Albert Langley drove out of the Garette residence. Even though he was a little bit old to drive now, he still wanted to drive for himself. He enjoyed the feeling of driving since it reminds him of his youthful years. And this car, a black volkswagen, was the very first car he used to take his wife out for a date back when they were still dating. So the car has a sentimental value to him.
Albert pressed the radio on and some old music started to play around the vehicle. Moments later, he started singing with it.
"Like the river flows... surely to the sea. Darling so it goes, some things are meant to be..."
"Take my hand! Take my whole life through...!"
Albert was startled when another unknown voice sounded at the back of the car. He looked at his front mirror and was shocked to see Hiro at the back singing to the song. He immediately stepped on the pedal and the car halted quickly which threw Hiro off guard and crash to the front seats.
"Aww!"
"Hiro? What are you doing here!?" Albert asked startled.
Hiro recovered himself with a laugh and sat upright and went out of the car like nothing happened. He peeked at Albert's car window and leaned on it.
"By the way old uncle, I liked that song!" Hiro beamed and went to walk in front then stood by the side of the road.
'Old uncle?!' Albert thought as he looked at his nephew ahead of him while he scratched his head. His face contorted an ugly frown.
A green bus rode pass by Albert's car and stopped at where Hiro stood. Before he could get inside the bus, Hiro waved a hand to his old uncle who jolted on his seat.
"Thanks for the ride Old Uncle!"
The bus then departed leaving Albert frozen on his seat. 'What just happened?'
--
Hiro sat at the back corner of the bus. Since the bus had only five passengers, including the driver, the atmosphere inside the bus was light and somewhat peaceful.
Hiro pushed the windows up to let the air inside. His smile was stretched out from his face as he closed his eyes relishing the strong wind. 'So this is what it feels like to be free! I don't feel any regrets from escaping that mansion!'
Hiro pulled his bagpack to his chest and pulled out his earphones to listen to some music. He plugged it in his phone and music started to blear from both of his ears hightening the pleasure of him being free.
If he never left the mansion just in time, Darius would've tied him to a chair in the basement to prevent him from escaping. So before Darius could find out about his location, he should first spend it to his heart's content! No worries and regrets! Just have fun!
It will only take thirty minutes from the Garette's residence to reach the subdivision where Maycee's family mansion could be located if by car since the road was remotely located in the urban sides of the country where trees are abundant. That was why Chester, in confusion, asked Hiro why he was stuck on traffic when these roads had less numbers of cars that passed by.
The bus stopped at the subdivisions tall gates. Hiro crossed the streets and greeted the two guards on duty guarding the gates. On the other side of the road where Hiro had set foot out the bus, it was all covered in tall trees.
"Hello! I'm here for the Chang's, house #08 on the Fourth State." Hiro stated with a smile as he leaned on the glass window.
This subdivision was divided into four states. First are the regular home owners which has descent salary to afford one. The second state are the company granted houses. Which meant that a certain company has given one of its high ranking employees the benifits of having a house granted and paid by the company itself. The third state are where numbers of flats, apartments and condominium units could be located. The fourth state are where mansions of elites and millionaire's could be found.
The guard immediately looked at the phone book and dialed the Chang's family house number. The call went through and the guard immediately gave it to Hiro.
"Hiro? Whe're you?"
"I'm at your subdivision's gate. Did you already went to your place?" Hiro asked.
"Not yet but the van is heading outside. Just wait there we'll come pick you up." Maycee stated before hanging up.
Hiro returned the phone to the guard and waited. A black van stopped right in front of him and its door slid open revealing James and Chester. The tinted window to the passenger seat rolled down and Maycee smiled to Hiro and signaled him to hop in. Hiro quickly ran and jump inside before James could close the sliding door of the van. Hiro sat down in between James and Chester while Maycee sat on the passengers side.
Maycee's twin sisters who were three years younger than him and one older brother sat down behind them. There were another three unknown people sitting in the back where some of their belongings were placed. Maybe some servants?
"Where's your ride?" James asked as he leaned back on the seat.
"Nah... I wanted to just commute to have a better experience!" Hiro laughed.
"Oh really? I thought as a young master, you should be driven back and forth by your servants." Maycee teased.
Hiro fake a laugh. "Let's not talk about this anymore."
The rest of the gang erupt into laughters as Hiro heaved a tired sigh and decided to slump back down the seats. The ride to where the Chang's villa could be found took about four hours. The occupants of the van would either be asleep, could be heard talking to one another or could be eating.
Mayce smiled on his seat when he remembered that he had a camera with him. He quickly opened his bag and pulled his camera. Since James, Hiro and Chester were sleeping he took a nice photo of them which made Maycee laughed.
James had his head lean backwards, his mouth was wide open while sleeping soundly. Hiro had his arms crossed as his head slump down, his brown hair swaying from side to side with every turn and bump of the car. Chester was leaning on Hiro's shoulder, his mouth was also wide open while his eyes were half close, revealing the white part of his eyes.
Maycee took a bunch of photos without them knowing. His three sibling on the back were also asleep but their faces were covered with their blankets or pillows, realizing that Maycee is an evil papparazzi who took photos when they were sleeping. That was the reason why Maycee had always took the passengers seat, to make fun of them. His siblings had been one of the victims. A little while later, Maycee had also doze off to sleep.
--
Hiro woke up from the constant shaking of his body. His eyes slowly opened and his vision was greeted by Chesters face.
"Hey! Hey! Hey! Wake up! We're here!" Chester yelled which made Hiro frowned. His ears were hurting.
"Shut up Chester! You don't have to shout at me!" Hiro yelled back as he raised his fist. Chester quickly ran away with his belongings.
Hiro hopped out of the van and saw the house. It was big and has a huge balcony facing the sea. He quickly pulled out his own belongings out the van and entered the big rest house. Maycee followed in holding his trolley with him.
"Our rooms are upstairs. But if you want, we can sleep at the balcony!" Maycee chirped which made them beam excitedly.
The group of friends quickly ran upstairs to check the view. The second floor was basically a space for guest rooms and the best part was the huge balcony facing the view of the ocean which stretched through the horizon.
"Enjoy the view guys!" Maycee chirped as he pulled the glass sliding door to let the guys out to the balcony.
Like chickens released from its coops the three quickly went out running excitedly. When Hiro step his foot and the view greeted him, he felt like he was in a different world. His feet took him to the railings of the balcony overlooking the blue sea. The breeze was fresh and the sounds of waves splashing echoed through.
'This feeling- its familliar... yet so unfamilliar-'
Hiro's eyesight never left the view in front of him that when Maycee called out to him to have lunch, he didn't budge.
"Hey Hiro! Let's head down for lunch." Maycee called out and pulled at Hiro's shoulder but was startled when he saw tears streaming down from his eyes. "Dude, you're actually crying?"
With confusion etched on his face, Hiro touched his face and indeed! His cheeks were wet!? 'Why the fuck am I crying in the first place?' Hiro thought. "Oh, its nothing. The wind was too strong that it made my eyes hurt and started to water."
Maycee frowned. "Are you sure about that?"
Hiro quickly wipe off the tears from his face and smiled. "Yes! Let's go downstairs?" Maycee decided to just ignore it and pulled Hiro downstairs.
While watching the vast sea in front of him, Hiro couldn't help but get a feeling of familliarity surge deep inside of him. It felt like he had always been in this place but he couldn't guarentee it since he had never been into the beach more than once.
He has been into pools and lakes but being on the beach, he haven't had the opportunity. Maybe it was because of his amazement that made him cry or the extreme excitement? He was baffled in confusion because when he saw the scenery in front of him, faint and blurry memories like that of a dream started flashing in his mind. It felt like he had been here before with someone who really knows him... and it was breathtakingly beautiful.