Of Love, Signs and Logic (Completed)

Prologue

Meng wants to wax poetic about the scene but she can only spell A.W.K.W.A.R.D at the deafening silence. 'Guwapo sana yung kaharap ko pero mukha namang mas gustong mapanis ang laway kesa magsalita. Akalain mo, one word in five minutes?'

Ang ganda pa naman dito - pang movie ang peg! Imagine this... Campsite on top of a mountain on a clear starry night. In fact, she has never seen so many stars in her entire life.

And the setup - a director's dream. She's now sitting on a log by the camp fire, her skin caressed by the cool night breeze, her ears occasionally serenaded by the sound of crickets, and the gentle sound and sway of the leaves of the trees. Okay tama na Meng, huwag masyadong padala.

Haaay! Kasi naman, it's a scene straight out of a romance novel. Tapos panira ng moment itong kolokoy na to, walang kuwentang kausap! Asan na yung bedimpled smile that I spied earlier at the cafe in Batangas? May nangyari bang switch na di ko alam?

I'm trying to make peace for God's sake! Pa'no ko mag-aapologize? Pero Meng, kaya mo 'yan. Hindi ka nga niya kilala but remember that you're still the celebrity chef oozing with charm. Okay, Meng, one more try at breaking the ice, put on your sweetest smile, there, more pa, there, perfect! (clears throat)...'game!'

"Uhm, thank you nga pala na pumayag ka na sumama kami ni Kuya Poch sa inyo". Meng ventured out to break the silence again.

"Not me, botohan, talo ako, 2-1" was the short response.

Oh my God! Oh my God! She can die right now, seven words..... "So, it's Kuya Jose and Kuya Wally that we have to thank?"

No answer.

Inhale, exhale, relax, huwag patulan. One more time Meng. "Look, we obviously started on the wrong foot. Let me introduce myself again, I'm Meng, or Menggay if you want. And you are?"

"RJ"

"Heard that already. RJ as in? I mean, what does RJ stands for?"

"RJ as in RJ. Just like you're Meng or Menggay or whatever your real name is. No surname, no background info. Nothing!"

Tama bang magtaas siya ng boses?  Kanina pa high blood to'ng mamang 'to, di kaya to ma-stroke?

"Teka lang, high blood ka agad kuya! Ilang beses ba naming sasabihin sa 'yo na wala kaming criminal record sa NBI, FBI, CIS, PNP, Camp Crame, or Camp Aguinaldo. Hindi kami drug user at lalong hindi drug pusher kaya hindi kami wanted sa police or sa army. Wala kaming tinatakbuhang krimen."

"Creditor, loan shark?"

"Excuse me ha, wala kaming tinatakbuhang utang."

"Magulang?"

"Hindi ako naglayas. Sinong maglalayas na isasama pa ang pinsan?"

"Employer? Boss? I don't believe you're still a student."

"Tama ka, I'm not a student. But I definitely did not run away from my job - I'm on a much needed break" Meng replied defiantly.

"Boyfriend?"

"NBSB." Shocks Meng, anong sinabi mo? "Look here, just where are you going with your questions?"

RJ ignored her question. "NBSB as in No Boyfriend Since Birth?" with matching smirk.

"Hindi! NBSB short for National Bookstore Savings Bank. Forget I said it, okay? Look, all I'm asking for is help me have one week of peace and quiet."

"Peace and Quiet? Puwes miss, hindi po ito ang peace and quiet na hinahanap mo. Kung ako ang nasunod kanina, nakabalik na kayo sa bayan o di kaya nasa Ranger Station pa rin kayo ngayon sa baba ng bundok, natutulog, at naghihintay ng umaga. Doon, siguradong may maghahatid sa inyo kung saan man kayo nanggaling. This is not a place for a girl like you!"

"A girl like me? Just what exactly do you mean by that, mister?" Girl, tapos kung makatawag ka ng 'miss', wagas! That's contradictory in terms if you ask me.

"Yung halatang hindi sanay sa hirap! For your information miss, these are the mountains of Occidental Mindoro. No fine dining, not even fastfood, no malls, not even convenience stores, no restrooms, no washing machines, no oven, no aircon, not even electric fan. In short back to basic. This trip is difficult as it is and the last thing I want ay dagdag na alalahanin. You don't even know us for God's sake! Pano kung kami pala ang criminals?"

"Are you?"

"What?!"

"Criminals?"

"Alam mo, you're just proving that common sense is not common after all. Why did I even bother talking to you? "

"Para huwag mapanis laway mo?" she offered innocently as an explanation. She peeked at him. If looks could kill, I'd be dead by now. Strike two Meng!

"Look! Like I said, I'm Meng or Menggay, call me whatever suits you. Paolo or Kuya Poch is my cousin. You already saw his surname from his ID but sorry we cannot reveal more than that. And we have our reasons, a very valid reason. Just let us stay please? One week. I promise to keep out of your way. We'll carry our own weight. Tutulong kami with whatever you're doing. Hindi kami magiging pabigat."

"Like I also said, miss, no choice na ako, talo ako sa botohan. Andito na kayo! Wala na kong magagawa. But I'm telling you that this is my trip, my plan, so you follow my rules! We leave camp at 7am tomorrow. Sharp!"

"Yes, sir! Loud and clear sir!" she exclaimed with matching salute.

Antipatiko! Forcing a smile on her face, Meng felt she need to have the last say. "Last question. Wake up call, wala ba dito?" Double dead from dagger look number three.

"Okay, fine! Sabi ko nga matutulog na ko eh. Salamat ulit. Goodnight. Sweet dreams!" Papakin ka sana ng lamok!

She stood up, head held high and began walking towards her tent.

Unknown to Meng, RJ watched her as she made her way to the tent while muttering to himself with a heavy sigh 'It's going to be nightmare and not sweet dreams. God! What did I do to deserve this?'

Only when she securely zipped the tent closed did he return his gaze to the blazing fire in front of him, feeling the sudden warmth engulfed him. A feeling that has escaped him for a long long time.

(A/N: Bakit ito agad ang eksena? Bakit nasa bundok at bakit nag-aaway sila agad? Bakit kailangang mag-apologize at bakit masungit yung isa? Bakit ako nandito? Ano ang nasa dako pa roon, bunga ng malikot na imahinasyon? Para masagot ang ating mga tanong, bumalik tayo sa nakakaraan, mga 2 linggo lang naman babalikan natin, maikli lang.)