In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 2

A week before the mountain trip....

"Dei, do you really have to go on this trip? Don't you think this is a bit extreme for a lady photographer like you?" Uno, her special friend asked her for the second time that night since she informed him that her mountain trip is already confirmed for next weekend. Uno dropped by her office that night to persuade her to have dinner with him.

Dei took a deep breath, counted to three, and exhaled before answering his question while rolling her eyes in exasperation.

"Uno, we've already discussed this before when I first agreed to take on this project with Sports Weekend Magazine. I want this to be as realistic as possible. You know how much I hate simulated studio scenes when working on themed shoots." She answered while checking the proofs from her last photo shoot inside the office in her studio.

Uno walked towards her and sat perched on the left side of her executive desk where she was seated and looked at her closely.

Dei and Uno have been friends since their third year in college after Uno saved her a couple of times from potentially life-threatening incidents.

She has always been accident prone even as she was still growing up. Mishaps and misadventures seemed to have become part of her life especially when she entered college mostly because she has always been a strong-willed, independent, and stubborn young woman.

Now, both have already graduated and are already making a name in their respective careers. Uno with his family's own Advertising firm. Dei in Photography.

A year after they graduated, Uno has finally found the courage to try to level up their relationship but Dei has some reservations that she still can't discuss with him so they remained platonic friends until now.

"Dei, I understand that photography is your passion. I just think that you are going too far with this project. Imagine, you requested to have the shoot on location in some remote mountain. You've never gone mountaineering before in your life and here you are requesting for this! Ano ba pumasok sa isip mo? You are risking yourself for a hobby?!" Uno argued emphatically.

Dei also graduated with a degree in Advertising but chose to take on a career in Photography instead. Her passion for photography started as a hobby back in college when she got enticed to join the school's photography club.

Dei felt her irritation mounting with his words but she tried to control herself. She has always felt this way everytime Uno is acting overprotective with her.

"Are you insinuating that I'm too fragile for this kind of project? I know I am neither the bravest nor the most athletic girl out there but I really want to do this project right!" She answered hotly.

Uno sighed dejectedly while watching her angrily shuffle through the papers scattered on top of her desk.

"I'm not saying that you are weak or fragile. I'm just worried because these kinds of locations are not exactly what you are used to. You are a city girl by heart and you are not exactly the outdoors sport type of person either." Uno tried to hold her hand that is on top of the desk but she moved her hand away and stood up from her chair.

"And that's exactly my reason for this ocular visit. I'm going there to check the place. I want to familiarize myself with the area so I can already plan ahead with what I want for the shoot. It's not as if I'm going to engage in extreme sports like cliff diving, or rappelling. The mountain is relatively easy to climb even for amateurs like me. Anyway, why am I even explaining this to you? We're not even officially in a relationship for you to be acting this way!" She strode towards the wide window beside her desk and crossed her arms moodily as she looked out at the city lights that are coming alive as the late afternoon sun sunk in the horizon.