Our Fallout: A Second Chance

Twenty Three

Chapter 23:
When the darkness meets the light

I was looking at Aaliyah who was laughing with Jasmine and Rachel as they walked going to the parking lot. Walang halong inggit o negative feelings akong naramdaman. Somehow it made me feel relieved to see her enjoying her time without me too.

"Hop in, baby!" I smiled when Isla lowered down her car's window. "I have my own car, lady!" sabat ko naman sakanya.

"You'll go straight home? Boring." saka ako napatawa agad. I know. I'm a boring person. "Alright, where to then?" at pumasok na ako sa kotse niya.

"Uh, you'll see." ang hilig sa surprises din to. Pinapanood ko ang view sa labas ng mapansin kong pataas siya. "Where are we going?" now I am curious. I've never been here. Hindi ko nga alam na pwede pala pumunta dito.

"To watch the city lights?" she finally answered as she stopped the car. I feel like we're at the end of the world. Literally the dead end of a road. Ang ganda! Mabuti na lang nadatnan pa namin ang sunset.

"I took you to a very loud place yesterday now we're in a quiet place where you can process and ponder about your feelings." rinig kong sabi niya sa akin.

Pareho kaming nakasandal sa may hood na sasakyan niya habang tahimik na pinapanood ang paglubog ng araw. It's so amazing how we've been watching sunsets in different settings.

Same sunsets but different feelings.

I can never get enough of watching sunsets even just a normal day in the streets. Pareho paring maganda.

We were both quiet until the whole surroundings became black. The headlight and moon are the only ones giving us light. Ang tahimik dito walang malapit na establishment or anything. Walang streetlights talagang kami lang.

It's literally like a dead end of a road. How did she find this place? It seems like a private.

As soon as the sun bid good bye to us. I thought it would be just a plain star gazing thing but I was shocked when I saw the city lights up from here. It was so aesthetically beautiful like they were trying to pull me into them.

Napatingin ako sakanya ng magpatutog siya galing sa kotse niya. Both doors are open wide so we can hear it when she gives me a cup of coffee. At may nilapag siyang donut sa hood ng car niya.

"Is this place open to the public?" I can't help but ask. "No. This is owned by my Tito Elvis. Ever since I came here... hindi ko maiwasiwasang balikan." sabi niya.

Napainom ako ng kape habang pinapakinggan siya.

"Ever since I came here in the Philippines. I tried to find some of my safe places and whenever I feel a lot of things I come here to calm it down." hindi ko maiwasang mapatingin sakanya habang nagkwekwento.

"Why do you always push people away from you?" nagtataka ako noon kung bakit lagi siyang mag isa iyon pala siya mismo ang lumalayo.

"I don't know. This country and people don't hold any meaning to me so why bother being friends with anyone? Plus I want my own space. A space that no one can touch." sagot niya sa akin at uminom ng kape niya.

In those answers, I knew she doesn't consider this place as her home. I knew that at the end of the day, success or failed mission. She would always go back there.

"But I came... I am here." she finally looked back at me.

We may have had a bad start, naayos parin naman namin sa huli.

"You know it's funny how everything started with so much pretending but here we are. We've formed a bond more than faking a relationship. And I can't believe I regret those years ignoring you even though your name is always around the air." ngiti niya.