Chapter Nine [ The journey towards their goal]

Chapter Nine [ The  journey towards their goal]

While Nancy changes back into her clothes once her fever has abated, Jason adjusts the

the remainder of the clothing in his vacation pack.

“You have the same characteristics as the younger woman on the creek whose dress I stole,”

Jason says, refusing to look away.

"How am I supposed to tell you apart from her when you're together? "He inquires.

"I cautioned you not to worry about it because we have never been together. "

Nancy implies, trying to conceal her secret with her eyes.

Following their nap together, the two began to descend after giving their pals,

who appeared to be engaged in other activities, a quick message left on the corner of their tent.

She questioned,

After a while, Jason asked, "Where shall we begin, honey?" as he studied the map in his hands.

He didn't reply, instead signaling with his hands for her to keep quiet and follow him.

A fascinating, entrancing waterfall come into their weary eyes that late afternoon

after five minutes of walking along the congested, weedy path beneath the

higher trees and dangling strong, strong roots of the trees.

When the couple arrived at the lake where the volcano is located, they were tempted

to jump in from the surface down to the bottom of the deepest portion of the water.

"What a beautiful creation God has made for us to view! "

Nancy suddenly said, putting her two hands to her chest and gazing up at the sky in praise of the

One who created heaven and earth.

“Hey, honey, let's not waste time. Look at the setting sun; we'll undoubtedly arrive in a

dark environment. We should get to the community before it gets too dark."

Jason reminded adding,

"Many insects and wild creatures prowl the area looking for victims.

Would you wish to be one of them and contract a fever once

 more? "

After guiding her as a father would a daughter, he teases her.

"Wait a minute before we move on. I received the impression that

you wanted to restrict my freedom. I adore this scene. This has always been my fantasy."

Nancy objected as Jason gave her a close-up, smiling glance from head to toe.

"Look at yourself now," he remarked, gazing at her seductive form.

"Don't you realize it? We jumped into the waterfalls and ended up here,

therefore the temperature here is cooler than the mountaintop.

You are wearing a wet dress, and everything in my luggage is wet. ”

Since they were dating, Jason had never argued before.

“By the way, honey, what age are you right now?

You behave so much like my father!”

Nancy makes fun.

Jason said with a smile,

"I'll be turning 30 tomorrow, and I appreciate God for sending me amazing

things that I never asked for but that he knows just what I need."

He says, "Look up at the sky," and Nancy is mesmerized and falls in

love with him for his methods and character in addition to his

attractive physical qualities.

‘Happy Birthday, honey. Could you tell me what God has given you for

your 30th birthday? "Nancy asks him politely as he quickly grabs her and mutters,

“Yes, you,” he murmurs.

“Really!”

"Nancy enjoys his affirmation.

After considerable consideration, Nancy suddenly burst into

speech while maintaining her composure.

"Why is that?” She mutters as Jason carries her out of the icy lake while never letting go of her.

”You were born on the 30^th of December, and you turn 30 years old?”

She asks after Jason has helped her settle down to watch the

magnificent sunset on the far side of the water with him. Jason is now reflecting on his prior lives.

“Please tell me about you, honey. " Nancy asked.

“If I tell you who I am, what credit do I have?”

He asks in a harsh tone, suggesting that he is not yet ready to be vulnerable.

"I must find out who my child's father is! "Jason gasps at Nancy as she begs him to stop.

"You're expecting, are you? "He startled Nancy when she allowed Jason

to touch her lower abdomen.

“How certain are you?” Jason queries.

“Still not! ”

Jason follows Nancy shrieking as she runs away from him and out of sight

into the trees while grinning.

"Hey, hold on for me!” Jason pleaded as Nancy vanished from

his sight and he began to turn on his flashlight to look for her.

He responded, his heart wounded, "You may have lost your way."

“You know I love you, so why do you enjoy doing this to me?”

He yelled as Nancy spoke and swiftly emerged from behind the

large tree trunk next to him.

Nancy held out her hands and beckoned to him, saying,

"Not any longer. Someday I will be the one to look for you.

Not only me but we might be two."

Come on, let's get to the point so I can go home and take care of this,

and then you'll know where to find me,” she added,

“You still need to complete your assignment because you

haven't responded to my questions about you and your family.

If you could answer them in a journal diary and give it to me

as a gift on my birthday, I would adore it.”

In the waning hours of December 30, Nancy gave him

a sweet kiss as they traveled along a curvy, dark path.

Jason was hesitant but had the nerve to ask.

“How old are you today, honey?”

"Everyone thinks about my birthday often and deeply.

It will be on Heart Day, so you can remember it

if I am in your heart. On that day, I will turn 20. "

Nancy presents a puzzle.

"I know it's not easy for you to remember my birthday

because you'll be extremely busy with someone else after this season.

But this will be the best experience I've ever had in my life, which I can value deeply within me."

When they caught sight of light down ahead, Nancy said.

"We are from the mountain, and we are arriving

at the settlement in the northwestern valley?”

Nancy asks as Jason gives a solemn nod.

“Be prepared for the upcoming confrontation, honey.”

As an arrow pierced the tree trunk where they are standing,

Jason gave them a warning.

“Why does it matter?” Nancy asks him a question.

Jason rapidly switches off the flashlight and forcefully holds

Nancy in her arms to lead her to the dim road, saying,

"I know that you are so naive about what we are facing now.

Just follow me and do what I told you to save yourself. I can manage myself."

he pointed out the cross path where they will pursue while the other path is safe to go home.

As another arrow fast passed by to warn them, Jason gave the order,

"This will be the pathway returning to where we came from heading right to your Hacienda."

Based on his discoveries, Jason gave her advice.

”The rebels are composed of pirates and robbers.

They are notorious gang members. But they attack the native tribes not

for the property but by raping the women and maiden to increase their

populations and become one of them. We are in between the boundary of

the tribal community and the rebels' hideout.

The mountain people community is situated ahead and we will be safe there.”

He takes a moment to look around before continuing in a gentle, low voice.

“The mountain people are generally farmers and officially recognized town residents.

They are diligent but cunning spies who gather evidence to bring them to justice.

Once we made friends with them, we were able to get some information about them.”

Jason explains slowly to Nancy who quietly listens and records all in her brain. S

he immediately scans the explanations and figures out the things to do.

Jason directed as he swiftly caressed her and smelled her sweetness,

"By the way, take off your dress and put my military uniform here.

Put a little of a false mustache in the meantime. It helps you.

You behave as a tough guy initially so that the men will not get allures by your beauty, um.”

As he watches her change clothes, he stifles a giggle and says,

"I will miss you, honey love."

He added.

”If you want to get away, you can run and quickly grab the rope using the technique I teach you.

Let's meet up somewhere else. I trusted you, honey sweetie.”

As they move past the dangerous area and arrive at the mountain people's settlement,

Jason gives her a tender kiss.

The youth have been congregating with the youth group and

the children of the farmers who were kicked out of the hacienda early in the evening.

"Good evening! "

Jason greets with his helmet removed revealing his wavy brown long hair.

His two deep dimples from his dusty cheeks appear suddenly and

it doesn't hide from Nancy how stunning he is before the community.

The head of the rebellious farmer almost in his middle years,

having his mustache unshaven and dark skin turns wrinkled is setting beside

his wife caring for her siblings as they watch the young group

participating in some game acts while the moonlight started to appear.

There are other little girls of the same age in the group who

are well-dressed, appear petite and innocent, and have their hair

pulled back into a ponytail and braided to their waists.

The sound of music and tambourine drumming began to break the quiet,

relaxed, and pleasant neighborhood, signaling that the new year is just around the corner.

"We cordially welcome you, Sir Jason, and your partner.

We assumed you were traveling with your gorgeous wife,

as other people who met you on the way up the hill had told us. ”

The chairman smiles, but as soon as he sees Nancy with a

mustache wearing an army uniform and a ponytail covered in an army hat,

he realizes what the problem is.

While the young people continue their joyful activities on the front stages

made of palm leaves and decorated with orchid plants and

Calachuchi flowers serving as fragrances for that cool, full-moon light

evening before the new year, Nancy has just nodded in agreement before anyone else.

She would prefer to stay next to Jason, who is invited to sit beside the chairman on his left side.

Two younger women wearing seductive black, thin, string, well-fitted mini-dresses with alluring face makeup and jewelry arrived with a stunning man in an army uniform as soon as the gatherings got underway. The women walked with arrogant, sexy gestures as they approached the front hall,

where Jason and Nancy, the chairman, and his family were also seated.

The chairman moved a little to give the visitors a warm welcome with respect.

But Jason and Nancy, who don't know who they are, remain seated.

Jason throws her and smiles with an eye wink at her.

She responds with a grin that touches her mustache firmly to her

upper lip and down to her chin.

"You are becoming mischievous," Nancy whispers.

"I'm not sure!”

He said.

Jason chuckles as he turns to face Nancy as the visitor's companion

motions for her to shift aside and make room for her to sit next to Jason,

while the other woman is motioning for her to sit next to her.

The visitor stands next to the chairman as his wife and

family decide to move to where the young people are seated in a group.

Nancy decides to accompany them as the young people applaud

Nancy's breathtakingly tall stature of 5 feet 9 inches.

”Great! ”

They yelled. Nancy is not aware that the youthful group recognized her

as the hacienda's tough-talking new administrator and owner who

is currently keeping watch to mediate conflicts between the hacienda

officer and rebellious farmers.

"Long live our peacemaker, Long live our ancestors, who have been

rewarded for our emancipation struggles from generation to generation! "

The youthful bunch objected.

To protect her throat from a sore throat, Nancy tied her handkerchief

around her neck and said,

"Hi, guys."

She realized that the guys were almost her age because she was still in

her teenage years and will turn twenty next year. The other young men

in the same group are almost getting taller, but Nancy has been the

tallest of them all. She is also more elevated than the women who are accompanying the visitors.

They all rise as the music starts, and they all note that

Nancy and Jason are the tallest visitors there. Jason moves closer to

her and whispers to her while Nancy frequently tugs at her mustache.

She simply nods in agreement with Jason's statements.

One hour later,

"Why is this necessary?”

She asks in a hushed voice to the chairman's wife.

The hacienda's owner will be coming to see us settle our differences,”

she remarked.

"What's going on? ”

Nancy re-asks.

The chairman's wife said,

"The representative is that man with the two women who sat

next to you before you got here.”

"Aha, who is that Hacienda owner's name?” Nancy enquires once more subtly.

“Sir, he is. The late Don Fausto Coronel's eldest son is Rafael Coronell.

The woman in the picture is his wife, and his eldest daughter is the younger one.

However, there has been a delay.”

Nancy became aware that her father had passed away as soon as the wife gave her the photo.

Nancy temporarily stops her because she is shocked by what she found.

“Don't lose hope; God is good,” Nancy reassured them, adding,

 "I will assure you. I shall return in the ideal moment and in God's will to assist you.”

She began to suppress her own emotion, but she remained restrained.

“I appreciate the information.”

She stood up, unconscious of how she walked like a tough guy

and approached the guest seated next to the chairman.

Because he was preoccupied with the woman conversing next to him,

Jason failed to notice her.

Nancy approaches earnestly and extends her hands to

the representative of her older brothers.

 "Hi, Sir, nice meeting you in this unfamiliar situation."

She is in charge while posing as someone else.

I never expected to run into you here but after the gatherings here,

I'd be happy to set up a meeting with you somewhere else.

I hoped to see you again. Are you returning to the Hacienda residence? ”

In response, the representative nodded adding,

I recently learned that the daughter is working on an investigation.

Mr. Apeng brought me here to see how she is doing.

We had to bury our dead before the new year.”

Nancy looks at the two women who are his companions as he suggests in a low voice.

He notices Nancy glancing at his two companions as they converse with Jason and says,

"Don't bother. Where is she?".

They like taking on new challenges as an entertainer. "

Nancy is requested by the representative, who is unaware that she is currently talking to him.

Nancy instead gives him a brief note rather than acknowledging that she is the daughter.

She requests a meeting with him and tells him to get out of town right away.

The representative of her older brothers is unaware that she is

Don Fausto's youngest daughter and the current hacienda's new administrator.

In contrast to Nancy's moments of distaste,

he simply nods in response.

He looks at her carefully and smiles since she appears to be taller than

him and he has positive feelings that they could be wonderful friends.

As she groans quietly, Nancy is aware that she is feeling conflicted.

As she moves and approaches Jason, who isn't concerned about her at the time,

she says in a low voice,

 "I detest you, kuya Raffy."As her tears began to fall down her cheeks,

she tenderly stroked her mustache once more.

She reflected, "I am conscious that I am immature, and I need to adapt and grow and learn from my mistakes.”

“But I also loathe you, Jason.”She continues, glancing at him with the seductive woman

while her heart breaks and her blood boils ferociously.

She observes that they are enjoying each other's company

as Jason looks at the woman's exposed breasts and attractive legs.

After a while, she realizes that Jason no longer cares about her.

The woman is a good speaker, thoroughly modern and civilized, alluring, and educated

"Maybe I should let him be free for the time being.

There are still plenty of chances for us to cross paths.

You can handle yourself, Jason. Goodbye, my honey love!”

After finding fresh love with that attractive entertainer, Nancy murmurs,

"I'm heartbroken and felt being discredited and dismissed by my boyfriend."

In the middle of the darkest forest, under the full moon that night,

she decided to slink away from the crowd to find the way back to her hacienda.

However, since it was only the

29th of December, she chose to greet Jason first in honor of his birthday the following day.

Jason showed that he still cared for her by shaking her hand and tapping her shoulder.

"Where do you think you're going, exactly?"

Nancy almost erupted with emotion as he probed her deeply while analyzing her inner thoughts.

She was unable to hold back her words and told him what she had noticed.

She says,

"I want to get out of here now. I am going to leave you."

 Jason can see the misery in her eyes. Nancy, on the other hand,

is attempting to get rid of Jason by putting pressure on him to leave

and starting a new connection with the seductive woman.

"Do you know them?”

He asks as Nancy simply nods and runs away from him and the masses.

Jason chases after her but she quickly vanishes.