[Lance POV]
I woke up in the middle of the trip. Chris was still sleeping. I was leaning his shoulders while he was leaning on my head. I adjusted him and let him sleep on my shoulders. I guess this boy has woken up early just to be here today.
I looked at the view outside the window of the bus. We were surrounded by green fields and mountains. They seemed to wash away my weariness. At the moment, I am contented to be with him. It felt great to be with a person you are comfortable with. I gazed at his face. He looked peaceful lying on my shoulder. I got my phone and tried to capture a photo of us.
I checked my inbox, and you can only guess what I saw. It was exploding with messages from my friends. My junior high school group chats are filled with the words: "Lance has a boyfriend!".
Jeana messaged me. "Hey who's that?" she said.
"My classmate," I replied.
"Just classmates?" she asked.
"Yes?" I replied.
"Uhmmm, just classmate? Who carries your bag for you?"
"He's just… like that always."
"…And he fetched you like someone who's going on a date?" I imagined her face right now. It seemed like she's not having anything I'm saying.
"Ah. We have a project... has something to do in Taal. Historical trip for our study," I sent. I'm starting to run out of alibis.
"It's effn vacation, Lance! And you already graduated! Lance!"
"IT'S FOR THE ORG!" I sent.
"Ok. Ok Fine, byeeee, enjoy your date." She ended.
I'm bad at lying. She posted that last part of the convo in our group chat. Everyone now knows my "well-crafted" alibi.
It went like this: "Guys apparently he's just a classmate of Lance and…they have a project in Taal... summer ehem ehem." Then she sent a screenshot of the convo.
"I don't buy it," one of my friends said.
We arrived at the terminal. I tried to wake up JC. He rubbed his face on my chest like a baby who has just been woken up from his slumber.
I hit him in the head.
"Ouch! That hurts," he complained. "I was still enjoying your shoulder, why did you have to wake me up?"
"We're alighting."
We took a jeepney to Taal church. He said that it was the first place he wanted to go.
He was amazed when he saw the church's facade. It's one of the biggest and oldest catholic churches in Asia and anyone will be amazed at first glance of its wonderful architecture.
We took photos of each other. We both take a good photo, the Instagram-worthy type. That's why I always enjoy my time with him. He's the perfect Instagram boyfriend who takes good photos of you. Don't tell him I said that. We are not really dating.
I immediately uploaded one, I looked tired but smiling very happily with the church's façade as the background. I wrote the caption as: "An unexpected journey, tired, but still goin'."
We went inside the church. We both knelt in front of the altar. We both take our time to pray. Afterward, Chris said a few words:
"Have you ever wanted to be married in church?" he softly spoke.
"I think, I did," I replied.
"Marriage is just so beautiful. Two people promising each other a lifetime," he said.
"It is," I nodded.
"I wish I could be married to the person I love the most. And share a lifetime with him, I want to have children that I would take care of, and always be there for my family," he said with a sad tone.
"Why not? You are really kind, I know the person you'll marry will be very lucky," I said.
Chris did not reply, he just held my cheek and smiled.
We walked around the church. He held my hand and we admired each of its corners before finally deciding to take a tour of the museum on the higher floors. The museum was filled with historical relics from the town ever since the Spanish era. It led us to the top of the church. The highest point is where you can literally see the entire town and even the neighboring towns.
We were surrounded by rivers and lakes. I saw from Chris's face how happy he is right now. He still has the bright smile I have loved ever since. Seeing him smile washed away my weariness like the fields and the mountains.
We left the church and took a tricycle towards our next destination. He already planned this trip. I was literally so shocked about how detailed he was. I opened my Instagram account to upload a new photo. My friends are flooding me with comments and chats. They never stopped messing with my life.
From the last picture I posted. They commented on a lot of things:
"Who are you with?"
"Why do you look so happy?"
"Boyfriend goals."
"You're on a date Lance? so happy for you"
"Where's Chris?"
"Who's Chris?"
"When's Chris?"
"So, this 'Unexpected Journey' is an 'org project'... I'm confused." Jeanna commented.
Then I thought of a new game plan! Since they kept on teasing me, I might as well feed them with something.
I carefully chose a photo and posted a selfie that we took. We both look handsome in this photo. Atop the highest point of the church with the sky as the background. I was facing the camera while Chris was facing sideways almost kissing my face.
There I posted it. Let them die and go crazy thinking about it.
We arrived at the next stop. An old camera museum. It turns out that Chris really dreams of becoming a photographer, so naturally, he takes good pictures. Why did I just know that? The next thing I know, he was fanboying to every version of old cameras which all look pretty much the same to me. We looked around; he was taking a picture of each exhibit. I opened my IG account for a while. The first comments are from my three best friends.
Joy: …
JR: …
JC: ...
Then there comes the flock.... "KYAAAAAHHHHHH"
"SHIP SHIP SHIP! The ship is sailing!"
"You both look handsome!"
"Lance you're so cute!"
"Look, JC is jealous!"
JC: "fu** you."
"OTP"
"My New OTP"
Chris called me and explained the cameras to me. I didn't understand anything! I only know something about the newly released phone camera specs
We went to a few more stops and old houses which I really enjoyed. I love history and the last stop was a religious Marian shrine. We rested there for at least half an hour. We sat and I rested my head again on his shoulder with his head in mine. We ate rice cakes outside the shrine and talked about the day.
"Lance. You know what? I am really happy today." He cheerfully said while we were walking the historical hundred steps stairs.
"Me too. But tired. But happy"
We went to a well. And we both had our own personal wishes.
"I wish for you to overcome your problems," I said while looking at him and throwing a coin down the well.
"I'll keep mine secret for now," he said.
After it was time to go home, I invited Chris to stay at a nearby condominium unit of mine in Tagaytay. His home is far, and I don't want him to commute back again to Manila. We stopped over at the view of Taal Volcano.
The sun started to set. Our arms were interlocked. We gazed at the horizon.
Chris spoke:
"Why does the sun need to set? I hope the day won't end."
"The sun sets so that it could give the stars and moon their time in the sky, tomorrow it will rise again to give light to the world," I replied.
"I wish the sun's not too lonely, sometimes it's dark in the morning especially when you're alone," he said. "I wish the sun and the moon can stay together."
"The sun and the moon will always need each other. The sun gives light to the moon to light the world at its darkest time," I said.
We smiled at each other unsure about where life would take us both.
We came to my condominium unit. He first took a shower while I immediately fell asleep on the bed. He woke me up again when it was my turn to wash myself. I lied on the same bed. We did not have the energy to argue anymore or be shy about it. We wanted to be together. We longed to be near each other after all that happened.
He hugged me.
"Goodnight," he said softly in my ear. He then lightly kissed it.
We closed our eyes. I don't know what happened after that, but it was a long day and not a very long night.