||SERAH||

We have been driving for over an hour and Asahd won't tell me where we are headed. Currently, we are deep in the central part of the country where green vegetation is dominant over civilization. To top that, he hasn't hinted at what we are really going to do there. He just mentioned something about sightseeing and talking. His vague responses and mysterious actions are making me very curious. However, as I've given up pushing for answers, I'll just have to be patient.

"At this rate, I might end up thinking that you are driving me to the ends of the world," I comment turning from the window to face him.

"Just accurately five more minutes," he states laughing.

"Accurately five," I mumble staring outside the window once again.

Excitement has been bubbling inside me since Asahd came to the bus. It's influenced by some of his actions like his encouraging words, affectionate touch, kiss, and promised dinner. Additionally, the knowledge that I did great in the performance. It was a huge achievement for me as I felt as if I couldn't do it all. The task seemed huge making me feel a little intimidated. However, Asahd's words made me feel somewhat indomitable.

They paved way for foreign courage that ended up building confidence in me by blanketing my doubts, fears, and nervousness. To my realization, his presence around me facilitates confidence growth within me. It's a mystery reaction but nonetheless favorable to me. It could help me regain the confidence that was stripped off of me once upon a time.

"We are finally here," he says with a smile as he drives off the highway and up a murram road.

The road seems to be leading to a quarry as there is a large field of rock excavations. As we drive further up, there are sights of excavators, dump trucks, bulldozers, front loaders, and backhoe loaders. None of them are in operation though as they are just parked. There are no sightings of people which is a bit unexpected for such a sight.

"Are we going to a quarry?" I ask sounding intrigued by the place.

"Yes we are, pretty," he responds. "You have to wear your glasses. The place might be extra dusty for your beautiful eyes," he adds making me smile almost shyly.

"Okay," I murmur fetching my glasses case from my sling bag.

Once I've got them, I retrieve the glasses and put them on before putting back the case. The vegetation here almost resembles that of semiarid places. It is composed of small green shrubs, shallow thickets, short acacia trees, and cactus. This vegetation could be a result of the rocky soils that seem to be dominant in the area. It is an artificially beautiful sight though.

"The quarry is quite wide if it's still extending as we drive up," I state following my observations. "It seems dead as well. Has there been no operations?"

"The place seems to have recently been operated on. Perhaps they are on the other side. As you said, the quarry is large. It's one of the largest in the country," he says.

"Is this the place you wanted to bring me?" I hopefully ask.

"Wait until you see the real place," he says with a crooked smile. That one is to remind me that he isn't falling into the spilling information trap.

"You're becoming a little mysterious," I prompt just as he slows the jeep down and parks it aside the road.

"Giving you suspicious vibes?" he asks with a smug face, making me roll my eyes.

"It's two in the afternoon and the sun is bright. Were it the opposite, I would not only be suspicious but a little scared," I retort.

He laughs lightly while we step out of the jeep. I walk around to the front where he is waiting for me. Standing beside him, I give the place a good look. With the bright sun, the place is bright. The quarry is almost shining with different colors of stones and rocks. It reminds me of the mini quarry back in my grandma's village. That mini quarry is beautiful but there nothing beautiful about the activities that go on within its premises. Some are so vile that it's hard to think about leave alone mention.

"Why would you be scared?" he asks as he prompts us to walk up the murram road.

"Well, because I wouldn't know what your plans are for me. I mean, who brings a girl out at night this far away to a quarry?" I ask and he laughs.

"Maybe some serial killer or rapist?" he asks and I nod in agreement. "Even I would be a little scared were the roles reversed. Some of you ladies are just psychotic."

"For sure but men don't fear, you big boy," I tease.

"Sometimes you just find yourself quaking with fear," he defends.

"Involuntary fear, you mean?" he nods to my question.

"Maybe I can relate," I vaguely state. "Anyway, why did you bring us here?" I decide to ask before my curiosity decides to kill me.

"To have a serious talk," he responds causing my heart to beat fast in anticipation and anxiety.

Since yesterday, things have been happening so fast and everything seems to be changing. He has been doing things that are confusing me and making it hard to control my feelings for him. After Sue busted me, I've been having a hard time keeping everything I feel in check. I'm even afraid I'll end up pouring them out on him and that painfully will probably be the end of us. Oh, how I pray we never get there. That would be a renewed story of heartache and depression. These actions are also arousing hundreds of questions, probabilities, and possibilities in my head. Most of which are biased to favor a topic that I'm sure we'll never discuss. That is the love topic.

"About sedimentary rocks?" I teasingly ask bringing him to a stop.

He laughs before he looks at me and stretches out his hands for me. I stretch out mine which in turn he takes in his and we resume our walk up the quarry.

"About us," he clarifies trying to rein his smile. "But first, we have to get to the top of this quarry," he adds.

"We are already at the top" I state as the flattened top comes into view. "I hope there are no harmful animals or insects. Especially those pesky snakes. Those things love stones and we are in a quarry," I add on.

"Let us hope so because, on this side of the country, there are reports of some of the largest snakes species," he says.

"You're bluffing, right?" I ask tightening my hold on his hand.

"No, pretty. It's true," he affirms. "However, they're not often seen. It's maybe once in a while."

"That's a little calming," I mumble. "How many times have you been here though?"

"Uh, four times. The first two, we were going home from a dance camp at the Ark Lodge. Our bus made a stop here for people to go see the beautiful artificial sight on the other side. The third time, Blue and I brought our cousin Salma to see the place. Now the fourth time--"

"You've brought me," I smile and he nods with a smile. "Oh, shit," I gasp at the sight before me.

"I did mention it was a beautiful sight," Asahd states.

The other side of the quarry is such a beautiful sight that's brought to life by an artificial and concrete water passageway. It runs from the top of the slope to the reservoir dam in the valley below. The flowing force of water can carry you down that concrete passageway within the blink of an eye. Some manmade projects will amaze you. I wonder where the source of such large volumes of water is located. Probably in the distant forest ranges. The vegetation of the place is the same as on this side of the slope. As Asahd speculated, the quarry operations are active down the valley.

"This looks like another vast construction world," I comment studying the place further.

On one edge of the dam, there seems to be an electric powerhouse. There are a couple of transformers on electric poles spreading further up the slope on this side of the quarry.

"The sight is multipurpose for projects. For one, as you can see, the dam is a hydroelectric processing plant. It also provides water for the road constructions going on the highway. Then there is the quarry itself that provides different construction materials. We can't get down there though. The place is highly guarded and only restricted to authorized personnel. We are not even supposed to be up here for long."

"It's a beautiful sight under the sun," I simply comment due to lack of words.

"It is," he agrees, turning to face me. "I brought you here so that we can talk about what you feel for me and what I feel for you. It's time to come clean."

Nervously, I swallow while locking my eyes with his. So he did notice that I harbor feelings for him. Oh, gosh, the moment I've feared is finally here. He motions for us to take a small walk to where the stones aren't so dusty and huge. When we get there he sits on the coarse ground and I follow sitting beside him.

"Uh-um, what do you mean by that?" I ask trying to evade the topic. My excitement is dissipating and it might as well diminish if things go wrong.

"Tell me about your feelings for me," he prompts. Too much for thinking that this was a topic we would never discuss. "I know that you have been suppressing them. Perhaps you can talk about them now."

"I'm not sure I want to talk about them," I nervously state while staring far below at an excavator loading materials in a dump truck.

"Why, Mawia?" he asks curiously.

"I don't want my feelings to get in the way of this friendship that I never even anticipated in the first place. Sometimes, when feelings are not reciprocated, it is best to suppress them than have them become a nuisance. The last thing I want is to lose you or our friendship. Unrequited feelings have been known to destroy even long life friendships. I have always feared that mine would too destroy us. That's why I choose to shut them in and not express them. Even if I had chosen to express them, I doubt I would have done it. There was not enough courage in me to help me do it."

"Unfortunately, it turns out that I did a crappy job and I was just lying to myself that I was doing a good one. So, perhaps I might just admit and say that I like you. So much that it hurts me every time I recall that this is one-sided and maybe that is what it will always be. However, you being with me even if it is as a friend is enough for me. It doesn't always have to be romantic or something of the sort. It can be friendship and that itself matters a lot. We have to treasure it and maybe settle for it if nothing more is guaranteed. It is better that than nothing anyway."

"Even if it hurts you?" he asks studying me deeply.

"The pain is inevitable but it is a result of the sacrifice. Moreover, the same pain is always erased every time we are together. This will probably change things but hopefully, we can still keep this friendship. Please don't pull away, or disappear or ghost me forever," I conclude with a plea.

He smiles making me wonder what's funny about the situation. Perhaps he doesn't understand its gravity.

"It is true that things won't be the same again. However, I'm not going anywhere, which means you are stuck with me. That too, not as just a friend, but perhaps something more. Well, the thing is that your feelings are no longer one-sided. I like you too, Mawia. So much I think I've already fallen for you."

His confession renders me speechless as the excitement that was almost diminishing comes flooding back. Today must be the luckiest day of my life because I'm living a dream. One I never thought would ever see daylight.

"You've gone completely silent, pretty," he points out, his eyes darting on mine which are motionlessly planted on his.

My mind is trying to comprehend the fact that he has just confessed to having feelings for me. My heart on the other hand is rapidly beating in a euphoric rhythm. Serah, this time, your unrequited feelings have been reciprocated. I no longer have to fear that they could be the end of us and our friendship. Instead, they will be the beginning of us. A tear slips down my cheek as I let everything sink in. At the same time, I let the warmth in my heart cover all the chaos caused by my fears and doubts. Additionally, wash away the pain I've been suppressing.

"Last time I checked you were seeing me as nothing but a friend," I mumble, trying to confirm his words.

"That was the last time you checked. How about now, can you check?" he grins making me smile.

Another tear escapes forcing me to remove my glasses before staring deep into his eyes. There is a glistening warmth in them fuels the existing one in my heart. Sweet mercies, thank you for showing me love.

"This. Is. Not. Funny," I grumble while using the back of my hand to wipe away the remnant tears.

"I'm not kidding," he affirms genuinely.

"Why didn't you talk though? It seems you've known about my feelings for a while. That was a little deceiving," I grumble.

"Then, I was still figuring everything out. I was slow on it and I'm sorry for making you wait that long," he says with an apologetic tone.

"It's okay. In the long run, it wasn't all for nothing. You know, I used to fantasize about a day like this. I did hope for it but never believed it would ever come."

"Now it has. Embrace and live it. I never thought that I would see a day like this at the beginning. I thought that you were only going to be an ordinary person like any other person I meet. Little did I know that things were not going to go as expected. As days passed by, I got an interest to know you more. To be closer to you. Then one morning, I decided to follow mom's advice. She told me not to ever overlook. Overlooking can make you miss opportunities that will never present themselves again before you. Now you can see where her words got me. They opened my eyes and helped me see things in you that then, I didn't."

"How did you overlook our stark differences?" I ask and he smiles.

"It was easy. You acknowledge them but don't regard them highly. Prioritize accordingly. Again, it is easy to overlook everything else but never something you feel is special for you," he responds fluttering my heart.

"You can be a sweet talker," I digress.

"Sometimes. Beware that I'm not good at the conscious or serious dating game. However, if you are ready and want to give us a shot, then I'm ready and willing to give us one," he confesses leaving me smiling like a fool.

"Well, I'm not good at it either and I'm willing to give us a shot," I state, still smiling.

"Then we are officially giving it a shot," he says.

Throwing caution to the wind, I stand and shift positions so that I'm settled between his legs. He heartily laughs as he pulls me closer and engulfs me with his warm and secure arms. He then places a soft kiss on the crook of my neck for a long time. This moment has forever been engraved on my memory. Precisely, long term memory. It's exhilarating knowing that we are now officially dating. Sweet mercies, please let it be forever.

We spend more time talking about ourselves. Asahd tells me about his life back in campus. It's sounds like a fun life except where he fails to mention anything to do with ladies. He has avoided mentioning them and that makes me curious as to why he isn't comfortable talking about them. Ugh. Maybe he doesn't want to ruin the mood bringing the past in the way. It is a good idea and I'm not interested in knowing about them either.

About an hour and a half later, the sun is ready to melt us down. Thank goodness the whirling wind tried providing a cool atmosphere. Otherwise, we would have sweated then melted and flowed down to the damn below. Since none of us is ready to experience such a predicament, we stand from our siting positions and walk down the murram road. When we get to the jeep, we board and drive into the highway. We have about an hour on the road to get back to the lodge.

By the time we arrive, we are tired and ready to get to bed. Though there is a party that we are supposed to attend. Before that, there is dinner. Asahd suggests that we choose one and dump the other. We can have a compensation on another day. Acting selfishly, I choose dinner with him over the party. It will be peaceful and relaxing as well compared to the loud, crowded and stuffy club we would be going to. Happily, he obliges to the idea. He takes me to a classic hotel where he treats me to rice and beef stew.

Earlier when we arrived, I texted Sue to let her know I was back and also ask her where she was. I've got so much to tell her. After arguing and silence treating each other for a few hours, we reconciled. However, it feels as if we haven't reconciled at all. For one, she is ignoring my texts and having me wait for hours before replying to them. Secondly, she is not talking as much as she usually does. It worries me but I'm hoping that later, in our room, we shall talk. I'm not sure about today since she will arrive drunk. Perhaps tomorrow morning after shaking off the hangover.

After dinner, Asahd escorts me to my room and makes sure that I'm settled before he leaves. I'll be honest, I was expecting him to kiss me but he didn't. It's as if he is playing it cool or safe. I'm not sure. What I am sure of is that he isn't just an ordinary guy if he has not tried to kiss me till now. Even if it is as a friend, as we were before we made it official. Majority of young adults nowadays expect something from you whenever they drop you in or off. They don't care if there is something solid existing between you as long as they get their treat. Shameless scumbags.