Our last day will have to be memorable for all of us. We need to do something extremely unforgettable experience and that is hiking. Karl thought it.
"Hey, guys! Wake up." I heard a loud slam on our door.
What the heck? Is he insane for slamming our door this morning?
Axel and I stood up because of the noise. He opened the door and Karl was standing in front of our room.
"Hi?" He smiled.
I threw a glare at him and I'm ready to punch him again. Why did he exist in this world?
"Get ready. We'll leave at exactly 4 am." He smiled, again.
"What?!" The three of us asked him loudly.
"We'll watch the sunrise." He replied.
"We can watch the sunrise here." I defended.
He didn't say anything and turned back on us. When he left, we let out a big sigh out of frustration. Even if we're too sleepy to sort our thing, we did it. After we packed our important things for hiking, we went straight to the dining area for breakfast.
"Good morning people!" Ivan greeted us cheerily.
My soul was awakened when I heard his loud voice. I hope I have the same energy as Ivan, he's so bright.
We sat in front of them, they were smiling at us.
"Why?" I asked when I couldn't take it anymore.
"Let's follow each other on Instagram," Karl replied
We looked at each other and decided to take out our phones from our pockets. I've been following them on IG so I was just surfing on my social media.
"Louise, follow us," Jacob said so I lifted my head.
"Huh? But I followed you all since 2021." I said.
"Not that account, but our private account. We're following you, again." Yohan smiled.
My eyebrow furrowed. "Again?"
"Yup." Johan rested his head on his palm then he looked at me. "It was our day 2 when we followed you."
I immediately checked my IG and that's it, they have private accounts. I thought it was fan accounts that's why I ignored them. Usually, I don't follow back when the account is dedicated to some K-pop artist just because I don't like it. That's wholesome.
"Followed back," I muttered.
"I created a group chat and I already added you all there," Karl said, smiling.
"As usual, Karl is too fast," I murmured.
Our breakfast was full of laughter so we enjoyed it, especially me. I have to cherish every moment with them it's because I don't know if we'll see each other again or we'll forget one another. They are busy with their jobs so as we are and I guess we'll barely talk on the phone because of our tight schedules.
We left the resort at 4:30 am. I fell asleep on our way to Batangas that's why when I open my eyes, they were got out of the van. The surroundings are still dark and I got goosebumps when I got off the van, it creeps me out.
"Are you guys ready?" Karl asked us with a smile.
"Yes." They replied. I'm still sleepy so I don't have the energy to speak.
Since there were so many of us, two tour guides came along with us. One tour guide was in the front and the other was in the back of us. They did an orientation first on what to do and not to do when climbing and when at the top of the mountain.
"I have a suggestion. What if all the boys are in the front, middle, and back so we can protect and help the girls to climb up." Ivan said as he folded his arms across his chest.
"I agree with him. Let's follow his suggestion." Emmanuel added.
We did follow what Ivan suggested. Daniel was in the front, they were four men and Lovie followed them. Next was Arthur followed by Emmanuel, Marvin, Ivan, and Johan and the remaining girls, including me. Behind me were Jacob, Karl, Yohan, Justin, and another tour guide.
We started to walk and climb Mt. Batulao. This might be hard for me because I have low stamina, I easily get tired, but I can do this.
"Sis are you okay?" Sheena asked without looking at me.
"Yup," I replied as I was focusing on the rocky mountain.
"Be careful on the rocky part." The tour guide who was behind us reminded us.
We continued walking until we were slowly climbing the narrow path. It can be seen from where I was standing that Arthur and the other boys are helping the girls to climb up.
We've been climbing for a few hours so we decided to rest first. We're just standing because we stopped in the middle of the mountain. But we didn't mind the tiredness because the view from where we were standing was so beautiful. How about when we are on top of it? I didn't regret coming over here.
"Louise, smile!" Sheena said as she clicked her camera. I wasn't ready for that.
"Let's take a picture!" Coleen shouted.
We were just halfway up the mountain but we already had a lot of pictures. After we got some rest, we continued climbing until we reached the top of Mt. Batulao.
"Wow! It's a breathtaking view." Mark uttered while he's standing beside me.
I didn't notice that he stood next to me because I was also amazed at the view. We took a picture of the surroundings before we took a lot of selfies.
"Uncle, can you please take a picture of us?" I heard Marie say to one of the tour guides.
Marvin and Justin put me in the middle of them. They took pictures of us before they gave us time to appreciate the beauty of the surroundings. I sat on the grassy part and breathe.
This is really a beautiful painting. A beautiful picture that I will never erase on my mind.
"Hey." Ivan sat beside me. "I like you."
I'm dumbfounded. He's very straightforward and I don't even know what should I reply, but in the end I calmed myself and smiled.
"I felt it already when you suddenly embraced me. I didn't want to assume at first because I wasn't not sure if you have feelings for me so I kept it to myself." I looked at him, reading his face.
"But Louise I'm not pressuring you to like me back. I just want you to know the feelings I have for you. Like what I've said from my past interviews, if you like somebody, you should tell them, and if he or she rejected you then move on." Ivan said seriously
I took a deep breath. "Why did you guys like me? I'm just an ordinary woman. There's a lot of pretty girls that are suitable for you. A model, celebrity, fashion designer, actress, and so on. Just find a girl that really fits in your social status."
"I'm not a perfect man so you are." He looked straight into my eyes. "I don't need a girl that suited for Ivan Tsu, I just need a girl who's I'm comfortable with like I can be whoever I want and I'm feeling myself when I'm around you. Even if you're not the most beautiful girl in the world, in my universe you're the second beautiful girl next to my mom."
I want to cry. I want to tell him how I liked those words that came from his mouth. I bit my lower lip just to control my tears not to fall.
"You might not be perfect, but I want to be with you," Ivan added. He can't keep his mouth shut.
"But it's just been 5 days since we have met and you already like me?" I uttered.
"Is there something wrong with that? I think none. Everybody can fall in love at first sight. You can't tell them that it's just been 5 days since they've met because you can't control their feelings. Someone can fall in love in just 3 seconds." Ivan said, frowning. "Just let me like you. You don't need to reciprocate my feelings. Just smile for me always I'm good with that."
"Why are you so serious?" I burst into laughter.
Ivan can't also stop laughing. We're insane for making a random topic then we will suddenly laugh. We have our own world again while the others were doing their own thing.
"Guys! Let's shout our greatest dreams!" Emmanuel got our attention.
We stood up and he put his arm around my shoulders. I put my hand on his waist. Jacob also stood beside me and put his arm around me. We're hugging each other while shouting what our dreams are.
"I have the simplest dream among these amazing people. I hope the girl beside me will say yes!" Emmanuel shouted.
We were surprised by his dream. Is this another proposal? I removed my hands from Jacob and Ivan's waist. Emmanuel knelt in front of Laura. She was too stunned to speak and her tears keep streaming down her face.
"D-Did you plan this with them?" Laura looked at us while she's still crying.
We shook our heads. Emmanuel planned this proposal all by himself.
"I didn't tell them riri because I want to surprise you and your friends." He muttered while still kneeling in front of her.
"I-I'm not yet ready for this. W-Why are you doing this to me?" She said between her sobs.
"I lost you. I thought we wouldn't be together again because you don't want LDR. I promised myself that when I return to the Philippines I will pursue you again. The universe was on my side because when I returned here, you don't have a boyfriend yet." He uttered but, he's also crying.
This is the most beautiful proposal that I've ever seen. It was simple yet it's beautiful. The view, people, lovebirds, and the weather, it's all beautiful. While I was looking at them, my tears will about to flow so I averted my gaze around the surroundings.
"Love will conquer all," Jacob uttered. I know it's him, his honey voice is all I heard.
I beat him because he's always on my side every time has a proposal. I can't help but think that we're destined for each other.
"Riri, will you spend your life with me? Will you marry me?" I heard Emmanuel ask.
Our companions screamed at the top of their lungs. I just looked at them while smiling. I'm so happy for Laura because at least she'll settle down with the man she loves and especially he loves her inner soul, not just her body.
"Yes." Laura's simple reply made me cry harder.
Why am I such a crybaby? My three pretty best friends were getting married and I'm still here, clapping and crying while watching them loved by someone.
"Stop crying." Jacob patted my back and he's murmuring something.
"Huh?"
"Huh? I said even if you're crying you're still beautiful." He said, smiling at me.
Not now, please.