Before The Last Sunset [Before Trilogy #1]

32

"Where are we?"

Lumingon ako sa tabi ko at nakitang si Summer na kakagising pa lamang. Tumingin siya sa paligid namin, bakas ang pagkalito sa kanyang mukha. Ngumisi ako ng nagtama ang tingin namin.

"Hey. You're finally awake," I said, taking off my seat belt. "Bumaba ka na. We're at our last destination."

I went out first and didn't wait for her to answer. I opened the trunk of my car, clearing it so we could have space to sit. I heard the passenger door shut close, indicating that she went down already. Her figure slowly came into view, back facing me as she stared at the place in front of us.

The bright lights from the buildings illuminated against the pitch dark area. Flickers of yellow and red came from meters away from us. Everything looked so small from up here. The cold wind brushed against my skin and the sound of the passing cars in the distance were heard. It seemed so peaceful here even though we were staring at the busy town life in front of us.

She sat down beside me, her gaze still fixed in front. The lights shone against her skin, making me able to see her slightly. She felt my stare, making her turn to face me.

"That over there, is La Paraiso from a distance," I answered her question a while ago. "There are other towns too, but the biggest portion is our place."

Binalik niya ang tingin paharap. "It looks so pretty up here at night."

"This place is sort of my sense of safety, if you will," I explained. "Ang gulo kasi ng buhay. Ang dami palaging ganap. Dito sa lugar na 'to, nakakapag-isip ako ng mabuti. The busy streets and bright lights calm me. It makes the world seem beautiful despite how chaotic it is."

Naalala ko nung high school na naging takbuhan ko ang lugar na 'to. Minsan kasi ay halos 'di na ako nakakahinga sa lugar na 'yun. Dito lang ako nag-iisip na mag-isa. Si Summer lang ang unang tao na dinala ko rito. Kahit si Austin o Marcus, hindi ko naisip ayain pumunta rito.

Her lips pursed slightly. "Didn't you tell me before that you'd bring your special girl to see the city lights? This is your ideal date."

"Yeah. I guess it was about time that I did this. I already found the right girl so the date had to follow."

She laughed lightly, shaking her head. "Chase Javier and his sweet words," her hands pulled the blanket closer to her body.

I looked back in front, mesmerized by the view. This was also the last time I would be seeing this place for a long time. Everything was slowly starting to change. Tomorrow, my reality would have a different definition. I had to say goodbye to the town that I grew up in for me to adjust to my new life in Manila.

Summer inched closer to me, leaning her head on my shoulder. We were both quiet as we enjoyed the peace around us. She looked like she was deep in thought as well.

"Did you miss London?"

Her shoulders rose and fell. "Kind of. I couldn't say that I missed it that much. Sure, I found myself longing for it sometimes, but I never wanted to go back."

My forehead creased at her answer. "Why didn't you want to go back?"

"London never felt like home," she let out a deep breath. "It's different when you're actually at the place where you were born in. There is this sense of belonging here that I can't seem to shake."

"Bakit hindi na bumalik mga magulang mo dito sa Pilipinas?" I asked. The topic was sensitive so I chose my words carefully.

She frowned slightly at the mention of them. "Father never really liked the Philippines. He just moved here for a while until I was born. After that, they wanted to migrate immediately. They never brought us back here. I really didn't understand their distaste for the country. It is a good place anyway."