the hurt and betrayal that he had been trying to push aside.

As he sat there, lost in thought, he realized that he couldn't leave without closure. He couldn't just walk away without talking to Maya, without hearing her side of the story. With a newfound sense of determination, he got up from the boulder and made his way back to the hotel.

Sebastian felt a sharp pain in his head, a searing sensation that seemed to travel down his spine. He stumbled backward, his balance lost, and before he knew it, he was falling into the water. As he plunged into the depths below, the world around him blurred and twisted, colors and shapes swirling into a dizzying vortex. He struggled to keep his eyes open, to make sense of what was happening, but it was all too much. The pain, the confusion, the fear—it was overwhelming.

As he was drowning his pain in the ocean, memories of him and Maya flooded his mind. He saw flashbacks of their happiest moments together.

He remembered the cool breeze of the Baguio night and the way the stars twinkled above them. He could hear Maya's laughter as they stood in front of the famous "I Love You" wall, with him nervously trying to ask her to be his girlfriend. The memory of her surprised and happy expression as she said yes filled him with warmth.

Sebastian's mind was transported back to that moment as if it was happening all over again. He could feel the way her hand had fit perfectly in his, and the gentle brush of her lips against his as they kissed under the stars. It was a moment that had felt so pure and full of promise, and it felt like it had been so long since he had felt that way.

He closed his eyes and saw a vivid flashback of the moment they celebrated their first anniversary in Boracay. The sound of the waves crashing on the shore echoed in his ears as he relived the moment they walked hand in hand on the beach, watching the sun slowly sink below the horizon.

He remembered how Maya's eyes sparkled with happiness as he surprised her with a romantic dinner set up by the shore. The soft glow of the candles flickered against her face as they enjoyed their meal, lost in each other's company. The warmth of her hand in his, the sound of her laughter, the way she looked at him with love in her eyes - it was all so clear and vivid in his mind.

Sebastian's mind was flooded with memories of their first Valentine's Day together. He could almost taste the delicious meal that Maya had cooked for him, and he could hear the soft music, "Beautiful Days" by Kyla playing in the background as they slow danced together in the living room. He remembered the look of joy on her face as she opened the gift he had picked out for her - a beautiful necklace with a heart-shaped pendant.

But what really stood out to him was how they had both poured their hearts out to each other that night. They had talked about their hopes and dreams, and how they wanted to build a life together. They had shared their fears and insecurities, and had promised to support each other no matter what. Sebastian felt a pang of regret that he had let all of that slip away.