The daytime sun was hiding once more. Red-orange specs of the gods were once again visible on the shore. The jagged rocks seemed to have shiny blades, anticipating anyone to be lured at the nighttime. They were fighting with the waves. “They are thirsty with blood” she mummed, not knowing where those words came from or what she meant by that. It was indeed a wonderful scene to behold. The day was over. In no time, the midnight sun will reign and darkness will force the neighbor to light their shanties on a routinely way, almost synchronized. But not for Leila.

The day was just starting, at least for her mind to absorb things of the daytime. Each day passed with an unidentifiable fusion of anxiety and excitement. June was almost near and what she wished to God can almost be held.

She will go to the land of the wealthy and strong and beautiful race. She will learn and graduate and have a job afterwards. She will soon rise from poverty and her family as well. She was not happy, yet excited with the life awaiting her in the city. She will leave her love behind.

“Tito, where have you been the whole day?” she asked him as they met on the way up to the hill of their house. Silence roars with the wind. She longed for his answer though she knew where he had been. He was only 16, barely a year younger than her. Dark, lanky and tall with a prominent nose. Their mother thought Tito was the son of the sea muse for he looked so different. He was good looking, yes.

His eyes were pensive when he looked back at her. “Don’t tell them, or I will tell yours.” Then there was the deafening silence once more. Until the midnight sun completed its notorious shape, they did not talk. They were the mutes of the night every night that Leila got used to.

The daytime sun was rising again in Daya’s kingdom. He was the god of the East. She sat on the sand a few meters from the estuary. Stooping at floating woods and cooking their food for the whole day in the morning became her job since upon finishing high school. “I will return to see you” she thought, staring at the sailing silhouettes of the banka on her left.