Heads Above the Clouds

I woke up early that morning, the sun barely peeking over the horizon, determined to catch the first jeepney of the day. My heart raced with excitement, and I felt a sense of urgency that only a special mission could bring. Today was important. Today, I was going to buy Neal a necklace to thank him for everything he had done for me—the memories, the time, and the kindness he had shown. He deserved something meaningful, something that would show him how much I appreciated him.

Before heading to town, I thought carefully about the design. I imagined a necklace with a jadeite pendant, shaped like a cloud, symbolizing the lightness and warmth he brought into my life. I'd have his name carved into the jade, a personal touch that would make it even more special.

My first stop was a small jewelry shop just a few blocks from my house. The moment I walked in, I asked if they had jadeite and if they could customize a necklace for me. The shopkeeper shook his head. "We don't carry jadeite, and we don't do custom work," he said. I thanked him politely and left, my excitement starting to turn into frustration.

The second shop was only a short walk away, and I was hopeful that I'd have better luck. But when I asked the same questions, the answer was the same: no jadeite, no customization. I felt my energy slowly draining, but I refused to give up. I thanked them and continued on my journey.

By the time I reached the third shop, I was beginning to lose hope. This shop was a little further from the others, and as soon as I stepped inside, I asked the same questions. Again, no jadeite, no customization. The exhaustion began to weigh on me. I wanted to give up. My feet ached, and my spirits were low.

I found a quiet corner in the street, leaned against a wall, and slapped my cheeks lightly. "This is for Neal," I whispered to myself. "Don't give up." I had promised myself that I would find the perfect gift for him, and I wasn't about to stop now.

The entire day slipped by as I walked from one jewelry shop to another, each one telling me the same story. After 18 shops, I was ready to throw in the towel. My legs felt like jelly, and the frustration of not finding what I wanted had started to get to me. I couldn't even remember the last time I'd sat down for a break.

I stumbled into a fast-food restaurant to rest for a bit, hoping that a cold drink would revive me. As I sipped on my Coke, trying to collect my thoughts, I heard a familiar voice from behind me.

"Cirus, is that you?"

I turned around and saw Neal's mother, Aunti Gaizell, standing there with a warm smile. She looked as elegant as ever, her presence calming me immediately.

"Aunti Gaizell!" I said, my face lighting up. "Please, sit down."

She moved gracefully to the chair in front of me, and as she settled in, she looked at me with a concerned expression. "How are you and your mother?" she asked kindly.

"We're fine, thanks for asking," I replied, taking another sip of my drink to try to soothe my nerves.

Aunti Gaizell reached out and gently placed her hand over mine, her gaze softening. "I'm so sorry we couldn't be there to help when the accident happened," she said, her voice tinged with regret.

I looked at her for a moment, my thoughts drifting back to that terrifying day. "It's fine," I reassured her. "My mom and I were lucky. We weren't hurt."

Her eyes softened with understanding, and she let go of my hand. After a pause, she asked why I was out and about today. I told her about my search for a jadeite necklace as a gift for someone special. She thought for a moment before offering a suggestion. "I know a jewelry shop that might help," she said. "It's a bit hidden, though. I'm sure you haven't passed by it yet."

Relief washed over me. I thanked her profusely and made my way to the shop she recommended.

When I walked into the new jewelry shop, I felt a wave of hope. The place was much more expansive than the others, and there were far more gems displayed in glass cases. My eyes immediately scanned the rows, and I could see it: beautiful jadeite stones in various shades of green, all glowing with natural brilliance. My heart leaped in my chest.

I approached the counter, asking if they could customize a necklace, and, to my joy, they said yes. Not only could they customize, but they also had jadeite. It felt like everything was finally falling into place. I described the design I had in mind: a cloud-shaped pendant with Neal's name carved into the jadeite. The shopkeeper nodded and assured me that it would be ready the next morning. I could barely contain my excitement as I thanked them and left, knowing that the perfect gift was finally within reach.

But the day wasn't over yet. I still needed a box to put the necklace in. I spent the rest of the afternoon searching for a beautiful box that would do justice to the gift inside. It was exhausting, but worth every moment. When I finally returned home, I was tired, my feet sore, but the excitement was enough to keep me awake.

The next morning, though still exhausted, I made my way to the shop to pick up the necklace. When I saw it, my breath caught in my throat. The jadeite pendant was even more beautiful than I had imagined. The green color was rich and vibrant, and the craftsmanship was flawless. I was thrilled with the result. It was perfect for Neal.

As I waited for a jeepney to take me home, I heard an old man shouting on the corner, ranting about the end of the world. I glanced at him, his wild words barely registering in my mind. I had too much on my mind to pay attention to such things.

When I got home, I immediately began wrapping the necklace, preparing it for the moment I would give it to Neal. As I finished, my phone buzzed with a message from him. He had planned for us to go out on Saturday, and I agreed. This would be the perfect opportunity to give him the gift I had worked so hard to get.

The week passed by quickly, and before I knew it, Saturday arrived. Neal had planned a meal of samgyupsal, and after eating, I was going to give him the necklace. We strolled through the shopping district, window shopping and chatting. As we walked, I felt the ground tremble beneath me, a low rumble that made the air feel heavy.

People around us started shouting, some running in panic, while others froze, unsure of what to do. The ground seemed to shift under my feet, and I felt a sudden jolt, as if the earth itself was breaking apart. My heart pounded in my chest as I grabbed onto Neal's arm, fear surging through me. The noise of the panic around us grew louder, and all I could do was hold on to Neal, hoping that everything would be okay.