Our class decided to go on a road trip during the summer vacation for a mini getaway. The plan was to hit the road on our respective cars and drive from Queenstown to Wanaka. We would explore the various places, enjoy a picnic at a nearby beach before settling the night at Wanaka.
H and I, together with four other friends, travelled in the same car. As we drove along the road, the spectacular views along the way took our breaths away. We gasped in amazement and stopped the car several times to take photos of the splendid scenery. In the car, we also blasted music from the loudspeakers and sang along at the top of our lungs. Everyone was on cloud nine. It felt like the world was at our feet. We were living the moment.
As a result, the journey to the beach was a long but fulfilling one. By the time we reached, it was almost 5pm. Luckily, the sun was setting soon and the weather was not that hot. We swiftly found a spot to lay our picnic mats and lay out all the food we brought. There were pizza, chips, sandwiches, sushi rolls… everything looked so delicious! Our mouths drooled as the food beckoned us to devour them. "No, don't touch the pizza! They're mine!" Celine, our friend, shouted at us as we fought over the food like we were five-year-old kids who hadn't eaten in days. All of us ate the food while chatting about anything under the sun. 'Twas was a good meal which filled our bellies and our hearts.
After the meal, some of us decided to play volleyball, some decided to play card games while the others decided to take a stroll along the beach and watch the sunset.
H and I found a quiet spot to sit down at the beach. We sat silently, admiring the brilliant red and orange hues of the sunset before us. Occasionally, the seagulls flew around in the sky and the waves crashed against the shore. We looked at the majestic view, each deep in our own distant thoughts. Time stood still for us. I willed in my heart for this moment to last forever.
After a long while, H turned around and looked at me so intently as if he were trying to take in every minute feature of my face. He finally spoke, "Amerie, you're beautiful…"
Upon hearing, I was dumbfounded. I giggled and replied, "You're drunk." I thought he was tipsy from the soju earlier on and was blabbering nonsense.
"No, I'm not."
"Really? This is the first time someone said that I am beautiful."
"Really."
*******
The sun set and our class packed up our stuff and headed towards our final destination of the day — Lake Wanaka. We heard that the night sky there was amazing and wanted to see it ourselves. We decided to stay at Wanaka for one night. Everyone in the class sat by Lake Wanaka stargazing. The clear, dark sky somehow made the stars shine even more brightly. The stars twinkled and we all gazed in awe, eyes wide open. We had never seen so many stars in our entire life.
"Can I ask you a question? Why did you do that at the lecture hall that day? I mean, you could have just ignored it, but you chose to take me away from the mess."
H contemplated, then shrugged. "And you? That time when I was in a bad mood, aren't you scared? Why did you still ask me if I was okay?"
I shrugged and we glanced at each other, a knowing look in our eyes.
Sitting under the stars gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. It left me thinking a lot, and gave me the courage to ask what I wanted to at that time. "Ten years from now, what do you hope to achieve? Who do you think you will become?" I asked H, curious.
"Wow, that's a tough question. I haven't really thought about it honestly. Hmmm, I hope that I'll be successful maybe. Oh, I definitely want to be doing the things I enjoy, and I want to protect the people I love." H smiled, dreamy-eyed while he talked about his ambitions. As I listened, I already knew in my heart that he would achieve whatever hopes and dreams he wished for.
"Me too."