Dying Embers

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven: Beneath The Stars

As Chance and I exited the grocery store, he reached into his back pocket, retrieving his keys with a practiced flick. He opened the trunk of his car and began placing the grocery bags inside. Yes, his car. That meant he had gone home early to fetch it, the vehicle his grandmother's driver had returned the previous night. Since it was still only just past six, he had to catch a tricycle to get there instead of a taxi.

He then walked around to the passenger side and opened the door for me. His smile was disarmingly sweet. I tsked lightly, sliding into the seat as his chuckle drifted to my ears. With the door gently closed behind me, he moved to the driver's side, got in, and started the engine.

I didn't speak the whole ride, but when I saw an unfamiliar place I instantly faced him to asked him. "Where are we going? This isn't the way to my apartment."

"Chance."

He chuckled. "What?"

"I asked where we're going!" I said, a hint of frustration creeping into my voice.

His grin widened. "Just a little detour. We're going to take a stroll and then grab something to eat afterward." He glanced at me before returning his focus to the road. "You don't mind, do you?"

I shook my head, pouting slightly. "It's fine. But what about mathematics?"

Natapos na namin 'yong report kagabi at ngayon dapat namin gagawin 'yong portfolio sa mathematics para matapos na kaagad at wala na kaming iisipin bago mag-acquaintance at Intramurals.

"That can wait. We'll just head to Lala's café. I work there occasionally." His smile was infectious.

My eyes immediately travelled on his. "Nagtatrabaho ka?"

"On weekends," he shrugged casually.

"Sa yaman mo, nagtatrabaho ka?"

His smile softened. "It's not just about the money, Nieve. I'm not consumed by riches. I value simplicity and passion. I'm where I'm happy, and that's what matters. I love what I do, and that's enough for me."

His words always seemed to hit the right spot, and I found myself admiring him for it.

"I wish I could find that kind of happiness too. You know, the kind that doesn't feel forced, where no one is pushing you towards something you don't want."

Chance turned to me, his eyes full of questions, before returning to the road. I shrugged. "Dad wants me to become a doctor, which is why I was pushed into learning science. That's why I'm somewhat good at it. It's suffocating, really, being forced to focus on things that aren't your passion. I want to explore the world, everything that lives on this Earth, not spend ten years or more studying what my dad dreams for me. He's not me, and I'm not him."

I leaned back in my seat, finally voicing a sentiment I had kept hidden for so long. "I envy you, though." I sighed. "Finding what you love and having that kind of happiness — it's something I rarely see."

"It's not easy. Finding your happiness is like driving down a long, bumpy road. You stumble, you might even fall. You question whether it's worth it. Your mind grows weary, as if it might just explode. But there's a silver lining in all of this. Along that winding path, you might find someone. Someone who encourages you to keep going, to embrace the life you deserve. When you gaze into their eyes, you discover the courage to fight and to be brave. This person, without even realizing it, shapes you into something better. And the most incredible part? You come to understand that this person embodies your own idea of happiness."