Two hearts met in Banaue

It was a sunny Saturday morning in September when Klare arrived in Banaue at Mountain Province. It has been a long ride from the city of Manila. She looks at the sun rays kissing her face and closes her eyes as she feels the warmth and fresh air. What a beautiful place, she said in her mind. She looked at the passengers going down from the bus she had ridden the whole night.

Fixing her backpack, Klare went to a coffee shop and café three minutes away from the bus terminal. The homey feeling of the café welcomed her. She immediately sat at a corner table by the window. The smell of coffee, freshly baked bread, and food offered by the café came into her smell. She looked at the window and was mesmerized by the magnificent view of Banaue Rice Terraces. It has green and yellow rice grass plants that are near harvest time. It was a magnificent view. She looks at it with awe and wonder. She turned around when a waiter came near her, holding the menu. She accepted it and smiled at the waiter. She scanned the menu and ordered a cup of brewed coffee and french toast. The waiter told her to wait for about two to three minutes before it was served.

While waiting for her order, Klare looked around and appreciated the beauty of the café. Indigenous art pieces and displays are placed in the corner. They also sell local products like keychains and other items. When her order arrived, she enjoyed it, which relieved her hunger. She stayed there for a while before paying for her order. At the counter, a tall man in front of her is busy looking for his wallet. Klare did not pay attention to it but looked when the man repeatedly said sorry to the waiter as he lost his wallet and could not find the cash to pay for his coffee earlier. There was no Wi-Fi or internet in the café since it is a secluded place so the man could not access his online banking and payments. It was already late when he realized that he had lost his wallet. The man was very embarrassed and sorry, trying to find a way to pay for it and find cash. Klare saw the counter table and the man's order only amounted to 50 pesos. She is thinking of helping him and will pay for it instead. She gets 500 pesos from her wallet and looks at the waiter to pay for her P150 pesos order plus the 50 pesos for the man. The man looked at Klare and smiled with a guilty look on his face. He was very shy and said he did not expect to lose his wallet. He politely thanked Klare and asked how he could pay her. Klare insisted that it was okay and that he did not need to pay. The man was very thankful and asked about his contact information since he really wanted to pay Klare. It will take two hours to ride downtown for the man to withdraw some cash.

Klare went to a hotel where she booked to stay for five days. She rode a tricycle, and it took fifteen minutes from the café. She saw a beautiful two-storey house in the middle of the woods with an overlooking view. The owner greeted her and welcomed her. The house is made out of wood and designed beautifully. She was guided to her room in the left corner on the second floor. It has only three bedrooms and is very spacious. When she entered her room, she organized her things and rested a bit before going out to enjoy the place. She had no plans for today as she really wanted to rest and body and mind.

Klare was admiring the view from the hotel's backyard while taking photos on her phone. There was no signal in the area but she loved it since she could focus on the view. Time passes and she has stayed in the backyard for about five hours already. She had her iced coffee and just relaxed in that beautiful place. She decided to look for food and entered the hotel's dining area. She went to the table with a window view and was about to sit when the man she met at the café looked at her while sitting and working in his laptop at the next table. The man's face looked so shocked and gave her a big smile. She stood and went to Klare's table, asking if he could sit at the chair in front of her. Klare nodded and smiled too. The man introduced himself as Yorrick. Klare also introduced herself. Yorrick was very thankful for Klare's help at the café and admitted he was very shy about what happened. They both decided to order lunch and Yorrick insisted on paying for it as thanksgiving for Klare's kind-hearted and since he went downtown before coming to the hotel, which is the same hotel where Klare would be staying. Yorrick could not believe that he would meet Klare again in this same place.

Yorrick and Klare talked for a long time while having their lunch. They shared about their jobs and got to know each other. Klare works as a nurse and Yorrick as an engineer. Yorrick shared that he was having a week of vacation at Banaue and to treat himself to his upcoming birthday on Monday. Klare was surprised to hear it since it was also her birthday on Monday. They both laughed so hard when they knew about it. Klare would be 29years old, while Yorrick would be turning 33. Yorrick asked permission if they could celebrate it together. Since Klare had no other plans that day, she agreed. The two continued talking and did not realise how time had passed by as they shared various stories.

Sunday morning, Klare went downtown to call her family and friends. Her parents and only brother greeted her and shared that they really wanted to spend her birthday together. But they also understand that Klare wanted to disconnect for now and will stay at Banaue to rest due to being busy at the hospital. She also called many of her friends, colleagues and other relatives. She went to look and buy something special for herself as a remembrance of her birthday. She immediately thought of Yorrick and bought a simple gift as she enjoyed talking with him and was glad she had someone to talk to during her stay in Banaue. She decided to buy a wallet for Yorrick and smiled while remembering their first encounter.

It was already 8 o'clock in the morning when Klare woke up. The cold breeze of Banaue greeted her on her window. She looked at the wonderful view before her, thanking God for giving her another year. She fixed herself before going out to her hotel room to have coffee for a light breakfast. She did not want to fill her stomach since Yorrick invited her to have their birthday lunch at Café in the Sky, located at Benguet. The hotel owner and staff smiled and greeted her with a happy birthday as she sat beside the window in her usual spot and table. Yorrick was also there sitting, sipping on his brewed coffee. He already ordered one for Klare. Klare said thanks while greeting Yorrick, too, on his birthday. They had a short conversation while having coffee.

Yorrick said it would be a four hours drive but they could have some snacks on the way. Both of them also wanted to explore the place using a convertible car and Yorrick will drive. It was around 9 o'clock when they left the hotel. Yorrick wears a blue polo shirt, black pants and rubber shoes, while Klare also wears a floral light blue dress and black step-in.

While on the road, Yorrick did not run out of topics during their conversation. Klare loved that there were no awkward moments for them. As if they have known each other for a long time. She is comfortable talking and laughing with Yorrick. She loved that he initiated to continue the conversation. They lose track of time until they arrive at the café in the Sky.

They were immediately welcomed by the water and guided to their reservation table in a secluded corner with a panoramic view of the place. Oh, what a lovely place, Klare muttered. Yorrick smiled and was glad that he had invited her to this café. They have a perfect area and enjoy the place and music while waiting for their order. When the delicious food and drinks arrived, Yorrick got a small box in his bag and gave it to Klare as a gift. It was a lovely bracelet with three small sunflowers on it. Klare smiled and also gave her a gift. They laugh together as Yorrick opens the gift and sees the blue wallet. He accepted it with a big smile, remembering their first meeting and coincidence. They enjoyed their late lunch and talk about many things, including their jobs, family and personal plans for life. Their communication continued despite going back to Manila and returning to the reality of life Yorrick also visits Klare in the hospital where she works from time to time.

After one year, Yorrick decided to pursue and admit her feelings for Klare. After how many months, Klare accepted his love and they officially became a couple. Yorrick said that once he saw her at Banaue before she entered the café, he already fell in love at first sight. He prayed that maybe one day, he would find someone he could love for a lifetime and could not believe it was happening now.

Yorrick and Klare continued to cherish their relationship and will be going to Banaue this April to have their wedding at that memorable place.

- The End -