decoding the boys ✔️

23 - escapade || edited, uncut ver

We went out to drink after the celebration. Konting inom at kwentuhan lang dahil nagkasundo na rin kaming bumalik after an hour. It was a long day and most of us were bone-tired.

Kinabukasan, ginising ako ni Kuya Andrei at six in the morning. Nakaayos na raw ang iba kaya binilisan ko na ang pag-aayos ko.

"Ready?" tanong ni Kuya Nick nang pumasok sila sa kwarto namin. Tumigil sila sa may sofa at umupo doon.

"You guys told your parents yet?" Kuya Chris suddenly asked.

Kuya Nick nodded. "I've informed Mom na."

"Kausap ni Paul si Papa ngayon," sabi naman ni Mathev.

Lumingon ako sa mga kapatid ko. "Tayo ba? 'Di pa tayo nagpapaalam."

Sa sobrang dami kasing nangyari kahapon, nakalimutan na namin banggitin sa kanila na aalis kami ngayon. Preoccupied din kasi sila sa mga bisita. Parang ang pangit din naman kung sasabayan namin, baka ang isipin pa ni Tita Jackie, ayaw namin sa birthday niya. Respeto ba.

"I told them last night," sabi ni Kuya Travis. "Sa airport na tayo magkikita."

Honestly, wala akong idea bakit sinabi ni Kuya Travis na sa airport na kami magkikita. Ang plano lang naman, pupunta kaming Danasan.

We brought two SUVs with us dahil maarte ang boys at mas gusto ng mas malawak na leg room. Ang mga pinsan ko sa isa; kaming magkakapatid ang magkakasama. Sina Kuya Travis at Kuya Onyx ang magda-drive since sila ang may kabisado ng daan.

"Ride's gonna be long. You wanna sleep?" Kuya Travis asked me, sneaking a sideway glance at me.

I absentmindedly turned around to see my sleeping brothers in the back.

"I'm fine. I'm not sleepy naman."

Kuya chuckled. "Your eyes are drooping. Take a nap."

I ended up falling asleep despite myself. Nagising lang ako nang huminto kami para kumain muna. It was a quick breakfast and then we were back on the road. This time, hindi na ako natulog ulit. I was wide awake, taking in the surroundings we were passing by. I also took over the music some time kanina kaya ngayon, ramdam na ramdam ko na ang roadtrip.

The ride from Crown Royale to Danao was surprisingly long. The ride to Danasan took another hour kaya halos nine na when we arrived.

Since Danasan was nestled up in the mountain, the ride uphill wasn't the smoothest. It was bumpy, wild and everything rough. But the view along it was worth it.

"Malayo pa ba?" I asked.

I groaned when I saw the sign, 12 KM ahead.

"Ten minutes."

As soon as we arrived, I jumped out of the car to see Danasan for myself. In all fairness dito, hindi siya gano'n ka-classy tingnan. It was a simple adventure site boasting a vast stretch of land for different land activities. I loved the outdoor feels it gave off.

Pumunta sa may counter sina Kuya Travis at Kuya Onyx to settle the bill. Then, we were off to our first activity. We rode the ATV and toured around the place as a starter. It was green all around us. In more than one occasion pa nga, napakapit ako at kinabahan dahil muddy at uneven ang ibang terrain. But it was fun.

After that, tumulak na kami papuntang falls, sakay ng tractor. Kung malubak ang daan papuntang Danasan, mas ibang level 'tong papunta sa falls.

Tawang-tawa ako sa kakulitan ng boys habang bumabyahe kahit na kinakabahan ako sa sobrang bumpy ng ride. This one's a real deathly ride. Jusko! Kapit na kapit ako sa tractor! After a couple of minutes, bumaba na kami para simulan ang trek. Here I saw nature at its absolute best. We maneuvered through slippery rocks and passed by some stretches of river. Luscious greens were also in sight everywhere. Huminto ako at one point to take a photo.