Over the Mountain

CHAPTER 9: SUNRISE

CHAPTER 9: SUNRISE

Three years later…

Time flies so fast. It feels like yesterday, I used to hate that we were going to live here. But now, we’ve been living here for three years. Dad has been working as the park ranger for years and now, he got promoted as the chief of station 1. Dad always tells me that his work is always at risk, but he also tells me that his work is letting him embrace the whole mountain. Roaming around the mountain and always seeing the beautiful view of it is magnificent. I feel jealous of Dad, as well as of Leo who is living on the mountain. But just like what they always tell me, just wait and I will be able to finally see the beauty of the mountain.

Back in Manila, when the weekend comes, I always oversleep without worrying because it’s the weekend. I have nothing to do. Nothing to do. But not here.

Alas dos pa lang ng umaga pero gising na gising at handa na ako para sa pagsisimula ng aking araw. Jogging. I will jog with Leo. Sa lahat ng aming jogging session ay ito na ang pinaka-maagang pagsisimula namin. Dati, hindi ako hinahayaan nila Mommy at Daddy na magjog o gumawa ng outdoor activities, pero ngayon, they are letting me to do some extra ordinary activities.

I tied my shoelace before facing my full body mirror. I just wear a simple sweatshirt paired with black tight leggings and sketchers. I’m ready and I’m excited. It’s not the first time that I will jog with Leo, pero tuwing magjo-jogging kami ay hindi ko pa rin maiwasang maging excited.

Over the year, I started to figure the strange feeling that I have been feeling towards Leo. Thanks to my friend Celestine for opening the door of realization for me. With that, I was able to realize what it is. And until now, nararamdaman ko pa rin ang pakiramdam na iyon. And it’s growing deeper.

“Morning,” I greeted.

“Morning too,” he greeted. “You look energetic again,” he notices.

“Have I been not energetic?” I ask, raising my left brow.

Leo chuckles. “Never,”

I laugh and give him a thumbs up. “Now, let’s go, trainer,”

“Hey,” he said and caught me on my elbow.

“What?”

He grins. “We’re going to climb the mountain now,”

“You are kidding me,” I accused him.

From my elbow, his gentle hand falls to my wrist, to my hand. He then squeezed it. “Let’s go,” he said and pulls me to jog while he’s holding my hand.

He’s not lying when he told me that we are going to climb the mountain now. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, after three years of waiting, I will finally climb the mountain!

Ang totoo niyan ay masyado akong natagalan sa ensayo na ginagawa ni Leo sa akin. I don’t really get why he wants me to train for year bago ako umkyat ng bundok. Pero ngayon ay natanto ko na ang kaniyang punto. The way up to the mountain is not easy and looks dangerous. Well, it’s somehow dangerous if hindi ka mag-iingat. Now, I get him. He trained me for years to get physically fit in climbing the mountain without any hardships. He didn’t just train me; he also molds my body to adapt the atmosphere in the mountain.

Leo looks back at me and offers his hand. I smile at him before accepting his helping hands. Kasabay ng patuloy naming pag-akyat sa bundok ay ang paunti-unting paglitaw ng liwanag sa kalangitan. Kaya naman mas lalo akong naexcite nang sabihin ni Leo na pwede pa naming maabutan ang pag-akyat ng araw kung bibilisan namin ng kaunti. With all my perseverance, we were able to witness the beautiful sunrise.

“Sayang! Wala ang phone ko,” sambit ko dahil nais kong kunan ng litrato ang sunrise.

“Look here,” he said, and I obeyed.

Paglingon ko sa kaniyang gawi ay handa na ang kaniyang cellphone para kunan ako ng litrato sa napaka gandang view ng sunrise sa tuktuk ng bundok. Well, hindi pa ito ang pinaka-tuktuk ayon kay Leo. We will climb the peak, but now.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang beses niya akong kinunan ng litrato but all I did is to smile at the camera. Syempre, mayroon ding larawan na kaming dalawa and the sunrise is the background.

I spread my arms and inhaled the mountain’s air. It’s so fulfilling! After three years of sweating and showing my hardwork, it finally paid off. I shed a tear, but I am smiling. The joy inside my heart is unbearable. Unti-unti akong lumingon kay Leo na kanina pang nakamasid sa akin mula sa likod. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at mabilis na tinakbo ang pagitan namin para yakapin siya.

“Thank you, Leo,” I sincerely said.

“You are always welcome, Sierra,” he sincerely replied before returning the hug.

Sa loob ng tatlong taon na sinanay niya ako, marami akong natutunan. I could still remember how we argue every time I hit the brat button on my controller. Palagi siyang nagtitimpi sa akin sa tuwing nagmamatigas ako at umaayaw sa ibang bagay. I even got mad at him dahil lang sa tagal naming nagtra-training at hindi pa rin niya ako pinapayagang umakyat ng bundok. I could still remember how he patiently taught me everything.

I hate waiting. That’s a fact. They always call me a brat because I always do what I want to do without listening to others. They call me a brat because I always get what I want. They always call me a brat because I stick to my decision even if they tell me that it’s not a good decision. I’m a brat. But not until now.

Now, I get why Dad let me get trained by Leo. He knows that he can’t resist my charm so, he needs someone who can resist me. And Leo passed the criteria.

“You just don’t know how I felt guilty every time you cry in front of me because you can’t climb the mountain anymore,” Leo admitted as we stayed on the mountain and watch the sunrise. “I always remind myself not to get bewitched by your charms,” he then laughs. “Hindi mo lang alam kung paano akong nagtimpi, Sierra,”

I blush but I hide it. “Hindi mor in alam kung paano kong tiniis ang lahat!” tumatawang sumbat ko. “Imagine how I bravely take the risk to get muscled. Imagine how brave I am to gain weight because you always call me skinny and bamboo!”

Leo laughs and it becomes a piece of music in my ears. “Well, I’m proud of you,” he confessed. “All along, I believe that you won’t last. Na susuwayin mo rin ako at palihim kang aakyat ng bundok mag-isa. But I was wrong. Because you just showed me that you are not a total brat at all,”

I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling. “I’m brat or not, I accept myself,” I proudly said. “Hindi man halata but I am a very persistent person. If I like something, I always do to have it. People think that I just get what I have through my charms but it’s not true. Everything I have is the result of my perseverance.”

“I agree with that,” he commented.

“And for the past three years, I learned a lot. But on top of it, I was able to learn how important waiting is,” then I look at him. “I learned that every great thing happens to those who patiently wait,”

“Exactly,” he agreed and his handsome face flashes as the sunlight reflected on his eyes. “I’m still patiently waiting for something…someone,” he whispers the last word, but my ears catch it.

“Me too,” I admitted, and I look at the sunrise.

Naramdaman ko ang pagtitig sa akin ni Leo pero nanatili ang tingin ko sa magandang tanawin. In front of me is a good view. But Leo is the best view. Yet, I can’t still look at the best view for now. I have to patiently wait until I am able to stare at the best view that my eyes could ever see.

Napangiti ako sa sarili ko. Siguro ng mata ng iba, bata pa ako. Bata pa ang isipan. O kaya ay isa pa lang akong dalaga. Isa pa lang bulaklak na unti-unting namumukadkad. But I know myself bettern than anyone else.

I like Leo. I like him since the day I saw him when we move here. Pero bata pa ako ng panahon na iyon at hindi ko pa alam ang salitang pagkagusto. That time, all I know is that I want to climb the mountain. That time, all I want is to have the collection of hair clips and floral dresses. Pero ngayon, alam ko na kung ano nararamdaman ko. But I still don’t want to admit it. Because I’m afraid that Leo might distance himself if learns that like him. Lalo na kung hindi naman kami pareho ng nararamdaman.

“I envy you,” I suddenly said.

“Hmm?”

“Palagi mong napagma-masdan ang tanawin na ito,” sabay pout ko.

I heard him chuckle. “Yeah. I always wake up early in the morning. Make my own coffee and then watch the sunrise,”

I grimace. That’s so good! “That’s a perfect picture,”

“It is. But…of all the times I’ve watched the sunrise, this time is my most favorite one,” confessed. “It just felt special,”

I bit my lower lip. I don’t want to think too much about his word, but we feel the same. This feels special.

“Now, I understand why my parents always watch the sunrise together. As well as the sunset,” he said.

“I want to watch the sunset too,” I honestly said. “But I’m afraid that Dad will look after me if I got home late,”

Leo chuckles. “Do you really like to watch the sunset?”

“Yes,”

“Alright. We’ll watch the sunset next time,” he said. “Ipapaalam muna kita,”

“Why don’t you paalam me na ngayon?”

“No. Gusto kitang ipaalam ng personal,” he retorted. “The mountain is peaceful but there are some wild animals living here. At delikado ang bundok kapag gabi,” dagdag niya. “I am responsible for your safety. So, I want to ask them personally,”

I shrugged. “Then I’ll just wait for that next time,” I said and looks back at the sunrise. “Ang ganda talaga…” komento ko.

“Sobra. Sobrang ganda talaga…” komento rin niya.

And there is something in his tone that’s why I look in his direction where I found him looking at me wholeheartedly.