Chapter 3

Chapter 3: fine time

When we arrived at where we were supposed to get breakfast, I was about to open the door when he opened it for me first. 

I bit my lower lip and just nodded at him, “T-thank you.” I stuttered, I waited for him while he locked his car.

After doing so, he stood beside me and ushered me to walk beside him. I nodded, we both then started to make our way inside.

When we got in, I was about to fall in line but he stopped me. I looked at him with a confused look. 

“Go look for us a place to sit, I'll order. What do you want?” he asked, I shrugged and looked at the menu.

“Coffee and pancakes will do, thanks.” I said and handed him my card but he shook his head.

“This is on me, just go look for us a sit.” he said, I chew the insides of my cheeks and was hesitant on whether I should just let him pay for my meal or keep on insisting that I'll pay for my own.

He might have noticed the unsureness that was written on my face, he sighed. “Don't worry about it, ok? I'll pay.” he said.

I sighed in defeat and nodded before turning my back at him and left to look for a place for the both of us to seat. I then spotted a table for two near the window, so I went straight to seat there and waited patiently for him.

A few minutes have passed before he laid a tray with pancakes and coffees on the the table before slipping to sit at the chair infront of me. He took out the plate of pancakes from the tray and placed infront of me.

“Here you go.” he said and smiled, I smiled back before picking up the fork and knife and started eating.

He cleared his throat so I turned to look at him, I tilt my head to check if he's okay and he seems fine. I shrugged and continued eating.

“I was wondering that since you're new here, you still don't know much around town. So, what do you say I'll tour you around?” he asked, my lips parted.

“W-what? N-no, I'm good. Besides, you might have something else to do, right?” I told him, feeling shy. He let out a small laugh before shaking his head.

“Nope, I'm free for the day. And I won't take no for an answer.” he told me, I sighed in defeat and just nodded.  “Oh and this could be a great opportunity for us to get to know each other better, I mean you'll need a friend or two.” he added, I chuckled and nodded.

We continued to eat and left when we're done, he then drove both of us down the town.

We first stopped by at Lake Monroe, as soon as we got out of the car he held my wrist before leading me at the boardwalk. 

“I often go here when I decide to go for a cycle or to fish.” he told me, I nodded and looked around.

“The sunset view might look nice here.” I said, he chuckled so I turned to look at him.

“Just wait until I bring you on our last destination later today.” he said, I raised my brows and smirked.

“Okay then, surprise me.” before laughing. We spent a few more minutes before deciding to go to Red bug lake park.

“What are your plans? I mean why'd you move here?” he asked, I looked at him before looking back at the road.

“Look for a job, it's difficult to look for one back at my hometown.” I told him, he then looked at me by the rearview mirror before focusing back at the road.

“I can help you look for one.” he suggested, I chuckled and shook my head.

“Thanks but no, I'm actually good. Andrea handed me lists of company with vacancies.” I said, he then nodded in response.

“Oki, but if you need any help just tell me.” he said, I nodded and smiled before looking outside the window.

It was a 39 minute drive all the way from Lake Monroe down to Red bug lake, and we've spent the entire time talking.

After strolling for what felt like twenty minutes, he then took me to this fancy restaurant just near the park.

We both sat down and the waiter came right after us. He then started to take our orders and as soon as he left, we started to chat.

“I'm curious, how did you and Andrea met?” he asked, I shrugged.

“We met at high school, we both got detentions. My reason was because I stabbed one of my classmate with a pencil while she threw an eraser at hers.” I told him and laughed so hard, reminiscing the past.

“Ouch, that must've hurt. You guys are crazy.” he said between laughs. I shook my head and held my stomach while I was trying so hard to suppress my laughter.

“What do you expect? We were kids.” I told him and snorted, he was shaking his head. “Anyways, enough about me. How about you? How long have you been staying here?” I asked.

“For about three years now.” he said, my brows raised and my eyes widened. 

“Well that sums how you know the town so well like the back of your hand.” I told him, he nodded.

“Yup.” popping the letter 'p'. 

“If it's okay to ask, why did you move here?” I queried him, he shook his and cleared his throat before answering.

“Just because.” he replied shortly, I just nodded. Maybe he doesn't want to talk about it, huh? What could the reason be?

The waiter arrived with the food that we ordered, he served it infront of us before leaving.

After we left the restaurant, we drove down town and passed by different attractions here at sanford. It was 5 in the afternoon when we decided to stop by at New Smyrna Beach.

We got down the car and decided to take a stroll at the shoreline, we were both quiet and observant with the view surrounding us.

“Hey, if you're not busy and if it's okay with you,” he paused, I turned to look at him. “What do you say I'll take you to this island here at Sanford? The view there is breathtakingly beautiful.” 

My lips parted and my eyes glistened, “Sure, but really” I asked, he nodded and chuckled.

“Of course.” he replied, I pursed my lips and nodded before giving him a smile.

We spent a few more minutes walking when he stopped to check the time on his watch, he looked at me and smiled. “Follow me.” he said, before holding my wrist and pulling me towards a place that isn't too crowded.

He let go of my hand before sitting down at the sand, facing the sea. He then turned to look at me and tapped his side.

I then sat down beside him and hugged my knees close to my chest while I silently observed everything around me.

The sound of the waves as it hits the shore, the cries of the seagull and the cold wind hitting my skin somehow made me feel relaxed.

“Do you want to drink something? A Piña Colada, maybe?” he asked, I pursed my lips and thought of whether to just go with a soda or an alcoholic beverage. But I thought that maybe it's time to try something new, so I nodded.

“Sure.” I replied, he nodded before standing up. I stayed and kept looking at the view when my mood changed when a person came across my mind.

‘Is he happy?’ I asked to myself, feeling all gloomy all of a sudden. I hate that I still think of him, I know that Lucas isn't worth it but I must admit that he was my first love and my best friend. 

What pisses me off is that he never apologized, which was all I ever wanted before I left but I never received any from him. Not even from a text or a call, just nothing.

“Anthony Hincks once said, as angry as the sky looks, it's still full of the colors of love.” a voice from behind me said, I turned to look at him. He was carrying two glasses of Piña Colada on both his hands. 

“The sand has nothing to do with your anger, so stop heaping your anger on it.” he said, it was then on that I realized that I was grabbing the sand. I gave him a shy smile before rubbing mt hands unto my pants.

He sat down and offered the drink to me, I took it and had a small sip. It was sweet and creamy which was flavourful to me. I closed my eyes and savored the drink, forgetting all the anger and misery that I felt from earlier.

“So tell me, why were you heaping your anger on the sand?” he chuckled, I turned to look at him.

“I just remembered someone.” I said through gritted teeth, he raised his brows and took a sip from his drink.

“Lucas, was it?” he asked, I nodded. “You know, you wouldn't feel such anger towards him if you didn't love him that much.” he uttered, I sighed.

“I know, Sky. And it pains me, knowing that I loved him so much and yet he... cheated on me and never even apologized.” I trailed, every word that I said pierced through my chest.

“It's his lost, not yours.” was all he said before he remained quiet, I didn't think of uttering another word and just focused on finishing my drink.

The sun was starting to set and we both were just quietly watching it with the cold drink in our hands.

“Your eyes match the color of the sun.” he said out of nowhere, I turned to look at him.

“What do you mean?” I asked,

“Your eyes are beautiful.” he said before facing the sun again, I stared at him intently before turning to look back at the sunset. I held my chest and massaged it gently, why are you beating so fast?

We both were just quiet, the darkness surrounded us and the only source of light of ours was the moon and the lights from a bar not so far from us. Our ears was filled with the distant people chatting and the waves as it hits the shore. I placed the empty glass beside me before lying down the sand, Sky did the same.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked and looked at him, he nodded while staring intently at the stars. I faced the  heavens above us before talking.

“What is your biggest fear?” I asked him.

“I usually thought that losing someone is the scariest thing ever, but I've come to realize that losing your self is the thing that is scarier.” he answered, he made a point. Losing yourself is the scariest thing on this planet, wherein you wouldn't recognize who and what you truly were. 

“My turn, have you ever been inlove?”

he asked before turning to look at me, I looked back and smiled.

“I did, once.” I answered him.

“Didn't turn out to be great, yeah?” he asked, I chuckled and looked at the sky.

“Yeah, but it's okay. I know that almost half the people entered three types of this kind of love life, the first was the one that will teach you how it is to love. The second one will mend and mold you, and the last one is the one who'll stay till you grow old.”

“Touché.” he uttered, I licked my lower lip and sighed.

“Others are just lucky that they get to experience all that with just one person.” I told him.

“If they want to they will. They'll work hard to stay with that person through hell or high water. Unless, of course their relationship are full of toxicity.” he answered before letting out a small laugh.

I kept quiet, he was right. If the person truly loves you, they should do everything to keep you and if you feel the same way, then you should too. 

It then broke me again, I fought for our relationship but to no avail, he chose a different path. He walked away from me and chose another. 

I felt my tears started to fall from my cheeks, I looked away and wiped it.

“What's your favorite song?” I asked, changing the subject. 

“Yellow by Coldplay, and you?” he asked. And as if on cue, the bar that wasn't so far from here started to play my favorite song.

He started to sing along with the song that was playing, it made my cheeks burn and my knees buckle. He was closing his eyes while singing the song. I always thought that the original version made me feel relaxed, but when he sang it just now. It made me feel calm, safe and relieved.

“Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.” I answered, he stopped singing and looked at me.

“I guess fate really has a way of twisting things, huh?” he chuckled, I let out a small laugh.

He started to sing again, I then joined him. But I also stopped and turned to look at him when he stopped.

“Hmm?” I asked, he gave me a small smile before shaking his head.

“You have a euphonious voice.” he complimented me, I felt my cheeks burn and shook the feeling off and just sang again, not a moment too long when he started to sing with me again.

I didn't know that it was one of those moments where the most beautiful things happen which turns into memories to be treasured, because all I knew at the moment was we were having a fine time and enjoying each other's company.