The Bucket List

the one with the northern lights

RJ / July 22, 2016

They say that the Aurora belt at the Alaska's great Interior and Arctic region is one of the most active in the world. Kaya naman dito napili ni Maine na makita yung Northern Lights and it also goes off with the other things on her list.

We ate an early dinner at a nearby Mcdonald's before going on our tour. Ang sabi kasi sa amin ng tour guide, magkikita daw muna dito sa Mcdonald's and at around 8:00pm, we are going to be transferred 30-45 minutes away from our hotel to a prime Aurora viewing place, away from the city lights.

Bumili kami ng baon para sa trip and as we travel, kinuha ko yung ipad ko to watch an episode of Friends.

"Uy, panood din ako." Maine told me and grabbed the left part of my earbuds and put it on her right ear.

Hindi na ako nakapalag kasi nasuot na niya yung earbuds that's why I played the episode. Nasa season 1 finale na ko, when Rachel was supposed to pick up Ross at the airport and tell him she loves him when...

"Here we are, guys! Please wait a few more minutes as we park properly. Thank you."

Nagulat kaming dalawa ni Maine kasi biglang nagsalita yung tour guide namin. Sobrang tahimik kasi lahat tapos biglang nagsalita. Lahat tuloy kami nagulat.

A few minutes later, pinababa na din kami sa coaster at lahat kami namangha sa bumungad samin.

The sky is so clear that we see streaks of green and almost gray and they seem to dance above. The tour guide was shocked and amazed at the same time since the weather was bad a few days before we arrived and she was about to tell us that our tour would be rescheduled but then, at the last minute, they said it would be okay.

And as we see it, it was more than okay.

It waa breathtaking.

We walked to a nearby fireplace and sat on the logs, while the others started take pictures. Si Maine naman, naglakad lakad ng konti habang kumukuha ng picture.

"This is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, RJ. So beautiful, so magical. Para akong nasa ibang dimension."

"Sobrang ganda nga. I've seen pictures of this even before. But seeing this personally, it's giving me chills."

"Alam mo kung bakit gusto kong makita tong Aurora Borealis?"

"Why?"

"They say that the Aurora Borealis ties in with their belief in the circle of life, in which the dead are not completely separated from their loved ones. Kaya they will constantly look for ways to communicate with them."

"And then?"

"It makes sense right? When you see the Aurora Borealis, you pay attention to it. You appreciate its beauty, you see them almost dancing, it's really like communicating with you."

"You think my dead grandparents are communicating with me through this?"

"You may believe what you want to believe, RJ. Basta ako, I feel at peace seeing this beautiful scene."

I tried to look into the deeper meaning of what she said pero may part talaga ako na hindi magets. That's what I love and hate about Maine at the same time. Minsan, sa sobrang deep niya mag-isip, hindi ko makuha yung logic. May mga bagay talaga na siya lang yung nakakaintindi, though minsan ineexplain niya sakin.

But one thing I understand for sure is she wants me to continue admiring this wonderful thing we are seeing tonight. And she's right. You will feel at peace while looking at the Northern Lights.

She took a lot of pictures of the Northern Lights habang ako naman, sakto lang. Hindi kasi ako makakuha ng maganda angle for the video. Minsan kasi hindi kaya ng video kaya mostly pictures lang. Kukuha na lang ako ng mga kopya from Maine na gagamitin ko for my montage.

After an hour, we headed back to our hotel. On our way home, tinitingnan namin yung mga photos and videos nung tumunog yung phone ko.

It was a text from Laura (again) asking if we could talk. Hindi ko ulit sinagot yung tawag niya since I know it will upset Maine (again). I turned off my phone and kept it inside my pocket.

Pero nakalimutan ko, magaling makiramdam si Maine. "Si Laura yun no?" She said while looking at her photos.

"Oo eh. Di ko naman sinagot, don't worry."

"Why didn't you block her number?"

"I did, pero yung text kasi 'Chard can we talk please?' Siya lang naman tumatawag ng Chard sakin."

"Na hindi bagay sayo."

"Ayan ka na naman."

"Totoo naman ah. Pangit pangit ng Chard eh.."

"Sinasabi mo pangit ako ganon?"

"Pangalan ang sinasabi ko, hindi tao."

"Malamang ako din yun. Nako, Nicomaine.."

"Ewan. Pero matanong kita, kung magkausap kayo ulit tapos she asked you if pwedeng magkabalikan kayo, what will you do?"

Ano nga ba? Hindi ako nakasagot agad kasi hindi ko talaga alam. "I don't know, Maine. I really don't know."

We arrived at the hotel and went straight to our room without talking to each other. Nakapag-ayos na kami and ready for bed when I asked her. "Huy, Menggay. Galit ka ba?"

Her forehead creased a little. "Bakit naman ako magagalit?"

"Baka dun sa sinabi ko kanina?"

She smiled, but didn't reach her eyes. "Ano ka ba, wala yun. Ikaw pa rin naman yung magdedesisyon sa mga ganyang bagay. Don't mind me. Napagod lang din ako." Humiga na siya saka nagtalukbong ng comforter. "Goodnight, RJ. Matulog ka na."

"Menggay.."

"Matulog ka na. 1pm flight natin bukas pa-California."

"Huy, Menggay."

Tinanggal niya yung comforter tapos humarap sakin. "RJ, seryoso okay lang talaga ko. Hindi naman ako galit. Wala naman akong karapatang magalit kasi hindi ko naman hawak yung desisyon mo diba? Kahit naman against ako kay Laura, kung masaya ka sa kanya edi dun na din ako. All I want is for you to be happy, whatever you do and whoever you do it with. Your happiness is my happiness too, RJ. Alam mo naman siguro yun."

Nilapitan ko siya sabay kiss sa noo niya. "Thank you, Maine. Sobra. For everything."

"Anything for my bestfriend."

Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit. Just like her watching the Northern Lights, I also feel at peace, whenever I hug her tight. All the time.