When Fresia and Bullet came home, their friends are already packed. Kumakain ng minani sa isang tabi si Mona. Si Aika ay babad pa rin sa panunuod sa phone nito. Brandi was playing cards with the two guys.

"Oh, hey! How's the wedding?" tanong ni Mona pagkakita sa kanila.

"Well, aside from her condescending parents and ex, it was quite nice," sagot ni Bullet.

"Did they give you a hard time?" tanong naman ni Felix sa kaibigan.

Bullet smiled. "It's nothing I can't handle."

"They grilled him because he didn't lie about his job," paliwanag niya sa mga kasama. She slumped on the space next to Mona.

"Okay ka lang?"

"Yeah." She removed her heels. Nag-Indian sit siya sa tabi ng kaibigan at saka nakihati sa kinakain nito. "I was just pissed that they served shrimp as appetizer. Hindi tuloy ako nakakain."

"They must have anticipated na darating ka kaya gano'n. Mas tipid nga naman kung hindi ka kakain," biro nito.

"Did you see Richard there?" tanong ni Brandi sa kanya.

Tumango siya. "Yeah. Ka-table namin. Kasama pa ang parents ko. Saya, di ba?"

It opened up a can of worms. Ipinakwento ng mga kaibigan niya ang nangyari. Since she doesn't want to oblige, the three women turned to Bullet for details. Game na game naman itong magkwento. Detalyadong-detalyado pa.

Their friends were so engrossed with Bullet's story-telling that she was able to slip to her room to get changed without being noticed. Pagkatapos niyang magbihis ay bumalik na siya sa sala dala ang backpack na dadalhin niya pamumundok.

Pagbalik niya ay agad siyang niyakap ni Mona.

"I know I shouldn't say this, but I really don't like your parents," sabi nito sa kanya. "And that Richard is no good for you. I'm so glad that you two didn't work out."

Bahagya siyang natawa. Hindi naman lingid sa kaalaman niyang ayaw ng mga kaibigan niya kay Richard. Nang mag-break silang dalawa ay inaya kaagad siya ng mga kaibigan para mag-celebrate. They were also more bummed when they got back together.

"Personally, I like Bullet for you better," bulong nito bago siya pakawalan.

Her pretend boyfriend wasn't there. Nagbibihis yata ito. Paalis na kasi sila agad. They'll be hiking at night tapos sa camp site ng forest reserve sila matutulog, the one right above the falls. Dalawang malaking tents ang dala nila, isa para doon sa tatlong lalaki at isa para sa kanilang apat.

May dala rin silang isang cooler para sa mga beer at softdrinks, marshmallows at chocolate syrup para sa smores, at gitara para sa jamming nila mamaya.

The forest reserve has other campsites, but only one is near the falls. Kailangan pang magpa-reserve doon kapag mag-o-overnight dahil isang area lang ang pwedeng lagyan ng tent. What people usually do is they go there by morning, camp somewhere else, then hike to the falls to swim.

Nang matapos magbihis si Bullet ay agad nilang ini-lock ang bahay at nagtawag ng tricycle sa labas.

--

The forest reserve is just ten minutes from the house by trike. It was well-managed and well-maintained. May entrance fee na 100 per head. You have the option to rent tents and other stuff for camping kung ayaw ninyong ma-hassle pagdadala ng mga gamit. They also have canned goods, snacks, drinks, and rice for those who'd rather buy food than bring them. Pampagaan nga naman ng dala. But they're a bit pricey so Fresia insisted to just bring their own food.

May isang malaking plastic bag ng snacks si Aika. Na kay Mona ang bigas. Si Brandi ang may dala ng uulamin nila mamaya. May dala rin itong toiletries, lotion, Off-lotion, sunscreen... everything and anything that will hopefully make their stay comfortable.

Si Bullet ang may dala ng maliit na gas stove na gagamitin nilang lutuan. Dala naman ni Mickey 'yong isang galon ng tubig. Felix has the cooler. Nasa kanya 'yong waterproof bag na may laman ng mga gadgets nila. Sukbit din niya ang gitara.

Sa dami ng dala nilang pagkain, pwede silang mag-stay doon for two days. Ayaw kasing magutom ng mga kasama niya kaya halos limasin ng mga ito ang laman ng convenience store na binilhan nila kahapon.

After paying for the entrance fee, nagsimula na silang mag-hike. It wasn't a complicated trail. Hindi na kailangan ng tour guide. May signboards naman along the way. 'Yon nga lang, kailangan nila ng flashlight. Wala kasing ilaw sa daan.

"Fresia, baka maligaw tayo, ha!"

"Maybe we should get a tour guide. Hindi pa naman tayo nakakalayo sa entrance."

"Relax lang, guys," she told them. "I've been here a hundred times. I know the way like the back of my hand."

Madalas siyang pumunta roon noong elementary at high school days niya. While others prefer the beach during summer, she and her friends like going there instead. Tuwing hindi na siya makatagal sa bahay nila, dito lamang siya tatakbo para mapag-isa. The old caretakers and guides know her well. Minsan, sumasama rin siya sa mga ito para magpaka-tour guide.

"It's too dark! Baka mamaya, may bangin pala rito."

She rolled her eyes. Brandi has so many complaints. Palibhasa ay wala itong hilig sa hiking.

"Fine. Stay here. I'll get us a guide."

Bumalik siya sa entrance at nakipag-usap sa isang matandang kakilala niya. Five hundred ang guide fee, overnight na 'yon. Pagkabayad niya ay sumabay na sa kanya sa pagbalik si Manong Ed. May dala itong gasera at tent na pang-isahan.

Manong Ed led the way. Siya naman ay nagpahuli.

"Need any help with that?" Bullet asked.

He was pointing at the guitar on her shoulder.

"No. I can manage."

But he didn't listen. Kinuha nito ang gitara at isinukbit sa balikat nito.

"Ang kulit!" she hissed.

Dahil sa ilaw ng flashlight ay nakita niya itong ngumiti. "I'm just doing my job as your pretend boyfriend."

"We're not at the wedding anymore."

"I know. But you asked me to pretend for a night," he reminded her. "It's still Saturday."

She huffed. "Fine." Wala yata itong magawa sa buhay kaya siya ang pinagti-trip-an nito. But he did save her tonight so she'll just let this slide.

--

They arrived at the spot after almost two hours of hiking. The sky was clear up there. Kitang-kita ang mga bituin at ang buwan lalo na't walang masyadong ilaw kundi ang gasera ni Manong Ed at ang mga flashlight na dala nila.

The four guys set the tents habang sila namang mga babae ang nakatanglaw. Gumawa kaagad sila ng bonfire pagkaayos ng mga gamit nila.

Aika brought out the smores. Inilabas din nito ang dalang barbeque sticks at graham crackers. She even brought ths chocolate syrup... para raw kumpletos rekados.

She passed them along tapos kanya-kanya silang tusok ng malalaking mallows. Kahit si Manong Ed, nakisali na rin. First time raw nitong makakakain ng ganoon. Since it was the old man's first time to make smores, they taught him how to make a smores sandwhich, which was fairly easy. Ilalagay lang ang toasted mallow sa pagitan ng dalawang graham crackers at lalagyan ng chocolate syrup.

After a few sandwiches ay nanlalagkit na ang mga kamay nila dahil sa mallows at chocolate syrup. Kumuha si Manong Ed ng tubig mula sa ilog tapos pinaghugas sila ng kamay. Their campsite is just above the falls. 'Yong mismong kinatatayuan ng tent ay nasa gilid ng ilog na karugtong ng falls. Kumbaga, kapag nilangoy mo 'yong mabatong ilog, malalaglag ka sa falls at mamamatay.

Nang malinis na ang mga kamay nila ay ipinasa naman ni Brandi ang sachets ng Off lotion para hindi sila lamukin. Tingin naman niya ay wala nang lamok ang magtatangka sa kanya. Balot na balot siya mula ulo hanggang paa. It's a bit cold so she's wearing a hooded sweater and a pair of leggings. Brandi and Aika were wearing the same thing. Si Mona lang ang naka-short sa kanila, kagaya ng mga lalaki.

Inilabas ni Mickey ang gitara at nagsimulang tumipa.

"Any song request?" tanong nito sa kanila.

"Thinking Out Loud!" agad na sagot ni Aika.

Mona groaned. "Girl, hindi ka pa umay sa kanta na 'yan?"

"Maganda kaya!" depensa ni Aika.

"Iba na lang! OPM!" hirit naman ni Brandi.

Sumimangot si Aika at humalukipkip. Gustong-gusto kasi nito ang mga kanta ni Ed Sheeran, especially Thinking Out Loud. She once played that song for a day. That song alone... on repeat. Napaka-romantic daw kasi ng kanta.

But the three of them don't like it. Sobra kasing cheesy.

Mickey started plucking the guitar. Kanta ng PNE ang una nitong inupakan. Inilabas nina Bullet at Felix ang mga beer habang kumakanta si Mickey ng Inuman Na. Si Brandi naman ay kumuha ng beef jerky na pinagpasa-pasahan din nila.

Magaling kumanta si Mickey. Medyo raspy ang boses. Masarap pakinggan. He's also good with the guitar. Pagkatapos ng unang kanta ay hiniram ni Manong Ed ang gitara. Kumanta naman ito ng kundiman.

"Ikaw, marunong kang kumanta?" tanong niya sa katabi.

Bullet frowned. "Do you want me to sing?"

"Can you sing?"

Ngumisi ito. "Sorry, Honey. When God made me, He must have thought that I was too perfect already, so He made me a crappy singer."

She rolled her eyes. "You could just say no, you know."

"I know." Nakangiti pa rin ito. "Ikaw, kumakanta ka?"

"I wish."

Manong Ed returned the guitar to Mickey. This time, Felix sang. Akala naman niya ay maayos ang singing voice nito dahil malakas ang loob nitong kumanta. It turns out na hindi sila pwedeng mag-duet na dalawa. Iiyak ang langit sa sama ng loob.

Todo palakpak pa si Mona noong simula, e. Her friend was being too obvious, but nobody but her seems to notice. Pero nang marinig na nila ang boses ni Felix, napanganga na lamang ang kaibigan nya sa gulat. Yep... mabuti na lang talaga gwapo si Felix.

"I can guarantee you one thing, though," bulong ni Bullet sa kanya. "I'm better than him."

To which she laughed.

Thankfully, after that horrendous singing, the spotlight was back at Mickey. For his last song, he sang Aika's request.

--

Matapos ang jamming session ay nagpalitan naman sila ng horror stories. Manong Ed has loads of them. Karamihan sa mga kwento nito ay narinig na nya kaya hindi na siya masyadong natatakot. But Mona was a scaredy cat. Pasimple itong kumapit sa braso ni Felix habang nagkikwento ang guide nila. She gave her friend a thumb up nang magawi ang tingin nito sa kanya.

It was already almost two when they decided to call it a night. But Fresia wasn't sleepy yet so kumuha siya ng chichiria habang nahiga na sa tent ang mga kasama niya. Gamit ang gasera ni Manong Ed na may bagong lagay na gaas, naupo siya sa may batuhan at kinutingting ang phone habang kumakain. As she was munching, she felt something on her shoulder. Halos mailaglag niya ang phone sa gulat.

"You scared me!"

"Sorry."

Bullet sat next to her. Nakihingi ito ng chichiria sa kanya.

"Bakit hindi ka pa natutulog?" tanong nito sa kanya sabay nguya.

"Hindi pa ako inaantok. Ikaw, bakit gising ka pa? Can't sleep? Hindi ba nakakatulog ka naman kapag may kasama ka?" tuloy-tuloy niyang tanong.

"I don't want to sleep just yet," sagot nito sa kanya.

"Ah..."

Ngayong sila na lamang dalawa ang gising at wala na ring bonfire, parang mas lalong lumamig. She put her phone inside her hoodie's front pocket and hugged herself.

"It's nice out here," kumento ni Bullet.

"Yeah. I used to come here all the time. Pampawala ng stress."

"Mahirap ba?"

"Ang alin?"

Tumingin ito sa kanya. "Being their kid."

She exhaled. Saan ba siya magsisimula?

"Very," she answered. "The only thing that kept me going was the thought that if I stop, then they'd win. And I don't want them to win. Napasuko na nila si Ate. I don't want to lose like her."

"I pity you. Akala ko dati kawawa ako kasi wala na akong magulang, but seeing you with your parents made me realize how lucky I am."

"Yeah. Your grandma is a mean cook. Nakakainggit," pagsang-ayon niya.

Tumawa ito. "Alam mo ba kung ano ang sinabi ko kay Lola para payagan nya akong hindi umuwi?"

Umiling siya. "Ano?"

"I told her that I'd spend this weekend with someone special."

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya. For some inexplainable reason, what he said affected her. Being with Richard made her think that she wasn't special. She was reduced to being normal. Ito ang espesyal, hindi siya. He made her feel like she's the one who's lucky to have him and not the other way around. Ipinagyayabang siya nito hindi dahil sa achievements niya kundi dahil sa ganda niya at sa mga magulang niya.

"You think I'm special?"

"Yeah," he answered, smiling. "Why? Don't you?"

Instead of answering, she found herself leaning forward to give him a quick kiss.