Sorry for the long wait, this is a raw version. Enjoy reading! without further ado--I give you chapter 13 to be dedicated to dandelion_16.
THIRTEEN (Day 2)
Charles opened the door for me. The bell boy followed behind us with our bags. It was a modest triple bedroom with one huge bed and a small one. “Thank you,” he said to the bell boy as he took our things from him “Here’s your tip,” he called, handing the younger man a hundred peso bill.
“Is there anything you need sir?” asked the boy.
Charles had declined the offer. And we were left alone to our own devices. First things first—who gets to sleep on either bed? I, of, course voted myself over the bigger one. He was supposed to be the gentleman—paying for this and all—and still he deserved the smaller bed. At least in my opinion, which he seemed to share since he took the smaller one. We had a little window that showed mostly nothing because we were situated in the front row of the rented rooms. Our number was 204. Taking my shoes off, I positioned his and mine next to the door. Then, we started unpacking some change of clothes from our bags. There wasn’t any time to plan this sudden trip, so we only carried one bag each. Light traveling as anyone would say.
I tested the fluffiness of the bed, and pillows. For a moment, my eyes glimmered like stars. Though, we naturally had bigger rooms in our own homes. Everything on the bed seemed cozy and soft. Charles looked to me then, wagging his eyebrows “We should share a bed,” he said.
I threw a pillow right to his face, “You wish…” I resumed my unpacking “I ain’t sleeping anywhere near you.”
“We can arrange that…” he said and moved his bed closer to mine “There, you see, it now looks like one really, really huge bed.”
“Ah, huh,” I raised a brow at him “Better move yours back where it belongs.”
“Ouch, that was cruel.”
“That’s just the way it has to be.”
He flipped over our tiny brochure and pointed to tourist spots in it. “Where do you go first?” he asked but it really didn’t bother me what we saw first. Noticing my lack of interest and participation—he opted for echo valley which was only a few miles from the town. “We could go see it this afternoon.”
“Yes,” I agreed “The earlier, the better—that’s a hike toward a smooth mountain.”
“Do you want me to get a guide?”
I raised a brow at him, “Afraid we’ll get lost? Do we need one?”
He laughed, “I think I can manage getting us there and back alive.”
“I must warn you though,” I began with my legs crossed on my bed “I haven’t climbed in a while.”
He came over to my bed uninvited, “That makes it much more interesting, adventurous and dangerous.”
“You so want us to get lost.”
He made a show of sprawling his whole body over my side of the bed, “Relax Ella,” he soothed with a hand over my shoulder “I shall get you through the route without any hassles.”
“What if I get asthma?”
“Hmm,” He seemed to think about that for a while “I’ll give you a piggy back right then.”
I shook my head and laughed at the tall man on my bed. “Alright, up you go,” I told him as I motioned him to get ready so we could leave immediately. The wooden furnishings looked nice and cozy in dimmed lights with dark green blankets overlapping the white sheets of the bed. It was sort of slippery too. So I rather walked bare-footed than with slippers. Charles seemed to like the notion too. Somehow feeling like Japanese tourists in our own country. He changed in the bathroom first. He came out wearing faded pair of jeans and a plain v-necked white shirt. How could he still look good in that? The carpenters on buildings or construction workers didn’t look a fraction as good as him. Something must be terribly wrong with this picture. Must be photo-shopped or something.
“How long are you going to stay in there?” he called from outside the bathroom “I might have to come bring down the door and help you,” he snickered, proud of himself.
“Not in your life,” I reminded him and opening the door a bit, “And only if my number one archenemy—the roach makes a sudden appearance.”
“I cannot believe you still aren’t over your fear of roaches.”
“Better believe it.” I shouted from inside the small bathroom “Remember the time when you were dj-ing in school—and I randomly picked out a CD."
“You really had to pick out Papa Roach, well, go figure,” he called from outside on his bed “It definitely sported the largest picture that could fit in its case.”
“Charles! Stop it!” my voice failing to hide the tremor in it “You know I cannot stand even the thought of it.”
“Who knows?” he joked “I might even catch you one tonight.”
I enlarged my eyes at him with my hands on my hips. “Don’t you dare, Mr. Sytengco or you’ll regret it forever. You will die!”
“Oh!” he said raising his arms “I fear for my life. Barely am making it out with you standing there,” he couldn’t hold his laughter in. So I crossed the room, and shut the door at his face. The tour in town was nothing different than my experiences in Batangas, Cebu or Palawan. They were very provisional—clean air, modest houses in the neighborhood. Restaurants with “lutong bahay” meals in low prices, the place filled with green everywhere. Trees and the rice terraces were a spectacular view and that wasn’t even half of what we’d see in the Echo Valley. We passed by markets wet and dry—and souvenir shops lined up against each other, competing for sales and customers.
When we finally got tired of walking, we decided to ride a tricycle. Now the last time I’ve ever ridden these babies—was in College on my way to UST. I sat in the inner left side with Charles beside me, his long legs barely fitting inside. He couldn’t stretch them even if he tried. Afterwards, we took a bus with open-air for ventilation. No air-conditioner, this is definitely a shock and a first. The bus drove along the almost zigzag, meandering road of Halsema Highway. It would have been a perfect trip for sight-seeing but the valleys were shrouded in mist. As soon as we got off, we made our way to the Sagada Cooperative Stone from the church and the graveyard behind it. Then we went uphill through the cave and followed the stream to the right. Hanging coffins suspended at the side of the mountain was a surreal—unusual sight. But the best part—was in finding our own way amidst the steep trail high up the cliff till we found the falls. Now that was the highlight of our hike. The cascading water against the rocky formation was truly breathtaking and exhilarating.
“Ella, are you ready to do something crazy?” Charles asked with a dreamy look on his face.
“I’d hate to ask what this might be about.”
He pointed toward the far drop from above the cliff. “We’re going to jump!” he announced with all the excitement of a child.
“Oh…” was all I could say. I hoped I’ve masked enough of my fear. I’ve dreaded cliff diving, scuba diving, surfing and other water-related activities.
When the silence ensued—he turned to me, “You aren’t getting cold feet, now, are you?”
I looked right into his eyes, “I can’t swim. I’ll drown.”
“But I can,” he said confidently as he got down on one knee “Climb up aboard.”
“What is this?” I protested “A piggyback ride, what do you think I am—five years old?”
“Well, you sure weigh like one.” He glanced at me and tipped his head back to the front “Time to take the joyride Ella.”
“Charles,” I said, dizzy with nervousness and adventure “Here goes…”
His arms secured my bare legs as he stood up with me on his back. “So, are you ready?” he says as a form of pep-talk.
“Why are we doing this again?”
“Because we’re living for the moment and turning into daredevils.” He hooked me higher into his arms “Hold on tight…”
I bit my lip and closed my eyes. My arms wrapped around his neck so tight, I’d expect him to complain of suffocation. But he didn’t. He simply held my wrist and said, “Everything will be alright, I got you…ready?” he counted “1…2…3…”
As he jumped into the immense height, I screamed. And screamed like hell I did. As if it was the last thing I could ever do on this earth. The rush of wind whipped hard and fast unto my face. My fair flew in all directions and my soul departed from my body. “Shout, Ella,” he told me “It makes the experience more worthwhile.”
“Charles! I so hate you!” as my eyes beheld the crashing drop into clear water. I felt my body tense. And Charles gripped my legs tighter and brazed our impending fall. There was only this one time when I rode an elevator-drop ride similar to this sensation in Universal Studios. And that was inside a ride, this was—oh my god! All of us exposed out in the open-air, screaming and experiencing the fury of wind. Gravity pulled us hard into its core. I remember closing my eyes every now and then, the touch of wind almost painful as a cut. But Charles seemed to be enjoying himself. He truly was having fun! What kind of satisfaction did he get out of this thrilling experience? We plunged deep into the water before I knew it. For a moment, a sense of drowning filled my senses. I was getting dizzy. But then, Charles lifted me by the waist above the water. He looked up at me. As I looked down on him, our foreheads almost touching, “How was that for your first cliff diving?”
My words died in my throat, “I…” his eyes were distracting me “…It, could have been better…”
Like dead weight, he placed me lower unto his shoulders and kept my head up-float, “I told you, you won’t drown…”
My response to that was to cling harder onto him, “I’ve never done anything like this,” I wanted to curse him for all it was worth. But it truly was one of the best experiences I could never forget. “But…thank you,” I whispered “It’s something I’d keep with me for a long time.”
“Forever is a long time Ella…”
“Who says it will be forever?”
“Well,” he said with a handsome smile “The way that you said it…if I have caused you pain, it wasn’t my intent…I merely wanted to show you the finer things in life.”
“And jumping down a cliff is one of that?”
“Naturally,” he agreed as he held my narrow waist once more, then, placed me on the rock. “There now you see; that wasn’t so bad.”
He took off his shirt and swam across the clean, transparent stream. Flexing his shoulder muscles and exposing the collarbone of his solid chest. Wow! Now, there’s something I don’t get to see every day. Normally, I’d look away. But not right now. I’m basking in the feel of admiring such perfectly sculpted abdominal muscles and biceps. Dang! I couldn’t take my eyes off him. So much for avoiding male actors with Adonis-like bodies—currently, there’s a local version of him in front of me. Of course, when he came up for air and sat up next to me. I didn’t glance his way, not even once.
I merely looked at the water falls. The beautiful falls that shimmered in the afternoon sunlight. Its blinking light hurt my eyes for a moment. Then, it was if I saw something that wasn’t there. When I looked at my reflection in the water, it was the boy’s face I saw. That same boy…who…walked up to me in the museum…but…in this…particular vision or memory…he was next to me. And handed out a…what was it? How could I not remember? There were waves there too, the sound of raging water against shore. Stones of different sizes rough against my back, and the sound of his voice…
The boy called to me in that familiar voice. Where have I heard it recently? His bare feet splintered on the sharp rocks and shells across the white sand. Then, a loud splash, he…jumped into the water…and…
“Ella!” Charles’ voice snapped me back into reality “Where are you?”
I’d fallen into the water. I must have lost my senses completely. If only for a split second, I’ve glimpsed something in the far corners of my mind. Charles swam toward me. Taking me into his arms and lifting my head above the water. “What’s gotten into you?” he was angry now. But I couldn’t care about him or anything at the moment. I’ve seen the boy in the museum, more than once. That much I was now certain off. But, where and why I’ve seen him is a blank sheet of paper. I’d have to look back into that. There’s something I can’t quite grasp. “Take me to the falls, Charles,” I said suddenly “I’d like to take a closer look at it…”
“Alright, if you say so,” he shrugged and pulled me closer to him.
He was panting a bit by the time we got there. He must have been tired carrying me in one hand and swimming with the other. We were directly beneath the falls. And the water washed down my face and he looked even better in it. Pushing his hair back as the water run down across his hair, brow, face, chin, neck and the invisible line his collarbone to his chest. This was like the unadulterated, sexy film of two adventurers lost in the sahara. I must look away. I would never hear the end of it, if he caught me staring at him, or his muscles or his…whatever, manly perfection. So I looked up. Instead of seeing the sun---that could temporarily blind my eyes. His smile in the pouring rain, reaching out a hand to me…when, “Ella,” called Charles in a worried voice “Are you with me?”
“Yeah,” I lied “Of course I am…"
“Didn’t seem like it,” his voice sounded hurt “Follow me inside,” he gestured me with his finger “There’s another totally amazing cave in here…”
“Charles,” I tugged at his shirt “We could get lost…”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” he asked “This is the best time to explore the unknown and this isn’t included in the tours or brochures.”
“My point exactly,” I entered along with him despite my doubts “We may never get out…you know?”
“At least we’re together,” he replied as he held my hand. “Let’s go inside…”
The cave of wonders it would seem. The splendor of yellowish, cavity-like quality of the stalactites and stalagmites was astounding. Glimmering with the reflection of water beneath it, sparkles abound everywhere. And there were paths of narrow land to walk on. Their larvae-like composition with rings and rings on top of each other—was really something to touch. Their patterns lingered in my hands, smooth, rough, clammy and hard. Name it, it’s got it all. What about those little embedded stones in there—could it possibly be gems? Or at least something close to give off the same beauty, a prism of sorts if you will.
“Cinderella,” Charles called to me for the third time I’ve spaced out “Race you?” he pointed down toward the narrow paths of land around the black waters. Which I suspect was more of lack of sunlight inside than its being clean or dirty.
I rolled up my sleeves and pulled down my shorts. “You’re on."
“Rules are there are no rules. Winner is the one who finishes first.”
“Whatever path we choose, as long as one of us gets there first, got it!”
He took out his charmed pendant. The one his German grandmother had given to him, “Remember Ella, this little pendant tells accurate seconds from the time it moves back and forth.”
“Yes, that’s your lucky charm.” I bent my knees slightly. He ain’t winning this re-match even if it kills me “On your mark, ready get set…”
He yelled “Go!”
The path in the cave was winding and never the same. At times it was very narrow our bodies could be touching at each other’s arms. Then, other times—it was so vast, and so far apart—we had to look at each other’s side or peripheral vision to make certain the other was still there. It was as if the cave was enchanted in itself. “Five minutes each, Ella,” said Charles from his end of the line.
“Run, run Charles…” I told him. As I speeded up through the little piece of land and jumping off the parts I deemed slippery or dangerous enough to break.
“NO LEAPING!” he yelled “You never play fair!”
“Ahahaha,” I laughed at him ‘This is a race Charles…rules are no rules right?”
So he sprinted faster than I thought he ever could. Keeping our time of a pendant, swinging freely out from his fingers, there was a really wide pass in his part of the land. “Cinderella,” he hollered “Watch this!"
“Charles you’re going to fall!
But the man only leaped through it like it was only a few steps away. I looked at him dumfounded. How in the world does he manage those stunts? Was he an action star or a double for it? Damn! The man could run and jump as if he was a jungle boy or something. I wouldn’t be so surprised to see him swing from vine-to-vine in the near future. With the rate he’s going, I’d probably end up losing again—twice in a row. We each took on the next elevated mass and had to bend our heads down for the stalactites above came to close to our heads. I got more leverage in this part of the cave since I was smaller. And Charles well, he stood at least six feet, so I imagined it wasn’t going so easy for him. Then, we came to a conclave of pure white sand, surrounding the deepest, most beautiful body of water. Caught in between the pieces of land that we were standing and running on, Charles made a show of slipping and suddenly disappeared into the water.
“Charles!” I called “It’s not funny! I won’t go in there and save you,” when he didn’t show up after a few minutes, I began to panic “I mean it! You know I can’t swim!
Silence…still no answer...
“Charles…?” I was seriously considering jumping after him “Charles?”
When he didn’t answer, I neared the water and tried to think of a plan. Just as his hands cupped my face and pulled me down suddenly by the shoulders as I shrieked, “Damn you Charles!"
“He he” he was laughing. Thoroughly enjoying my predicament and the worry etched on my face “You should have seen your face."
“I should have let you drowned.”
“You don’t really mean that,” he took both my hands and led me to a shallow part of it where my feet actually touched the bottom “See,” he continued “No danger here and if you look there—you’ll see the opening of the cave. It’s our way out."
“Thanks genius,” I muttered “I could have deduced that on my own.”
He didn’t answer.
“Charles?” I asked “Something the matter?”
His hands found my face again. And standing up to his full height, he towered over me. Lowering himself as he moved to close the space between us. My lips trembled. But I couldn’t go through with it. My finger restrained his lips. “Not now…” I smiled and shook my head “Ok, not yet…”
He merely brushed his hair back. And blew a breath, “Alright Ella, no pressure…” he said “I’m not making any advances on you…I just really felt like it…like honestly felt it…"
“I know,” I told him, not judging him “I could feel it too.”
In the open space, the sun was now setting. The sky’s red-orange color spread over the horizon. The feel of fresh evening breeze softly and slowly wafted into our noses. It was time to head back to our lodging. Charles did something outrageous and equally adventurous. He got a sufficient piece of log and made us ride in it. “You game?” he asked.
“What is this? Some sort of canoe?” I joked.
“I figured we ought to save some time with this.” He pushed the log and rode behind me, putting his waist around me.
“Ahhhh!!!!” another rush of thrill and petrifying stunts courtesy of my partner “Have you no mercy?” I screamed in the thrill of the moment.
“Hehe,” he laughed by way of answering “I’m sure you love every bit of it dear.”
The log bounced, jumped, skidded and fell down and down the long expanse of the slippery, muddy trail. At times, my hands came to cover my eyes. But he removed them from behind “The only way to overcome your fear is to face it."
“What if we crash into our deaths?"
“Then at least we have lived it out the best way we can,” he chuckled “And no, I’m pretty sure we won’t die.”
Some time soon, it began to move faster and faster and it felt good. The adrenaline was like riding a roller coaster—not that I enjoyed that but somehow it was bearable. It also reminded me of racing that feel in Miami as we drifted and speeded our way through laps. We were sliding into the side of the echo valley in style and dirt. By the time we reached the final stop—we were covered in muck and grime. And we painted each other’s faces with it.
“You look so dirty Ella,” he mused.
“I could same the same about you, Charles.”
We maximized our exercise into its full potential, running along the busy streets of the town proper and back to our lodging. We had a little picnic on the floor. Both on us sprawled on the cold wooden varnish with our legs up in the air. We used plastic for our hands since we’ve only washed them but not our bodies. And ate like the traditional “kinakamay” Filipino way. It was fun. And the grease of longganisa and hard-boiled egg spilled through the plastic. Still, it was delicious and the rice and fruits as well. The usual Indian mangoes and raw tomatoes were included. After eating, we cleaned up our mess and I entered the bathroom to bathe first.
“Don’t take too long,” he said. “The mud’s really starting to stick and stink.”
I opened the shower and took of my shirt and shorts. Leaving only my underwear on, when a roach appeared. I half tripped and fell. I moved back on the wall and tried to call for Charles. “Charles! Charles! Charles!” I was crying now “Help!”
“What!” Why?” he called from outside.
“There’s a roach…” I didn’t want it to fly towards me. But to my misfortune, there were two more coming out of the bowl. “Charles…please…”
“Could you at least open the door?” his voice was now laced with worry.
“No…I can’t” I had cried then. With my hands to my face, I tried to overcome my fear of the creepy insect many years ago. As a child, I wasn’t afraid of it. But when it came back to life after my initial beating it with a broom—it chased me senseless and the maids only laughed at me. I couldn’t, ever, ever get over it since then.
I heard Charles turning the knob every now and then. I think he kicked at it. The door was poorly fastened against the hinges. And I think Charles could break it. I was screaming like crazy by now as I ran out of places to escape from these things. And when they started flying out of fear of me as well, I tripped onto the barely noticeable elevated portion and broke my ankle. My chest hurt and I couldn't do a thing to lift myself. I was crying now. Like a child and I feared the roaches to an extent that I knew I could die from it. My heart was beating so wildly against my chest. I couldn’t breathe and I think my asthma’s catching on. When at last I couldn’t breathe anymore. I heard the door snap and break. Charles put it aside, I don’t know how he did it. But he managed to break down the door. Probably kicked it senseless till it gave way, “Ella,” he whispered gently as he picked me up.
“Charles,” I cried “The cockroaches, there everywhere. I’m so afraid."
“It’s alright now,” he said calming me down “I’m here now. Can you walk? What happened?"
I shook my head “My ankle it hurts…I fell..."
He lifted me bridal style and put me on my bed. Then he busted all the living daylights out of the roaches. And I heard him curse and yell at them. When he came back, he had a warm compress to put on my ankle because it was sprained.
“I have to fix it, it will hurt…"
I only nodded and bit my pillow when he massaged it. It took a few agonizing minutes but as soon as the ligament snapped back into place. It would get better. My head was throbbing. My ankle still hurt and I was praying I don’t experience a full blown asthma attack. I think I felt him rub my back and shoulders as he lay down behind me. His ministrations were soothing and comforting. Despite everything that’s happened, I found myself missing someone else…
…wishing against all hope, that it was Patrick lying there next to me...
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