Date?

The Hilltop View

The sun is on its final stretch before it gets swallowed by the horizon. The sky was painted with beautiful hues of red and orange afterglow - a promise of warmth for the next days to come.

The burst of flash that came from the camera caught them all by surprise.

"Huh? That's it?" Rookie faced Aunt Mari, whose face has now turned white. She accidentally pushed the soft button when she tried to peep and focus the camera. 

"Oh my my my. Young Miss, I'm sorry." Aunt Mari covered her mouth with her tiny hand.

"It's fine, Aunt Mari. Don't worry. I guess we have to see for ourselves how that photo will turn out. Isn't that exciting?" Sunny said as she dragged her feet to Aunt Mari.

She held out a hand, and Aunt Mari placed the camera on it. Sunny took out the rolled film once it was done rewinding and put it inside a gray canister with a black cover.

With his hands in his pocket, Four-Eyes lazily walked towards the van and took two bikes: his and Cora's. 

"We are going to stay here for a bit," Cora said to Rookie.

"Make sure you don't go past the curfew, Cora. You don't want to get an earful from your mom, do you?" Rookie said in a stern and full of warning voice.

"Yes. Yes. I heard you," Cora replied as she pushed Rookie towards the others.

Four-Eyes and Cora waved goodbye to their friends as the van drove away from them and wind down to the foot of the hill. 

When the van was out of sight, Four-Eyes pulled out a mat from his bag.

"Wow! Look at you. I didn't know you came in prepared." A faint blush crept up from her neck to her face. 

The quietness and isolation of the moment made Cora feel uneasy and shy. "Little fairy, are you alright?"

"Ah-huh, and don't call me a little fairy, " she quickly said while she fiddled with her skirt.

He cackled, then he patted the mat, "Don't just stand there. Come here. Sit with me." 

Cora bit her lower lip, let out a small exhale, then sat down beside Four-Eyes.

He draped his arm on her shoulder. They looked at each other before blushing for the nth time today.

"You can lean on my shoulder if you want,'' he said, and she obliged.

The high school sweethearts sat down as they lazed. Not speaking and not moving. Just the sound of their breathing and their synchronized heartbeats could be heard as they watched the sunset before them.

Four-Eyes and Cora were on their way home when they saw a familiar figure leave the security office near the entrance of the hill.

"Big Brother Lucas!" Cora called out to the person whose back was against them.

She waved her hand up high in the air when Lucas turned around. Excitement could be seen on Four-Eyes and Cora's faces at the rare sighting of their Big Brother.

He recently signed up for the Marines and could only go out on limited breaks.

"Mmm. Why are you kids still here?" An average person would just hear his signature monotonous voice, yet to those near and dear to him would hear a hint of familiarity with his current tone.

"Out on a date too, Big Brother Lucas?" Bright teasingly asked.

"Date?" 

He looked at the girl beside him, then he scratched his temple and said, "No, no. I'm not on a date. Work. We are here for work."

Simple and straightforward. Talking to people was not his strongest point. You are lucky if you can squeeze a few words out of his mouth. 

The only time he would talk non-stop is when Sunny is around. That girl can sure bring out words even from a lifeless statue.

"If you say sooo…" Cora teasingly replied. She waved her hand to the girl standing next to their big brother. The girl nodded back and gave a faint smile.

She stood with her hands behind and a posture of a leatherneck. 'They must be here for work,' Four-Eyes thought when he fixed his gaze on the lady.

He adjusted his glasses on his nose bridge then combed his hair with his hands right after.

"Put your bikes on the back. I'll give you guys a ride. It's too late to be riding a bike," Lucas commanded. He sent a signal to the security personnel waiting on the sidelines.

Three security personnel walked forward; two took the bikes away from the pair, each holding a bike, while the other opened the door for Cora.

"Thank you," Cora said once she got into the car. The security personnel - straight face and eyes that looked far away to avoid eye contact - closed the door then sent a salute to their way as the car they are in, drove into the country off-road away from the hilltop.

Edited by Swaning