Ludic Selcouth #3: Dancing Keys

Key #28

Despite of the cold wind, I am sweating so bad. We are now hiking for good two hours with brief breaks. Our surroundings are lighted this time. We're already four miles away and the breathtaking view is now visible on our eyes. Pakiramdam ko nga ay ang taas-taas na namin.

We stopped to take a break again. May nadaanan kaming parang flow of water, it's like coming from a river in this mountain. We stuffed our water jogs with those fresh water and sit on a huge rock.

I removed the hiking shirt that I'm wearing because I can't take the heat anymore. Hindi pa naman talagang nakakapaso yung araw pero dahil dalawang oras na kaming naghahike, mainit sa pakiramdam.

"Mga ma'am, sir, dalawang oras pa ay mararating na natin yung lugar na pwede niyong pagtayuan ng tent. Kaunting tiis nalang." pabirong sabi ng hiking guide. Natawa lang ako at tumingin kay Paesyn na halatang sanay na sanay sa ganito.

"Kaya pa naman po, kuya." I said. Biglang itinapat sakin ni Paesyn ang dala niyang camera. I was caught off guard that I didn't know how I looked like on his shot.

"Paesyn!" mabilis akong tumayo at pilit na sumilip sa camera niya pero inilalayo niya naman sakin 'yon at nginingisian ako.

"You already have a lot of stolen shots here, Ava. I will develop this and add to my love album." ipinirmi niya ako at nang-aasar akong pinagmasdan. Palibhasa film cam ang dala ko kaya hindi ako pwedeng basta-basta kumuha ng shots dahil masasayang ang film. Though marami-rami na rin siyang kuha sa camera ko kasi may dala akong extra roll of films. Still, anong laban ko sa dslr niya?!

"Don't go near me, love. You're just wearing sports bra." biglang pagtataboy niya at lumayo sakin. Gulo ko siyang pinagmasdan at napailing nalang.

After five minutes, we continued to follow the trail. Habang tumatagal ay nakakaramdam na rin ako ng pagod. First time ko naman kasing maghike nang ganito kalayo. 8 miles is no joke, it's already tiring. Wala pa man kami sa destinasyon namin ay nananakit na ang paa ko.

"Paesyn.." I called when I observed that he's really putting distance between us. Is he seriously bothered with what I'm wearing? Normal lang naman 'to sa naghahike, parang baliw.

He just arched his brows at me. I motioned him to come near me but he looked at my torso first. "Why? Already tired?" nang-aasar nanaman ang tono niya.

Malakas pala siyang mang-asar kapag nasa hiking.

"Yes, walk beside me." nag-iwas siya ng tingin at nagkunwaring hindi narinig ang sinabi ko.

"Paesyn." he's not looking at me anymore.

"Paesyn.." he acted like he's counting the leaves on the tree.

"Pae.." kumukuha naman siya ng random pictures ngayon.

"Baby Paepae.." he glanced at me but he immediately averted his gaze.

"Paesyn!" sigaw ko na kaya napatigil siya at tuluyang tumingin sakin. He sighed when I glared at him.

"Carry me on your back, please?" I grinned secretly when he unhesitatingly come near me and positioned himself so I can ride on his back.

"C'mon, love.." I grabbed his arm and continued walking.

"I thought you want me to carry you?" umiling ako at ngumiti sakaniya.

"Nope, just walk beside me." tinitigan niya pa ako at umiling nalang nang marealize kung anong ginawa ko. I just really want to hold onto him while walking. Ang layo niya ba naman sakin.

"Hindi ka pa pagod?" I asked him after one more hour. I'm already munching an almond while we're walking but Paesyn doesn't look tired yet. It looks like it's really nothing to him even if he walk for hours.