Chasing the Sun

039

The pain prevailed over the weekend, but the medicines I took gave temporary recovery for the ache. I figured going to the doctor to get myself checked, but I brushed it off and thought the pain was just because I have been taking my prescription medicines later than what was originally scheduled. I figured if I drank my tablets on time, the pain would eventually disappear.

"How are you feeling? You seem like you're not yourself these days. Is that prick still bothering you?", Tawan asked in the middle of our meal. It was a Monday, and we were eating at the rooftop like the usual.

"Nothing, it's just that I wasn't able to get enough sleep over the weekend."

"Why, was our kiss too exceptional that you spent the weekend fantasizing over it?", Tawan replied pouting, his eyebrows constantly going up and down.

"Asshole!"

We laughed for a bit and joked about a couple other stuffs as we emptied our plates. By the time we finished eating, we still had time to spare so we sat for a little while as the breeze brushed through our hair. I put my head on Tawan's shoulder as we filled our eyes with the majestic view of Chiang Mai.

"You still haven't used your reward for tutoring me.Are you saving it for something?"

"Oh...I've completely forgotten about it, but thanks for bringing it up!"

"That's unfortunate for me then. But have you anything in mind for what you want to make me do?"

"Uhm, I think so."

"What is it?"

I breathed for awhile and looked at the sun that shone ahead of us.

"Chase the sun."

"Chase...the sun?", He said, completely perplexed at what I just said.

"Yes...Aren't you curious as to how it would feel to chase the sun?"

Tawan looked at me, still full of confusion in his face.

"Picture this. When it rains, a rainbow forms soonafter. And at the end of the rainbow, a pot of gold awaits those who wish to venture into the colorful beams. But aren't you curious about what awaits for people who chase the sun?"

Slowly his face turned into a smile as he looked the skies.

"I am, now that you've mentioned it. Do you wanna chase the sun with me?"

"That'd be great. We'll ride your bike and go to the highest peak of Chiang Mai as we raced with the soon setting sun, and we'll lay our blanket and just look at it set on the horizon, revealing what really happens when you get a view of the sun setting."

"You sure are fantasizing a lot of things for someone who grew up watching lions fight in Africa."

"I'm not fantasizing it, it's my last wish before I die."

Suddenly the atmosphere turned heavy when I spoke of my death. It's not something new to us, but talking about it was the last thing we wanted to do when we're together.

"I didn't write it on my notebook because it's a wish I discovered only after meeting you. After we went to Doi Mae Salong, I felt the happiest I've been in forever. Thinking about it, only the sun and you were present as we stood on top of the hill, and yet I felt like I was somewhere overseas, or even better--I felt like I was standing in the middle of a paradise."

I put my leg on top of his and swayed it as I closed my eyes and felt the breeze ran over my skin.

"We both know I don't have the luxury of enjoying my youth, let alone explore all the wonders of the world."

I grabbed his hand and put it on my chest as my heart beat slowly. His palm felt warm on my chest, and it gave a serene feeling of touching the earth the moment the sun rose to full existence.

"But I know only one thing I'm sure of. I'm sitting next to the most beautiful creation this world offered me, and I'm more than willing to spend my last minute chasing the sun with you."