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BRIGHT'S POV

It has been a week since I got here at El Nido. I barely have communications to my friends because I decided not to charge my phone ever since I got here. A complete breather from everything back home. I didn't want the stress of my family problems be a hindrance to my most needed vacation from them. 

The day was unusually peaceful today. I just finished swimming in the ocean as I watch the sunset by the shore... The private resort we own is kind of jam packed with a bunch of tourists, I noticed a family of three, probably having a vacation to themselves, I watched them, I don't see a father figure but they seemed too happy. If I could have the simple life like them, I'd take it. 

I spent a little more time watching the guests from a far until my grandma's assistant came rushing to me...

"Sir Bright... you have an urgent call, your grandma already took it and she told me to get you." She said

"If it is Dad, I'll call back later." I said

"It's about Ton..." I felt my soul left my body when I jumped up and quickly ran back to the house. I scrambled with every stuff I have in my bedroom and charged my phone immediately. 

I ran back down to the dining area to find my grandma. She was on a video call on her iPad when I came. 

"What happened to Ton?" I asked when I saw Namtan crying on the screen. 

"Bright calm down" Grandma said and pulled me closer as I wait for Namtan to respond.

"Bright... there were some arguments between Dad and their partner company... Dad failed to deliver to their demands, he saved lives trying to please you and do good before you go back but... they came for revenge and said they were teaching dad a lesson..." Namtan said between sobs. 

"WHAT HAPPENED TO TON?!" I raised my voice in frustration. 

"Bright... Ton is in a comatose... she was kidnapped for a few hours but when they had a miscommunication, they pushed her and her head hit something really hard..." Namtan said and continued crying. 

I felt like cold water was poured to me. I was frozen upon hearing those... I wanted to blame my dad but he was doing it for me... for me... I felt tears rolling down my cheeks and I had the urge to run away. I ran away from them, I can't take Ton as a casualty for dad finally making things right for me, my sister got hurt, because of me. 

I came to the part of the island where no one barely goes, it was sort of a cliff that leads to the ocean, it was completely dark now... I screamed for as loud as I can, I cried until I felt like shutting all the emotions off... 

maybe if I leave... everything will be better

I stood up and stared at the cliff... the rocks beneath me will surely be the easy way out and I either get lost in the ocean or they find me tomorrow... I stared at the moon... 

"Why does life has to be this shitty?" I sighed and wiped another tear away. 

"Why am I given to a family like this?" I asked again... 

"Hey stranger... who... are youuuu talking to?" I almost jumped when I heard that loud voice behind me. I looked behind me and saw the hotel guest a while ago, he's as tall as me, his skin is whiter than mine, he managed to stumble beside me despite being drunk. He sat down by the edge and I sat down beside him. 

"You're not allowed here" I said. 

"Youuuuu aren't eitheeeer" he said and giggled.

"I own the place" I said. 

"Hold on, give me a moment, I think I'm gonna vomit." He said stumbling while getting up and went to a not too far place from me. 

"You good now?" I asked when he came back beside me. 

"Sort of, still kind of dizzy though hehehehehe" He said and smiled. 

I was again lost in my thoughts after that, I just need this drunk stranger to go and I'll leave this earth as well... for good. 

"Why are you talking to the moon?" He asked all of a sudden

"I just wanted answers on why my life is such a mess" I said blankly.

"I could try that too. Maybe I'd get answers as well." He said. 

"You got dumped or something by your girlfriend?" I asked.

"Haha. I wish it was that shallow..." He said and went quiet. 

"Then what is it?" I asked again. 

"If I tell you, you tell me what it is you're yelling to the moon?" He said which left me silent. 

"Come on. We're strangers, I'm not sure I'll see you again, you might check-out before I do." He said. 

"I told you, I own it." I said again.

"Yeah whatever... sooo?" He said and waited for my response.

"Okay deal then, you first" I said. 

"It was my dad, he's an asshole. He booked us a trip here for my brother's birthday. He told me and my mom not to bother him anymore after it, but then he suddenly showed up because he missed us? I know he and his mistress are not in good terms and the only reason he kept coming back is my mom needs the money and for him to continue sending my brother to school. He just have so much hold of my mom and my brother, they often choose to close their eyes on everything that he has done repeatedly just for his money." He said. 

We were quiet for a while, why does Dads have to be such pain in our asses?

"It was kind of the same, my dad is a business man, well actually even my mom and my older sister... we run multiple businesses, I disagree with a lot especially with how they manages it, I've been dealing with it for a while now. I wanted to go here to run away from them and all of it. It sucks struggling with family and not having anyone to talk about it, my friends has their own chaos to deal with and I barely tell them any of it... I felt so alone for a while, It was a good week, but then we got a call a while ago, my sister became a casualty of something my dad was trying to do to please me. I don't know man, I just really wanna go." I told him and sighed. 

"Sometimes, I think it's also the easy way out." He said which made me look over to him.

"Don't tell me you'd stop me. I couldn't bare any of it, I'm still rejecting to absorb it" I said.

"I will. Because, whatever happened to your sister, she won't be very happy." He said. 

"I will be very happy" I said. 

"Not tonight then. Here, listen to this. Scan that code tonight. I want your thoughts about it, can we meet tomorrow?" He asked.

"I thought it was a one time thing?" I asked looking at the piece of paper he gave me. 

"Maybe it is a multiple time thing. It feels good having someone to talk to, doesn't it?" He asked.

"Not gonna lie, yeah... you kind of shifted my thoughts." I said and gave him a small smile.

"I'm Win" He said ang gave me a wide smile

"I'm Bright" I replied. 

"Thank you for saving me from my thoughts tonight." He said which pulled me back to sanity. 

"No Win, thank you... for saving me from death tonight." I said... 

We stayed there for a little longer staring at the moon as the ocean reflects the light coming from it. I walked him back to make sure he goes into his room because he was still dizzy and sort of lightheaded. I walked back to the house and sighed. I walked in and my grandma was there waiting for me. 

"Namtan will keep us updated regarding Ton, they are already searching for the people who done this. Namtan might also come here for a little while to keep you both safe and hidden. Everything will be alright Bright." She said. 

"Will Ton be okay?" I asked. 

"She will be. We have to believe and keep praying for that Bright. I can schedule a visit soon, maybe we could be the ones to fetch Namtan from the city." she told me

"Please tell me as soon as possible when we'll be going." I said and walked to my room.

I took a shower and noticed my phone was done charging. I sent a message to Ton, hoping one day she'd be able to see it again. I caught up with my friends as well. They were spending their own time busy with the lives their parents has set for them as well. 

I suddenly remembered the piece of paper that Win gave me... I opened my music app and scanned the code he gave me. 

I bet you thought your life would changeBut you're sat on a train againYour memories are sceneriesFor things you said but never really meantYou build it too high to say goodbyeBecause you're not the same as themBut your death, it won't happen to youIt happens to your family and your friends, I pretend

And I always wanna die sometimesI always wanna die sometimes

A small smile formed on my lips. It meant really well... I won't be suffering when I die, but the suffering will be my friends'... my family... my siblings... I very much would love to see Namtan and Ton again.

I listened to the song all night and decided to close my eyes while feeling the momentum of it until I drifted to sleep...

I woke up the next day with a bunch of messages from Namtan, Mom, Dad and my friends. They sent me a bunch of messages assuring me that everything will be alright, as if they know that... There is no one who can tell me when Ton is waking up, when she'll be okay again, there's even no assurance to everything. 

I felt really terrible again so I decided to head to the shore... I tried my best not to drown in my thoughts, I just couldn't bare to be happy and enjoy this paradise in front of me when everything is so wrong at the moment. 

"You're here." Someone from behind me said. 

"Oh, it's you again. Hello drunk stranger." I said looking at Win who was walking towards me. 

"I have a name... and you know it... right?" He said a little bit confused. Did he really forget?

"You don't know if you told me your name? Do you even remember opening up to me?" I asked him. 

"I remember it all too well Bright, I just wanted to make sure, kind of anxious you won't remember me or you'd push me away." He said and smiled. 

There's something with his smiles that makes me feel like it's all okay, it's like a ray of sunshine, a tiny streak of light. 

"Yeah... go away... just kidding haha" I said when he was sad hearing me pushing him away. 

"No wonder I didn't see you at the party last night, you aren't sociable huh?" He asked. 

"Nope. Just too much bullshit for me last night. Plus, there's parties every night." I said. 

"Yeah, about last night... what can you say about the song?" He asked again. 

"I always... wanna die, not sometimes though." I sarcastically said though I kid of meant that. 

"Nooo, okay, I might not know you that much yet, but will you promise me you won't kill yourself?" He said which made me furrow my brows. 

"What's in it for you? Why are you trying to save me? If you're in my position, you'd rather go as well than to keep sticking with such shitty family." I said and sighed. 

"You wanna go tour me around?" He said after thinking for a little while... 

I looked at him. He seems like a nice person... well, everybody seems nice until they choose not to be nice. 

"Don't you have a family to go on a tour with?" I asked back. 

"Yeah, they can take care of themselves, I'd answer why I'm saving you when you take me on a tour" He said and smiled. 

"Convince me." I teased him.

"Just think of it as two sad kids with family issues, running away from all of it for a little while." He told me. 

"Okay. That's it. You got me at running away from the problems, would you mind picking up some food to eat and meet me here after 30 minutes? I'll go get the speedboat." I told him. 

"You'll drive a speed boat?" He asked in amusement. 

"Yeah... unless you wanna swim around the islands or you wanna ride a jet ski?" I asked.

"I just still can't process I'm friends with the resort owner..." He said and flashed his bright smile which made me smile as well. 

"Don't tell anyone, go now, I'll see you in a while." I said and stood up and walked towards the house again. 

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Thanks for reading! <3