Chapter 9

We we're both quiet on the ride and I still didn't know when we were heading so I just open my car stereo to lighten up the mood.

It could change, but this feels like, like the calm before the storm.

Not that I don't wanna try, but I've been here before.

Friends in town, phone's at home, I tell myself it's fine

Can't remember how you taste, slept alone too many nights

The song was just right and it's from my favorite band LANY. I looked at Aya who was now singing with the song on the stereo.

"Do you know this song?" I asked her.

"Of course" she said lively. "That was from my favorite band" she added. Really? For how many things we had the same? At first, we met at the convenient store for the same reason. Second, we're just came from a broken family well mine was almost broken. And this, we had our same favorite taste of music? Hmm should I ask the destiny?

"Really? Cause them was my favorite too" I exclaimed.

"Yeah, for how many times I tried going to their concert but there's always something coming up that's why until now I haven't seen them" she said with her sad face. She's really cute making that look.

"Don't worry if ever they return from here again you were the first person I'm gonna asked to come with me" I said giving her a smile causing her to jumped at her seat. This girl was really fun to be with.

"Really? You said that huh, that's a promise" she said as if she's scaring me if I wouldn't true to what I said.

"Yes I promised" I said raising my right hand to her.

Minutes passed and I still don't know where we were going so I asked her.

"Where do you want to go?" I asked looking at her now staring at the window of my shotgun seat.

"Hmm? Why me. I thought you're going somewhere and you're just gonna bring me there with you" she said wondering.

"Right but I don't know really where would I want to go" I said confused. I really don't have a plan on where to go but we can go to the mall if she want or maybe eat at some restaurant or fast food here.

"I know somewhere" she said as if something came up to her mind.

It's already noon when we finally arrived at this place. I don't know this but it seem relaxing. It was like a hill from above. We can see the city from below. I wonder what's this place and how come she knew it. We bought earlier our lunch for we're just gonna eat hear. We also buy snacks and drinks cause she's planning to stay here until later at afternoon cause she said it's the perfect place to watch sunset.

We sat next to each other as she's eating her lunch.

"How do you found this place?" I asked her cause this place was really nice. It's far from the city, it's traffic and pollution. It's the best place to unwind.

"I found this place since I was 16. That was the time when I celebrated my 16th birthday and my mom introduced me to her boyfriend. and said that they've been together for 4 years that time. And not just that, her boyfriend happened to have a wife and a family. Imagined? What she would feel if people would have gonna call her a home wrecker or a dirty mistress for having a boyfriend who was married." she said. Really? She's still young that time and she can managed to go here alone? And I feel sad for her cause I can feel her situation.

"I'm sorry" I just said sympathizing.

"Honestly, the night that I saw you at the parking space of that convenient store, I just came from here. I was planning to go home when I saw you. I'm still far from that store but I knew it was you. In so many people at the bar, you were the one who had the courage to help me from those guys who were gonna harassed me. And as a form of thank you, I went there next to you to maybe accompanied you, to make you feel that you weren't alone. I don't know your problem but I know I can relate to that" she said explaining why I met her on the convenient store last week. Well she's right, she can relate to my problem cause we had the same.

"This was nice right? You can find peace away from other. Here you can isolate yourself. I call it my safe place. Every time I am feeling suffocated by my own problems, personal or family I will just go here" she added.

"My problems was still there but at least I got the courage to face it by going up here" she said still while looking at the view below.

"You know what? You're right. You can relate to me cause we just had the same problem" I said shrugging.

"Oh really? You can go on" she said as if she wants me to share mine to her.

"My dad was cheating with my mom when I was 12, just like you. At first I don't believe it and just think that it was just an assumptions to him cause many people was jealous of him for having my mom. My mom happens to always protect dad's image from public and even from me. She assured me that, that wasn't true. That dad loves us and he can't do something like that" I intro and she's just listening to me as if she is also sympathizing.

"And until now my dad keeps hurting my mom but my mom also always forgiving him hoping he would change but we both know that wouldn't happen. That night before you saw me, I just came from my dad asking him to just get a divorce with my mom. I don't want that but I think that's the only way to end my mom's agony. I'm so sick of seeing her in pain over and over again for the same reason and has nothing to do to lessen it. My dad obviously keeps going back to her maybe for the sake of money or fame and then eventually leave and be with his mistress. It's really tiring seeing your parents like that so that I thought it's better if they just gonna end their marriage cause it was senseless at the first place" I explained.

We remain silent for the next minute as if she wants to say something but she can't cause she doesn't know how to start so I just broke the silence between us.

"You don't have to say something really" I said hissing.

"It's just fun having someone whom you can talk to just like this. It feels more better than keeping your problem to yourself and not speak it cause you know people can hear you but not be able to listen on what you were saying" I said cause it's true. People will say they're here for you but can't listen to you. So it's comforting having someone whom you know you can share your problems with.

After watching the sunset, we decided to go home cause she said that her mom still hasn't go home and her dog's not eating yet so I just drive her home like what I always want to do, bring her home assuring she is safe. I just took a picture of her and the sunset and post it on my IG story with a caption "as beautiful as the sunset".

It's already 6 pm when we finally arrived at her house.

"Thank Z, this was fun" she said as she went out to my car.

"No. I think I should be the one who have to thank you for coming with me. Thank you for listening to my rants, for sharing me yours and for showing me your private place. I really enjoyed being with you" I said as I was feeling grateful for her coming with me.

"So I guess, we just call it a day? She asked already heading towards their house.

Yeah, sure. See you at school" I said and went inside my car.

"Yeah. Take care" she said bidding me her goodbye.

When I finally went home mom wasn't still here. I tried contacting her but she isn't answering her phone. I just lay in my bed cause I had a long day. I checked my phone only to see Inigo and Brent's replies to my story. It was seen by 700 people already.

@nigssrvnt: you're having a date huh? and you didn't take me? hmp

me: shut up you moron, she just came with me cause you idiot don't picking up your phone.

@nigssrvnts: oh right I'm sorry dude I was still asleep that time cause me and my cousin had a drink on the night before.

@brentnicholas: nice view dude, where's that?

me: that was a private place bro, only Aya and I would know

I went to Aya's wall only to see that her account was private. I tap the request to follow button and immediately she accepted it and follow me back. I saw one post from her wall and it's a stolen shot of her holding a paintbrush while directly looking at the canvass board in front of her. I quickly messaged her.

me: you love painting huh?

@ayamari: stalker.

I laughed at her reply.

@me: it just happened that I visited your wall cause I remember that I still not following you.

@ayamari: okay, you say so.

me: so am I right? you love painting?

@ayamari: kinda.

me: how i wished i was a painting

@ayamari: (liked)

I typed joking at her and she just gave me a thumbs up emoji? Maybe she's now rolling her eyes now or still emotionless cause she loves showing no emotions. I just shrugged and close my eyes and dose to sleep.