Elle woke up as early as three o' clock in the morning, even she slept for just two and a half hours. No drowsiness could beat her excitement for their family weekend getaway.
Three days before this awaited day, she had been choosing the right clothes to wear—swimming clothes, sleeping clothes, travel clothes, and extra ones. She made sure her kit did not miss anything: Sunblock, lotion, bath essentials, face powder, some chapstick, a hair brush, and her favorite brand of aloe vera moisturizer that she got from Watson's.
Good thing she has a waterproof case as a freebie when she bought her phone. Today, it will come handy. To add more fun, she even prepared a summer-themed playlist on Spotify to really get the vibes when they are traveling.
All of the family members were really busy the day before. Mother bought lots of foods to cook in the cottage, father was assigned for van rental, along with a driver. The three of them children helped mother in preparing the foods to eat.
A lot of delicious foods are to be served later. From fish stuffed with delicious seasonings and flavored ingredients to be grilled; fried eggplants with seasoned soy sauce as its partner; sandwiches; delicious pork and chicken adobo; and of course, lumpiang shanghai. For drinks and refreshments, they settled with a gallon of water, and two liters of soft drinks.
The sun rays had eventually reached out to their home windows, alerting them that it's already 7 a.m. They were all busy preparing that they did not notice the time. They all took a bath and changed into summer getaway clothes.
Elle has deleted lots of old pictures the night before, as well. She can't afford to not capture every moment to the awaited day just because of a limited storage problem. She really prepared for this.
When they finally finished preparation, father called the driver to bring them to the location.
All of them found the seats they're comfortable at; Elle chose one that's right beside the window. As planned, she got her fully-charged cellphone, her earphone, opened her Spotify, and blasted the playlist she created last night.
It's the day. Today is really the day. Elle couldn't stop smiling while letting her eyes indulge in the sight outside. She wasn't thinking about anything else right now, except today's family outing. She had been looking forward to it for more than a year already—she couldn't come with last year's family getaway because she had some summer class.
She waited for another summer to finally enjoy it with her family, and it is happening today. How thrilling.
The scenery's getting more beautiful as they get further. Buildings and establishments were eventually being replaced by humble houses, trees, lots of trees, some sort of an unexplored forest? Or mountains that are so beautiful to look at. Elle could have taken lots of good pictures only if the van weren't moving.
She opened a bit of the window and savored the freshness of the air that gets colder as they move and move. Two hours into the trip and sightseeing, Elle later slept while daydreaming.
Her younger brother woke her up to tell that they have arrived at their destination. Elle, though half awake, lifted her head up, and tried to adjust with the bright surroundings.
A few seconds after, she looked over the window once again, and, from there, Elle saw a good view of the sea from a few kilometers aways. It's somehow like a big, blue blanket scattered flat on to some floor, and it magically sparkles with every ray of the sun that shines on it.
Elle's eyes lightened up with the breath-taking sight, and her lips instantly formed into a smile. She couldn't wait to finally get a touch of the sea water, and take some good photos.
How beautiful nature is! Thank you, Lord, for such a wonderful creation. Elle whispered. The sea gave her a calming feeling, as if it's calling to her:
Come here, and feel my soothing embrace.
The white, fine sand here are waiting for you to come in contact with.
Savor the beauty of sunset and sunrise while sitting on the seashore, your delicate feet playing with the water a bit.
You can bring some coconut drink and watch how the sun goes down and color the sky a dark orangey red hue.
As if she was dreaming, Elle got her phone from her pocket and took her very first picture in this place. That smile has never left her face until they got into their reserved cottage.
All of them prepared all the foods on the table. Some already changed into swimming clothes, others secured their belongings, one even looked for electricity outlet.
The seashore is full of people enjoying their own planned trip. Others brought life vests, and salbabida. Elle heard lots of laughters, loud and happy conversations, some others having a karaoke in the designated area.
Elle took a lot of pictures of her and of her family. Her older sister was her hired photographer that day.
Elle actually finds herself weird. She poses for her pictures but she's always shy to post them on social media. You see, Elle isn't a really confident person yet. But she's working on it everyday.
They were all surely hungry, so they ate lunch before swimming afterwards. Everyone had a really good time. They took lots of pictures together, had some fun swimming battles, or mini-games, and spent quality time together.
Elle always wants days like these. Where they just enjoy every second of the day without worrying about anything. They got to smile a lot that day, and savored every moment, as if only five of them are in the beach.
There was a nearby Halo-Halo stall where Elle bought five of those and gave each of them as her personal treats. They were all refreshed as ever.
Like how it normally happens, mother and father were the first ones to leave the water and come back to take care of the cottage.
Elle felt a little sleepy so she followed her parents. She washed herself and changed into dry clothes, after mom and dad. Then, she found a comfortable place to take a power nap. Her siblings enjoyed the sea water longer, and eventually got tired too, so they also returned to the cottage when it's started to get dark.
Elle woke up at the best time, when darkness and brightness started to switch places. The sky was starting to get painted with vibrant shades of red and orange, and the sea side is slowly getting empty because majority of the people are getting back to their respective cottages.
After getting permission, she quickly prepared some hot chocolate, got her cellphone, brought her jacket, and walked into the shore.
Since the sea is just right there, it started to get cold when the night came. Elle found a comfortable place to sit on and she sipped some choco drink from her cup. She flattened some sand surface and placed the unfinished choco drink on there.
This is the moment she's been waiting for: watching the sunset. Only she knows how many pictures she has taken that day. Every angle just looked so beautiful. Every single minute felt right for Elle. There, she felt one of the most soothing comfort she could ever have. The comfort and coziness this situation brought her would surely stay in her heart for life.
How lucky is the sky to sea such a majestic view everyday. How the clear sea mirrors the colors of it every time. Elle was fascinated by the red color reflected on the sea, she couldn't hide her smile because she's really felt the comfort she never expected to have.
Along with a calm melody, she hummed into a song titled "Nap of a Star" by TXT. It set the overall sentimental mood and unconsciously made her remember some childhood memories she never realized she has almost forgotten.
Another beautiful song played next on shuffle and Elle just let her head move into the melody of the song, feeling every bit of it.
Mother called Elle for dinner. By that time, it's already dark, if not for the light posts that are surrounding the beach premises. The light from the posts does not overdo it, anyway, as the moonbeam still shined better than it. It was a really pitch black sky decorated with countless stars blinking and winking at her. Dang, it is just so beautiful, Elle thought.
That day is pretty much done, so three of them are actually sleeping already. The two ones left are Elle, and her older sister. Elle organized some of their bags for better space om the next day; the latter washed the dishes.
It has been a long, and eventful day. That night, Elle spent the next few hours deleting and editing the photos she had taken. Another bunch of beautiful memories imprinted on my heart, she softly mouthed.
Later, all of them was already in deep slumber. The singing of the crickets, the sound of the waves, and the hymn of the blowing winds served as their lullaby for the night.
For the first time in a long time, they heard no car engines roaring, nor vehicle horns singing. There is very little to no pollution, and above all, there is no city hustle. In there, it's as if their busy worlds seemed to freeze for a short while, letting them have a taste of what rest feels like. Everyone's thankful for it.
A subtle sounding alarm rang throughout the family cottage, buy quite loud enough to wake all five of them. It was a few minutes before six in the morning, and the view outside is yet another perfect atmosphere for a new photoshoot.
The family had a hearty breakfast and made some re-organization of their belongings again, before going to the sea. They only have until 2 p.m., so they promised to have a great time before they come back home.
Elle never forgot to take pictures as she also lingered in the moment. The photos look really good, especially when it captured the smiles of the people she truly loves and cherish in her heart. Her solo pictures look great, too. Her older sis did a good job.
When they all knew it was time, each of them came out of the sea one by one, took turns to wash themselves and change into their dry, extra clothes, and ate together for lunch.
While mother and father were doing the final touches on their belongings' re-organizing, Elle strolled a bit beside the sea to collect some empty sea shells.
All the sizes, colors, and patterns fascinated Elle to a great extent. She has picked quite a lot of them and quickly placed them into her bag. Those were probably the souvenirs she would take home.
Their contract driver finally arrived so they were good to go.
Elle made sure to have one last look at the sea even from a distance. Actually, she never get her eyes off this blue, glittering blanket, until it eventually vanished out of her sight. She felt a bit sad, but thankful for the beautiful memory. She ain't sure when she can visit this again, bit she'll surely think of this place from time to time.
Hello there!
Thanks for coming by. Did this simple summer get away story make you happy? Or do you want this to happen too?
Well, it is just my dream summer day, that is, still in my dream, until now. It's a summer outing I really looked forward too, but COVID-19 is here, right?
I can't release my frustration so I just had to let it all out here. Where I can make my self seem to experience this dream summer vacation.
How is your summer so far?
Come start writing and earning here, if you haven't yet!
I am also active on noise.cash. Same username, let me know and let's talk there!
To God be all the glory.
Until Next Time!
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Oooooooh. The beach. I can hear it calling my name. Lying on a towel laid on the sand with an ice box filled with beers and sodas on the side.. aaaahhhh.