Chapter 86 Long Ride

KIA

There are certain days in life that fly by and are easily forgotten because they were just another day going about your business, and then there are other days that stick out like a sore thumb as you look back on them because they were different from the monotony of daily life. But I'd say that today will go down as one of my most memorable.

* Flashback *

A loud ring surrounded my bag. It must be coming from my phone. I immediately stood up and went to get it. We just finished eating dinner and I was busy watching television when suddenly my phone started vibrating. I grabbed it from my bag and answered it.

“Miaree?” I murmured as I answered the call.

“Hi, Kia! How are you? I and Marcy are so worried about you…”

“I’m fine. Ares is making sure that I am still enjoying my stay at home while the investigation still hasn’t finished. Any update in school?”

“Well, as usual, the issue is still roaming around and they were criticising you but don’t worry because a lot of students are also on your side and defending you from those hypocrites. Even Nate is defending you. His fans were helping you, girl! I really didn’t expect that one.”

“He did? I should thank him then…”

“Yeah, but by the way, we are planning to invite you tomorrow. Marcy and I taught about taking you on a long ride to ease your thoughts! And you can’t say no because everything is already planned!”

“What? But—”

“No buts! See you tomorrow! Make sure to wake up early okay?” She said before dropping the call without even letting me speak.

* Call ended *

The early morning sun peeking through the windows. There was a pit in my stomach filled with anxiousness, but I was ready to have fun. I got dressed in a hurry and ran down the steps and into the car. Ares is already waiting for me, he will take me to Miaree’s house this morning before going to work. Driving to my friend's house felt like a century. When we arrived I gave Ares a goodbye kiss before I hopped out of the car and walked up the narrow cold cement steps. I was greeted with a warm hello and a smile by Miaree’s maid. We then ran to the car and picked up the next person, which is Marcy.

The day began bright and gorgeous, perfect for exploring Tagaytay. I had taken a break from my demanding life because it was a Saturday. The warmth of the sun was counteracting the chill of ber months because it was shining brightly and there were no clouds in the sky. At 10 o'clock in the morning, we set out on bikes. We had planned to spend the entire day outdoors, so the three of us were really excited. My friend, Marcy, in particular, was very eager to see Tagaytay because it was her first time visiting.

We started off at La Trinity. The villagers had constructed a large edifice out of enormous granite slabs. We could only picture the enormous amount of labor that must have gone into building the fort, especially at a time when the bullock cart was the only means of transportation. When we first arrived at the fort, there was a substantial dark, twisting staircase leading up to the various rooms of the emperor, his queens, and other household members. Our voices repeatedly echoed in the empty room, which was really unpleasant. We ascended all the way to the top of the fort, where we felt queasy when we peered down.

We exited the frigid, gloomy, and musty environment of the fort and inhaled the clean, fresh air. Hun's tomb was close by. A guide informed us that Hun had begged Allah to take away his life but spare the life of his beloved son who had fallen unwell. After that, he got sick and started to waste away while his son got healthier and better. Eventually, Hun passed away and his son lived.

“Such a sad story…” Miaree whispered.

After that, we rented a boat at the Malay Gate boat club. We were all three of us together for a very long period, and the weather was gorgeous. There was a light breeze blowing, and the lake was tranquil with a few light ripples where the wind brushed the surface. While we alternated between rowing the boat and sitting on the grass, others were present. I could easily see our faces in the water since it was clear and pure.

My friend appeared really content and was laughing. I could also clearly see weeds and, occasionally, golden fish circling the weeds. I cracked jokes and smiled as the woman sang along, and both of us were having a great time. After that, we continued on to a neighboring kids' park. Before deciding to eat lunch, the three of us sat on the grass watching kids play in the area.

“Where should we eat?” they asked.

I had purchased a picnic lunch, consisting only of nibbles and light fare, from a restaurant close by. For all of us, my friend distributed lunch. It was a great pleasure to eat outside because there were three of us who were incredibly hungry. My buddies threw tiny food fragments for the adjacent little birds and sparrows, and they would pick them up.

After a short period of recuperation, they drove me close by to the National Museum. We saw several ancient statues that were hundreds of years old, and we were impressed by the skill of the artisans who created them without the sophisticated tools we take for granted today. We also noticed a big aquarium filled with a variety of vibrant fish moving in and out among the weeds and rocks that had been artfully put inside the enormous glass containers. The lady had a ton of questions about the tour, and we had a great time exploring. We eventually made our way outside, feeling both enlightened and somewhat worn out.

From there, we traveled to the State Emporia Buildings to explore the local arts and crafts made from various parts of the area's landscape. My friends purchased incense sticks from the neighboring Tamil emporium and honey for her mother from a local store, while I purchased cloth for a summer garment from the temple we had just visited. With her present, the woman was overjoyed. When we finally had the time to really browse through all of the handicrafts from several other places, we were rather worn out. At a nearby fast food restaurant, we ordered cold drinks and felt really revived.

After that, we came upon a recently constructed Indian restaurant. Chaat at the Bengali market was the next stop on our agenda. So, we had a spicy treat, which my buddies really liked because they had never had it before. Such food, including chaat, pani-puri, and many others, is immensely popular among girls almost universally. This girl was also the same. After we finished the chaat, we headed to a South Indian restaurant and once more enjoyed the mouthwatering food that was offered there.

We finally started to move toward returning home. We had a great day of sightseeing. Together, we experienced a lot, learned a lot, and had a lot of fun. We were now excited to get home, unwind, and discuss all we had seen. We were so full from dinner that we skipped it that evening.

We went on another walk outside to get ice cream at around 10:00. Walking outside of their homes to consume ice cream after dinner is quite popular among Filipinos. We travel home once we have finished our ice cream. That evening, we spoke for a considerable amount of time. When I came home, we were still on the phone, and we didn't stop until about three in the morning when it was time for bed. Since I missed a few days of school, we had already crossed paths. Being together for such a lovely day made us both very pleased. Our memories of that day will last a long time because it was truly special.