A love so beautiful

Long Drives

The next morning I woke up by the sound of my alarm. I quickly turned it off. 6.30 am. My body is already used to waking up this early. I didn't bother changing the alarm even on my days off. My head kind of hurts in memory of what time we slept last night. Almost 2 am. Not bad, 5 hours of sleep. That's how much sleep I normally get ever since I moved out. My worst is 3 hours.

I rolled out my bed and sat in the chair next to my bed. Reached down to get my bible and read 2 chapters in Psalms. Closed my eyes to pray. And then neatly make up my bed. I smiled in remembering that it's my day off today. I changed my gym clothes and walked out of my room. 

I bumped into Jin and Xy, looks like they're also thinking of going to the gym. "Good morning maladies!" Me. "Yay, it's your day off too! We should go for a drive somewhere after the gym." Hye Jin shrieked in excitement.

"Let me brush my teeth first" I walked in our shared toilet and does my morning routine also includes Korean skincare morning routine.

We all walked downstairs where the gym is. Yes, we have a gym in our building. Our unit is kind of a modern one where there are a gym and a pool. Pretty cool huh. After 2 hours and satisfaction, we all walked back up to our unit. "Who wants to shower first? I can prepare our breakfast + protein shakes" Hye Jin offered.

I raised my hand quickly as I can't stand being so sweaty and sticky. I did a lot of cardio and glute workout today. I quickly entered the bathroom, stripped myself and jump on the shower, closing my eyes savoring the warm water soaking my body.

After a few minutes of scrubbing off every sweat/dirt I caught in the gym in satisfaction I jumped off the shower. Dried me up with the towel and wrapped it around me. I walked out of the bathroom "I'm done. Thank you, next." I said with a melody of Thank you, next by Ariana Grande. I heard them chuckled as I entered my room.

I felt my stomach growling indicating hunger as I put lotion all over my body. I quickly dress up, totally ignoring my yet still soaking wet hair. I walked out of my room into the kitchen. I saw Xy still preparing breakfast. She's making a pesto tuna pasta with avocado "Can I help with anything babe?" I asked.

"You can cut the avocado, but later on maybe 5 minutes after I get in the shower." She said. She puts the avocado last. I walked towards her grabbing our protein shake and started making one for myself. "Have you had your protein shake?" I asked. "Yea I did." She answered.

As I finished up my protein shake Jin walked out the bathroom and sings "I'm done. Thank you, next" as I did before. I chuckled as I take over cooking our breakfast from Xy and she went into the bathroom.

Fast forward, we finished up our breakfast, me and Jin thanked Xy for cooking and cleaned up. "So what's our agenda today?" Jin asked while doing the dishes. I checked out the time. 9.30am. "Uhm, have you guys been to 12 apostles, in Great Ocean Road? or Brighton Beach?" I asked. "No." They answered in unison. I chuckled in response. 

"What's in Brighton Beach?" Jin queried.

"We could drive there. it's still pretty early. " I suggested. " And Brighton Beach is where the multi-colored bathing boxes line on the sand" I added. "Oh, yea that place. I've always wanted to go there but no car and no one to go with so." Jin said. "So all set? 12 apostles and Brighton Beach today. Pack up swimwear and change of clothes later. We might want to swim a little bit." I said.

We all walked back to our rooms and start packing. Change of clothes check. Sunblock check. Hat check. Swimsuit check. Oops, don't forget the speaker. After a few minutes, we all walked down to the basement where the parking is. We only have 1 car which is Qantas'. Our schedules pretty much the same, sometimes one's duty is someone's day off. That's why the company just gave us one car to use considering we all live together.

We get to the parking lot. Jin offered to drive the first 1.5 hours as she likes driving. Great Ocean Road is a bit of long drive from where we're staying. It's 2.5 hours drive. We put on the music and talked about random things during the drive.

"How long is your traineeship here in Melbourne again guys?" Jin asked while driving. "I actually have a contract of 1 year in check in, but you know sometimes I get to work in the lounge as well," Xyrille answered first. She dibs shotgun earlier so I'm sitting at the back. I don't mind tho it's really comfortable back here alone.

"Mine's 6 months only. But after that, 2 weeks back in Sydney then I've to travel to New Zealand next I think? I'm not 100% sure. Well, that's what I understood from our team leader when we're having the orientation+training back in Sydney." I said while scrolling thru i********:.

"What about you Jin?" Xy asked. "I'm not sure yet. But I'm pretty sure after the project that my team is currently working on. The big boss is sending us to New York. There are some people from the headquarters requested our team to work on a project over there. But so far the project here is nowhere near done, not even half done. So I guess we're looking at 8 months to a 1-year max." Jin answered.

"That's great! I won't be alone here. Cos Astrid's going back to Sydney in like 2 months right?" Xy said with disappointment in her voice. And even tho I can't see her face I could tell she's making the sad face like a baby. I chuckled. "Awe don't be sad. We'll go see each other again somewhere in the world." I said with a comforting tone.

"I know right. We should plan a trip somewhere like Europe! In a few years maybe? We'll save up first. Then let's go backpacking." Jin said with excitement in her tone.

"I know we will. But you know I have separation anxiety. But of course, you're right. Actually, my supervisor suggested for me to apply in Cabin Crew after my contract. I can't at the moment cos of the contract. It says 1 year and they're pretty strict with the timeline." Xyrille

"That's great. And that's alright so you can have that experience as well at least you'll have that 1-year experience before going in Cabin Crew. And you know at least you'll have your supervisor or team leader to give a really good word for when they call your referees in the future." I said.

"You're right. But that'll mean I can't have a holiday for at least 2 years after Cabin Crew. Cos for 6 months I would be in a probationary period and then of course just be available for at least 1.5 years." Xy responded. "Of course and that's okay. Why do you have any holiday plan any time soon?" Jin asked.

"No. I mean what you said earlier. About backpacking, you guys have to wait for me ok?" Xy.  "Of course." I and Jin said in unison. "We need to save up for that anyway. I mean backpacking is actually expensive and you don't just go in one place. And Europe, we all know that's ch-ching $$$." Jin continued.

"Yea and also I can't really guarantee anything as well right now. Not at least until I finish the traineeship or I become permanent." I pause for a sec and continued "You know what a better situation would be that is like 20-25% chance of happening? If all of us get based in Europe one day! I mean it's not entirely impossible. All our jobs get a chance to travel. It could be possible." I said.

"I know right. Finger-cross. But that's like a really low chance." Xy second in motion to what I said. "But still possible. So let's just hold onto that. And we'll just see you know. We start saving up for now and we'll just see what happens you know. If not Europe maybe Asia, there's a lot of places I wanna go to in Asia that I haven't been to." I said.

We continued talking about work and traveling as we travel to Great Ocean Road where the 12 apostles rock formation is. We stopped for a drive-thru and I and Jin swapped. I drove the remaining one hour of the journey.

Now Playing: We Are Young by Keiko Necessario

After one hour, we reached our destination. I parked the car and then we walk down the beach. It's a bit freezing and really windy. We walked along the beach with phones in our hands and selfie stick. In every rock we passed we'll take selfies, we'll take pictures each one by one, whole body and ocean view.

We did that for at least 1.5 hours. Just walking and taking pictures. Xy face-timed her mum to show her the place.

"Mum look! So pretty right?" Xy shrieked in excitement. "Hello, my pretty auntie!" I said. "Wow, where is that? It's so beautiful, makes me want to visit now." Xy's mum said. "We're at 12 apostles. This is one of the trademarks of Melbourne." Xy explained.

"You should visit soon auntie," I said. " I wish I could but I still need to help Xy's sister. They're working to get their visa done to go to America. But it's almost done. Before we go to Cali, I'll try to visit there." Xy's mum.

"Wow really? That's great, mum. So they're moving to America soon. I'll go and visit them when I become a cabin crew LOL." Xy said.

I walked over to Jin whose busy taking selfies not that far from us. I let Xy talked to her mum first. I know she missed her. After at least half an hour of Xy and her mum talking. We all went back to the car and drove to our next destination which is Brighton Beach.

It wasn't that very far anymore from the 12 apostles. We walked over to the beach carrying our bags, and beach blanket. We found a really good spot near an empty bathing box line on the sand. It was actually just an empty box for changing purposes. I actually thought it's like accommodation or something LOL.

Anyway, we laid out the beach blanket on the sand and one by one we changed into our swimsuits. It's windy but at least there's a sun. "Good thing we have sun today," Xy said."I know right. Otherwise, it wouldn't be that nice. We could actually swim if you guys want." Jin suggested.

"Yea we can. Let's do it." I said. So we walked to the water. It wasn't that far anyway, we could still see our stuff and we're confident that we won't lose anything.

I gasped when my feet touched the water. Damn, it's a bit cold. I looked at the 2 and "ok let's hold hands. And just jumped on the water." I suggested. "Grrrr, I think it's actually really cold," Xy said. We held hands and run to the water.

We screamed in coldness as the water permeates throughout our bodies. We laughed as we're all quivering. We stayed in the water for a few minutes, just floating and fighting with the waves. After a few minutes, we got out of the water shivering. We sat down our blanket and covered our bodies with towels.

I reached my bag to get the speaker out. I played out a song and laid down. It's a good thing there's a sun otherwise it would be freezing as. Although we are still shivering because it's a bit cold.

Now Playing: 2002 by Anna Marie

We stayed there sun-bathing for a few hours.

I looked at the time. 4 pm. Hmm, should we head back now? I thought to myself. I lift my head up from lying down on my back and took a peek at Xy and Jin in both of my sides as I was in the middle. They're in the same position, seems like they're napping.

I left them and buried my face to the travel pillow. Yes, we brought a travel pillow. We're organized. Just a few minutes more. I thought to myself.

I felt Jin got up from my right side. "Are you guys sleeping?" She asked and spanked my bottom. I gasped as I was shocked. I got up and laughed. I don't really mind and we all do that sometimes for fun.

I did the same to Xy. "Should we head back now? It's 2.5 hrs drive. Do you guys want to eat out or cook?" I asked. Xy got up as well. "Yea I think so. It's already 4. It gets dark early as well and I don't think it's safe to drive in the dark." She said.

One by one we changed in the box line. Then packed everything up and walked over to the car, good thing it wasn't very far.

"Do you wanna drive before it gets dark? And then we'll swap" Jin suggested. She knows I struggle driving at night. I have issues with my eyes. And I hate driving at night because my eyes are sensitive with the beam lights from other cars.

"Sure love thanks." I reached for the car keys and started the car. "Heavenly Father, we ask for your traveling mercy be upon us as we head back in our place tonight. Give us wisdom and strength and drive with us tonight. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen."

I started driving. Jin dibs shotgun so she's sitting next to me. She chose the song to play as well.

Now Playing: I'll raise a Hallelujah by Bethel Music

To be Continued