Over the Mountain

PROLOGUE: SIERRA When I reach the peak of the mountain and saw the magnificent view from above, I thought I have already seen the most beautiful thing in the world that my eyes can see. But I was wrong. Looking at her right now, I just realized that this is the only time that I saw the most spectacular beauty of all. And that’s her. Her eyes, her smile, and her whole. She is like a mountain. Beautiful but is dangerous too. Yet, deep inside, she’s a hope and a peace. She is my constancy and stability in a world full of fickleness. I bowed my head to hide my smile when I remember the first time that I saw her. It was a bright sunny morning, and she is doing her daily routine, mobilizing in the mountain that early. Her bare face exposes her emotion and that is unwillingness. Her body language says it all—she doesn’t like what she is doing. The stomping of her feet as she walks is enough to know what she is feeling. But even though she was in that mood, she was still beautiful. Like the mountain, even though they keep on destroying it for their desire, the mountain remains beautiful. “Why are you bowing your head down? Are you that shy because of my dancing?” she asks as she sits down beside me. I lift my gaze on her and met her evergreen eyes. “No,” “Hmm, then why does your head was bowed down while I am dancing?” “It’s just…” “What?” she demanded, like her usual tone. I pinch her nose. “I just bowed so I can hide my smile. I am blushing, okay? I just remember the first time I saw you.” From her brat look, her straight-line brows slowly relaxed until a sweet smile formed on her lips. It’s one of my favorite things. Making her smile, laugh, and be happy. My life was way far from how lively her life is, but I still want to make her smile always. I want to witness how soft lips curve into a smile. I want to picture how her raspy voice laugh. I want to always see her. I want to always view her. Because she is more than scenery. She is at peace. I’m not ignorant but I am not also knowledgeable about all the kinds of stuff in the world, not even here in our town. I keep on curiously looking at the things, at the small market which she called food stall and so many more. Because of her, I was able to slowly adapt to the life of the town. Or should I say, the life outside the mountain? “This fits you,” she exclaimed as she tries the polo shirt on my chest. “Sierra?” someone calls that’s why we both look in that direction and see a woman. The woman is the as same age as Sierra but not as beautiful as her. Well, Sierra is the most beautiful woman in my eyes. “Oh, it’s you, Sierra.” Sierra’s jaw muscle moves and it’s already strong proof for me to realize that Sierra doesn’t like the woman in front of her. I’ve been with her for not that too long but not that too short and I was already able to get to know her deeply. I got to know her reactions to the things she likes, dislikes, and her behavior to the people she likes and dislikes too. Sierra is my mountain. She’s open to the ones who see her worth, but not to those who just want her beauty and will just destroy her in the end. “So, the rumors about you moving here were right,” the woman continued and smirked. “Well, how are you, by the way, party girl?” My restrictions not to laugh reach the peak of the mountain when Sierra rolled her eyes frankly, right on the woman’s face. Just like her real attitude, Sierra didn’t filter her reactions and behaviors about something or someone. And that’s one of the things that highlighted her the most. She is really like a river. “Does the news about how I am weren’t included on the news? It looks like that your news signal is poor,” Sierra answered. “Well, I’m all good as you can see. I am currently shopping because it’s my day off and by the way, I’m with my boyfriend,” Sierra proudly said as she clings to my arms. From Sierra, the woman diverted her gaze on me. Her eyes roamed around me from head to toe where I heard Sierra groan. A victorious smile curve on Sierra’s lips when she saw how the woman in front of us examined me. I felt unconscious but when Sierra squeezes my arm muscle, I suddenly felt relaxed. She has that kind of magic where she can easily take control of me on a good day. The two of them continue to talk but the woman becomes defeated as Sierra takes the microphone. Sierra continued talking, flexing rather like she is just answering an interview question. But I know that Sierra is doing it purposely because she knows that the woman will be going to spread all of what she just said. Something that I learned since I came down here in the town. When Sierra was done, she respectfully excuses us so we can continue our shopping. We tried some clothes and bought some before we went to the supermarket and by the house necessities. It’s been our routine in our every day off as Tita Ria always commands us to go to the grocery. Sierra and I never bother to complain because we also both like it. We just don’t go and buy house necessities, but we are also having our simple moments. Being with Sierra even in the simplest things or places feels amazing. The simple things we do become extraordinary special. We become different whenever we are not in the mountain. “Let me,” I said and get the plastic bag that she is carrying. “You already had enough bags carrying,” she answered. “No, it’s okay. Let me carry this. Just hold onto me,” I simply pleaded that making her smile widely. “I won’t reject that,” she playfully said and quickly clings on me where we both landed on laughter. Ever since that thing happens, laughter and light become absent in my life. I spent my life in dark surroundings, just peeking only outside and watching the leaves dancing. But Sierra changes everything. Meeting her is a win-win situation and being close with her is dangerous. Dangerous because she is so warm that she was able to melt the coldness in me. Sierra is easy to love and easy to be with. But the only difficulty of her is that she’s very persistent when she wants something. When Sierra finally found out every detail of me, she become persistent in turning the table. But in the quest of our plan to turn the tables, something happened that cost our lives. The fire on the mountain is slowly eating up every tree and leaves. The Park rangers run the fastest to prevent the wildfire from getting bigger. Sierra and I being one of the rangers help the others until we both figured out that something is off. We are about to turn the table, but the most unwanted thing happens. The one I avoided the most. “Sierra…” I called as I fight the heaviness of my eyes closing. I fight the hardest to stay awake and find her. Save her rather. But my strength is nowhere to be found. I am…too weak to even move. I crawl, ignoring the heavy pain that is consuming my whole. I keep on calling her name as if she could hear me. It’s impossible. It’s very impossible for her to hear me if the surrounding is noisy. The whole mountain…is noisy. The mountain is crying. “Sierra…” I called again and the next thing I knew, someone carries me away from where I last saw my Sierra.