I should've listen to Geana. This is a fucking hike! I need a break.
"Lets not go any further. Your with child. You shouldn't be doing this." Austin insisted. I didn't want to listen.
"No...i can do it." Chris said breathing calmly. "Just let me do this."
"No you can't and I won't let you." Austin raised his voice. It shocked Geana and Chris. He didn't know what to say to that. "Your too stubborn to realized that this isn't a good idea. We're going to rest and once we've rested enough, we're going back down." Austin lead Chris to a near by bench and sat him down.
Geana smiled thinking that the two have already married each other. Austin gave Chris his water bottle. Then he rubbed Chris belly. Which stopped everyone from what they were doing.
".....um.....just wanted to make sure the baby is ok..." Austin said nervously.
"Yeah~ Take your hand off my belly. Please." Chris said.
Austin did so and walked away awkwardly. Geana laugh silently. She was having the time of her laugh.
That was awkward. Chris relaxed his shoulders and felt the salty breeze. It felt good. He turned his head slightly to see the lighthouse. Then spotted a stone podium up ahead.
"Whats that?" Chris asked Greana.
Geana looked and smiled with glee. "Thats the a marker!" She ran up ahead. Austin helped Chris up to catch up with her. Once they all arrived, their was already people their. Some took pictures and others enjoy the view. Chris only realized it now that the stone marker was bigger and well taken care of. Stone benches surround the marker and the floor had a design marble tiles.
"Its like a balcony itself. But where's the temple?" Chris asked.
"A little up top. If you stepback towards the railings, you can kind of spot it. But we can go next time. We don't want to over exhaust you." Geana said. Austin agreed with her. "But this is better anyway. Its super romantic. "
"Romantic?" Chris said confused.
"Some young kids come here to confess their love to eachother and will forever have everlasting love~" Geana said very dramatically.
Chris chuckled at the amusement. Austin blushed a bit. Geana continued.
"Other times couples come here to proposed or have wedding pictures here. Its a love sight. But this place used to be at the lighthouse." She points at the lighthouse. "But it was too dangerous because the tides keep rising wildly. So they cut it off from the public and moved it here.
"They put a marker here to tell tourist the history behind the love sight and the lighthouse. It all started with two lovers..."
Once their were two lovers that loved each other very much. The woman was a beautiful maiden and daughter of a wealthy man. The man was a fisherman who always worked all day in the sea.
These two never crossed path with eachother because of the different social classes they were in. But one day when the woman dropped her hair pin that the man picked it up for her. And thats when love at first sight came to be.
They will always come and see eachother every night and the only way they found eachother was a litted lantern hidden in the mountains. And they protest their love all night until the sun rise.
Her father found out of this love affair and warned her that if she were to go back to him one more time he will immediately cut her off. But love was love, so she went to him and they both married.
They lived happily. But it wasn't for long. When the man had to go fishing, a huge storm came and sunk his ship. The man died at sea never to see his beloved again. The woman grieved his death and cried all around the village. People started to look at her as a crazy woman so they ignored her crying. She stay at the cliff still grieving. Then she decided to do the unthinkable.
She thought that even if her husband died at sea, his soul is forever lost. So to reunite with him at the afterlife she'll had to build a lantern to show his way. But will he see it? How far can he see it? So she decided that it had to be bigger.
She started building all day. All night. Through the hot sun. Through the cold winds. Even when she was sick. She kept building. The villagers first thought that she was crazy but now they were amazed at her determination. They all watched her build. And build. For days. For weeks. For months. For years. Her love gave her strength.
The woman who was once beautiful became old and worn out. But her mission was complete. She built a tower and on top of that tower, a lantern as big as it comes. When night came she light the huge lantern and the light lit like the sun. The woman was relieved it work but sad. The woman became tired. She knew this night would be her last. But she had hope that her beloved would see that light and pass on.
As the woman slowly closed her eyes, she felt her soul leave her body. But once she opened them again she cried with joy. Her beloved came to her. He smiled and kiss her. He missed her so much. As did she.
Finally reunited they both went peacefully to the afterlife.
"And thats how it went. Romantic isn't?" Geana said.
"The marker said it differently." Chris said.
"Its the same story!" Geana said annoyed.
"Really?! You left the part out about the dad trying to kill him! And the villagers calling her a hoe!" Chris replied.
"They don't matter! The point of the story is that with love you can do anything. " Geana ignored Chris.
Austin blushed. He looked at Chris and smiled. "I hope its true." He whispered to himself.
"Your disturbing the peace." A man voice said.. Geana and Chris jumped and both felt embarrassed that they were making a scene. They turn to see who it was. It was an kind of a middle age man. He was wearing a traditional dark blue yukata. He also had a cigarette. Chris saw a sign that this place was a non-smoker zone.
"Chief! What are you doing here?" Geana asked him. Austin waved to say hello but ghe Chief ignored him.
"I'm here to pay my respects." The Chief said.
"To the marker?" Geana replied.
"The temple. My goodness. God gave you a brain but you simple don't know how to use it." The Chief said bluntly. Geana felt a sharp stink. Chris doesn't like this guy but....he wanted to laugh so hard. Chris seemed to see something in this old guy. He seemed...similar.
"Grandpa!" A little girls voice that Chris recognized came. "Don't say mean things to Geana!" Its Abbygale wearing a pink yukata with white bunnies. "She's my friend!"
Geana snapped and blushed bright red. "AHHH! ABBY YOU LOOK SOOO CUTE!" Geana rushed to her and gave her a hug. "We have to take pics together, k?"
The Chief signed. "I tell it as is. Don't lecture me, young lady." He said calmly.
This means he's Tom's father. Chris looked at the Chief again. I see the resemblance now. And those eyebrows...are they genetic or something? Chris noticed that he was starting too long and looked away but the chief already noticed.
"Your the newcomer, is that right." The Chief asked.
"Yes sir. My name's Christopher Smyth. Its nice to meet you, sir." Chris said politely. Chris was sure he doesn't want to be in his bad side so he felt he had to be polite. Even if he was a douche.
"Yes. Julie mentioned you. She also mentioned other things." His eyes turned to Austin. Austin looked away. "I am the Chief of police of this district. Takashi Sabiru. But people around here call me Chief. I don't mind if you call me that as well."
"Chief here is well known." Geana said. Then she leaned in towards Chris. "Plus they don't want to say his name. Its not complicated its that it makes him sound like a yakuza thug." She whispered. Chris grinned a bit.
"I heard that." Chief said irritated. "Since your here, Dunce. Where's that sorry of excuse of my son." Chris was going to answer but Geana stopped him.
"He's out. Not sure where but he's out. With Julie too." Geana tried to fake her smile but deep down Chris knew she was angry. Woman are scary. And Chris felt like he's being held hostage. Thankfully Austin came by and guided him to sit on the bench again.
"Daddy....is out?" Abbygale said. She looked down.
Geana comfort her. "Don't worry. Once he's done, I'll call him and make sure you were asking for him."
"Don't bother." Chief interrupted her. "All he ever does is run away. It will be a miracle for him to be a decent father."
Geana took up and face the chief with angry eyes. Geana knows whats Tom going through. The Chief also knows Geana knows where he is.
The Chief signed and walked to the other side. He looked at the sea. Geana asked Abbygale if she wanted to play with her. Abby smiled and went with her. Austin went with them to cheer Abbygale up. As the group went to play, Chris turn to the chief. Looking in the distance. He decided to walk towards him.
"That was...that was pretty harsh." Chris said.
"Oh cry me a river. Its the truth. Nothing more. Nothing less." The Chief said.
"Does being an asshole run in the family?" Chris said bluntly.
The chief looked at Chris. Chris expected a backlash of words but instead he got something else. Chris loomed at his face. He's face looked tired and sad. Almost like he agreed with it. And ashamed of it.
"I suppose. Your right." He said calmy. Chris did not expect this at all. The Chief turned to the sea and looked at the view. Chris follow suit. All their was was silence. The breeze that touch the skin. The salty smell that surrounds the area. The waves. Its peaceful up here.
"I'm no fool. I know what has become of his husband. Which is why I am here with my granddaughter. To say our prayers to the temple. And then I'll tell her once we arrive at the marker." The chief said.
Chris looked down a bit then looked at the chief. "But won't that just...complicate things. It should be Tom. He should say it."
"Heh. He's too hesitant. He'll wait until the last minute and it'll already be too late. She's an alpha. Best to say it now." The chief said. Chris had no say in it. Its their family. But what do i know. I don't have a good family history anyway.
"Um..." Chris wanted to say something but he didn't know how to say it. "How was it like...raising a child?" The salty breeze came softly. The Chief didn't respond until later.
"A breeze with my first son.....a fucking hell marathon with the second." The chief said. Chris couldn't help but chuckled. "I suppose they always differ. I do remember that I was afraid. I wasn't sure how I was going to do it. A few years with my first son I had my wife. But she was gone when our second son was born. My first son was already a man. But with my second son , I had to start over again. Alone." He was about to lit his cigarette but remembered he was around a pregnant beta. He tossed it at sea. "Its draining."
"Ok...now I have no idea if I can make it." Chris said.
"You'll be fine. Its rewarding. Always is. I have my granddaughter now. What more can I ask for." The chief said.
"What about Tom?" Chris asked.
"He's a disgrace." The chief said.
Heh ok damn.
"Grandpa, look! The tide is going down!" Abbygale exclaimed. The chief smiled and waved at her.
He sighed. "Its time. I have to tell her. Abbygale!" He called out to his granddaughter. Abbygale said goodbye to Geana and Austin and then ran towards her grandfather. "Let's go, dear. Its time." He held her hand and she hold his hand tightly. They both walked away and sat on the stone benches. Chris felt a sharp pain on his chest. He watched them talked a bit. Then Abbygale began to listen carefully. Then she quickly took. Her face left a sharp pain in Chris heart. Abbygale looked at her grandfather and then ran off.
"Abbygale!" Geana called out to her but she kept running. She ran down the hill. Geana and Austin ran after her. Hoping nothing could happen to her. Chris stayed behind with the Chief.
Chris felt helpless.