New Year's Eve

Chapter 1: New Year’s Eve

Third Person’s POV

December 31, 2019

7:00 am

The bright and dazzling light of the sun showered the thickets of trees on the deep mountains, and filtered the polluted skies of the modern cities, bringing warmth to everything it touches.

The clear blue sky accompanied by dozens of white clouds seemed to signal a day of free worries that lifted the spirits of the city dwellers that can just barely glimpse at the sky, because of their busy schedules.

The beautiful morning that greeted the billions of people from all over the world gave them the feeling that nature is celebrating with them to welcome the arrival of the New Year.

The cities and towns all over the world prepared their houses with different types of lanterns and celebratory designs, and of course they did not forget to prepare good food to keep themselves awake for the countdown.

The huge buildings of the capital cities are designed with modernized technology of gorgeous grand lights to compete with each other on giving off the brightest lights at the coming of New Year.

The New Year could be acclaimed to be the celebration that unites the different countries and races, and it could be said to be the noisiest and happiest time of the year.

7:30 am, Manila, Philippines.

“Dawn Stella Reyes, where the hell are you going?”

Dawn stared at her mother’s furious face, and she can even imagine the steams of smoke coming out of her nose.

She felt small and decided to huddle close to the blue wall of her room, because of the penetrating glare of her mother’s eyes that emits a surreal red light.

“Uh, I’m going c-camping with Set and the others.”

Dawn did not know why her brave front of doing extreme sports suddenly leaves her, as soon as her mother got a hold of her.

It’s like her mother is the kryptonite of her superwoman abilities.

Dawn felt gloomy facing her mother.

She does not even blink when she tried bungee jumping last Christmas, but a glare from her mother can froze her from the spot.

“Camping at New year’s eve? Are you a wild animal? Why do you always like to be outside at every free time you have?”

Dawn pouted hearing her mother’s admonishing words.

She doesn’t thinks it’s her fault that she likes to adventure too much. She remembers that her father would always tell her stories about the stubbornness of her mother when it comes to travelling.

Dawn surmised that being a wild animal comes from her mother’s side.

She dismissed the revolting thoughts, that if heard by her mother would put her in a chair bounded by duct tape. 

Seeing Dawn’s tightly shut lips, her mother shook her head and scrunched her eyebrows as Dawn’s attire entered her eyes.

“I don’t even want to ask, but what are you wearing?”

Dawn pursed her lips. Her pure and pretty face of a half-Asian and half-European crumpled at her mother’s words.

“You shouldn’t have asked if you did not want to.”

“What are you whispering about? Are you cursing me?”

The high-pitched voice of Dawn’s mother almost crushed her eardrums, and gave her an urge to run and never look back.

Thinking of the consequence of running away, Dawn shivered. She doesn’t want to drown on her mother’s spittle.

“It’s my camping gear.”

Dawn’s answer reflexively shot her mother’s eyebrows to the highest level it could reach.

“It’s your camping gear? Are you serious? You look like you’re going on a survival course.”

Dawn unconsciously looks at her clothes and felt defeated. She does look like she’s going to fight an army of cannibals in the forest, and not to just relax on camping and fix the tent.

Dawn is wearing a fitted black long sleeve, fitted flexible pants, boots tailored for hiking and protector gears on her knees and elbows. She even has a utility knife strapped to her thigh.

Dawn’s mother wouldn’t react if it was just her attire, but the traveling bag on her back that is much bigger and taller than her irked her mother’s nerves too much.

“Are you planning on eloping with Set?”

The plain, serious voice of her mother dumbfounded Dawn in a flushed manner.

“W-What, mom what are you saying? I haven’t even turned 20 yet.”

Dawn’s answer along with her flustered appearance made her mother speechless.

“So, you’re planning on eloping with him next month?!”

Dawn felt that the need to run has come.

“I’m just kidding, bye mom!”

Dawn escaped in the fastest speed she could muster while wearing the heavy bag on her back.

She thinks that she could even rival flash at this moment of life and death.

Going down the stairs gave her a dizzy expression, as she almost rolled down like a toilet paper.

“DAWN STELLA REYES!!!”

The shout of doom boosted her speed to the extreme, and relief washed over her as the front door opened and the silhouette of her older cousin under the sunlight felt like the sudden descent of a savior to her plight.

“Cousin let’s go!” 

Dawn shouted as if the whole world is at stake, and dragged her cousin out to the waiting cars.

There are three range rovers waiting in front of Dawn’s house, and two heads with similar features popped out from the windows of the driver seat and back seat of the first car.

“Nice one Dawn, you survived.”

Thrice Sy, the guy on the driver seat chortled seeing Dawn’s disheveled appearance that never gets old. He is already 22 years old.

“How can you always make auntie reach her boiling point?”

Third Sy smirked mischievously. He is a year younger than Thrice, though they can pretty much pass off as twins.

“It’s because Dawn and auntie are too similar, and auntie finds it too irritating.”

Luck Reyes smiled with mischief, and entered the driver seat of the second car. Luck and Thrice are best friends and they are both the oldest of the group.

Dawn frowned at her cousin’s words, but a smile quickly blossomed on her lips as the door of the driver seat of the third car opened.

A tall and lean handsome man with intense smiling green eyes met Dawn’s dark chocolate ones.

Set Morgan, 20 years old and Dawn’s boyfriend since their 2^nd year of junior high.

“Love, come here.”

Set’s deep voice and his open arms draw a huge smile on Dawn’s face as she unhesitatingly jumped into his arms forgetting the current weight of her travel bag.

The weight of the travel bag pulled them down on the road in a sorry manner.

“Oh, I forgot my bag is heavy.”

Dawn scratched her nose in embarrassment as Set pinched her cheek while letting out a grunt.

“What if it’s you that’s gaining weight?”

Set’s question delivered an annoyed-filled bite on his right hand that is currently pinching Dawn’s cheek.

“Ouch, love that hurts.”

Dawn immediately stopped and smiled brightly at Set that he just foolishly looked at her as she enters the passenger seat of his car.

“Who spread the news on social media that dating the same girl for years will eventually lose its charm? What a freaking idiot.”

Set murmured in a low voice while gently massaging the bite mark on his right hand, and following Dawn to enter his car.

Set put on his seatbelt and was momentarily stunned when Dawn suddenly holds his right hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“I’m sorry love.”

Dawn’s pitiful puppy eyes that are on the brink of crying made Set erupt in a laughing fit at how she could be so irritating but cute at the same time.

“Why are you laughing love? I tried really hard to squeeze out a few tears.”

Dawn’s pouting appearance and her statement only added to boost Set’s laugh, and it eventually hurt his stomach as he buckles over on the steering wheel while grasping it.

Dawn just watched her boyfriend’s comical reaction with a smile.

After a few seconds of calming himself, Set kissed the hand that is holding his own and wipes away a few tears on his eyes from laughing too much.

“Stop being so cute, you’re too much.”

Set lightly flicked Dawn’s forehead with his left hand, and chuckled before putting on her seatbelt for her and starting the engine.

Thrice already honked to signal that they are leaving, and Luck already started to drive off to follow Thrice’s car.

“Big brother really is wrapped around Big sister’s little fingers.”

The sudden comment chokes Set and painted Dawn’s face red like it’s bleeding nonstop.

Set forgot that his little brother is also going with them, and is currently sitting on the backseat, and it is obvious that he saw eveything.

“Kel, you’re also going to join us to go camping?”

Dawn immediately restored her calm and cheerfully turned to face the little heartbreaker.

She has a soft spot for Kel, and half of the reason of it is because he is the mini-version of Set from head to toe.

Kel Morgan is only 10 years of age, but his looks can really break the hearts of the innocent little girls on his school.

“Yes big sister, mom and dad went on a honeymoon and dumped me to big brother.”

Kel replied begrudgingly. His parents really think they’re still young to travel for their honeymoon for three weeks.

“Oh, well its fine, we’ll be doing a lot of fun activities so you won’t be bored.”

Dawn enthusiastically said with a blinding smile on her face. Set just smiled at his girlfriend’s never-ending optimism and energy.

“But big sister’s activities are too scary.”

Kel mumbled in apprehension remembering Dawn pushing him off a really high slide when they went on a resort last Christmas.

Set secretly chuckled watching the despondent expression on his little brother’s face. Dawn is the only one he knows who can scare the little snobby brat.

“Let’s go, we still need to travel for 4 hours if the traffic is light and 6 hours if it’s not.”

Set decided to set off lest he lose Luck’s trail and forget the way to the camping site.

Dawn would surely cry buckets if they did not arrive on time to watch the New Year’s Eve countdown on top of the mountain where they will be camping.

“You didn’t forget anything did you?”

Dawn casually asked while going through her things and putting her big travel bag next to Kel, who is currently wearing a headphone and playing some games on his phone.

The kid knows how to enjoy a ride. Dawn thought and shook her head as an image of Set as a little boy wearing a headphone floated in her mind.

“Of course not love, I have already drilled it in my mind to bring your survival tools, uh I mean your camping tools.”

Set unconsciously answered, and he did not even bother to look at Dawn to know that she’s glaring at him.

“We always need to be ready in case an accident happens or else we will feel helpless.”

Dawn seriously uttered and Set obediently nodded to appease her. It’s not a good choice to argue with his love about the topic of survival because she’s too crazy for it.

“I’m really satisfied with the weather today and it seems the New Year will also be a bright and sunny day like this.”

Dawn stared out the glass window and happily exclaimed while looking at the beautiful sunlight that is embracing the environment.

Nature is truly magical and it is one of the reasons that she likes to travel outdoors and adventure to different scenic mountainous regions around and outside the Philippines.

Set and the others always accompanied her as they all have the same burning passion of adventuring the gorgeous places the nature has to offer.

“It really is satisfying to see and I know that the sun tomorrow will surely be dazzlingly bright as it will accompany us to welcome a new and prosperous year.”

Set glimpse at Dawn with the light of love in his eyes before focusing on the road as he doesn’t want to even risk the two important persons in his life to suffer an accident because of him.