Ventures of Love

CHAPTER 2: Camp

Yves, still silent in the back seat, felt at ease. No one could tell what these guys could do to her, but she had no choice but to have faith in them.

They all look fine and well-mannered, though.

Geo's idea turned down any risks by letting a stranger into their circle. Eventually, Yves was with them.

The tree trenches they passed through were her bandage against all her negative thoughts about the four guys. Her attention to the road made her realize how remote the area was. Imagine if something bad happened to her, screaming for help wouldn't be enough to save her.

Why didn't she notice it beforehand?

Stupid, Yves.

"Are you ok there, Yves?" Geo probably noticed her disturbed silence.

Their eyes met in the rearview mirror.

"I can get killed here," Yves says in almost a whisper, returning her gaze to the side of the road. It was a clear realization she had.

Geo nodded his head, grasping where Yves came from. "Yeah. There's no community here, as you can see." He said, demonstrating his hands on the road. "You are still lucky that the taxi that brought you here didn't do anything aside from steal your things.

Jericho agreed by nodding his head. "It's good that we found you."

"If only you had told us yesterday what happened to you, we could've brought you along," Geo added.

Yves took a deep sigh, going back to where it all started. Of all the situations she passed through, this is where she felt the most stupid. How could she not notice?

Jericho and Geo didn't initiate the conversation further. They couldn't cope with the woman, given that Yves only plastered nonchalance. She was neither worried nor happy.

With no destination in mind, they drove straight on the highway. Yves indulges herself, feeling awe at the scenic afternoon. Maybe for the past years, she was too busy to sustain the need of her late mother to forget the world.

Various orange tones paint the sky that afternoon. Each ray that touches feels warm and nostalgic, like the same scene she used to enjoy when she was little.

Little Yves, who plays around the farm. Those moments where the only problem she had was how she could skip her afternoon nap to play. Those times when her world was wide and kind.

Funny how our adult self suddenly craves going back to being a child, while we used to dream of being an adult when we were young.

"We had to find a spot to camp on." Geo cracks the silence with a decision. "It's close to evening."

He turned on his walkie-talkie to communicate with the other vehicle. "Arnold... Arnold. We had to find a spot to camp on."

"Copy that. Where?"

"There is a water stream on our left side, according to my map. Maybe we can camp there since there is an open field."

"Ök. Let's see if we can camp there."

Geo slid down his window once he saw the street corner on the left side. He maneuvered the vehicle to enter the narrow entrance. Jericho dismounted the car and walked in front to check the road ahead.

Yves has nothing to do but watch them move around and listen to how they secure a campsite on the other side. After a while, their cars move and eventually enter the narrow road. Her upper body sways left and right due to the rugged road.

She can see Jericho guiding the vehicles at the front.

They soon came to the edge of the woodland and heard the boys cheering. Geo dismounted the car to inspect the place. The four men strolled around until they clustered near where they had parked and joyfully leaped.

Seeing them happy, Yves decided to get off.

The sky was almost dark at that time. Mosquitoes and other insects began to fly wherever they could. Geo walked back to her, seeing that she had left the car.

"We are going to rest here tonight. Don't worry, we have water to bathe in." Geo pointed out where they found the stream, which Yves' eyes followed. "Is this ok with you?"

Yves's eyebrows slightly moved, discerning that Geo was talking to her like she was a child.

"I can't turn this all back if I am not ok here, can I?" A slight tone of sarcasm escaped from her mouth, making Geo's lips purse. She walked past the man to see the river they rejoiced in.

Indeed, they found a visible riverbed with many huge, natural river stones. The sound of the water gracefully flowing through the disarrayed terraces of big granite rocks felt like a call to swim.

"We can swim here." Arnold professed.

"It's so clear. Look!" Jericho reached for Yves' hand, guiding her down the rocks.

"Couldn't it have leeches?" She innocently asked, wandering her eyes.

The four of them fell into silence and exchanged innocent looks.

"It doesn't." Suddenly, Geo appeared behind their backs. All of them turned to him. "Leeches inhabit rivers, but commonly in slow-moving or still waters."

"Ahhh!" They expressed in unison.

Dusk approached faster. Everyone has a role to fill, such as Arnold and Wallace, who were collecting branches and withered leaves for the fire. On the other hand, Jericho was in charge of cooking dinner.

Since Yves didn't feel like doing anything, she approached Jericho, who was currently chopping a whole chicken. He was the only person she felt less awkward with.

"Do you need help?" Yves softly asked, which instantly caught Jericho's attention.

"Not really..." After saying that, he proceeded to cut the chicken into pieces. "But you can chop those onions there." He then told, pointing to the unchopped ingredients on the other table.

Yves instantly looks for the knife and starts crushing the garlic. Knowing the menu wasn't her interest.

"Do you know how to cook?" Jericho tries to bring up a possible conversation.

"Frying, yes." Yves thriftily answered.

"Other than that?"

Yves hinted that Jericho would want them to have a conversation, but for some reason, she felt she wasn't required to.

"I know some, but I don't usually cook."

Jericho nodded his head. "What dishes can you cook for us then?"

This time, the question caught Yves off guard. She brought the chopped aromatics to the man so he could start sautéing. "If you are going to be with us for quite some days, I suggest you have something you could do for us in return."

He sounded like he wanted to challenge Yves. Maybe a way for Yves to get comfortable with him.

Yves handed the chopped aromatics to Jericho so he could start sautéing. "I'll cook you eggs."

"No! Something with soup."

"Rice?"

His brows moved a bit closer to each other, wondering what Yves could mean by her answer. "Rice? Is there something like rice soup?"

Both of them stared at each other, thinking.

"What are you talking about?" Yves asked in a curious tone. "Porridge?"

"Huh?" Jericho put down the plate of aromatics. "I think porridge is not a soup. It is sticky, right?"

"Does that make a soup if you put a lot of water in it?"

Silence fell between their curiosity, maybe until Jericho burst into laughter. Yves couldn't help but smile and later chuckle with Jericho.

She hit his shoulder and covered her smile.

"You know so much, huh?" Jericho told between his chuckles. He then continued with his choir, igniting the stove. "I was like, rice soup? Is there such a thing as that?"

"No! What I mean is I can cook rice," Yves defended, watching the man cook. "But do you know 'am'? It was a milk substitute."

"No, what's that?"

"It's the boiling water of rice."

"Ahhh!"

Yves only watches and randomly assists Jericho throughout the cooking. Meanwhile, the three guys are gathered around the fire, sometimes peeping at the duo when they hear them laugh and talk.

It only took them half an hour to prepare their supper. With wooden plates and silver utensils, only a tiny table holds them together under the somberness.

"Ok. Let's pray..." Geo led the prayer. "Lord, we thank you for another day of safe adventure and the continuous guidance and protection you gave us. We pray for your blessings as we gather for our dinner. We also pray for Yves, Lord, may you bless her with a clear mind to assess her situation and a pure heart to get along with us. Bless our food, Lord, as it will refill our strength for what tomorrow may bring. In Jesus' name, we pray..."

All of them, in unison. "Amen!"

Yves secretly smiles, appreciating the sudden inclusion in prayer. She was surprised by the practice of praying before meals. Who can tell that these big guys could pray? Maybe Yves does not expect much since she doesn't practice doing it.

Only Yves filled hers when they finished spooning food onto their plates. It was simple, but Geo took it as an opportunity to connect and plan their tomorrow.

Yves chews her food in silence while listening. Despite having no idea about their lifestyle, she has already entrusted herself to these men, whom she had only met that morning.

Honestly, she's scared. Who doesn't? You are in a place you have never been, and the first person you interacted with robbed you. The only thing that valorizes you to depend on another stranger is hope.

Is this bad luck? Is there a superstition about going on a vacation after burial rites?

"Yves?"

Yves flinches when Jericho pokes her in the knee. She didn't know everyone was staring at her until a light touch hauled her to her senses.

"Y-yes?"

Geo and others chuckled.

"You must've been thinking deeply." Arnold retorted.

"Geo and I will search for a public market tomorrow. We're low on stock, and we'll buy you some clothes. You can come with us to personally pick your choice of clothes." Jericho explained.

Yves lightly nodded her head. "Ok."

"May I ask you something, Yves?" Wallace calls for her attention.

"Hmm?" Her brows lift.

"How old are you?" He then asked.

"I am 25." She shortly answered.

"Married?" Arnold followed.

Yves shook her head and spooned some rice to eat.

"What are you doing here then?" Geo asked. "What brought you to Palawan?"

Yves swallowed what was left in her mouth, suddenly feeling tense by the switch in topic. Air suddenly crawled into her skin, cold.

"My aunt suggested that I have at least a week to go on a vacation. She had the same suggestion as my work manager." Yves tried her best to keep her words firm, but she couldn't stop being nervous. Her voice trembled uncontrollably.

Silence fell. No one among them would want to get in between her narrative. Doing so would only ruin the chance to hear Yves' story.

Yves' eyes focused on the fire as she couldn't endure the stares she was getting. She felt all her hair standing on end.

"It wasn't supposed to be a far vacation. I only wanted to be alone, but my aunt told me she booked me a flight and accommodation here. Maybe I wasn't myself for the past days since my mom died, but I couldn't justify why it had to be here." Yves continues, reminiscing.

Although she wasn't seeing, Yves felt how they exchanged looks. That's when she decided to cut the story. She quickly glanced at them before eating the remaining food on her plate.

Yves felt at ease when they didn't question her further.

Wallace and Jericho later went to the river to wash their used plates. She offered to do it since she did nothing during the preparation, but Geo wanted her to rest.

Holding a small light in her hand, Yves approached the gushing river. The crashing of water on the large granite marble creates more deafening sounds. Even after checking the surroundings for harmful animals, Yves still couldn't feel secure.

Defying her fear, she dipped herself into the river.

"If something bad happens to me here, at least I'm in nature," Yves whispered, gaslighting herself. More likely, scaring herself.

The water was surprisingly warm despite the cold climate in the forest. Still, cold enveloped Yves' body.