A Night to Remember (A Night Trilogy Part 1)

CHAPTER 12

I felt like I am being torn into pieces. I'm ashamed of myself. I felt like I want to die every time she is with Steven. Does she like him? I don't know what to do. I could not face the people around me.

I wanna go home now.

As I walked across the street, I stayed under the kiosk over there. It seems like I'm going to collapse because of the pain caused by Vielka.

While I was sitting under the kiosk, I noticed a lady approaching, but I didn't mind. As she came near me, she sat at my side.

I remembered what Vielka just said earlier. It's bothering me. Everyone saw how humiliated I was.

But I just can't help it. I feel a total pain, stuck in my heart, especially in my mind. I feel like I want to fall because it's so heavy. That kiss was just nothing to her, but little does she know that I am thinking about it for two damn years.

As I bowed down, a hand was offering me food. I was about to get it, but I refused when I suddenly thought about who she was.

I suppressed my hunger, and I looked at that lady. I saw her looking at me without any hesitation. Maybe she was about to attend the freshmen ball because she was wearing a beige cocktail dress.

Maybe she did not see what happened to me earlier? Should I ask her? Do I look very hungry for her to give me some food? My eyebrows furrowed while thinking about those things, and I thought of what am I going to say too.

She's pretty. Her dark skin tone just complements her dress, and her hair is just perfectly tied up. I could barely see how her lips just popped out with her lipstick shade in red. She resembles the ideal beauty of many women.

"You can eat it," she said while handing me the food. What a wonderful voice. A bit cold, yet pleasing to the ears.

"Sorry? Do I know you?" I directly asked her.

"Sorry. I must have introduced myself in the first place. My name is Alexis Grace. You can call me Alex or whatever you want to call me," she introduced and gave me a sweet smile.

"Do you have a problem?" She asked and suddenly, she looked at the food I was just holding.

"You should eat that before it gets cold," she added. She's bubbly.

"Yeah, thank you. You know, typical man problems. About the love of our lives. I was just rejected again, I think," I answered. We both laughed after realizing how cheesy I was, but I sighed before becoming serious again.

"I don't know what man problem you're talking about, but I'm sure that's a very long and winding road to track. You also need to unwind for some time," she suggested.

"How about a vacation? Movie marathon? Or Shopping?" she added.

Well, she's right. A vacation might be a great help. Or maybe a short-span trip.

"Having a solo vacation might be sad, right?" I asked.

"It sounds like you're inviting me to come huh," she said chuckling.

"Not either. You could still come if you're interested without me inviting you," I said, and I smiled at her as I ate the food that she has given me.

"Then when?" she asked. I think she's interested. Well, who's not gonna be interested in going out with me? It's just Vielka.

"We can go as soon as now," I answered seriously. Her eyes just widened.

"No one would say no for Zachary Isaiah," she said, and it shocked me when she just mentioned my name.

"Hey! Don't ask anymore if where I got your name. You're too famous at the university. I'm one among your fans," she added, and she even winked at me. I didn't argue anymore. She's nice. I think I'll get comfortable being with her.

We stood up and walked towards the university. While walking, I saw Vielka walking towards me, but I didn't mind her. I am still hurt by what she just told me a while ago.

I invited Alexis in my car, but then I saw her pointing at hers. Maybe we can just wait for each other here later. I need to talk to mom and dad first before going.

"I'll wait for you here. I'll just let my parents know that we'll be going out for vacation," I said, and I drove straight home.

While driving, I thought about Vielka, who maybe wanted to apologize when I saw her walking towards me a while ago. I don't wanna hear whatever she wanted to say. It will surely tear me into pieces again.

I will come back, Vielka. Soon. I will seize you away from Steven.

"Dad, I'll be having a vacation with someone," I told dad while I was busy packing my things up.

"How about your school?" mom worriedly asked. School won't be effective if I can't think properly either. I need to unwind as Alexis told me.

"Just let him go, hon. He already knows what's right. Just make sure to come home alive, okay?" dad jokingly said. Dad never fails to make me chuckle.

***

"What car are we going to use?" I asked Alexis.

I've been waiting here at the university for about five minutes. She came.

"Let's use both. I'll come with you today and maybe I will go home tomorrow. Lead the destination. I'll just follow you."

Actually, I don't know where we are going. I did not check any good places to go to, but I think hiking is a good one. We're just gonna set a tent and have a blast together.

We went to a convenient store and bought some food. Loaves of bread, chips, and wine would be fine. She also bought what she would like to eat.

Upon reaching my car, I saw Alexis eating a cup of noodles. Nice, this girl didn't even invite me to have some.

When she saw me looking at her, she lifted the cup of noodles she was holding and there she was, inviting me to share with her.

I think sharing in a cup would not be enough. I bought mine too and leaned beside her on her car.

"So, who's the girl who dumped you?"

I'm a bit shocked by her question. I remembered how I told what happened to me. I was so cheesy at that time. What the hell.

"She's the girl I liked, back when I was a kid, as in small kiddo," I answered.

"Oh cool, then?"

"It was challenging, and I don't know if you'll understand me because you're a girl. Anyway, it's still good, telling it to someone who could listen without laughing either," I said and slightly chuckled.

I hope she would understand me despite being a girl.

We've finished eating our food and finally, we settled in our own cars and drove through the nearest mountain. She's clueless about where we are going and what we are going to do.

I even asked the cashier earlier if there's a nearest mountain here, and she just told me to drive straight to see the nice spot for camping.

We then arrived after an hour, and the cashier was right. We saw the beauty of a magnificent mountain despite it being dark because of the night sky.

"We're going to that mountain. At the top," I said smiling when we stopped for a while to rest before starting to hike.

"So, we're gonna hike? Let's go! I might stay for two days there, knowing that we're gonna reach the top," she exclaimed.

She was so happy. I liked it. I liked how she smiles. I hope she won't get me wrong.

It's not that high, so I think it would take us thirty minutes to reach the top. We got our things and started to walk. It was dark, so we got to bring flashlights with us.

"Have you done this before?" she asked while walking.

"This is my first time," I answered her while catching my breath. The hell. I've never thought it would be this hard. We are not yet on the half of the mountain, but I am already tired.

"Time out, time out," I said. Let me catch my breath first. We stopped for a while and sat under a tree.

After we rested for a few minutes. We walked again. If this is a race, Alexis might beat me. We must keep going before it gets darker.

After half of an hour, we finally reached the top of the mountain. The view is amazing. It literally has a breath-taking view.

"That's beautiful," she exclaimed.

"Aahhhhhh!"

We were startled when we heard something.

"What's that sound, Zach?" Alexis shockingly asked.

"The sound is towards that cliff," I said, and we went there. We saw someone nearly falling from the branch of a tree he was holding.

"Help him, Zach!"

I don't know what should I do to help him.

"Go get that branch, we are going to pull him with that branch," Alexis commanded. I hope this guy could understand us. He looks like he belongs to a tribe somewhere located here.

"Hey, firmly hold this one," I instructed while giving him the branch. He was scared but immediately grabbed it.

I got a big rock near me, and I settled my feet on the ground. We pulled him until his hands reached the ground where we were. He then helped himself up. He immediately ran.

"Welcome!" I shouted jokingly as he ran away. I am not expecting anything from him either. At least he didn't fell.

After everything happened, we have had set up our tent and lit a bonfire, it's a bit cold here. Bonfire really suits the place and the time. It's deeply dark.

"The moon is so beautiful, thank you for inviting me here, Zach," she said while looking at the moon. She loved it.

"By the way, can you play ukulele?" she asked and looked at me.

"Hell yes. Do you have a ukulele?" I asked her. She pointed to her bag, and I got the ukulele inside it. She amusingly rested her chin on her hands and his elbows on her legs, waiting for me to play the instrument.

"Um... let's see what I got. You can suggest random songs you want," I asked, and she nodded.

She suggested some songs, and I picked something that we could work on. 

We've both giggled on what we just did. She sang the song while I was playing the ukulele, and I've answered each lyric she sang. It was romantic. 

"That... was... romantic, Zach."

I opened the wine and grabbed some food we bought and started talking about anything. I just bought one wine for both of us. I don't want to get drunk. I might jump to the cliff unknowingly.

We talked about life, about everything, and about how did Vielka and I meet. She's very passionate to know everything about me.

I told her every story I had on my mind. I trusted her, and I can see that she won't break the trust. She was very interested in the things I have told her.

I then gave her the chance to tell her stories too, and I also got interested in knowing her more. I kept on asking questions.

I just love this moment. Telling my stories to people who know how to listen and listening to people who are interested in telling their stories to me. It's comfortable.

But in the middle of talking, she stopped when someone suddenly called her. She answered it.

"It's my mom telling me to go home this morning. It's almost twelve midnight," she said.

"We should sleep, go inside the tent now," I said. She entered and closed the tent. What the hell? Where am I supposed to sleep?

"Can I come in too? I won't do anything to you if you'll sleep with me," she said, chuckling.

"I know you won't, I just closed it and waited on what you'll gonna say, but if you do something to me, it might be a blessing," she said and chuckled. It was shocking but anyway, we need to sleep now.

"Wake me up before you leave. Goodnight and thank you for your time, Alexis."

"You are very much welcome, Zach. Goodnight."

There will always be a rainbow after the rain.

***

"Hey Zach, I need to go. It's already nine in the morning."

I woke up because of Alexis shaking me. I sat and spoke.

"Bye. Thank you again. Hope to see you soon. Have a safe ride home."

She just smiled at me and started walking down the mountain. What should I do now?

It's been thirty minutes and still, I don't know what to do. I'm just staring at this beautiful view. There were huts not too far from here. Maybe those are the shelters of the tribal groups. They maintain their amazing culture and that's why I have a huge respect for them.

My phone suddenly rang.

"Where are you, Zach? We're looking for you since last night."

It was Clyde.

"I didn't have time to contact you because we were happily drinking with the guys at school. And I think we'll surely get back from sleeping with Lawrence."

"Are you with him? Where are you two?" I asked.

"He's here at my place. We settled here. We were totally drunk last night. You missed that chance, Zach," he said chuckling on the other line.

"Okay, I'll go home later. I'll just check on Alexis. She was with me last night, and she's a schoolmate. Don't worry. I'll see you soon."

I hanged up, and I settled everything before I tracked down the mountain.

***

It took me almost an hour to get back to my car because I rested for many times. I sat down near my car, and a man suddenly approached me.

"Thank you for saving the life of one of my tribe members. He wasn't able to thank you because he was frightened."

"If you need help, you can contact me on this number. I had the chance to study, for I wanna educate my own tribe. Big thanks, brother."

The guy whom we saved last night kept on bowing. I stood up and bowed back as a sign of respect to them.

I went inside the car after resting. I just drove slowly because of the cliff. We weren't able to notice that there was a cliff right here on our way to the mountain. Thank God, nothing bad happened. At this view, I could still see how beautiful this place is. It's just amazing, and anyone will surely be satisfied by this kind of view.

Until one moment...

"What the hell is wrong?"

I ranted when I wasn't able to control the break. I wasn't able to stop the car. I kept on making zig-zag movements when I saw a car following me.

That car was too close to me. What's the driver is doing? Is he drunk?

I was still struggling until I wasn't able to control the wheels. My car was about to reach the cliff.

"I still don't wanna die!"

I thought of those words as I saw how deep it was. I closed my eyes shut, and I fell into that cliff.

***

As I opened my eyes, I saw that I was out of the car.

"Oh, thank God."

The car was totally destroyed. The tires were flattened. The bumper was totally wrecked, and it was emitting smokes up the air. I even saw many scratches on every part of my car.

"Zachary Isaiah Ruiz, eighteen, right?"

I was shocked upon seeing a man with a hat. He was wearing all black.

"Yes? Who are you? Why are you wearing all black?"

"Some people call me the grim reaper, but others call me their guardian. Anyway, I want you to know that you have twenty-four hours to stay here on the land of living."

My eyes furrowed after hearing what he just said. Twenty-four hours? Here?

"What do you mean with that twenty-four hours?" I undoubtedly asked.

"You can use that remaining twenty-four hours to go to the dream of your friends, family, and whoever your loved ones are," he said. I waited for his next words. I was intently listening.

"Recreate, reminisce, and spend the day with them in their dreams," he said.

"But how?" I confusedly asked.

"For you to get in their dreams, you must go near them and control their dreams. It doesn't matter how many people you wanna control," he followed.

"Just think of the place where you wanna go, and your imagination will take you there."

"Remember, you only have twenty-four hours. If you insist to stay here, your soul will die and cease to exist. I'll be back whenever I notice you being ready."

I can't examine everything he has said. Am I dead? I thought I survived from that accident. Is this my soul?

I closed my eyes shut and thought of a place. I noticed that the place where I was standing turned around. Maybe it's leading me to somewhere.

I am dead. I am really dead.