Crumbled

Five.

Seven years ago..

"Nics, pakisabi na lang kay Tita na lumabas muna ako ha!"

"Okay. But please, magdala ka ng phone mo, Menggay. Hindi na naman alam kung saan ka hahanapin nyan mamaya. Kung saan saan ka pa naman nakakarating 'pag dala mo yung mga gamit mo."

"Ang daming sinabi . Oo na, basta sabihin mo nalang. Bye!"

Wearing her favorite yellow sundress and loafers, she grabbed her backpack and canvas board then took off.

Nico is right, though. Whenever she goes out to paint, no one knows where she'll go. Neither does she.

Once she feels like she wants to paint, she takes her painting materials with her, goes out and let her feet take her wherever she'll find the perfect spot.

And in Marilog, it can literally be anywhere.

But this time, she already have a beautiful place in mind.

One tricycle ride and few minutes of walking from home, she finally reached her destination.

Epol Falls.

It is one of the most visited tourist attraction in the Marilog District. But luckily and probably because she came waaaay too early, there wasn't any tourist yet when she arrived.

"Ha! Yesssss!"

Like a cat waiting to pounce a mouse, she felt giddy with excitement. She couldn't wait to get her hands to those slick paint brushes she brought and start painting the beauty of the Epol to her own canvas.

In Epol Falls, there are available bamboo huts in the area where tourists can stay. But, instead of staying there where she can leave her things without worrying about them getting sprinkled with water from the falls, she decided to stay near the water, under the trees. From there, she's got the perfect angle.

EPOL is actually an acronym which stands for Everlasting Power of Love Waterfalls. According to the legend, it was once a rendezvous of a secret affair of two young lovers. It was a witness of a forbidden love.

When the father of the girl found out about the relationship, he took her away to a faraway place and the boy has never seen her again.

From then on, the boy visited the place everyday, hopelessly hoping that the girl will come back. One day, when he was old, he saw an old woman sitting beside the falls. It was his old girlfriend. They cried, hugged each other and hold on the "Everlasting power of Love".

She has always thought that the story was fascinating. It was the place's own version of Romeo and Juliet's story. And for every painting she's done, there is always a story.

Kaya naisipan nya na Epol Falls ang bago nya subject para ipinta.

She settled for a spot beside the falls, took out her tools and started painting. With a smile on her face, her hand dances with the sound of the water continuously flowing down the falls.

The sound and the cold breeze were very inviting. She felt like it was calling her to dive in before she starts working.

And so she did.

Since no one was around, she took off her sundress and with a two piece on, she dives in.

"Ahhhhh! Ang saraaaaaap!"

She continued to swim while enjoying the cascades of the cold water that plunges into a natural pool. She was having a great time.

Until she felt like someone is around..