Chapter 2

Lucas’ POV

“What happened Lucas? Why are you wet?” Uncle Isko asked worriedly when I met him in front of the gate. A cold wind caused a shiver down my spine causing me to sneeze. I watch him hurriedly left to get a towel and I went into the house still shivering.

“I went to the beach to take pictures, sorry for going out without telling,” I apologized in a shy tone. Uncle Isko returned with a towel in his hand and handed it to me. I sneezed once again, I’m not so fond of a cold weather especially the rain.

“Thank you, ” I thanked him with a smile when I took the towel. I immediately wiped my camera with the towel. I can’t lose any pictures in my camera.

“Don’t forget to take a shower or else you’ll get sick,” Uncle Isko reminded me before he left. I smiled and bid him goodbye. I started to roam my eyes around the house, it’s been so long when I last visited but there are not so much changes since my last visit. I continued to dry my camera with the towel when the girl from the beach pop out in my mind.

Full of excitement, I hurriedly open my camera with my shaky hands. I quietly wish on my mind that my camera would turn on while waiting for its screen to light up. I gasp with excitement and sighed in relief when it suddenly turned on. A photo of a woman smiling as she watched the sunset while she paints is currently displayed in the screen.

You can see in her smile how much she loves painting the sunset.

FLASHBACK

I was taking a walk around the island when my feet bring me in the beach. A gorgeous white fine sand and a clear sea that glistens when the sunlight hits its surface. I decided to take a picture of it when my camera caught a girl busy painting a beautiful art of the scenery. I was mesmerized and decided to have a closer look but when I decided to zoom in to get a closer look a beautiful and mesmerizing smile from the painter caught my eye. The painter’s beauty was more mesmerizing than her painting itself.

I didn’t realize I was staring too much and accidently pressed the capture button. The camera shutter sound made me snapped out of it and caught the girl’s attention. She stopped painting, God I know she heard it but please I wish she didn’t. My heart skipped a beat when she suddenly look back to see where the sound came from.

Before she could turn around, a heavy rain suddenly fell and that was also the reason why I ran so fast.

END OF FLASHBACK

I buried my face in frustration and asked myself why I ran like I committed a serious crime. I decided to take a bath first to calm myself. When I was about to enter the bathroom, my cellphone suddenly rang.

I sighed and reached out for my phone on the bedside table. I face-palmed when I saw who is calling me at this hour. It’s just Sebastian, I sighed. What’s his problem again?

“What?” I annoyingly answered the call. My feet stride across the cold mahogany floor and stand in front my window. I could see the beach from here.

“Is that how much you miss me bro?” said Sebastian when I answered the phone. I can clearly hear how he tries to suppress his laughter through the phone. As suspected he just called to annoy the heck out of me.

“That’s so bromance Sebastian you’re the first to call me,” I answered with a monotone but sarcastic way.

“Okay, okay, chill out,” he replied with a laugh. I brushed my hair in frustration while shaking my head, he always irritates me and he enjoys it, what a psycho.

“Why did you called me?” I peeked at my phone to see what time is it. I was surprised it is already 10 pm. I was too busy looking at her picture a while ago and didn’t notice the hours slipped by. My heart starts to beat like crazy whenever she pops in my mind. This is bad.

“Hey? Lucas are you listening to me?” asked Sebastian that made me snapped out with my thoughts. I shrugged my shoulders while shaking my head to calm myself. What’s wrong with me today?

“Sorry what did you say?” 

“I said, I thought we will go there together tomorrow? Your mom said you’re already there?” I totally forgot about him coming with me. I’m so in a hurry this morning so it slipped my mind.

“Sorry bro I’ll make it up to you. I’ll pick you up tomorrow,” I scratched my head in shame.

“Hey that’s a promise I’ll be expecting that, bye.” before I could answer he hanged up. This friend of mine is an idiot and rude. Rolling my eyes I went to my bathroom and took a quick shower before I got sick.

I sat up in my bed while wiping my wet hair. I just stared out my window and enjoyed the view. A lot has changed when I last visited here but the beautiful scenery didn’t fade. It is still beautiful when I last saw it.

I laid on my bed trying to sleep but I’m wide awake. When I arrived here a while ago I felt tired and drowsy but when I saw the sceneries and that girl on the beach, my fatigue magically faded away. I can’t sleep because every time I close my eyes it’s her smile and face I see. I rolled over and over in my bed and tried to fall asleep but nothing happened.

I sat down and picked up my camera. I found myself staring at her picture again and a smile escaped on my lips.

"Okay I've decided I'll find you tomorrow," I whispered to myself and smiled.

------------------------------------------

“Lucas! Are you awake?” shouted Uncle Isko while knocking on my door. I ruffled my hair before opening my eyes, I reached out for my phone and saw its 7 pm already. I got up immediately and opened the door for Uncle Isko.

“Sorry Uncle Isko I just woke up” I said shyly while fixing my hair.

“Is that so, your Aunt Jeana already finished cooking your breakfast. You go downstairs after you finish freshening up” My spirits awoke when I heard the word cook and Aunt Jeana in a sentence. I remember that Aunt Jeana always cooks for me whenever we visited here, her cooking are superb. Suddenly my stomach growled, Uncle Isko heard it and laughed.

“Wash up and eat” said Mang Isko and laughed before going down.

I quickly washed up and went downstairs right away. The fragrant smell of Aunt Jeana's cooking came to me and made me hungrier.

“Aunt Jeana how are you?” I said to Aunt Jeana who was arranging the food on the table.

“OMG! Lucas don’t scare me like that!”Aunt Jeana jumped in shock and slapped me on the arm. I laughed while stroking my arm. Aunt Jeana is always scared to death whenever I jump scare her. I wondered my eyes on the foods that are on the table. Wow the foods bring back nostalgic memories. It’s been so long since I had this kind of breakfast, I only drink coffee every morning because of how busy I am.

I sat down and started to eat. It was delicious as I remembered. “As expected, your cooking never fails to amaze me Aunt Jeana,” I said and gave her a thumbs up. Being blessed by the amazing cooking of Aunt Jeana, I eat my heart out. This is a rare opportunity so I can’t waste any food.

“Aunt Jeana?” a voice coming from the outside called. Aunt Jeana peeked at the window to see who it is and went outside. I ignored who is calling Aunt Jeana since I’m busy chowing down the food.

“Lucas slow down,” said Uncle Isko when he saw me chowing down the food. Mouth full of food, I nodded and drank.

“Who is it Uncle Isko?” I asked and tried to peek in the window but I can’t see who it is.

“Oh the one called your Aunt Jeana?” asked Uncle Isko and I nodded.

“It’s the tourist that stays in the orphanage a few blocks from here,”

“It’s that so,” I said and tried to peek once again but Aunt Jeana suddenly came in. She caught me trying to peek at the window.

“What’s the matter Lucas? Already done with breakfast?” asked Aunt Jeana and also tried to peek at the window to see what I’m trying to see. “What are you peeking at Lucas?” asked Aunt Jeana and looked me over her shoulders.

“Nothing Aunt Jeana,” I lied and returned to the table and drank again. “Thank you for the breakfast Aunt Jeana!”

I thanked Aunt Jeana for the food and went outside. I plan to roam around the island, there’s a possibility that I will bump into her because it’s a small island. Walking around with my camera, I roam my eyes around hoping to see her. Is it possible she’s a tourist here? And already left? I shook my head trying to erase that thought. No, I’ll find her.

“Lucas?” a familiar sweet voice called my name. I looked back and saw a familiar face.

“Sister Maya!” I leap towards her and hug her.

“It’s been a while Sister Maya,”

“Yes! OMG you grew a lot and became more handsome too,” said Sister Maya when she slipped out with the hug and looked at me with longing eyes. It’s been awhile when I last saw Sister Maya. She’s in her 20’s when I last visited here but now she grew wrinkles but still beautiful as always.

“The more handsome is a lie Sister but when it comes to my height, yeah,” I chuckled while scratching my head. I’m used of people complementing me with my looks but if someone close to me compliments me I get shy.

“Okay, okay, I know you don’t like people complementing you but look at you,” said Sister Maya while looking at me with a smile. “By the way where are you going?”

“Me? I just wanted to walk around the island,” I looked at the way I was walking earlier. It looks familiar but I can’t remember exactly where the way to the beach from here.

“I see but I thought you’ll just be arriving today?” ask Sister Maya curiously.

“I arrived yesterday Sister, something came up and poof I’m here,” I chuckled nervously. I don’t want Sister Maya to notice that I got to an argument with my parents. I don’t want to talk about it.

“It’s that so? Why don’t you come with me to the orphanage?” invites Sister Maya but I plan to go to the beach to look for her.

“I’ll come by to the orphanage later Sister. I was planning to go to the beach.”

“I’ll be expecting you okay?” I nodded and wave goodbye to her.

I continued to walk and got lost a lot of times. I brushed my hair with frustration and continued walking with my head looking down when suddenly a pickup drove by. There are a lot of beach stuff at the back. I think it will go to the beach so I followed it. When I arrived a sudden hit of realization hit me. The direction to the beach is the one I was going to take a while ago.

“Damn it” I cursed between my breath and frustratingly brushed my face to wipe my sweat. I roam around my eyes to look for her but there’s no sign of her. I waited for a couple of hours but no luck.

The beaming light of the sun a while ago made my sweat flow like flood. Where is she? Is my guess correct? Is she just a tourist here and already left? I sighed and decided to leave the beach. I got up and remove the sand attached to my clothes.

“I should get going its getting dark,” I walked while looking at the stars. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be to meet her again. I stopped when I saw a big gate. It’s the orphanage, I didn’t realized I already arrived. I rang the doorbell and waited for it to open.

“Who is it?” a sweet voice echoed in the silent night and after that the gate burst open.

“You!” I said in shock. The girl I was looking for in the beach is suddenly standing in front of me. I was so surprised to see her here that I was at loss for words.