Location: Pampanga

May hinahabol kami ni Shane. It's the lantern festival in Pampanga. He learned about it through his cousin noong sinabi niyang dadaan kami dito. I also read the digital flyer somewhere while browsing social media weeks ago. The only problem was we're on the last day.

We left the venue in Bulacan at around four in the afternoon. Then we proceeded to the expressway para pumunta sa Clark, which is where the fest would be held. But we had no idea na malayo pala ito at naligaw kami. It's like held in a wide empty field in the middle of an economic zone, pass an international airport.

There were gates we had to go through and we were rushing because it's already six in the evening and any time the floating of lanterns would start. Matao ang lugar, seriously, even the roads outside the venue was full of people who wanted to watch. Even the cars paused from their drives kaya ang traffic.

Sa wakas nakarating kami sa parking lot. It's probably composed of hundreds and hundreds of cars and Shane basically have to go around the entire lot para makahanap ng space. When we were done, we had to run to the registration kasi magc-close na sila.

"Miss, please dalawang ticket," habol ni Shane na medyo hinihingal habang nakapatong ang kamay sa mesa ng nagbabantay, who's now counting the stubs and money.

I was a bit breathless too, but it was the good kind of breathless. Because I know there's something good waiting for me. Most of the people were already in the field, holding their lanterns at sisindihan na. Pumunta kami ni Shane sa gitna. Binigyan kami sa registration ng dalawang nakatupi pang lantern and a candle.

The candle fire was being pass around. Wala pang nagpapalipad. Hinintay namin na makalapit ito sa'min. Kumuha ako ng blanket sa dala kong bag at inayos ito sa damuhan tulad ng mga nakikita kong nakaupo dito na parang picnic.

"Akin na bag mo," sabi ko kay Shane na inaayos ang lantern.

Kinuha ko ito sa likod niya at pinatong sa blanket. Madami na ang nakasinding lantern at kahit hindi pa lumilipad ang mga ito, the entire field looks already enchanting. Everyone's faces were being illuminated by the orange light from the lantern in the middle of a dark, deserted field.

"Gab." May hawak na marker si Shane. "Want to write?"

Ngumiti ako at excited na nagsulat sa paper lantern, then the little candle light was now on us, and almost every lantern were now lit, ready to float in the clear night sky. Maingat na sinindihan ni Shane ang dalawang lantern and someone was counting from the front stage of the venue.

Three, two, one....

Isa isang lumipad ang mga lantern, mauna sa harapan, then like a wave, every one of us held the lantern above our heads and slowly we let them go.

It was breathtaking to watch, like embers of a fire as though we're sending our lights and messages to the universe above. Nakatingala ako at hindi alam ang gagawin kundi ang magmangha. The people around us gushed, gasped, and some even got teary eyed.

"Ang ganda ganda nila, Shane," sabi ko habang pinagmamasdan ang maliliit na liwanag sa langit. Shane's in front of me, we're just a step away from each other, me with my eyes to the sky, and him watching me with a smile.

And then while the hundreds orange lights float above us, he held me close, wrapped me around his arms, and kissed my forehead. "I'm glad you're happy."

It's twelve in the evening and we're still at the field. There's a live band that plays for the people, most of them sitting on their blankets and pillows, willing to spend the entire night on the field.

The sky remains clear, sprinkled with stars, the wind a little chilly, and the songs were becoming more mellow as the hours passed. I was comfortably tucked beside Shane, his arms my pillow, and his head watching the skies above.

I wish I could keep this image of his forever.

I wake up the following day with the sunshine behind my eyelids. I opened my eyes and was immediately greeted by the morning light and the open sky.

"Gab, tingnan mo ito."

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Shane sa blanket, sa damuhan. All around me, people were on their feet, already awake, staring above, some with cameras in their hands.

And that's when I saw one of the most beautiful morning skies, the sun just risen, the sky a blush of pink, and a dozen hot air balloons were floating in the sky from the field.

I was silent, sitting there, watching with a hundred strangers, and the most familiar person beside me, the warmth of the sun on our faces while half of the world wasn't even fully awake.

What a waste it must have been to stay in my despair, when the world around me revolves continuously, lives being live unceasingly, and moments being created beautifully. I thought it's a bad thing for the world to leave someone like me behind, but for the world to be as beautiful as this, it must be lived upon.

The traffic out of Clark was so congested because of all the cars heading out of the venue. We're basically stuck in there for an hour for a three kilometre distance.

We took our breakfast from a drive-through and while driving, Shane asked me if I wanted to visit someone he knows so we could clean ourselves up before the long drive to the north.

"A friend?" I asked, munching on my chicken sandwich, saka abot kay Shane para makakain siya.

"Pinsan ko, 'yong nagsabi sa'kin tungkol sa festival," he said while chewing, then he motioned for the coffee so I stuck a straw in there and held it for him.

The relative he's referring to lives in Angeles City, which was about fifteen or twenty minutes away. I wasn't sure if he mentioned about this relative before. He rarely even mention about his dad and immediate family.

We entered what seems like an exclusive subdivision where the houses are crazy huge, mansion style. In our village, isa sa pinakamalaking bahay ang kina Shane. But in here everything's looming, gated, and gigantic.

"Are you sure may kakilala ka dito?" Mapagduda kong tanong. "Kung balak mong mag-akyat bahay, 'wag mo akong idamay." Shane nearly choke on air laughing.

The car stopped at a black tall gate with a white multi-story house behind it. Pagbaba namin sa sasakyan, pumasok kami sa loob habang kausap ni Shane ang isa sa mga nagbabantay ng bahay.

The house was pristine white and clean and made out of marble, the shining white floor, the stairs. Iniisip ko kung makapal lang talaga ang mukha ni Shane kaya malakas ang loob niyang pumasok sa mga ganitong lugar.

I was sitting in super soft and posh sofa in a wide living room with white furniture.

"Magkakasundo kayo ng pinsan ko."

"How?" I nearly whispered. Parang bawal mag-ingay sa bahay na ito.

"She's actually like Kuya Tristan. Very serious and competitive. Pero balita ko nagbago na siya. She's now taking a second course in creative writing."

Creative writing. She must have been very passionate.

After taking a shower, yes, I took a shower on someone's house! Naghintay ako sa sala. While waiting someone approached me, a pretty lady with long hair, who seems like only a few years older than me.

"You must be Gabriel," she said. She's so pretty. "I'm Isabelle, Shane's cousin."

I was about to shake her hand but a black cat was on her arms. She laughed lightly. "Oh, this is Arki. He's a bit clingy."

Ngumiti ako. The cat is so cute.

"I have to head somewhere kaya hindi ko kayo masasamahan. Nana Lourdes would prepare some lunch for you," alok niya.

"It's okay," sabi ko. "We're actually about to head out too."

And then Shane came in, shaking his wet head. "Isabelle!" bati niya sa pinsan niya.

"Shane," ngiti ni Isabelle. I like her more and more.

"Lalabas ka din?" tukoy niya nang makitang nakabihis siya.

Nagising ang pusa at tumalon mula sa kamay niya. She scratched the back of its ears. "I'm heading out with friends. It's a special day today."

"Aba, nagbago ka na talaga. May kaibigan ka na."

I stared at Shane, eyes wide. How could he say that? Tumawa lang si Isabelle. "I know. Such a difference."

Sabay kaming lumabas sa bahay matapos magpaalam. When we headed to the gate, a minivan was waiting outside beside Shane's car. May mga taong naghihintay dito, nakangiti at tinatawag si Isabelle.

Nauna silang umalis, pero nakakatuwa lang na makita silang kumaway sa'min. They all seem really cheerful.

Lumingon ako kay Shane sa tabi ko. Then he stared back at me. "Let's get back to the road."

***