Chasing Sunsets

Chapter 1: What if?

Summer’s POV

“Summer!”

“What?” I groggily answered the phone, only to be greeted by Winter’s sharp, irritated voice.

“Where are you? Ikaw na lang ang wala dito sa reunion!”

“Ugh… my head hurts.”

“Did you… don’t tell me you drank that much last night?!”

“Gosh, stop yelling at me, Wintermelon,” I muttered, pressing the heel of my hand against my temple.

“Stop calling me that, anak-araw.”

“Freaking rude.”

“Get your ass here right now, Summer Elise, or I swear, I’ll drag you here myself.”

I sighed, rolling onto my back. “Ang alam ko ako ‘yung mas matanda sa’ting dalawa, but you’re acting like you’re the oldest.”

“Then act like one,” she snapped.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m coming. Maliligo lang ako, okay? Kumalma ka.”

“Faster. You’re not a VIP.”

“Summer, bilisan mo! Inuubos na ni Tita Aurora ‘yung leche flan!” I heard Rain chime in from the background.

Rain, our second oldest cousin. She’s right in the middle between me and Winter. Winter’s the bunso, I’m the ate. We’re only a year apart from each other, which made growing up together... wild. Our love language? Bardagulan. Verbal jabs, playful insults, and the occasional flying kutsara. Super close kami, but we'd rather chug Tuba than say “I love you” out loud.

The call ended before I could clap back. Typical Winter, always impatient, always bossy.

I sat up on my bed, squinting at the sunlight slipping through the curtains. My head throbbed like a drum solo, and my mouth felt like it had been vacuum-sealed overnight.

I deserved it, though. Last night’s “one drink lang” turned into karaoke, shots, and me dramatically singing Torn by Natalie Imbruglia at 2 A.M. while crying over absolutely nothing.

I don't know bakit ako uminom kagabi eh kaka uwi ko lang nung nakaraang araw sa Pilipinas.

Never again.

Well… maybe.

Dragging myself to the bathroom, I took the fastest cold shower known to mankind. I threw on a casual white shirt, denim shorts, and tied my damp hair into a bun. Lip tint, check. Oversized sunglasses to hide my soul, double check.

I grabbed my keys and whispered a small prayer not to be the topic of chismis as I walked into the reunion.

~~~

Thirty Minutes Later

I parked a block away from Lola’s house. There were too many cars and too little space just the usual for a family gathering.

As I stepped through the gate, the familiar sound of laughter, clinking utensils, and... wait, was that Tito Gabe singing at the karaoke?

I blinked. Yup, that was him. Our serious, scary, strict lawyer Tito Gabe, belting out “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang” with actual talent. What the hell.

Across the yard, I spotted my mom and dad feeding each other barbecue like they were in some kind of teen rom-com. Gross. They didn’t even notice me enter.

I scanned the area again and saw Tita Isla, Rain’s mom, carefully covering up trays of food on the long buffet table.

Then I saw her.

Winter stood with arms crossed, tapping her foot, wearing that trademark I’m-gonna-roast-you expression.

“Took you long enough,” she said, raising a brow.

“Wow, no hello? No ate you’re glowing despite your hangover?” I said, dramatically placing a hand on my chest.

“You’re glowing in guilt. That’s different.”

Rain appeared behind her, holding a plate. “Too late. Leche flan’s gone. Si Tita Aurora inubos.”

Tita Aurora, Winter’s mom, was infamous for claiming dibs on all desserts.

“Unbelievable,” I groaned. “That was literally the only reason I came.”

“Oh, not to see your loving family?” Winter smirked.

“I see you two all the time. This was for the flan.”

“At least honest siya,” Rain laughed.

Before I could say anything back, I heard a familiar voice from the porch.

“Aba! Dumating na ang Señorita!”

I winced. “Hi, La…”

“Summer, apo! How’s your modeling career sa New York? Meron akong magazine na ikaw ang cover! Naku, napakaganda mo doon sa black two-piece mo, ganda ng hulma ng boobs mo! Sexy pa! Mana ka talaga sa’kin nung kabataan ko,” Lola Esmeralda said proudly, beaming.

I smiled as Winter and Rain giggled like the traitors they're beside me.

“Okay naman po, Lola. A little stressed, pero keribels ko naman po,” I replied, giving her a quick beso.

Lola grinned, the same warm smile she always gave me and my cousins. I missed her so much. That kind of love just hits different.

“Buti naka-uwi ka. Sabi ni Rain, napaka-busy mo daw sa New York.”

I nodded. “Syempre po. I wouldn’t miss this reunion for anything. I missed you so much.”

Lola patted my cheek, then turned to shout into the house, “O, si Summer dumating na! Ipaghanda n’yo ng pagkain! Pakilabas ‘yung mango float!”

“Mango float?!” I gasped.

Winter laughed. “Ah, so may reason ka nang mag-stay.”

“You bet.”

And just like that, the hangover felt a little lighter.

While I was peacefully enjoying my mango float, Lola suddenly decided to drop a bomb.

“Summer, apo. May nobyo ka na ba?”

I almost choked on the mango float.

“Uh... no po, Lola. Wala po akong boyfriend.”

Pero situationships? Meron. Hehe. Madami. Correction! No Intimate ang nangyayari tamang landian, kiss sa cheeks lang okay?

“Ha? Bakit naman? Kaganda mong bata, bakit wala pa rin? Para kang mga pinsan mo, kayong tatlo lang walang mga nobyo” Lola asked, as if it was a personal offense to her bloodline.

“Ma, twenty-six pa lang si Summer,” my mom, Marina, chimed in, casually slicing up barbecue on her plate.

“Ayun na nga eh, Marina! Twenty-six na anak mo, tapos single pa rin? Hay naku, Summer...” Lola shook her head like I just committed a crime.

“Let her be, Ma,” my mom defended, though her tone had that I’m-tired-of-this-convo-too vibe.

Lola just sighed dramatically, while Rain and Winter were obviously trying not to burst into laughter. Hypocrites. Palibhasa, alam nila lahat ng ganap ko sa New York. every situationship, heartbreak, and even the Modeling chismis. Of course, I told them everything. They’re my emotional dumping ground.

Rain leaned closer, whispering behind her glass of iced tea, “Yung last situationship mo... si Caleb ba ‘yon? ‘Yung sa ad agency?”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Shhh!”

Winter grinned. “Yung nagregalo sa'yo ng roses tapos sabay ghost? Classic.”

“Grabe kayo,” I muttered, stabbing my mango float like it betrayed me too.

Rain raised a brow. “So wala talaga? Not even one you’re serious about?”

I hesitated.

Then I looked around at all the couples. my parents still lowkey flirting across the table, Tita Aurora feeding Tito Gabe a lumpia like it was a k-drama, even Tita Isla and Tito Emmanuel feeding each other a barbeque.

“Nope,” I said, popping the ‘p.’ “Wala talaga. Ako lang to. Independent. Unbothered. Thriving. Parang strong female lead sa mga K-drama.”

“Pero kahit si Jang Ki Yong may love interest,” Winter deadpanned.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Strong female lead... sa pilot episode.”

We all laughed, and for a second, I forgot about the pressure to explain why I wasn’t in a relationship.

Because the truth?

Love always felt temporary for me. Like a trip. A campaign. A photoshoot.

It comes, it's exciting, and then... done.

Maybe that’s why I ran away from the last one that felt real.

“Eh paano kung bumalik ‘yung biggest what if mo?” Rain suddenly chimed in, casually popping a piece of lumpia into her mouth.

I turned to her, my eyes narrowing. “Tigilan mo ako, Rain. Kukurutin talaga kita.”

“Pilot na si Ezekiel,” she said with zero remorse. “Parehas kami ng airline, actually.”

I blinked. Oh. Right. I forgot. She’s a flight attendant. The kind who knows everyone's business at 35,000 feet.

“I didn’t ask.”

“Sus, affective pa rin ‘yan si Summer,” Winter added with a smirk, not even looking up from her phone.

Great. Now they’re teaming up. Again.

Ezekiel.

My childhood best friend.

My first real crush.

And my one and only actual ex.

Fucking ex.

We were inseparable back then. Climbing trees, selling iced candy sa kanto, watching Meteor Garden while pretending we weren’t into it. He knew all my secrets before I even knew they were secrets. He made me laugh in the quietest way. no fanfare, just a soft kind of happy.

Then came high school. Then came feelings. Then came the confession. Then... a kiss.

And then I left.

He stayed.

I flew to New York and never looked back.

At least, not out loud.

I stabbed another piece of mango float and shoved it into my mouth before my thoughts could get ahead of me.

“Wala na ‘yun,” I said, not even convincing myself. “High school stuff. Matagal na. We’re not kids anymore.”

“Yeah,” Rain said, sipping her juice. “Except you literally almost choked kanina nung tinanong ka ni Lola kung may jowa ka.”

“Coincidence,” I muttered.

Winter leaned in, her voice low but sharp. “What if hindi coincidence na babalik siya ngayon, habang nandito ka?”

I stared at them. “Don’t.”

They stared back. Rain smiled sweetly. Winter raised an eyebrow.

“Seriously, don’t,” I repeated, a little more quietly.

Because they didn’t know.

They didn’t know I still had the bracelet he gave me.

Or that I kept his last message.

Or that sometimes, when things get really quiet at night in New York, I still hear his voice in my head.

Rain suddenly said again, casually like she wasn’t stirring my emotional pot.

“He became very handsome ha... and hot, too. Marami sa mga colleagues ko may crush sa kanya. Pero ang sungit niya and hindi Approachable, even me natatakot ako sa Aura n'ya, kaya...”

“Kaya?”

“Kaya single pa rin siya. Since last breakup n’yo.”

I blinked. “And why are you telling me this, Rain?”

“Hehe, wala lang. In case... gusto mo pa ring buhayin ‘yung biggest what if mo.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Rain.”

“What?” she said innocently, clearly enjoying herself.

Then Winter chimed in, because of course she did. ALWAYS.

“What if... ipinaglaban n’yo ‘yung relationship n’yo noon?”

There was silence after that. Not the awkward kind, but the type that makes your chest feel heavy, like something unsaid just filled the room.

I didn’t answer.

Because what if we did fight for it?

What if I hadn’t left the Philippines?

What if I didn’t choose the runway over real life?

But I did.

I chose bright lights over quiet comfort.

Big dreams over simple love.

And it still haunts me... sometimes, in quiet mornings... sometimes, in New York traffic... and sometimes, like now, in the middle of a reunion with leche flan and unsolicited opinions.

“I was young,” I finally said, keeping my voice even. “He was, too. We both wanted different things.”

Winter tilted her head. “Do you still want different things now?”

Before I could answer, a voice cut through the chaos.

kiiwivyy