5

BRIGHT'S POV

After a long while, I slept peacefully last night. I also woke up early because there was an annoying knock on my door. 

"NAMTAN!" I immediately hugged when I saw my sister.

We may fight like cats and dogs most of the time, but she will always be my sister. 

"You sleepyhead. You still don't wake up early even here? Grandma should make you work" Namtan said as we walked back inside my room. 

"She doesn't really mind." I said and giggled. 

"I see why you wanted to be here... freedom... sanity" She said and sighed as she laid in my bed. 

"How is Ton doing? I thought we were gonna fetch you... I thought I was gonna see Ton" I said when my brain finally started working. 

"Me and Dad got into a huge fight last night. I didn't wanna stay longer. I'm sorry. We can still visit Ton though, mom has been camping in the hospital ever since she was admitted plus, there is approximately a hundred security personnel 24/7 for their security. Plus, mom and dad aren't at the best state so our chances of being free from dad will be higher" She said and sighed like she was too exhausted. 

"Before you two catch up, come on and have breakfast with me already. I'm so happy both of you are here" Grandma said as she stood by the door of my room. 

We followed grandma into the breakfast nook and she even opened the sliding doors that shows the beauty of the beach... 

"Excuse me Sir Bright, someone is looking for you at the door, he said his name is Win?" the helper said when she got into the breakfast nook. 

"Oh, invite him for breakfast" Grandma said. 

I stood up and remembered that I haven't checked my phone since last night that I drifted to sleep. I quickly went to the door and saw Win standing there. 

"Good morning" He said and smiled.

"Good morning" I smiled back.

"I was about to ask you for breakfast, you didn't respond last night... my mom and brother agreed for some adventure today" He said. 

"I'm sorry, I fell asleep a little earlier than my usual, also, my sister is here, we could bring her along too. Come inside, have breakfast with us. Grandma want to meet you" I said and opened he door wider for him to come inside. 

Win kind of hesitated a little, but later on gave in and walked inside. 

"This is unexpected" He said. 

"Fair share. I get to meet your brother and mom later, you get to meet my sister and grandma. There's supposed to be a lot more, like some cousins and aunts lives here as well but they are abroad for now." I said as I led him into the breakfast nook. 

There were more food now than when I left, grandma must have asked the helpers to add more food. 

"Hey... uhhmmm... this is Win, the new friend I had. Win, this is my older sister Namtan, and that is grandma" I said introducing them to each other. 

"Hello Win!" Namtan said as she extended a hand to Win and she smiled like she really liked him. 

"Hello there hijo, come seat, there... that seat beside Bright is vacant." Grandma said as Win paid his respects to her. 

"Thank you" He said and got seated. 

I didn't know Win could be more talkative than he already is. It was fun having him around for breakfast... Namtan and Grandma sure did like him so much as well. Indeed, the ball of sunshine that I keep seeing when he's around. 

"You should go along with them Namtan" Grandma said when I mentioned I'd be touring Win and his family today. 

"Yeah sure. Why not invite them as well for dinner?" Namtan said. 

"That's too much... I think..." Win said shyly. 

"No, It's totally fine, just think of it as perks, being my friend" I said and smiled at him. 

"I don't wanna look like I'm a gold digger..." He sort of whispered. 

"Oh no you're not." I said immediately to make him feel comfortable. 

"We like you around Win... you pay us with the smiles and new memories you give each and every one of us, we kind of needed that light aura... specially your new friend" Grandma said and assured Win with a smile. 

"Okay... I'll go ask my mom and brother about  the dinner" He said and smiled back to grandma. 

We finished our breakfast and Namtan and I got ready for the tour, grandma accompanied Win to the door when he said goodbye for a while to go fetch his mother and brother. I went back to the living room to get something when I noticed that grandma talked to Win a little more before letting him go. 

"What did you talked to him about?" I asked when grandma closed the door. 

"Nothing for you to know..." She and smiled. 

I was confused and at the same time curious about it but I know grandma, she wouldn't tell me about it. So I went back to minding my own business and finished getting the few things I'll be bringing.

I decided to bring some film and camera with me so that I could take some nice photos of the scenarios and of us as well...

"Namtan!!!! They are gonna be here soon, you're taking too long" I yelled from the living room as I was waiting for Namtan. 

"Be patient!!!!" She yelled back from her room. 

"They are gonna leave you" Grandma also said and sat at the living room to watch some TV. 

"Grandma... Are we still gonna visit Ton?" I asked when the thought has crossed my mind. 

"Yes Bright, I'll talk to your mother today. I'll update you when you get back okay? Just go have fun and de-stress for a little while." Grandma said and gave me an assuring smile. 

"Sir Bright, the boat is ready." One of the helpers informed me. 

"Byeeeee Namtan!!!!" I yelled and laughed with grandma as she came running from her room. 

"What took you so long?" I asked when we headed to the dock. 

"I freshed up you dumbass. You rushed me" She said and hit my arm a little.

"There they are...." I said when I saw Win and his brother and mother walking towards us. 

I waved to Win signaling for him to see that we were already by the dock. 

"Hey... Uhhhmmm... this is Bright and that is his older sister Namtan... This is my mom and this is my younger brother Chimon" Win said introducing us to each other. 

We paid our respects Win's mom and also greeted his younger brother.

"Wow, you have really good genes" Namtan said looking at Win and Chimon. 

"All credits to mom" Win said which made me smile. 

"Of course" I said and we laughed a little and headed to the boat. 

Namtan was talking to Win's mother while we headed to Helicopter Island, while I talked to Win and his brother Chimon. 

"Chi, he owns an island" Win said pointing to me. 

"Really?" Chimon said putting his phone down. 

"Yeah, we'd watch the sunset there later" I said. 

"Wow, you're rich... rich!" Chimon said. 

"That is why be nice and put the phone down. Talk to us." Win said and scolded his brother. 

"What are your hobbies?" I asked Chimon. 

"Well... mostly video games, I also have interests with law or medicine related TV shows... although, I would like to take up a pre-law like my brother... I spend time playing crime solving games but I also do like hacking and stuff hehe" Chimon said. 

"He mostly spends time reading books or with his laptop, those two are his most prized possessions" Win added. 

"You're taking up law?" I asked Win. 

"Pre-law, if ever the budget will make it, then it is all the way law I guess" He said and smiled. 

"That's nice" I said and smiled. 

He manages to juggle all the struggles, pre-law, and part-time jobs? Wow. He gave me another reason to keep fighting... because I easily would give everything up yet he has more struggles than I do he keeps going. 

We arrived at the first island we're supposed to go to. There were tourists but Win and his family are tourists after all. They should see all El Nido has to offer. We were taking pictures, of course, I am my sister's personal photographer as always... 

"You both really know how to look after each other. I admire you, I hope Win and Chimon would grow up like you too..." Win's mom told me after we took a few more photos. 

"They seem to be bonding really well too auntie" I said. 

"They would be like that for a while, then they'd be fighting like dogs the next moment... just wait for it" She said. 

The good bond I saw from Win and Chimon didn't really lasted when Win shoved a bunch of sand into Chimon's swimming trunk which made me laugh. Now they both gone into a mini sand fight and water fight. They are such kids. 

"I have to stop them before they start drowning each other. Go spend time with your sister Bright, she seems to be drowning in her thoughts..." She said which made me look over to Namtan. 

She was floating aimlessly in the ocean. I giggled and went to the ocean as well until I was beside her. 

"The ocean is already deep enough, don't make it deeper with your thoughts." I said. 

"Just couldn't help but think... sorry." She said while still floating. 

"What did you and Dad fought about?" I asked.

"Just business stuff. He wanted to go after the ones that hurt Ton. I said to keep it low but he was insisting." She sighed. 

"At least, you went after him now..." I said.

"I was so mad with what happened to Ton, mom and him aren't talking anymore, mom has been avoiding him as well... the house was extremely quiet, I would go crazy if I spend more time with Dad" She said. 

"Let it all go for now... enjoy the escape while you have it. Our problems won't be going anywhere, they'd still be at Manila when we come back" I told her.

Even though, I don't have the plans of coming back anymore... I was thinking about those stuff... but I wanted to see Ton and I still have to finish my academics... 

We then had lunch, Win and his family brought some food even though we already have some food prepared as well. It was like a feast when the food was laid out at the portable table we brought. The set-up was like a boodle fight. 

I was ready to dig in when Win leaned in and signaled for me to come closer which I did and he whispered... 

"Your sister seems to be having trouble with the set-up" He said. 

I looked over to Namtan, of course, she doesn't know how to eat using her bare hands because they've been so spoiled by our parents. They are the kids who brought and used utensils when there's boodle fights and feasts at school. 

"You don't know how to eat wow." I said sarcastically as I watch her struggle. 

"You're not helping, just shut up." Namtan said which made me laugh. 

"It's like this." Win suddenly said showing Namtan how to properly grab the food so that she'd be able to have a grip of her food. 

"Oh... o-okay" Namtan shyly said and followed Win. 

Win seemed to be helping because she finally was able to eat some without everything falling apart from her hand. 

We enjoyed the feast and Namtan was actually bragging about how she knows how to eat with bare hands now. 

"Where do we wash our hands?" Namtan asked after eating. 

"In the ocean" Win said and gave her a smile. 

"The ocean is going to be dirty" We all laughed at her response, she's such a child! 

"Oh Namtan, it's all gonna be fine." I said and laughed. 

We spent all afternoon going around more islands. I'm actually glad that Win and his family are happy and enjoying the small paradise that we call our home. I also made sure they see most of the islands that are accessible are only around each other. 

But of course, I'd be taking them to the place to watch the sunset. The last destination would be my small island. It's an escape place, we all needed that kind of escape...

"You never bring new people to your island" Namtan said when I told her what our last destination would be. 

"They've been so good to us, plus, they accompanied us, it's alright" I told her and smiled. 

She gave me a weird look after that but she didn't said anything more.

We arrived at the small island and there were endless taking of photos and rolling around the sun among them but for me, I went up the small rock and sat there to watch the endless view of the oceans and to get lost in my thoughts again. 

I don't know, I feel okay most of the time, I feel like I'm dreaming and it all turns into nightmares during nights. I often spend time staring blankly to anything because there is just so much thoughts running on my mind that it often goes so blank. I couldn't process all of them so I often end up not processing anything at all. 

"There you are" Somebody said from behind me. 

"Hey, what are you doing here? Go join your mom and brother" I said. 

"They are having fun with your sister... Why are you alone here?" Win asked as he sat down beside me. 

"I just want some time alone and some time to think..." I said and sighed. 

"That's alright. We can't always be okay... I know interacting with people can get so exhausting" He said and looked at the view as well. 

"Here's another sunset with you..." I said when I noticed the sun was starting to set. 

"Let's put on some happy music then..." He said as he pulled his phone out. 

Thrift store fashionImperfect tattoosTaking showersMinus shampoo

"You listen to LANY?" I was surprised. It was my favorite. 

"Of course, you?" He asked back. 

"It's my favorite." I smiled. 

Get you under pink skies, I know exactly where we should go'Cause I love the way your green eyes mix with that Malibu indigoTalkin' under pink skies, I think our hearts are starting to showThat it's better, you and I, under pink skies

"What your favorite song?" He asked as we enjoyed pink skies and literally watch the skies turn pink. 

"Secret." I said and smirked. 

"Unfair, but anyway, my favorite is thru these tears... you know, the line that says 'In the end I'm gonna be alright but it might take a hundred sleepless nights'... It's just so me" I smiled. 

"Did I asked?" I said and giggled. 

"Okay, bye, thank you for everything." He said and rolled his eyes at me. 

"Haha, kidding. Mine's actually pink skies." I said and smiled. 

"Why?" He asked again. 

"Just because" I said and smiled. 

"There you both are!" Namtan said as they walked up to us with Win's mom and brother following her.

"Wow." Chimon said. 

"Enjoy the view." I said and smiled. 

"Thank you for making this trip awesome" Chimon told me and smiled widely. 

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Thanks for reading! <3