[[*Endless Road_______Endless Journey]]*

Monday, March 14, 2005

[[The Last Chapter XXI]]

It was a small gathering at the chalet. Gwen's friends were all preparing for the exams, while about a handful of the class turned up. Jaime didn't expect that something magical would happne that very night.

Everything went on normally. There was plenty of food and barbeque. The night was cool and comfortable. After playing pool for an hour or so with his classmates, Jaime decided to go out for a walk.

The beach was one of Jaime's favourite places for moments of solitude. He loved to have the gentle breeze blowing into him, listen to the waves crashing into the sandy beaches, and at night, looking at the stars filling up the sky and twinkle their brightest for all to admire.

David had went, with Sarah and Gillian, to pick up Celine. She had been working and initially was reluctant to go for the chalet, but the rest convinced her to come by getting David to drive her to the chalet.

Though everything had returned to normal between him and Celine, Jaime was still a little hesitant. What should he say to her later? The feeling was a little weird and awkward, considering what happened just a few weeks before.

While Celine had already arrived, Jaime was still out at the beach. Will called him, asking him to return. They had wanted to cut Gwen's birthday cake. It didn't take long for Jaime to get back.

Soon after the cake cutting, David, Gillian, Sarah and Kate left. There were only six of them left at the chalet: Gwen, her boyfriend Jason, Will, Carrie, Celine and Jaime. Both Gwen and Jason had a long day, so they decided to rest, leaving the four of them.

It was getting boring inside the chalet, and there weren't many shows worth watching at times like 2am. The four decided to buy some drinks and chit-chat at the beach for a while. Perhaps because there were only four of them, Jaime had much more to talk to with Celine.

As an hour draws to a close, so were Carrie's eyes. The fatigued girl could hardly keep herself awake, and she had to work the following afternoon. They decided to walk her back and let her have some rest. Not soon after, Will got sleepy too.

It was 5am. Jaime, feeling a little restless, decided to wait for the sunrise at the beach. He knew it was almost impossible to catch the sunrise on the beach, but it beats staying in the chalet with nothing to do.

"Shall I go with you too?"

Jaime was taken aback for a split second. He and Celine alone at the beach waiting for sunrise? It sounded almost too good to be true. He secretly pinched his left arm to check if he was awake. And sure he was.

"Oh...yeah, why not? It would be nice to have you for company."

~~~

The sky was beginning to turn blue as Jaime and Celine strolled along the beach. They sat down at a small rocky slope, where Jaime had been the night before, and started to chat.

It seemed like the two of them were lost in their own world. Not for once had Jaime felt this way. Everytime he was alone with Celine, he couldn't help but feel that everyone else in the world was non-existent. It was the only thing he would trade all he had for.

All that was happening seemed like a dream to Jaime. It was somewhat like the jigsaw puzzle he gave to Celine on her birthday a few months back. There might be no fireworks on display, no grass to sit on for comfort, and no beautiful lakes, but the feeling was exactly how Jaime felt when he first saw the puzzle.

The smallest things in life were usually the most memorable to Jaime. He always enjoyed the friendly squabbles with Celine. At times too, he seemed like a bothersome old man, always nagging at her for her forgetfulness.

Celine had her fair share of nagging at Jaime as well. He was always that silly guy. One who gave so much and never expected anything in return. Many had their reservations about Jaime as a person, but he had this side of him only she knew. Celine always found it puzzling why Jaime wasn't unwilling to be misunderstood.

That morning became the most important in Jaime's life. He could never forget how they tried to put sand onto each other's hair, them sitting side by side to see a sunrise they knew they couldn't catch, walking around and exploring the chalet reception...

If only, Jaime thought, that every single day of his life would be like that day...

~~~

*decisions...decisions*

[[Walking Alone On This Endless Road]]*|8:52 pm|