Two months have passed since we returned from the mountain, but it still feels like just yesterday to all of us. We've gone back to our normal lives – studying, working, and meeting up every weekend. But something's different about our relationships now – stronger, more genuine, and full of hope for the future.
One Saturday morning, we gathered at our favorite coffee shop near the city center. Gian and Alliyah sat at a corner table – he was sketching while she watched him with love in her eyes.
"Look at this," Gian said, showing us his sketchbook. "This is my drawing of the mountain with the pine tree we planted. I plan to enter it in an art competition next month."
"It's beautiful!" Charmine exclaimed, taking another sip of her tea. Jeffrey sat beside her, holding her hand as he listened to us. "I told you – you're a real artist, Gian!"
Meanwhile, Lisha and Benjamin were talking about their first date planned for the following week. "Would you like to go to the new art museum that just opened?" Benjamin asked Lisha. "They have an exhibit of mountain photos from the provinces – might help with ideas for your school project."
Lisha smiled and squeezed his hand. "Yes, my love. I want to be with you anywhere."
I smiled as I watched all of them. Andre sat next to me, holding my hand while he read the newspaper. "You know," he said when he noticed me looking at him, "I've been thinking – next year, maybe we could take another trip back to the mountain. We could see how much our tree has grown."
"I'd love that!" I grinned. "I'm sure all our friends will want to come too."
As we chatted, a woman in a white dress carrying a large wooden box walked into the shop. We were surprised to see it was Maria – formerly known to us as Aling Marta – with Kiko by her side.
"How is everyone?" Maria asked with a warm smile. "We couldn't stop thinking about you all, so we decided to come visit."
We scrambled to rearrange the chairs so they could sit down. Kiko opened the box and pulled out several wooden carvings – each one depicted the mountain with a bright light glowing at its center.
"These are for you," Kiko said. "One for each of you. They're a symbol of our thanks – because of you, the curse that plagued our family for generations is finally gone."
"We'll never forget what happened there," El-John said, picking up one of the carvings. "It felt like a fantasy story that came true."
"But it was real," Maria said. "And there's something I didn't get to tell you before. The symbols carved into the totems and the old tree weren't just for the curse – they were also for hope. They say that friends who stand together can overcome any challenge that comes their way."
As we passed the carvings around, Alliyah spoke up. "What about the mountain now? Can people camp there safely?"
"Of course," Kiko replied. "With the curse gone, anyone can visit to see the mountain's beauty. But we'll never forget the rules we must follow – respect for nature, respect for others, and always stick together."
We decided to move outside the coffee shop to talk more comfortably. As we sat at the outdoor tables, we watched people walking down the street, children playing, and families enjoying their day. A little girl carrying a toy cat walked past us and smiled at Alliyah.
"She's so sweet," Alliyah said, gently patting the girl's head. "Someday, I'd love to bring my kids to the mountain to show them how beautiful nature can be."
Gian looked at her and smiled. "Maybe we can do that together – just us two, with our children."
My heart warmed as I watched them. I realized that not only had the mountain's curse been broken – each of us had found the true meaning of friendship and love.
After a couple of hours, Maria and Kiko prepared to leave. Before they went, Maria took my hand and smiled. "Always remember – the mountain will always be your home. Whenever you need a quiet place to think or rest, go there. And never forget that true friends will never grow tired of being there for you."
We all nodded and said our goodbyes. As they walked away, I realized our trip to the mountain wasn't just a fun getaway – it was a journey to discover ourselves, our friendships, and what love really means.
"Friends," Andre said, standing up and looking at all of us, "I have an idea – let's make a promise. That we'll never be ashamed of each other, that we'll always be there when someone needs help, and that we'll never forget the lessons we learned on the mountain."
"Absolutely!" we all said in unison.
As we settled back into our seats, I understood that life is like a mountain – there are peaks and rough paths, darkness and light, but when you have friends who are willing to walk the road with you, everything becomes easier and more beautiful.