City Lights and Country Skies

Prologue

Prologue:
Crossing Paths

The sun was just starting to rise over the lush green hills of Akira’s hometown. She stood at the doorstep of her family’s small house, luggage in hand, breathing in the fresh, dewy air one last time before her big move to the city. The smell of rice fields and the sound of roosters crowing in the distance felt like a comforting hug. Manila, with its skyscrapers, traffic, and noise, was going to be a whole different world.

Akira’s mom, ever the emotional one, was on the verge of tears. "Anak, don’t forget to eat three times a day, ha? And wear slippers when you go outside! The city’s full of germs!"

Akira chuckled and hugged her tightly. “Ma, I’ll be fine! I’m going to study architecture, not survive a zombie apocalypse.”

Her dad, quieter but equally sentimental, gave her a pat on the shoulder. “If the city gets too noisy for you, you can always come back. You don’t have to stay there just because of your dreams, you know.”

Akira smiled at them both, her heart swelling. “I’ll be okay, Pa. I’m ready. Besides, how hard can city life be?”

Meanwhile, in Manila...

Liam leaned back in his seat, feet up on the table, as his friends argued over which country they should visit next.

“Bro, Bali is where it’s at. Beaches, parties, and endless fun,” his friend Mark said with an enthusiastic fist pump.

“Nah, you guys are thinking too small,” Liam responded, sipping his iced coffee. “I’m telling you, Europe’s the way to go. Can you imagine the nightlife in Barcelona?”

Liam’s life was all about balance. A little bit of flying planes, a lot of traveling, and the occasional night of partying in the trendiest spots of Manila. His dad always reminded him that he’d need to settle down someday, but for now, he was riding high on life. Responsibility? That was Future Liam’s problem.

“Dude, do you ever get tired of traveling?” Mark asked, shaking his head.

“Tired? The day I get tired of traveling is the day I stop being awesome.” Liam smirked, brushing off imaginary dust from his shoulder.

Just then, his phone buzzed with an invitation to another fancy party that weekend. “Speaking of awesome...”

---

Back to Akira’s Journey

Akira’s excitement was growing as the bus approached Manila. She stared out the window, watching the green fields slowly transition into concrete, noise, and chaos. Cars honked, skyscrapers towered over the roads, and people moved in what felt like fast-forward compared to the relaxed pace of her hometown.

She stepped off the bus, suitcase in hand, and immediately bumped into someone—a man carrying what looked like six grocery bags in both hands.

“Oh! Sorry po!” Akira squeaked, nearly toppling over.

The man just grunted and shuffled away, clearly in a hurry.

“Welcome to the city, Maya,” she muttered to herself, awkwardly laughing.

---

That Evening: Their First Unlikely Encounter

Akira found herself walking into a fancy, glamorous rooftop party. Well, she hadn’t exactly been invited—she was there to do research for a school project on urban design. She felt completely out of place in her simple blouse and jeans, standing amidst people dressed in glittery gowns and sleek suits.

“This must be how Cinderella felt,” Akira whispered to herself, clutching her notebook like a lifeline.

Just as she was about to take a photo of the city skyline, she heard a voice from behind her.

“Hey, you’re not seriously thinking of taking notes at a party, are you?”

Startled, she turned to find a tall guy with messy hair, wearing a blazer but with the kind of careless vibe that screamed I don’t care how rich I look. He raised an eyebrow, glancing at her notebook like it was an alien artifact.

Akira’s cheeks flushed. “Uh… actually, yeah. I have a project due on urban design, so...”

“You must be fun at parties,” he smirked, taking a sip of his drink.

Akira’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t even know you, and you’re already judging me?”

He shrugged. “I’m just saying, you should probably put down the notebook before people start thinking you’re writing a novel about them.”

Maya crossed her arms. “And you? What are you doing that’s so impressive?”

He gave her a charming grin. “Living life, obviously. Name’s Liam, by the way. I’m what you might call an expert in this whole ‘city life’ thing.”

Maya rolled her eyes. “I’m Akira. And I’m what you might call an expert in minding my own business.”

Liam chuckled. “Feisty. I like that.”

Akira’s sarcastic reply was cut off by the sound of someone clinking a glass for a toast. She glanced at Liam, who was still watching her with that annoying grin.

Great. Her first day in the city, and she’d already met a guy who thought he was some kind of gift to mankind. This was going to be interesting.

---

Their first meeting was anything but magical, but little did Akira know, her life in the city was about to get a lot more complicated—and a lot more fun—thanks to Liam, the cocky aviation student who knew nothing about the quiet charm of the province. Meanwhile, Liam had no idea that the girl with the notebook would turn his perfectly crafted city life upside down in ways he never saw coming.

Because, as they were about to learn, love is a lot like architecture and flying—it’s all about balance. And maybe, a little turbulence.