Chapter 7

THE two have met their tour guide for today’s activity, a young man who introduced himself as Greco.

“The traverse would take six hours at a normal pace, and if slow, eight hours,” Greco explained. He also gave trivia about the place, and Einille was fascinated while she listened.

Vale was quiet at her back, and his eyes traveled around the mountainous area

“Ein, I suggest you leave your things here. I’ll bring your tumbler and other important things. You might find it hard carrying that much on your ascent.” Vale sounded worried.

Her eyes rolled upward. This man was really belittling her! Although she didn’t train lately, she was sure her knees could take the load of her hiking bag. She had been taught like this before, and she didn’t see any reason to fail.

“Why don’t you leave your bag to Rudy? If you think you can’t make it, just wait for me here. I’ll be quick.”

He gently shook his head, “I won’t argue. Better to start now. So, we’ll finish early.”

“Let’s go!” Einille exclaimed excitedly.

They started walking to the jump-off. Rudy informed them that he would wait on the endpoint of the traverse.

They were other tourists aside from Einille and Vale. The cold breeze greeted them when they reached the starting point in Ampucao.

Einille witnessed welcome signage in green. Below was the printed traverse map. They were going to explore the Ampucao-Santa Fe Ridge. She couldn’t hold her enthusiasm.

“I’ll take a picture there, Sir,” Greco called out Vale.

“Sure!” Vale handed him the action camera mounted on a monopod.

The tour guide took their pictures. They stood on both sides on the signage.

“Closer, please,” Greco said.

Vale hurriedly walked near Einille and casually extended his arms on her shoulders, which she forcefully grabbed down after Greco took photos.

“You guys look good with each other.” Greco was amazed while looking at the pictures he took.

“He is not my boyfriend, okay?” She started to walk away from the two.

“Yeah, that’s right. Not a boyfriend, yet.” Vale shouted, making sure she would hear it.

Einille didn’t mind when she witnessed Vale whispering something on Greco, then they laughed. The two only stopped making fun of her when she glared at them and her one brow raised.

They had started the ascent, Greco positioned himself to the front, guiding them. While Vale was at the back, helping Einille when needed.

Einille silently trekked uphill, thinking about her companion behind. What if he was tired and not complaining to make him look tough? She should have taught him the proper breathing because the more they walked far, the trail was going steep.

However, she didn’t hear Vale complain. He appeared just having fun and not even showing any fatigue. Maybe he did a lot of cardio exercises, and she couldn’t be bothered.

As the elevation went up, the oxygen became thin. Einille sensed, and that she had to breathe properly. But she did not let his companions knew her discomfort. She distracted herself by taking photos of the breathtaking surroundings.

She wanted to rest, but her pride forbids her to do so. Especially that Vale behind her looked effortless on their trek on an upward slope. She wouldn’t like to embarrass herself since she was overconfident from the start. She would not give up until her knees could make it. She would not rest even if it were very immature for her to do.

“Ein…” Vale gently held her arm and scrutinized her face, “Let’s rest for a while. I’ve noticed your shortness of breath since earlier. Can you make it?”

“Of course!” She rolled her eyes in between her gasps. Vale was right. She was just stubborn to rest.

“That’s right. Let’s have a ten minutes rest.” Greco said.

Einille was seated on the grassy side of the trail and immediately drank water from her tumbler. While Vale remained standing, stretching his legs. He looked relaxed even with his huge hiking bag, he had a hydration pack inside it, and he would just sip a small amount of water.

Few hikers advanced, and they greeted them.

Vale seated beside Einille, he picked chocolates from his bag and gave some to Greco.

“Here, I’ve brought a lot of trail foods.” Vale opened the medium-sized chocolate bar and handed it to Einille.

“Thanks,” Einille smiled. Her breathing was normal now.

Vale nodded and took a sip from his hydration pack.

Einille unknowingly focused on his moving Adam’s apple, and her eyes traveled going down to his chest. Come to think of it, Valentino was too damned sexy indeed. Shari was right. She must be blind because she couldn’t appreciate his physical attributes before. She reminded herself again why he disliked him? Spark? Of course not. She was just devoted to her relationship back then.

She immediately averted her gaze when Vale caught her staring at him. This time, he was intently looking at her.

She pretended to put her attention back to the hikers on the trail and drank water again. Her throat suddenly dried, looking at his Adam’s apple flexed earlier. He appeared like a rugged model, entertaining her sinful eyes.

Einille shook her head. Her mind wandered on the thing she shouldn’t even think of. Maybe she was just slightly hysterical because she was tired.

A moment later, shocked crossed her face when she witnessed a few men walked downhill near them. One of them was carrying an injured man with a bleeding foot.

“Whoa! Accidents happened here even the trail is not that hard?” Einille looked at Greco. The ascent might be challenging, but the trail was wide and not that complicated.

“Yes, ma’am! They’re trail runners mostly.” Greco said, looking at the injured man.

“I see.” She took a bite from her chocolate at hand, and she couldn’t help herself not to glance at Vale. He was just smiling, as if amazed.

Vale winked at her when he caught her staring at him. She immediately arched her head down. Her cheeks suddenly felt hot.

The man seemed to enjoy his teasing. Good thing he could not read her mind, or else he would know she was fantasizing. What a shame!

“I’m okay now. Let’s proceed.” Einille stood up when she sensed her energy finally recovered.

They did not rest until they reached the summit.

“Oh my God! This place is breathtaking!” Einille gaped as they reached the flat surface few meters away near the peak. Her eyes traveled around, and the cold wind tickled her senses.

Mountains of different peaks surrounded them, all were pine capped, and birds were chirping in the air. There were several rock formations around, and tourists were climbing there. Hikers on other groups scattered around, busy taking pictures, too.

“I’ll take photos from there. That’s the infamous Gungal Rock.” Greco pointed out the most prominent rock from the formation, where it stood on the edge of a cliff.

Einille wanted to be there. But she couldn’t find a visible path going there.

“I know a way going up there. But it wouldn’t be easy. The rocks are pointed and might cause an accident. Would you still want to try?” Greco asked worriedly.

Vale cleared his throat beside her, “It’s okay, I’ll help you. I don’t want you to regret getting here without a souvenir. Since that is a well-known landmark here near the summit.” he said reassuringly.

Einille did not protest and followed Greco’s lead.

The guide was not joking when they had tried the narrow way going up. Einille lost her balance when she jumped from one point to another while firmly gripping the vines around.

“Shit!” She screamed.

Thank the heavens. Vale was on the rescue. His reflexes were fast that he hurriedly grabbed her arms, and she landed towards her muscular chest.

Einille tightly closed her eyes, thinking her head might be bumped into the sharp rock. If that happened, then she would finally meet her demise.

“It’s all right,” Vale murmured. His hands gently tapped her back.

She felt relieved. Einille silently swallowed when she smelled his natural perfume, so manly—the type of scent where she would never get tired of being close to him.

She looked up and met his gaze. Vale looked worried, the line in his forehead creased.

Einille casually moved away from him when she got back to her senses.

“Thanks,” she bit her lower lip. She had to breathe out hard to made her heartbeat normal. Was it because of her near-death? Or was it because of this man getting close to her?

No way!

She shook her head. Valentino was never her type. She had to convince herself more. Because in just a mere touching of their body, her sensed her heart suddenly somersaulted!

Einille held herself. She concentrated on the magical view above the cliff. Greco took a picture of them together on the rock peak. After that, Vale helped her going down.

Her eyes widened when she witnessed a lady tourist stumbled when her foot glided. She suddenly felt Vale’s brawny arms on her hips and pulled her closer.

“Let’s not go there.” Vale shook his head. His hands traveled down and held hers. He gently guided her to a more stable trail going down while Greco was behind, pointing directions.

Vale let go of her hands when they were finally in a leveled area.

Einille felt at ease at last. She was silently lecturing herself because of the different emotions raging inside her because of Vale. She had to remind herself many times that they had been together for only two days! She needed to come back to her senses.