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The afternoon sun bathes the trees and the mountains with its shimmering gold light. The wind was warm to the touch, lulling everyone it touched at the same time; it could also bring one's energy to explore.
This was the ambiance that no city could ever mimic. A place with nature.
With a satisfied smile on Solanne's face, with a white t-shirt, white square pants, and flip flops, Solanne was ready to explore the place.
Before going to this place, she has done some research. Since this place takes 5 hours by train, she had already expected that there would be a few places worth visiting.
Hence, ignoring Yael, who was busy watching TV in the living room, she grabbed her phone, umbrella, a few clothes, and a notebook before putting it in a tote bag.
Moreover, she knew an ocean was a few meters away from their place.
Just as she stepped outside, she could feel the warm sunlight touching her skin. At that moment, she could feel her mood lifted, her expectations skyrocketing, and she was ready to take pictures. She wanted to document the things she was experiencing.
Moreover, she can write this in her journal, too.
Solanne took a few steps, enjoying the view of the forest. Just as she was walking, there was a smile on her face. Her expression looks calm and serene as if she was on vacation. She came to this place to relax, and the pandemic was unexpected.
Still, she tried to be positive. Besides, there are no people around. She can enjoy herself without thinking of the virus that might spread here.
Everything feels new. Even just strolling with the trees, hearing her feet walking through the ground not paved by the cement and feeling the grass through her legs. Though it was a little bit itchy.
Without minding the time, Solanne strolled through the forest while typing on her phone, navigating through the maps. Her goal was the ocean. She had never been to a place near the sea, and since she was alone like this, she wanted to experience the feeling of being alone on the beach.
Would that be great? Her heart was pounding with excitement.
Just as she walked, she enjoyed the view. Everything has the color of green. The sun was warm. And everything would be better if she was blasting music from her earphones. Hence she grabbed the pair inside her bag and put it on her ears.
Perfect!
With a satisfied smile, she continued walking.
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Blue…
It took an hour to walk to this place.
"Wow…" is this what it feels like to feel in love at first sight? Solanne jokingly said to herself. However, she can still feel her heart skipped a beat.
The view was breathtaking.
The sea, her freeform blues playing for a smoky sky; it was a sky adorned with the silhouettes of wide stretched wings, of birds long homeward bound.
The sand was white. The water was blue. What to even express?
Solanne grabbed her phone and took some pictures without wasting any seconds to spare. The place feels so big now that she is alone. The sun was about to set. And the sound of the waves feels so calming.
Ahhh… how peaceful.
The sand was hot to the feet. Still, she didn't mind it at all.
With a child-like smile, she spread her arms wide enough to hug the wind as she tilted her head up, facing the blue and orange pastels that the sky was offering.
Indeed, this trip was worth it despite everything that happened. With her arms spread, Solanne spun until she was dizzy.
She giggled like a child, not minding that she had almost fallen to the ground. From a distance, she can hear the calm waves. Solanne didn't waste any second. She tossed her tote bag to the sand and ran as fast as possible to feel the waves on her feet.
"Cold! It's so Cold! Amazing!" It was cold to the touch, and the sun was warm. Perfect! Everything was so perfect that Solanne could feel her heart lying on the clouds, not minding her problems.
She even feels like flying. Too bad she doesn't have wings.
All this time, thinking about it now, she was trying to survive. She was doing her best not to be left behind in this world. She was so desperate. She had been living like a dog all this time and had forgotten how to live like a human.
Solanne was a coward. She refuses to face anything, even her problems, yet everything she runs away; those problems can leach to her like a disease, and at the end of the day, she has no choice but to face and fix them.
She was tired, and she wanted to rest.
She made the right decision to visit this place. She made the right decision to be here.
Finally. After so many failed choices… eventually…. Finally!
She made the right one.
Solanne can feel her heart full, and tears start to come out of her eyes.
She was free for now.
Everything stopped.
This time. This place. She was here. It was hers.
"AHHHH!" Solanne shouted so loud enough for her throat to hurt, but she didn't care.
She was alone by herself, and that was enough. This was enough. Not all of her problems were fixed, yet, right now…. This was enough.
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Solanne spends the whole two hours on the beach, sitting there despite the place being dark and enjoying the calm waves with the touch of music coming from her phone. She took many pictures and even went for a dip in the ocean.
She didn't mind that she was naked. She was alone, after all. No one would have seen her. After two hours, her hair was dry, and it was dangerous to stay further. Hence, as she memorized the road earlier, walking home was not a problem.
Her hair was dry and crispy, and her skin was so sticky, yet she didn't mind. She can just take a bath at the place they were staying.
After an hour of walking, she arrived home.
She was expecting not to see Yael in the living room since it was already 8 in the evening, yet the moment she opened the door, her dear actor slash idol was still there, two cats on his chest, as he fell asleep. The TV was still playing, and she saw the traces of some noodles and kimchi on the coffee table.
Solanne frowned. 'He can't cook? The refrigerator has so many ingredients, yet he settled to this?' She thought.
She moved quietly with him sleeping and Solanne trying to act as a decent person. She put her things in her room grab a blanket and some clothes before heading out. She put her clothes in the bathroom before putting a blanket on Yael and turning off the TV. She even grabbed his dishes and put them on the sink. He can wash it later.
Closing the bathroom door and feeling the warm water coming out of the shower, Solanne felt alive once again.
There was a contented smile on her face. She was so happy right now that she was sure no one, even that actor sleeping there, could ruin it for her.
She should take notes of all of her experiences. This would be a good material for her.
She stayed in the bath for a good 30 minutes before coming out. Fresh from the showers with her hoodie and pajamas,
Just as she came out of the shower, Yael was still sleeping. This time, he was curled into the sofa, and the cats beside him were purring.
What a scene. Feeling a bit hungry, she looked at the fridge. There's so much meat and a few vegetables. She should cook some rice too.
Closing the fridge door, she scrolled through her phone, looking for some recipes to follow. After a few minutes of scrolling, she decides to cook adobo. It's trending on the internet, and it seems easy to cook.
Putting her phone down, she decided to prepare the ingredients and cook. She put on her earphones, afraid her music might wake the sleeping dragon next to her.
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Yael woke up with the smell of something being cooked. Opening his eyes, he saw the blanket over him, 'so this is why I didn't feel cold while sleeping.' He mused as he looked in the direction of the kitchen.
And just like how he guessed it, Solanne was quietly humming as she cooked with her back facing him. It smelled delicious, and he thought that despite eating those noodles, he still felt hungry.
But of course, he'll never admit that. Not to her.
Yael stood up; the cats were already on the sofa. He neatly folded the blanket and put it aside before grabbing his phone and walking upstairs. He'll wash the dishes later. It's best to sleep in his room.
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