Chapter 45: The Ghost Story
Chapter 45: The Ghost Story
The atmosphere around us was filled with the boisterous excitement of the crowd, eagerly anticipating the grand fireworks presentation. Despite the joyful chatter, Kiro and I remained unusually quiet, lost in our own thoughts. "Sissy! I can't wait for the fireworks show!" Dodong exclaimed, his enthusiasm contagious. His cheerfulness made me chuckle. I tried to engage Kiro in the moment, but it seemed like something had changed in him ever since he met Kurt. Concerned, I couldn't help but ask, "Kiro, are you okay?" He looked startled by my question but managed to nod, "Y-yeah, I'm fine... It's just that..." I waited for him to open up and explain, but he only encouraged a smile and brushed it off. "I'm fine. I'm just as excited as Dodong... Isn't that right, Dodong?" he replied, and they both appeared like kids full of joy. Though I nodded and smiled, deep inside, I knew I didn't quite believe his response. "Well, of course. You've been in your room all day, so the excitement hit you all at once. Let it out; it's about to start," I replied, playing along with his fib. As the fireworks presentation commenced, the night sky was painted with mesmerizing colors, leaving us all in awe. The first few fireworks cracked and popped, signaling the start of the show. It was like a symphony of lights and colors, painting the dark canvas above us. The bursts of red, green, blue, and gold filled the sky with an enchanting display of brilliance. Each explosion echoed in my chest, and I felt a rush of excitement with every new burst. The crowd around us gasped and cheered with each mesmerizing firework that bloomed overhead. The experience was further elevated by the enchanting background music performed on the stage. As the music played in the background, the fireworks seemed to dance to the rhythm, gracefully lighting up the sky in perfect harmony. It was as if the stars had descended to Earth, waltzing and twirling, leaving us in awe of their beauty. The grand finale was breathtaking. The sky was ablaze with an array of colorful lights, illuminating everything below. The loud booms and crackles filled the air, and I couldn't help but smile at the collective gasps and cheers from the crowd.
"Wow, it's so beautiful, sis... Isn't it, bro Kiro?" Dodong exclaimed, turning to us with wide-eyed wonder. We were surrounded by people who were already capturing the moment with their cameras and phones. I sighed, realizing my phone was a simple keypad, incapable of taking pictures. Then, to my surprise, Kiro handed his cellphone to me with a shy smile. "Let's capture this moment together, shall we?" he said. I bit my lip, trying not to smile too much, and took the phone, pretending to know how to operate it, though I was quite clueless. "K-kiro, why don't we ask someone else to take our picture? That way, we'll have a better shot of all three of us," I suggested, using it as a cover for my own embarrassment and lack of tech-savviness. "Sure, good idea." Without hesitation, we found a kind stranger to take a picture of the three of us. "Okay, everyone, say cheese!" the person called out as they prepared to snap the photo. The three of us struck different poses, and in one comical shot, Kiro lifted Dodong and me as if he were Superman. It was all in good fun, and the innocence of the moment made us cherish it even more. The fireworks presentation had come to an end, and I could happily say that it was worth every moment we spent watching. The best part was that it was free, which made the experience even more delightful. As we made our way back to Aunt Tarling's place, the road was not entirely quiet, so we decided not to waste any time searching for a flashlight. Dodong, unable to contain his excitement, broke the silence while we strolled along. "Bro Kiro, that was such a nice fireworks display, wasn't it?" Dodong beamed, looking up at Kiro. "Yes, Dodong. Was that your first time watching a fireworks presentation?" Kiro asked, genuinely interested. "Yes, bro! Thank you for bringing me along today, HAHA!" Dodong replied, expressing his gratitude. Kiro then turned to me and asked, "And you, Lyka, did you enjoy it too?" However, I sensed something different in his question. "Yes, so much," I responded with a smile, though a bit puzzled by their exchange. Dodong playfully slapped Kiro's arm, teasing him about something I couldn't quite grasp. But I know I had an idea about it. "Was it so beautiful, bro? Instead of staring at the fireworks, you were staring at my sister’s faceThis is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.
earlier," Dodong said, nudging Kiro again. Kiro blushed slightly, trying to brush off the comment. Upon arriving at Aunt Tarling's house, we found her and many others, including some relatives who were still of the right age, enjoying drinks outside. "Oh, kid! Come on! Let's take a shot!" They welcomed us with an invitation to drink. "C-come here, L-lyka. L-let's have a drink first," One of my relatives suggested, using humor to ease the situation. "To loosen up? Sure sure," I said with a smile, trying to play along. "Kiro will drive again tomorrow when he comes home. I'll have a drink, not him, Auntie," I added, informing them as I took a seat among the group. "All right, Lyka. Let's take a shot! Your mom isn't strict, and we're all family here," Aunt Tarling said, encouraging us to relax. And so, we raised our glasses, toasting to the joyous occasion. The beer went down my throat like lightning, but I didn't mind—it was all part of the experience, the taste of beer as it should be. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, jokes, and camaraderie, making it a perfect way to end a memorable evening of fiesta celebrations. "Whoooooo!" They shouted, their voices echoing through the night air, filled with excitement and laughter. We continued to have a drink, the glasses clinking together as we toasted to the camaraderie shared by friends. Stories and jokes flowed freely, adding to the warmth of the gathering. Amidst the drunkenness, they even gossiped that their neighbor's son was a ghost, a rumor that had the power to send shivers down the spine. As for me, I couldn't help but wonder if anyone still believed in such things. "O-oow, a ghost? RaWr rawr . . . ." I playfully added, trying to lighten the eerie mood. ". . . . T-they said they saw the c-child outside their house soon after," stuttered one of my companions, clearly spooked by the tale. The alcohol was starting to take its toll on me; I felt intoxicated, my head spinning with each passing moment. My ear seemed to have a mind of its own, shutting out the whispered gossip around me.
But then, in my blurred vision, I noticed one of my relatives trying to offer Kiro a glass of wine. This was unacceptable! I had specifically promised to be the designated drinker between the two of us, as he needed to drive tomorrow. Why wouldn't they listen? "Hey you, what’s all that?!" I slurred, pulling myself up to join my two friends who were sitting nearby. Though my vision was hazy, I managed to stumble closer to them. "The hell! I said don't drink that!" I scolded my inebriated relative. "Hays, this is your boyfriend, right, Lyka? Don't be such a killjoy and let him drink! Drink more, bro, oh," he teased, pushing a glass of beer towards Kiro. My blood boiled at his words and actions. I turned to look at Kiro's face, trying to gauge if he was drunk, but my vision failed me. Instead, I leaned in close to him, squinting with my puffy eyes, wanting to check his condition. "Hmmm, are you d-drunk already, Ki-Kiro?" I asked, my words slurred. He remained silent, surprising me, and I couldn't resist playfully pinching his cheek. "H-hey, are you drunk already?" I inquired, my voice slightly playful despite my queasiness. "You're the one who is already drunk, Lyka," he finally responded, his voice gentle as he placed his hands on my shoulders. I brushed off his touch, determined to ignore it, even if I couldn't ignore the churning feeling in my stomach. Feeling overwhelmed, I had an intense urge to vomit, but I tried my best to push it away. Damn. The night had taken an unexpected turn, and all I wanted was to sleep.