Straight Out of a Fairytale (Completed)

chapter 33

Ropes. He needed ropes. Gago. I should've realized what this was all about.

"I'm wearing a dress." I say, dubious. Aiken looked around as if to find something...or someone with all the trees and mist.

"Walang makakakita." He shrugged. I narrowed my eyes, making him chuckle. "Oh, relax. Baka atakihin ka niyan." I frowned even more when he used my line against me. This guy, really. Geez.

"I'm not doing it." Stubborn as this may be, pero ayokong masugatan o magasgasan man lang. I looked up and saw how dangerous the climb is. There's not even a path nor some narrow trail!

One thing that he knows best about humans is that our kind are frail and can be broken so easily. And I don't want to plummet down into my death. But Aiken is the kind of person, witch rather, that urges me to go out and live. To grasp every chance for fun...or what mortals like myself would think as a 'life-threatening moment'. I survived the climb in Mt. Pinatubo but not this. This is different. Mamatay ako nito.

"Trust me, you'll be fine."

"I trust you. Truly, I do. But not this, Aiken. Mamatay ako sa taas niyan!" He stared at me for one long moment before taking a deep breath.

He walked away wordlessly and faced the landmass that stood a hundred feet high in front of us. It is slope, with small and big trees alike that sprouted almost everywhere and rocks that seemed to have been there ever since but it looked like one forceful push was all that it would take for it to come tumbling down. I gazed at his retreating back and sighed.

For a split second he just stood there, still and stiff. Then he raised both of his arms as if to grab the mountain itself, each palms glowing a bright murky green light. And then came the rumble. A sound that resonated down below the earth and seemed to have made the land shake ever so slowly. I spread my arms to maintain balance and called out his name. Silence then followed. Ken withdrew his arms and turned to look at me with a proud smile on his face.

"You don't want to climb it with ropes, so might as well use a staircase?" He stepped out of the way and there it was. A wide, steep staircase carved out of soil and rocks. The branches of the trees lined on one side, each a different colour. White with dark spots, dark shade of brown, and some even pitch black. Rough as they may be, but enough for a railing.  It's beautiful, I thought.

He walked back towards me and did a curtsy. A deep bow and his right hand outstretched to ask for mine. He looked at me and I saw how his eyes glimmered with delight. I placed my hand right above his. Just like how I always do. To close my eyes and let him lead the way. To hold his hand and witness another unforgettable moment with him.

Even with the splendid staircase, the climb was still steep and slow. Ken would be three or four steps ahead of me, walking briskly but turns back to check on me from time to time. Halfway through, I asked for a short break. Hands on my waist, I breathed in and out deeply to catch my breath. He waited for me with a patient smile on his face.

"Kaya pa?" He asked, and placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked up to meet his eyes and saw admiration behind those greys.

"Kaya pa." I smiled as he wiped the sweat off my forehead with a small white cloth that he had beneath his coat. I noticed how our clothing matched with each other and it made my heart flutter.

We lingered for awhile before deciding to climb up again. His hand now on mine and mine grasped tightly with his. When we finally reached the top, I sat on the nearest rock that I saw and rested my feet, not taking the chance to look around. I heard him chuckle softly at my behaviour. Buti nalang talaga mahal kita. Hindi ako aakyat ng bundok dahil lang sa kung sino sino.