INSANE RAINS

CHAPTER 12 - Banaue Escapade

Billy can’t explain how happy he was. He woke up early in the morning, unusual waking time for a man like Billy. He usually awakened by sun’s agleam or half an hour late to 8:00 am.

The day was filled with cheerfulness and intimacy.

The sky was clear, bluish as it was.

The sun rose beautifully, start of dry season.

Dragonflies flew freely and birds swooped in April morning.

Terrestrial air breeze touched Billy’s face. Fresh to replenished him.

Billy has to be busy for Grace. He readied everything and stood looking afar. Smiled at the crimson sun over the horizon.

Rooster’s alarm awakened Grace. Rays of sun peeped in the window striking her sleepy eyes. She wrinkled and shrank them. She idly rose and sat beside her bed. Ten minutes after awakening her brain and blood, she walked straight out the farmhouse and she saw Billy showered in sun rays.

“Good mornin’, Love.” Grace yawned freely and stretched her arms up. And he strode near to Billy. Billy embraced her in the back, casting a shadow on the green land, making it sweet. They both shrank their eyes as they looked at the sunrise. “It’s relaxing… refreshing in here, Billy, Love.”

“As you know, this is the place I was reared by my parents and Lopop, my grandfather who died ten years back… Banaue has so many good memories, the reason I’ll always want to come back.”

Billy smiled in a tight lined lips and added, "Anyway, I'll tour you here. There are many amazing natures that I'm sure you'll love to see. The places we should visit before."

Grace was just feeling comfy in his hug and wowwed when she heard nature. "It'll be exciting visit and a date." and looked at Billy waiting for a yea response.

Billy loosened the hug and turned Grace unto him and said, "You'll also love the culture and dance."

"Yea. I know. Tayo? I'd also danced that in our Humanity class."

"Is it nice?" asking for approval and Grace uttered, "It was one of the nicest native dance I'd ever saw." She thought of on how Billy dance and teased him. "Show me on how you hit the ground. Dance for me, Love."

Billy scratched his head and grimaced. "Is that a challenge? Then watch me hit the ground." He boasted and he positioned his body: bent, butt out, chest out, spread the left arm to the side and bent his right hand positioned just below the chest, and started dancing and Grace danced too.

"You danced bad." Billy jeered and laughed at her. Grace narrowed her brows and chased Billy to spunk him but Billy ran swiftly and stopped in a sudden, and caught her in the waist and carried her, hugged her tightly. "I love you."

After morning meal, they arrived towards Barangay Viewpoint to give a close eye to the Staircase to Heaven. The day was perfect to gallivant around. Billy hanged his DSLR camera on his neck as he used to when he has a trip or travel to capture the subject he wanted to. Billy and Grace walked atop of the mountain to have a best view of the Rice Terraces and its beauty. They took some memories, photos to be cherished as time flees by.

The season was perfect for bountiful harvest. The land and field owned by Billy's father was vast enough to fully fill their barn, it was never left empty. But after the death of his parents, Liza managed to transfer all the titles and all the properties to Billy. The grains appeared to be golden already, harvest was a week later.

They went down to refresh in the waterfalls. Billy told his childhood story in the Tappiya Falls. As they were striding, they were full of laughs and chuckles. Grace was very happy that Billy can laugh that loud and smile wide, that he's now fine and mentally healthy. They trek through the rice terraces with their walking stick, they did not feel tired because they were laughing all the way. Just after almost 2 hours of walking, they reached the falls behind the forest.

"It's a beautiful nature, Love." Grace said in awe. The falls freely flowed and cheerfully fall as what I envy, Billy reckoned as he captured the scene. Grace splashed a water to Billy who's looking from nothingness. Billy was shocked in to its chillness, and he even shrieked. "Ooh! What the..." and Grace just smiled soaking her feet in to the water.

Billy wiped his wet shirt, and handed off the camera. He unclothed his upper half and removed his long pants. "Let's have some plunging." Billy ran and dove in.

Grace stared at Billy as he got off the water coming towards her. "Love, take off your clothes and plunge in."

Grace smiled and took off his clothes, in his two-piece. And soaked her sexy body slowly in the water. She swam towards Billy and embraced him on his back. "I love you, Billy."

Billy turned and faced her, "l love you more" and kissed her.

An hour. They were sitting on the rock facing the sun on the horizon. Billy wrapped his arm around Grace's. "I'm lucky... I have you, Grace." Billy spoke them out softly.

Grace looked at him and smiled. "I will spend my time not with other guys around, but for you, Love." Grace added, "I'm to you."

The sun was getting hotter so they took their things and changed. They walked back toward the farmhouse, Billy pocketed his hand as he was fishing something, and smiled. They readied everything and packed. They need to come back before 3 or 4 o'clock. It was advised by the residents because coming back to the village is a doubly hard trek. After an hour and a half of trekking, they approached the village.

For a couple of weeks, Billy and Grace stayed at the farmhouse as the elders were harvesting Tinawon rice. Wigan, Billy's grandfather, owned hectares of land used for rice plantation. After the demise of Wigan, Ben inherited the farmland and the house. Unfortunately, he died five years ago, so Liza held it and found a tenant to work the land for two years.

April 28, 2019. That was Sunday and it was the second day of Immbayah. Immbayah is celebrated every three years. It was coined after the term "bumayah" referring to a well-to-do who celebrates his good ripe old age with gong-beating and dancing culminating the feast.

Grace decided to visit the museum. "I want to be acquainted with the Ifugao culture, Love."

Billy held her hand and walked through. "You'll love how they named the things." Smiled that made his eye partly closed. An hour of walking, he noticed that Grace stumblingly walking along the weedy field. He suddenly stopped and bent, "Get in to my back. I'll carry you."

"I'm okay. I can still walk."

"You're not."

Grace was so relaxed in his back. She even got a nap.

"You are my medicine and life, Grace." Billy seemed tired but strolled still. He didn't hear any from Grace. "She napped again. Ah! She might not hear it."

"Oh. Sorry, Love. I napped. Put me down, I'm okay now. Where are we now?"

"We are 50 meters far to the museum." Billy bent and put her down. "Are you really okay?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Grace was just smiling and awed by the beauty of the mountains. She wandered her eyes around and refreshed by the nature. The surrounding was for tourists' eyes to be satisfied. The mountains stand green and natural. Yellow, small butterflies flew over the wild weed's flowers. Folks proudly wore their attire as they do field works and rituals. They were rich of culture as Grace thought before. She looked vista on the Ifugao children playing cheerfully as they were catching yu-yu. And smiled so beautifully as the breeze blew warm that flipped her hair. Billy noticed it so he quickly clicked the camera in a side view shot, her best angle.

"Grace let's keep going?"

"Oh. Yes"

They arrived in 20-minute time at the cultural museum. "Why there so many people here? Billy asked the usherette.

"We are celebrating a cultural festival, sir." She replied pleasantly.

"Oh. Yes. I forgot it. Today is the best day of the festival, right?"

"Absolutely sir. Welcome."

"Are we going to wear the attire?"

"It depends on you, sir. If you want it?"

"You want it, Love." Billy asked Grace.

"Yes. Of course. I want to experience too."

Billy wore the wanow and bayyaong. Grace also in her Lamma and Amppuyo.

"You look good." The usherette's compliment.

They roamed around the museum and learned about how rich Ifugao is. Not material but the intangible one. Culture.

Grace asked so many questions about Ifugao culture which Billy has a hard time explaining all alone.

Billy asked for a tour guide to describe and explains all the curious questions of Grace.

"These are collections of Cordilleran artifacts. Most of them are from Ifugao Province but other provinces are also presented. The fascinating collection is comprised of genuine items that were collected by the son of Otley Beyer - considered as the father of Ifugao anthropology - in the early 1900s." The usherette impressively presented the part of the Ifugao History.

Grace was in wonderment. "Wow."

Billy heard the distinct clanging sound of the 'gangsa' (gongs) outside. He grabbed Grace's hand and ran down the stair. "It was a society dance. Let's dance with them."

They engaged with other Ifugaos dancing the Tayo (native dance), Grace happily followed the steps of the women. Smile was painted on their faces joyfully dancing. They did payyad gracefully as they were freely hovering the horizon.

After the society dance, Grace asked again, "Why are they doing this?" and Grace did the payyad.

"Payyad shows the resiliency of Ifugao. Whatever adversity comes along; they stand strong to face it. It is like an Eagle freely hovering in the sky."

Grace was amazed.

The gongs sounded again, and the people were in line showing letters.

Grace curiously looking at them. "W?- I?- L? -L?" Grace read the letters in tears. She looked at Billy, smiled.

Billy suddenly bend his knees offering a ring to her. Saying, "WILL YOU BE MY LIFETIME PARTNER?" Sighed, "Again."

Grace wiped her tears off and smiled, "Yes." She said it twice but the second time was louder and in joy.

"May I take off the past?" Billy asked her referring to the ring he had given her before.

Grace concurred.

Billy then removed the ring out of her finger, and fitted the new ring into her finger and hugged her with tears and joy in his face. "Thank you, Grace."

The crowd had applauded and yeahed. Some did weet-wee.

Grace's smile never faded as she said, "No, Billy. Thank you. Thank you for loving me."

"I love you, Grace."

"I love you too, Billy." She sighed, "so much."

Grace couldn't remove her gazed at the ring. This time, though Grace was not materialistic, the ring seemed expensive as the emerald glistened when the sun ray stroked it, she loved the choice of Billy. We had been to miry pits, there is no ways to stop our dreamed unison. She had this in her mind.

It was already 12:00 when they began to have a boodle fight. The pinikpikan was the main menu. "It is made using free-range, native chickens. To achieve a thick and dark soup, the live chicken is beaten with a stick before it is cooked." Billy answered when Grace asked how pinikpikan is prepared.

The society rejoiced for Grace and Billy's betrothal.

The whole afternoon consumed by Grace and Billy touring around. They were happy and enjoying their company as they were climbing in the mountain. Clasping of hands affectionately showed the intensity of their love to each other even they had done things like this before. This, a kind of affection was incomparable to what they had before because the love that they had was carved from the hard trunk of life. This showed that Billy was an incredible man perfect for a woman like Grace in spite of the circumstances that might stop him from moving life on.

When they were atop of the mountain Billy was amazed again as he was amazed when his Lopap brought him there, smiled and looked vista. Nature, besides Grace, never falters to amaze me, adds hue to my black and white life he reckoned.

Grace stared at Billy's face, looking at his smile when Billy noticed her staring, he patted her palm on his cheeks and give her a twist kiss. His hands went down on her hips and wrapped her passionately.

"I swear in to this mountain that my love will never fade until death do us part!" He screamed out.

Grace shouted out loud, "I swear unto this mountain that my love will only be for him until death do us part!" It echoed and wind blew so cold. Billy kissed her so intense as the sun was setting.

Four hours later. Grace was so excited to inform her parents about the betrothal. She thought of surprising them. "I'm already 27 and need a better half, they will surely acknowledge my decision - and in fact, they would be greatly gladdened."

They stayed at the farm for two days more. They were enjoying each other's company. Caresses. Love. Touches. They love to burn in passion. That's what love consequences, without fire in love, there's no progress.

A glad spring morning of May 2, Billy and Grace visited Cambulo, one of the most breathtaking views in Ifugao. They rode in a jeepney to Awan-Igid drop off, trailed through the village of Pula, and a view of impressive vistas where valleys converge and the mountains are stepped with massive rice terraces. This trail gave the both of them a thrilling experience.

The night of May 2 was perfect, the sky was clear and stars were visible, even though the Banaue atmosphere was chilling. The cool breeze creeped as Billy and Grace were watching, Fifthy Shades of Grey. Billy was aroused of the scene, and looked at Grace who was too. Billy kissed her, a German kiss. Grace was in an intense feeling so she twisted him and got on top of him. Billy turned and went on top. He unbuttoned her one by one while kissing.

Billy stark-naked Grace, and disrobed his shirt, and unbutton and unzipped his pants, pulled it down. Billy smacked her again but Grace twisted her lips.

Billy pulled down her pink pantie, and aroused her. His fingers ran smoothly on her waist to her thighs, and bent down. Grace groaned in passion. Then, he took off his boxer. He laid on her. "I love you, Grace." And kissed her.

Grace wrapped him with her hand, and her finger impressed on his back. "I love you too, Billy."

Billy held her hand, and they were in heat in the cool of the night. The dim light beside added a romantic ambiance, and s****l intensification. "I am madly in love to you..." Billy whispered as he was working on her, "...Grace." He softly uttered before he released a sound of pleasure. The night just started for the both of them to discussed about the future, and impressed the night with an unflinching love.

The forth day, they were about to kick the blanket off when Billy saw a man peeping outside. He hastily jumped off the bed and took the blade with him. He ran after the man swiftly towards the forest.

"Billy! What are you... Where are you going?"

"Billy!!!"

The night got deep when Billy came back with a mad face. He panted as he asked Grace. "Did you see the man peeping us?"

"I haven't seen any."

In shock, she was frightened. "But if ever there is, were in danger!"

She hugged him tightly and, "Let's travel tomorrow morning back in Baguio, Billy."

Billy rubbed her back in comfort and answered without hesitant, " Yes, Love. Don't be afraid, Love. I am here."

Before they went to bed to sleep, they spent 30-minute time to pray. Grace cried for Devine protection. Billy wrapped his right hand around Grace and consoled her. "Let's get some sleep for tomorrow, Love." Grace nodded as an approval.

The roasters chorused in the cockcrow. Billy got up early to prepare their baggage while he cooked for breakfast. Grace was awakened, she was still mindful of what had happened and stared Billy like saying "let's go home." But Billy calmly called her for breakfast and comforted her through a tight hug. In the table were scrambled egg and boiled 'okra', and boulevard rice prepared by Billy himself. A simple life he always wanted. Billy called the caretakers and they ate all together. Billy looked at his phone, "23 miscalls."

From the Hotel Luke came down to the farmhouse in just one call away. The caretaker helped Luke put their baggage in the trunk of the car. Grace entered in the car first.

"Sir, are we off." Luke asked Billy who was on his phone. Billy signaled Luke to wait for 20 minutes. Billy grimaced his face as he off the phone. "Let's go."

They left Banaue at 8:00 AM.