Closing Time: 11 PM

21. When Lightning Strikes

Are we making the right choices?

Cause we can't be sure if we're hearing

Our own voices as we close the door

Eventhough we are so desperate to stay

-Brave, Idina Menzel

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He was very attentive to her since they came back to Manila. He gave her every single second he can, spent every day with her. He talks to her as often as he can and even if he might be home, he is on the phone with her. He would go with her if she needs to go out.

Though he never said a word about the real status, never said a date of his leaving.

And it made Kara bothered.

They were happy, no doubt. It may be one of those relationships that no one need to say what they feel because it was pretty obvious it is there but it is one that leaves a person involved questioning what they have and doesn't know how far it will go.

Chad was leaving in one week's time and he hasn't told her yet. He was so comfortable with the idea that Kara loves him and what they have is secured even if he does not tell her anything.

Kara's family arrived the day before and Chad went with her to pick them up at the bus terminal. They had dinner together and he spent time on Kara's place playing video game with her brother. They would be buying things for the upcoming school year for the two.

They went to a bookstore that afternoon as she was searching for new references. She was reading the contents of a book while Chad was roaming around.

"Baby, you think this is a good reference?" he asked her, showing a book about travel. "I want to go to Malta to see their Popeye town."

"First and foremost," she lowered her glasses to the tip of her nose. "I haven't read about the book. Second, I am not your baby."

Chad smiled. "I know," he said and left her where she was standing. When she found the book she wanted, she started looking for him. She found Chad reading a book about European countries.

"You really wanna be there, don't you?"

"Yeah. Big dream. I might go there this year if I can and if there's someone I can drag along with me," he said. "I'd like to see the colorful houses there and take pictures."

"Or go to Santorini to see the beautiful sceneries like what Sidney Sheldon described on his stories," she continued. "Or see the monastery near the cliff. Greece it is the following month."

"See the Lavender Fields in France or check out the famous river in the town of Colmar the following morning," he smiled. "We could see the green tunnel in Ukraine the same afternoon."

"Then we'll have wine as we walk by the sands of Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia and sunbathe in Seychelles," she dreamed.

"And once we're done swimming, I'll drop you on some rodeo show in Spain or Mexico and wait for the bull festival and we'll watch them together," he smiled.

"We can ride a bike in Paris and shop some designer clothes, buy some jewelries, and fashionable shoes. I would have my hair redone," she imagined herself.

"We can watch soccer and see the Queen herself. Have some tea with Princess Kate and Prince William," he laughed.

"Italia. Run and feed the doves and eat lots of pepperoni, cheese, and pasta for one whole week,"

"While I prepare for us to see the farms and hoard chocolates for Krisanta and Karlo in New Zealand. Then we'll spend the night roller skating in front of the Eiffel Tower," he laughed.