The Sun, The Moon, and Their Stars

23 : Stop

Benjamin

"What's so funny?" she asks.

"Nothing," I say without looking back.

I keep walking with this stupid smile on my face.

She's so cute when she's lying. It's so obvious, yet she knows it, and she tries hard not to show, but it doesn't work. I just hope she can be brave enough to admit that she knows that I feel the same.

But for how long now, Kimberly? And why wouldn't you just say so? But then again, why wouldn't I just say so myself?

This rational side of me is saying something again, give it a bit more time. And that idiotic voice from the other side of me is also saying, yeah, but how much longer?

I brush off the leaves that fell on the scooter. I check the tires and everything else, and they're fine. Kim is already standing near me when I turn around.

"Hey, how much was the entrance fee here?" she asks. "I'll pay you back."

I decide to kid along. "What makes you think I had to pay? I just worked my charm with the lady over there." But she doesn't go with it, so I turn serious. "Don't worry about it, KP. That was my treat."

The light changes into a golden yellow hue. The sky is about to change colors. And this afternoon is starting to end.

Kim and I look up at the same time. Then she turns in the direction of the beach. But she looks a bit disappointed when she turns back to me.

And I can't help but feel it too 'cause that's how it is with her. Her laugh is contagious that can ignite fireworks, but her sadness breaks a piece of me that only her smile can put back together.

"What's the matter?" I ask.

"This is east," she points back to the bay. "And the sun sets in the west."

Of course, she's the type who finds the setting sun poetic.

"You don't have to be on the west side to enjoy the sunset."

"I know."

"But you will, someday."

I think I just made a promise that I'm not even sure I can give, and she doesn't seem like the kind you want to break promises to.

I hop onto the seat and start the engine.

"I always want the things that are not in front of me," she quietly says.

I grab Jessy's helmet. Kim reaches for it, but I quickly pull it back. "You're overgeneralizing," I say before giving it to her.

She holds onto my right shoulder for balance while she positions herself in the back. And I wish for the roads to stretch far far away, so her hands can stay longer that way.

I search for her face from the side mirror. "Just so you know," I say, and I catch her eyes from it too, "the offer to cling on me like a koala still stands."

"Shut up."

The rays from the setting sun are striking in between the trees to our left, touching the road as we pass it. The clouds are starting to catch yellow to orange streaks overhead. And the wind is significantly beginning to feel a bit cooler.

We just pass the lot we came here for earlier. And that already feels like a long time ago.

The soft and thin clouds above just turn into a deeper shade of pink when I stop and park on the side of the road.

"Why did you stop?" Kim asks.

I turn to our left, "look," I point.

I stop in front of a clearing where it opens to the fields. Except for a small house in the middle of it, the fields are open wide and green. We can see the mountain on the right side with its two peaks, cloudless and looking dark blue. Above all, we're facing west. So, the colors from the setting sun scatter along the horizon.