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Halos isang buwan na ang lumipas simula ng umalis sila ng kanyang ina sa bansa. At ganoon rin kahaba ang naging paglalagi nila sa Japan. Bago sila muling lumipad papunta sa South Korea.

She's not familiar with the location but the most exciting part when they got there is they'll gonna watch a Lantern Festival. At ngayong gabi na nga iyon. Suot ang kanyang brown trench coat na may white long sleeves turtle neck sa loob and a black jeans paired with her brown heeled boots ay magara na silang nakasakay sa sasakyan ng kanyang Tita Sha.

All of them are over dressed, kahit ang sariling ina ay hindi nagpatalo. They are all wearing different kinds of trench coats, differ in lengths and colors. They are looked a sophisticated Mom with their sense of fashion.

"You should choose the best lantern there, Toni! So, your wish will come true!," her Tita Char talked to her while they are still inside the car.

Tita Vicky was the one who maneuvered the wheels, and she's the one seated beside her.

She smiled a bit, kahit naman papaano ay nakasundo na niya ang mga Titas, "Yes po. You could recommend to me din po kung ano ang mas maganda," she spoke lightly.

"Toni, dapat sa akin ka magpapili! Mas magaling akong kumilatis kaysa diyan kay Char!," bigla namang apela ng kanyang Tita Sha na nasa tabi ng kanyang ina.

"What the both of you talking about? Remember the last time we agreed that you'll scheduled our next flight? It was cancelled dahil hindi niyo pala inayos!," her Tita Louise made her way in their conversation.

"Sabi nila ayos na 'yung tickets, pagdating natin sa airport, wala tayo sa business class. That was embarrassing!," while her Tita Vicky just beside her laughing a bit.

"Ang na-booked lang nila ay 'yung hotel suite na hindi rin naman nagamit!," nakisali na rin sa usapan ang kanyang ina.

And she's just smiling from what she have heard. They are really close to each other. They are more likely a teenager who's exploring the world.

"Look what you've done, Char! They are making fun with us!," nakanguso na ang kanyang Tita Sha na parang batang pinagti-tripan ng kanyang mga kaibigan.

"Wala akong kasalanan dito, Sha!," her Tita Char's voice becomes defensive.

Inabot rin sila ng halos kalahating oras sa sasakyan bago sila nakarating sa dapat nilang puntahan.

Pagkababa nila sa sasakyan ay marami ng taong nakakalat sa paligid. Gabi man pero napakaliwanag ng lugar lalo na at maraming mga stalls ang nakabukas, even the river itself is sparkling and shining.

"Hold it, anak. The Jinju Namgang Lantern Festival was about to start!," excited na inabot sa kanya ng ina ang isang lantern na may sindi na sa loob, hindi niya alam kung saan niya ito nakuha.

"And a fireworks later! So excited!," kung excited ang kanyang ina ay mas todo ang excitement ng kanyang Tita Sha na nagawa pang pumalakpak.

"Let's take a picture first!," her Tita Vicky hold her phone in front of them.

It took them minutes after picture taking. Nagawa pa ngang manghila ng kanyang Tita Char ng isang turista para sila ay kuhanan ng magkakasama. While her Tita Vicky tried to let her do the posing, and she gladly do it for them. Tuwang-tuwa ang mga ginang sa kanya!

At makalipas nga ang ilang minuto ay nagsimula ng mag-countdown ang emcee ng event bago nila sabay-sabay na pinakawalan ang kanya-kanyang lantern.

Hoping for a better life ahead. No pain and sadness please, she said on her mind while watching the lanterns flying up to the sky above the river.

Habang rinig niya ang mga tawanan at palakpakan sa kaniyang paligid. She's there silently. Looking at the sky full of lanterns.

Sana ay nandito siya, muling bulong niya sa sarili.

"Do you think your dream will come true?"

Bigla siyang napatingin sa lalaking biglang sumulpot sa kanyang tabi. Wearing a blue sweater and blue jeans paired with a bonet, he is showing his boyish grin.

"Vixen? How'd you ended up here?," she asked with a stained of shocked on her face.

Napatingin rin siya sa kanyang ina at mga Titas para manghingi ng sagot. Ngunit tanging kabit-balikat lamang ang itinugon ng mga ito sa kanya at muling nagpatuloy sa panonood ng mga lanterns na lumilipad sa langit.

"I asked Tita Tasya your whereabouts. I'm really planning to visit you, Toni. Ngayon nga lang nakaluwag-luwag dahil marami akong inasikaso sa kumpanya mo," he explained, "And if you're worrying about your company, don't worry. I asked our VP for Finance to handle the company while I'm here. Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal. I just missed you, that's why," he added.

"You're unbelievable. You went here from the Philippines just to see me because you missed me?," she asked again with amusement on her face and voice.

He showed a lopsided grin before placing his arm on her shoulders, "I'm Vixen Khalid, Toni. Nothing's impossible for me," he even laughed.

Magaan naman siyang napatawa rin.

Na-miss niya rin magkaroon ng kasama na ka-edaran niya. Dahil habang pilit siyang lumalayo sa realidad, puro mga matatanda ang nakakasama niya, but they are still young on her actions.

"Wow! Finally! After a month, you young boy, ikaw lang pala ang makakapagpatawa diyan kay Toni," her Tita Sha exclaimed while looking on their direction.

"Smile, love birds!," her Tita Vicky focused her phone on them.

At wala naman siyang nagawa kundi ngumiti pabalik sa camera dahil ramdam niyang prepared na prepared na ang binatang nasa kanyang tabi.

"Tita, pahingi akong copy, ah!," Vixen spoke after their shots.

Nakangiti namang iwinagayway ng kanyang Tita Vicky ang kanyang phone sa ere, "No problem, hijo. Just open your share it," she smiled again before facing again her Mom and their amigas.

Hinayaan naman na silang muli ng mga matatanda, giving them privacy.

"Want to stroll around? May mga masasarap na nagbebenta ng pagkain dito," Vixen invited her after a minute of silence.

"You've been here?"

He nodded his head, "Yes, with my family."

"Alright! I'll just excuse myself," pagpapaalam niya dito bago kalabitin ang kanyang ina.

Her Mom looked on her direction right away, "Yes, Toni?," she asked sweetly.

"We will just stroll around po, but we will be back," she explained.

"No worries, Toni! Kahit dumiretso na lang kayo sa suite, ayos lang! Take your time!," her Tita Char giggling while looking at the both of them.

"Baliw ka talaga, Char!," her Mom made a small tap on her Tita Char's forehead, "Anyways, ayos lang naman, anak. Just be alright. May tiwala naman ako kay Vixen," muling humarap sa kanya ang ina.

She smiled and pecked a kissed on her Mom's cheek, "We'll be back, 'Ma," she added before tapping Vixen's arm signalling him for their leave.

"Enjoy, love birds!," muli na namang sigaw ng kanyang Tita Sha.

Mga baliw talaga.

"Iba rin talaga ang mga kaibigan ng Mama mo!," he exclaimed habang naglalakad sila papunta sa mga stalls ng pagkain sa paligid ng river.

"Para nga silang mga teenagers sa kilos nila, eh."

"Sana ganyan din ako kapag tumanda!"

"I hope the same way, too, Vix," she spoke.

"Pero balik muna tayo sa plano, masarap ang mga street foods nila dito lalo na ang Japanese Takoyaki, Hurricane Potatoes, Skewers, Kebab, Spicy Rice Cake, Fishcake at marami pang iba!"

Bahagya naman siyang natawa, "Hindi halatang mahilig ka sa pagkain, ah?"

He shrugged his shoulders, "Well, it's a secret."

Masaya silang naglibot ni Vixen sa bawat stalls, they almost tried everything on their menu.

Pero ang pinakamasarap na natikman niya ay ang Japanese Takoyaki nila, hindi ito nalalayo sa lasa ng natikman niya rin sa Japan. Totoo talagang may pusit sa loob at sa harapan mo talaga lulutuin! Unlike in the Philippines, mas makapal pa ang harina kaysa dun sa sinasabk nilang filling.

Kahit papaano ay nakalimutan niya ang dinadalang problema. Na hindi naman talaga problema sa iba, siya lang talaga ang nag-iisip ng sobra.

She's so thankful that she has Vixen. Simula pa talaga noon ay lagi na itong nasa kanyang tabi. He never failed her to be there when she needed someone.

Hindi nga lang talaga niya kayang tumbasan ang pagmamahal nito sa kanya.

Not now.

Her heart still mending. Hindi niya pa alam kung paano muling bubuuin ang puso niyang nadurog.

"It's good seeing you again, Toni. And I'm so glad you're smiling again," Vixen spoke on her while holding a fishcakes on his both hands.

"This is how life works, Vix. We don't have a choice but to move forward, than to be left out," she smiled while accepting the fishcake Vixen handling on her.

"That's my girl," he is smiling, too and he even patted her head like a dog.

She just hope that the pain will fade soon like how the lanterns flew in the sky.

They was just interrupted when the sky lit up with colourful fireworks.

It was awesome.

At habang pinapanood niya ang kumukutitap na mga paputok sa langit, nasa kanya namang tabi si Vixen. Na hindi niya inaasahan na ito ang kanyang makakasama.

"Beautiful," Vixen spoke.

Yeah, it is, bulong niya sa sarili.