The feeling of the cold wind hitting my face feels nice.

"Did you like it?" I heard Silas ask. I was brought back to reality.

"Huh, what do you mean?" I asked.

"The ride? Nagustuhan mo ba? Grabe kasi ang kapit mo sa katawan ko. It seems like you want to feel my abs," he said, kaya hinampas ko ang kaniyang balikat.

Kasulukuyang nandito kami ngayon sa labas ng convenience store, sa tapat ng kalsada kung saan kami nag-kita. He told me to wait out the night, kaya nag-paalam na ako kay Daddy to not wait up for me.

We stayed inside the convenience store, so I scrolled patiently through my phone, waiting for him to come back. Gusto niya raw kasi bumili ng pagkain dahil hindi pa siya kumakain ng dinner.

He came back with two instant ramens, and a bottle of korean yogurt.

"Eat up. Alam kong hindi ka pa kumakain ever since your shift," he told me before he started eating the noodles with his chopsticks.

Hindi ko naman na siya tinanong tungkol doon. He probably was a creep outside the restaurant, watching me take orders.

After eating, inayos niya ang pinag-kainan namin bago niya ako tuonan ng pansin. "Okay. Let's talk na. What do you think about my offer?" He asked.

"I think... That I won't be able to afford your offer," I answered him straightforwardly. He looked at me first in the eye before he smiled.

"Money won't be a problem. We can always pay fifty-fifty," he offered once again. I looked hesitant at him before resting my head on the table in front of us.

"That's the problem. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko rin fifty-fifty. Sobrang dami kong problema ngayon sa buhay ko. Pera ang pinaka-malaking problema. Kung alam mo lang... I haven't even enjoyed a single day of my summer yet because I have been working just to pay for my father's medicine," I ranted. Naramdaman ko ang paninikip ng dibdib ko habang nagsasalita. Naramdaman ko naman ang kamay niya sa aking braso, causing me to look at him in the eye.

He looked empathetic. This was the first time I saw someone actually listening to me, and my problems. "Let's go outside to take a breath," he told me before holding my hand. We went outside, at noong nakita namin na wala nang mga sasakyan na dumadaan, he pulled me to go in the middle of the road.

"Keep going. Let it all out, Clementine. Makikinig ako."

I smiled, "My Dad... He's dying. Ilang buwan na lang ang natitira bago siya mamatay. There isn't any solution to it. May operasyon dito... It costs more than my life. H-hindi ko alam kung kayo ko iyon b-bayaran," I started crying. "Pero what's the point? Dad is still going to die years after the operation. Sayang ang five hundred thousand doon."

"Kaya sorry kung hindi kita kayang samahan ngayong summer because of my financial status. Mahal ang kurso ko, graduating na 'ko next academic year. Babayaran ko pa 'yong kuryente, tubig, wifi, grocery needs. My brother is living abroad, he barely gives money sa akin. Kaya pasensya ka na—"

Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko noong bigla niya akong niyakap. "Cry it all out, Clementine. Hanggang sa mawala na 'yong sakit. O kahit hindi ito mawala... Kahit hindi mo man lang maramdaman 'yong sakit ngayong gabi."

I cried for minutes, and it felt so good. Noong nahimasmasan na ako, binilhan niya ako ng tubig. "Come on, I need to show you something." I followed him to his motorcycle, and I just trusted him to take me anywhere right now.

Hindi naman siya mukhang mamamatay tao e.

We drove off, and I felt the adrenaline rush in my system. As we reach the top of the mountain and look out at the city lights twinkling in the distance, I am completely awestruck. The view is absolutely breathtaking, and I can't help but feel grateful to be witnessing such a beautiful sight.

"Do you like the view?" Tanong niya sa akin, ngumiti naman ako bago tumango. "I took you here para makahinga ka. Forget your problems for once."

The city below appears to be a world of its own, with each building and light representing a different story and life. I wonder what kind of people are down there, what their dreams and aspirations are, and what their lives are like.

I take a deep breath of the crisp mountain air and feel a sense of peace and calm wash over me. The beauty of the view is almost overwhelming, and I am filled with a sense of wonder and curiosity.

"Nasaan tayo ngayon?" I asked him.

"Do you really not go out?" He asked as he let out a soft chuckle.

"I don't have the time and money to venture out kahit malapit 'yan o malayo. I always stayed in kapag wala akong pasok o trabaho sa bahay, and paint what my emotions. The pain... Hatred, and a lot more that you don't want to hear about. How about you? What do you do?" I asked him.

He sighed, "I came from the United States. I was a fucking... Shit show," he laughed. "I used to play with girls... Actually pumunta ako rito para rin huminga. The states is getting too boring. I get arrested sometimes from speeding, trespassing and a lot more things. My parents... They uhm..." He looked very reluctant to talk about that topic. "Nevermind. Basta nandito ako ngayon sa Pinas para gumawa ng mga bagong memories."

As we stand there, taking in the scene, I realize how small I am in comparison to the vastness of the world around me. But at the same time, I also feel a sense of connection to everything around me. I am a part of this world, and it is a part of me.

Ngayon ko lang naramdaman na ito ako. Buhay ako rito sa mundong 'to.

"Clementine..." Tawag niya sa akin kaya nilingon ko na siya. "Sobrang ganda ng mga mata mo... Especially now that your eyes lay lost, staring at the city lights." Napangiti naman ako dahil sa sinabi niya. I don't know why I feel so comfortable with him right now.

"Last chance. Do you want to spend the rest of your summer nights with me?" He asked. I was already on the part where I would just say...

"Fuck it. Yeah, sure," I said.

He smiled. "Come on, I'll take you back to the convenience store. Mag-usap tayo pagka-tapos ng shift mo mamaya."

Hinatid niya nga ako sa may convenience store, at nag-paalam na sa akin. Excited akong umuwi sa bahay dahil nakangiti lang ako habang nilalagay ang sapatos ko sa lalagyanan nito. Nahuli naman ako ni Daddy kaya inasar niya ako.

"Nako. Alam ko 'yang ngiti na 'yan. Kabisado ko mga ganiyan e!" He said, and I chuckled before shaking my head. Dumiretso naman ako sa kusina para uminom ng tubig at bumuntot naman si Daddy. "Mag-kwento ka naman anak. Para hindi mo 'ko masyadong ma-miss kapag nawala na ako."

I frowned at him, "Daddy naman. Huwag kayo mag-salita nang tapos. Gagawan ko po kayo ng paraan. Malay niyo 'yong solusyon nasa ibang bansa? Kami na bahala ni Jireh doon! Kumikita naman na siya," I told him pero umiling lang siya.

"Hindi na nga anak. Okay na ako sa ganito. Masaya na ako," he smiled. "Oh pero teka, 'wag mong baguhin ang usapan. Sino 'yang nginingiti-ngiti mo?" He raised one of his eyebrow at natawa naman ako.

"Wala lang po 'yon, Dad. Nakita ko lang sa tapat ng convenience store kanina, e ako po marami akong pinoproblema. Nakita niya akong nakasimangot, kaya ayon... Tinulungan niya akong huminga muna. Gumana naman po," I told him. He looked at my face for a minute bago kurutin ang aking ilong.

"Aray!" I said before scrunching it.

"Basta anak, kapag nakahanap ka na ng potential boyfriend... Pakilala mo naman muna ako, okay?" He said, and I pursed my lips before nodding.

"Oo naman po, Dad."

Umakyat naman na ako at nag-basta na para matulog. Sa susunod na araw nangyari lang ulit ang mga nangyari kahapon. Same old boring routine. Minsan, iniisip ko kung mag-resign na lang ako rito e. Kasi hindi dapat ako nag-ta-trabaho, I should enjoy my teenage life! Well, hindi naman na ako teenager.

I'm turning 24 next month. Late kasi ako ng dalawang taon sa kolehiyo, pero hindi naman iyon importante. Basta makapag-tapos ako, okay lang 'yon.

"Why don't you just quit your job?" Silas asked, at agad ko naman siya inilingan kahit iyon na ang iniisip ko kanina.

Naglalakad na kami ngayon papunta sa kung saan habang nag-uusap. "I can't. Mapupunta na lang ako sa kangkungan kapag umalis ako sa trabaho. Mahirap pa naman makakuha ngayon ng mga undergraduate jobs."

"So what? Okay look. Tatlong buwan tayo mag-iikot ng bansang ito. Sagot ko na lahat ng flight tickets, as well as accomodation. Ang gagastusin mo lang pagkain mo. If you think that your money will cut short sa kalagitnaan ng bakasyon natin, sagot ko na."

I looked him in the eye before shaking my head as I waved my hand, "That's too much, Silas. How can you trust me this much to even spend a crap load of your money?"

He chuckled, "So that my father's money can be put into good use. Hindi 'yong kung saan saan niya sinasabak ang pera namin na walang kasiguraduhan na bukas mayroon pang matitira sa amin," he answered at hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig sabihin niya roon.

I was about to speak again when my phone started ringing. It was my Tita. Sinagot ko agad naman agad ito, "Hello po? Ano pa nangyari kay Daddy?" I asked immediately.

[Naku! Nahimatay ang Daddy mo habang nag-didilig ng halaman sabi ni Aling Marya. Wala ako ngayon sa bahay kaya hindi ko maaasikaso Tatay mo. Malapit ka na ba umuwi? Puwede mo bang puntahan na Tatay mo?]

"O-opo! Pauwi na po," I panicked before dropping the call. "Silas, I have to go. My father passed out, at walang magbabantay sa kaniya. Maybe we'll talk again tomorrow? Same place and time? Shit—"

"Clementine... Don't panic. Halika na, hahatid na kita roon. Baka kailanganin mo ng tulong," he offered. It took a while for me to answer, pero ang ending ay sinama ko na siya sa bahay.

Noong nakauwi na ako, nakita ko si Daddy na naka-upo na sa sala, nanonood ng basketball. "Dad! Okay na po ba kayo?" I asked instantly. "Kumusta kayo?"

"Okay lang ako anak! Siguro nasobrahan lang sa pag-lilinis at asikaso ng bahay. Alam ko naman kasi na pagod ka sa trabaho, at ayaw ko namang dumagdag pa itong pag-lilinis at mag-pabigat sa 'yo."

I scoffed, "Ano ba 'yan, Daddy? Okay lang naman po sa akin iyon basta hindi po kayo mapapagod. May kailangan po ba kayo? Kumain na ba kayo?" Sunod sunod na tanong ko ulit.

"Opo, boss. Kumain na, wala akong kailangan. Kaya ngayon... Pakilala mo naman ako sa guwapong kasama mo ngayon," minata niya si Silas na nasa likod ko. Agad naman ito nag-lakad patungo sa harapan ko bago mag-mano kay Daddy.

"Good evening, Sir. I am Silas Vincent Javier po, and I would like to take this opportunity to ask for your approval for me to take your daughter out for a less than three months trip."

What the hell? Hindi pa nga sigurado 'yong plano tapos binigla na niya agad si Daddy?

Malilintikan 'tong kumag na 'to sa akin!