More Than Sunsets

Hair as bright as the sun

I fell in love with sunsets when I was young. I was visiting my old province at that time, the province where I grew up. I mean, how can I not?

The scenario was just too perfect: sitting on a hill, my buddies running around, the stunning mountain just a kilometer away from the hill, and the cold breeze just before the night took over.

Everything seems to be going so slowly, as if time has simply stopped for me. I feel as though this provides me enough time to process the situation, as I started to notice everything that's going on around me, but then... I saw the most breathtaking sunset I have ever seen.

My name is Sean, and I grew up in an orphanage after my parents died when I was only a year old.

I am a teenager who enjoys watching the sun set until the moon is the sole light shining through the night.

I also enjoy cycling, especially on my route to witness the sunset, and I enjoy painting, with the sunset being my favorite subject.

I'm simply a normal adolescent male who does the things that other adolescent boys do, such as playing video games and participating in sports.

But one thing that is so different about me is how I love the sunsets—not until I met this one girl.

One day I was at my favorite spot, where I usually watch the sunset.

When watching the sun go down, I always bring some art material so I can paint it whenever I feel like it.

After an hour, just before I was almost finished with the painting, I heard someone.

"That's a pretty painting."

A voice came out of nowhere.

I looked at where the voice came from and was startled because there's a girl who I don't really know, and then she smiled at me.

"Thanks."

I said that, and I also smiled awkwardly because I didn't know how to respond. I'm sitting in my favorite place, and by the way, this is not a tourist spot, but out of nowhere there's someone who I don't know, and she's talking to me.

"I am very sorry if I scared you," she said with a guilty voice.

"No worries, are you also here to watch the sunset?"

I said so I could make us both comfortable, forget about what just happened, and prevent more awkward things that could possibly happen.

She sat across from where I was sitting and said, "Not really, I just went to walk around... but then I saw this place where you can see the sunset, so I went closer, and then... I saw you with your pretty painting."

"Oh, ok, you see, this is actually my secret place, so I would appreciate it if you wouldn't tell anyone about this place."

I said it while being shy. I mean, how can I not be shy about telling her? Imagine gatekeeping a good spot, but what can I do? It's the only precious thing I have.

"Yeah, sure," she said, then raised her arm and index finger, "but in one condition."

"What is it?"

I asked while being nervous; I don't want to accept it, but I don't want her to be petty about it, and then I just leaked this secret place to her friends.

"I wouldn't tell anyone about this place, but... I want you to give me permission to always come back here whenever I want." She said it with a mischievous smile.

"Ok, I accept your condition.

I said with a lot of hesitation, Well, one is better than all of her friends.

"Promise?" she said and raised her pinky, asking for pinky swear.

"I promise."

I said, then gave her a pinky swear, and we both started laughing about it.

Then we both just stared into the sky, admiring how the blue skies turned into peach, the clouds turned red, and the beautifully warm tones of red, orange, and yellow blended all together, with the sun meeting the sea at the horizon.

It's getting chilly, so we both say our goodbyes.
I got carried away by the beauty of the sunset that night, and I forgot to ask about her name.

The next day

I'm still thinking about what her name was before and after my school and part-time job, even until it's time to go to watch the sunset, but I'm glad that I had a good sleep.

I was cycling when I saw her walking. She must be on her way to the secret place; she must be living nearby.

I was sitting in my usual spot when I heard her again.

"Hello, I figured you'd be here again." She said that and sat next to me.

"Hello, yeah, I'm usually here."

"Oh, ok," then she looked at me and said, "By the way, what is your name?" I forgot to ask you yesterday."

"I was just about to ask you the same question; my name is Sean; how about you?"

I said without eye contact, like, how can I do that when she's looking directly into my eyes?

"My name is Aisha. Nice to meet you again."

When I looked at her again, she was looking at the scenery while smiling after what she said.

"Nice to meet you again too."

Then we both started to laugh.

"You really do love sunsets, hm?"

"Yeah, more than anything."

I reply without hesitation.

She looked at me. "More than your parents?" she asked, shocked.

"You see, my parents died when I was 1 year old, so I don't really remember them; to be honest, I don't even know what they're like."

I said in a calm voice, so she wouldn't feel bad, but I can see in her face that she felt bad.

I was flabbergasted by that question, but she's right to ask that question because she doesn't really know why I love sunsets more than anyone else.

"I'm so sorry, but look at you now. You're so strong and healthy." She said it in a cheerful tone.

"Yeah, that's how it's supposed to be, because I need to survive."

"When did you start to love sunsets?" she asked with a curious face.

"When I left the orphanage, I thought of ending everything. I went to the cliff beside the sea and stood right at the edge. Then I closed my eyes while thinking about everything—everything I've been through—but when I was just about to jump, I opened my eyes, and the first thing I saw was the sunset. That sunset reminds me of my childhood, and that sunset pushed me to keep on living to this day."

"Whooa, that was really deep. I am very proud to see you like this; you look like you didn't go through all of that. Remove the bad thoughts, and you'll live very long," and then she smiled.

"I really hope so."

I said as I looked at her and smiled.

"You must really love the sunset, then."

"Yeah, more than anything, anywhere and anyone."