ONE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES

CHAPTER 10

Inabot pa kami ng hapon sa araw na iyon. Hinayaan ko muna siyang kumuha ng mga litrato habang naglalakad  lakad nang nakalagay ang kamay ko sa braso niya. Sinasabi niya rin sa akin kung ano ang mga nakikita niya at nilalarawan ang mga ito. May mga pagkakataong nagbibiro pa rin siya ng kung ano anong out of this world na mga bagay. Nagkakakwentuhan at mga mahihinang tawanan. Napapahampas pa ako sa kanya sa twing bumebenta sa'kin ang mga sinasabi niya.

Hindi ko naman mapigilang pagtimbangin kung anong nararamdaman ko sa kanya lalo na't sa tinanong niya sa akin kanina. Hindi ko mapigilang mag-isip kung ano nga ba ito at kung saan patungo ang aming ugnayan. Basta ang alam ko'y masaya ako at nagpapasalamat sa kanyang pagdating sa buhay ko. Sinagip niya ako sa lubos na kalungkutan at pagkalugmok.

Tahimik akong nag-iisip habang abala naman siya sa pagkuha ng larawan sa aming nadadaanan. Pauwi na kami nang may makita siya.

"Wow, ayun oh!" natutuwang sambit niya na para bang batang nakakita ng pagkaing gusto niyang matikman.

Hinatak naman niya at sa aking braao at nagmamadaling kinaladkan sa isang lugar. Amo'y ko ang mabangong usok mula rito at talagang mukhang nakakatakam.

"Halika bilis, kain tayo haha. Tagal kong di nakatikim nito." nagmamadaling hila sa akin sa kung saan.
Nagtataka ako kung ano amg tinutukoy niya at ang saya-saya niya. Nang ibigay niya sa akin ay agad ko ring nalasahan ang masarap na flavor ng Myungrang Hotdog. It is a type of meryenda dito sa Korea na madalas i.menu sa mga fastfood chains, but this time parang stall itong kinaroroonan namin. Hotd9g siya but not the typical hotdog we all know. Mayroon twist at iba't ibang pakulo. May mga flavor na parang ibinudbod sa dough, meron namang ini.roll sa mga breedings at nilagayan pa ng cheese. Maraming klase pa kaya naman malakas ang benta.

***

"Berto, what if I didn't get my sight back? Would you still love me?" I want to know his thoughts.

"What's that kind of question? I met you this way and I love you this way. Of course I also hope that you restore your sight but I swear to love you the way you are regardless your condition." he softly uttered near my ear while he's hugging me from the back and his arms are around my waist.

"What'd you do if I didn't?"

"Then we will continue to travel the places we want to go. And if you do, we'll still visit the ones we used to travel."

Just like now, we visit the Mt. Hallasan. It is an active volcano inside Hallasan National Park on the magnificent Jeju Island. Just off the Southern tip of Korean Peninsula.

Don't worry though! With many thinking its lack of activity means it should be considered as dormant. You'll be please to hear that it doesn't smoke, it doesn't belch fire, it doesn't do any of those dangerous things. It also lays claim to the title of South Korea's tallest mountain.

In fall, when everything is jacketed by a colorful display of flowers, the mountain covered with the red color of the fall foliage is truly a sight to behold. While the snow-covered mountain in winter stands out as the view to surpass all views.

After the visit in Mt. Hallasan, we decided to make a trip to N Seoul Tower, it is one of the most iconic symbols of the place. This olace has become a popular date spot for couples. And we are one of those hehe. Just like the Pont Neuf bridge in Paris, couples head to N Seoul Tower to lock their padlock of love onto tje railings and to hope there love would last forever. Yes! It is really nice and romantic place. And I admit I also have a padlock here with Ran Sun-hee hehe. But who knows it is this time.

Thanks to K-dramas na napanood ko noon for featuring this spot and also to entertainment programs, travel guides, this tower become so popular.

I never seen this place vacated the very first time I saw it. When  arriving at the base of the tower, its railings and fences covered with padlocks of love, people will feel the weight and importance of love. Many visitors speak Madarin, Vietnamese, English or languages other than Korean. Kahit pa hindi maintindihan ang mga sinasabi nila ay mababatid mo sa bawat ngiti sa kanilang mga pisngi ang kasiyahan as they create loving memories with their love ones. The increased number of tourists adds to the number of padlocks hanging onthe Tower's fences.