Unhinged

Chapter Four

NorthPhil Air Flight 107 touched down on the Laoag runway with a gentle bounce, the kind of landing that made passengers praise the pilot in silence and immediately reach for their phones.

Sophia stood the moment the seatbelt sign turned off.

“I feel like I traveled through three decades,” she said, flipping her hair dramatically. “That was the longest short flight of my existence.”

Dominic stretched like a man possessed. “I am now twenty-seven emotionally. The turbulence aged me.”

They stepped down the airstairs into warm Ilocos sun and a breeze that smelled faintly of salt and countryside calm. A cheerful “Mabuhay from Laoag City!” banner greeted them.

Sophia adjusted her sunglasses. “Adorable. Like a postcard.”

Dominic nodded. “Wholesome. I feel attacked.”

Their driver collected their seven total suitcases with the bravery of a man confronting destiny. Soon they were on the road, speeding past palm-lined streets and small local shops.

Then they reached the Laoag City Bridge.

And the universe simply… stopped.

Traffic stalled to a crawl.Vans honked halfheartedly.Motorcycles wove through gaps that did not exist.A carabao cart appeared out of nowhere like a mythological creature.

Dominic pressed his hands to the window. “I am losing my soul. My spirit is leaving my body.”

Sophia groaned. “Why is this bridge slower than every man who has ever texted me back.”

Their driver chuckled. “It is always like this, ma’am. Midday rush.”

Sophia placed a hand on her chest. “I am delicate. I was not prepared for this.”

But slowly, the traffic parted.The bridge released them from its metallic grip.Laoag’s busy streets faded behind.

And the landscape began to open.

The mountains rose with quiet majesty, their slopes rolling like the edges of an emerald cloak.The sky widened. The wind cooled.And Sta. Agueda appeared in all its green, breathtaking serenity.

Sophia lowered her sunglasses, stunned. “Dominic.”

Dominic stared, awestruck. “Sophia.”

“This is… beautiful.”

“This is scenery that changes a person’s entire personality.”

Their driver smiled in the rearview mirror. “Welcome to Sta. Agueda, ma’am, sir.”

The van turned the final bend.

And there it was.

The Madanunan Crown.

Built into the ridges like a kingdom of glass, stone and light.The great dome shimmered like a jewel.The skybridge cut across the ravine like a suspended ribbon.The waterfalls cascaded like silver.Even unfinished, it radiated magic.

Sophia whispered, “I am going to cry.”

Dominic wiped an imaginary tear. “I understand why billionaires build things like this. It is intoxicating.”

They stepped into the massive lobby.Sunlight poured through the glass walls.Marble gleamed under their feet.The scent of pine, water and fresh linen wrapped around them.

And at the center stood Olivia.

Clipboard in hand. Uniform crisp. Eyes bright. Calm. Confident. Radiant.

“Oh my goodness, Soph, this lobby is too beautiful. I feel poor just breathing here,” Dominic cried dramatically.

Olivia turned, eyes widening slightly.

Sophia’s face brightened in recognition. “You,” she said warmly. “The Red Ribbon line.”

Dominic exploded into a gasp. “Wait. No. No way. Olivia Pan Grilled Pork Chop?”

Olivia laughed, covering her mouth. “It is me.”

“You work here? How did you not tell us you were secretly running a mountain empire?” Dominic squeaked.

Sophia flicked his arm. “Of course duh? She did not know us. And you are never calm.”

“I am a delight,” Dominic protested before turning back to her. “Look at you. Supervisor! In this majestic resort! Meanwhile, I am still emotionally recovering from traffic in Laoag.”

Olivia shook her head, smiling. “I did not expect to see either of you here.”

Sophia stepped closer, warm and sincere. “I am assisting with some of the external communications and upcoming campaigns for the resort. It seems fate insists our paths cross again.”

Dominic leaned in conspiratorially. “Fate? Wait, I did not know your husband is Simon Jimenez! Because honestly, if I were married to Simon Jimenez, I would also keep quiet and let the world wonder.”

Sophia elbowed him. “Shh…..”

“No, let me finish,” Dominic insisted. “Livie, answer me honestly. He liked the Beef Salisbury Steak you ordered for him, did he not? You are not planning to divorce that man, are you? Because I am telling you now, half of Luzon will throw themselves into the sea if you do.”

Olivia burst into laughter, her eyes shining. “Divorce him? Trust me, I will never let that man go.”

Dominic clutched his chest dramatically. “Excellent! You have restored my faith in romance.”

Sophia sighed. “Ignore him. He just babbles a lot. We are here for work, not matchmaking.”

“Hello, duh.” He rolled his eyes dramatically. “They are already matched and married in the eyes of all major faiths. But sure, we can multitask,” Dominic chirped.

Olivia laughed again, softer but freer than ever.

Sophia slipped her arm through Olivia’s. “Come, Liv. Let us walk through the pre-opening schedule together. Dominic, behave.”

“I always behave,” he said. “Sometimes.” And then gasped. “And the cable cars. Immediately. I need aesthetic inspiration.”

And so the three of them walked deeper into the mountain resort, the beginning of a new friendship unfolding with every step.

Dominic clapped his hands once. “Question. Did Alan Walker and David Guetta arrive yet? I need to emotionally prepare.”

Olivia shook her head. “Not yet. They will arrive later tonight. We are preparing their suites and their crew’s rooms.”

Dominic gasped. “Suites and crews. This place is so fancy I feel like my pores should apologize.”

Sophia brightened. “Can we check out Elysium first? Matt is here already, right?”

Olivia nodded. “Yes. He arrived yesterday with Sari.”

Sophia squealed in delight. She adored Matthew Elizalde like the fun, happy-go-lucky older brother energy she occasionally wished Alex possessed on weekdays. She loved Alex deeply, but he could be strict and serious, while Matt always treated her like she was sunshine instead of a walking crisis. And Sari Howard-Elizalde was everything she loved in a woman: brilliant, calm, medically competent, and a reliable source of answers to all her chaotic health questions.

Dominic leaned toward her knowingly. “Let me guess. You will bother Sari again about contraceptives and ask if birth control pills will make you lose weight.”

Sophia smacked his arm. He yelped like she had snapped a bone.

Olivia laughed at the two of them.

“There is nothing wrong with asking medical questions.” She reasoned out.

Dominic perked up. “It makes sense if Olivia asks. She and Simon are not planning to have kids yet. Right?” He turned to Olivia for confirmation, and she nodded. He then continued with absolute seriousness, “Do not have kids yet. Enjoy jumping his bones while you are young. You do not want to be old, wrinkly, with gout, trying to ride him like—”

Olivia burst into laughter so hard she bent forward, earning herself an immediate glare from Sophia and a scandalized gasp from a bellboy passing by.

Sophia slapped Dominic’s arm again. “Stop corrupting her.”

Dominic placed a hand on his chest dramatically. “I am educating her.”

Sophia glared. “No, you are embarrassing us. And yourself. Mostly yourself.”

Dominic ignored her completely. “And besides, you ask Sari all these questions about condoms and birth control, yet you have never had s*x. Not once. Zero experience points. So why are you terrorizing our beloved Dr. Czarina Howard.”

Sophia stopped walking, scandalized. “Dominic Tuazon, you disrespectful flamingo.”

Olivia covered her mouth, laughter spilling through her fingers.

Dominic shrugged, utterly unapologetic. “I am simply stating facts. Wikipedia has more field experience than you.”

Sophia lifted her chin with wounded dignity. “I research. For my future. It is called being proactive.”

Dominic clapped once. “Future research does not require a full lecture on diaphragm sizes and spermicide brands, but here we are. Disturbing a brilliant doctor with hypotheticals she cannot even apply to you yet.”

Sophia gasped. “Excuse me. I am a woman with potential.”

“Potential for what?” Dominic asked. “An immaculate conception? Should I alert the Vatican?”

Olivia giggled again, nearly bending over from trying to hold it in.

Sophia crossed her arms, cheeks heating. “I am going to make you sleep outside tonight. With no blankets. And no skincare.”

Dominic beamed. “That is fine. This resort is beautiful. I will sleep under a waterfall like a forest princess. The mist will hydrate me.”

Sophia rolled her eyes dramatically. “You will get pneumonia.”

“Alan Walker will fix me,” Dominic said cheerfully.

Sophia smacked his arm again. “I hate you.”

He pressed a hand to his chest proudly. “She hates me. Stunning. This is friendship.”

Olivia smiled softly at both of them, warmth blooming in her chest as their bickering faded into the hum of the mountains.

Their chaos balanced her calm, and something about the three of them walking toward the heart of the resort felt right.

A friendship beginning in laughter.A new chapter opening.And the mountains echoing with a future none of them could see just yet.