Story Deleted

Chapter 12

/12/ FIRST DESTINATION

God has said,

never will I leave you

and never will I forsake you

Hebrews 13:5

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KHEL'S POV

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First destination: Tagaytay, Cavite.

After a long long way, we're finally in the vicinity of Tagaytay. I can feel the coldness as the altitude of the place is higher than the latter.

Kasalukuyan tinatahak ng van ang isang sementong kalsada. We're heading to the top of a mountain, so the road's direction is going up. Literally an uphill slope. And because the road was formed in zigzag, medyo malikot ang takbo ng aming sasakyan. As we go further, mas lalong tumataas at lumalamig ang paligid.

"Whoa! Narri, look!"

From the backseat, Meera and her cousin gaze outside the window frame. Nakabukas ang bintana nila, kaya malayang pumapasok ang hangin sa loob ng van.

Their long hair dances with the breeze. Eyes are twinkling as they admire the view. Beyond the open window, from way up here, there's the aerial panaroma. Right below the mountain, land of emerald trees and houses and other structures were figured like ants.

"Gandaaa!"

"'Insan, picture-an mo! Dali!"

Naglabas si Narri ng phone at nilitratuhan 'yung tanawin. The cousins are giggling and obviously enjoying it.

Maya-maya'y huminto ang van sa isang parking space. We're now at mountain's top. The narrow ground is fully cemented, yet surrounded by trees and cliffs.

No'ng lumabas kami ng van, isang malaki't makalumang gate ang natanaw namin sa 'di kalayuan. That gateway stood firm. It has a castle-like design, plus a security guard guarding the gate's booth.

"Let's go, ladies," ani Brint, then he leads the way towards that gate.

Nagbayad kami ng 30 pesos per head sa entrance fee. As we passed through the gateway, another road greets us. It's a long pathway where few people are strolling around. Trees and steep slope at the side.

The pathway formed uphill and as we climb further, the fewer visitors I observe. Mukhang 'di gaanong ka-crowded ang lugar na 'to. That's a good thing because a big crowd can interrupt our business here. Less crowd, less interruption.

There are mists in the air. Cold wind. Sky was clouded, shedding the land without sunlight. Kumulimlim bigla.

Walking upper and upper, tumigil kami nang may makitang isang malaking signage: "People's Park In The Sky", which is the itinerary's logo.

"Hala! Ang ganda, 'insan oh! Tara, picture tayo!" Narri suggested in excitement.

I thought they'll be taking pictures on their own, pero nawindang ako nang bigla akong tawagin ni Meera.

"Uy, Khelly! Tara, picture tayong apat!"

Medyo nagulat ako pero pinanatili kong walang emosyon ang aking mukha. Brint and I exchange glances. I was about to reject the offer, but my friend butts in.

"Oo nga naman, bro! Let's go! Let's take a picture for remembrance."

Pinanlisikan ko ng mata ang ungas, ngunit ngumisi lang ito sa akin.

I sighed and fixed my eyeglasses' bridge. Mabuti na lang at dala ko rin ang tripod. So, I set up the camera and the tripod in front of the huge signage. I turned on the timer and click the 'go' button.

Pumwesto kami sa tapat ng camera, background namin ang naturang signage. Umakbay sa'kin si Brint, si Meera sa tabi ko at sunod ang pinsan niya.

"Say cheese!!!"

They all smile at the camera, except for me. I am not in the mood and it's not my responsibility at the first place.

After that, muli kong sinabit sa leeg ang lace ng camera. Tiniklop ko ang tripod at binitbit. Kaming apat ay magkakasabay na tinahak ang pathway. The upper we go, the colder the breeze. Without a minute, finally, narating din namin ang main spot ng itinerary.

At the mountain's summit, there's the big chapel-like structure with the statues of Virgin Mary and Jesus. Base on my research, that is a shrine made in Marcos era. It's kinda old, plus the stairs are rusty and designed like Hispanic.

I heaved my camera and took a picture of it. Naunang umakyat ang mga kasama ko sa hagdanan, papasok doon sa shrine. Sumunod agad ako.

As we entered the shrine, the interior is actually a spacious room. And as we passed through that room, we took a few more stairs. Eventually, tumambad sa'min ang malaking terrace. It's open and roofless, except for the metal railings that secure the terrace's edges.

The clouds are just above our heads. Mamamangha ka dahil halos kitang-kita mula rito sa taas, sa terrace, ang buong lupain ng Tagaytay sa ibaba. Though the view is a bit hazy, you can still see the green fields, the buildings and the branches of road from way up here.

"Oh my gosh! Wow!"

Tumakbo si Narri at dumungaw sa railings, tuwang-tuwa. Si Brint naman, na mukhang dumidiskarte, ay pasimpleng nagpamulsa at tumayo sa tabi ng dalaga. Loko talaga. Good luck to him.

I maintain my distance to keep their privacy. Dahil malawak ang terrace, sa kabilang dako ng railings ako tumayo. Like a king watching over his kingdom, I stood there and observe the view below my eyes.

The Taal Volcano caught my attention. With its misty lake and enchanting shape, I lifted my camera to take a picture of it. Click!

"Pwedeng tumabi?"

I almost got a heart attack when I heard her voice. Bigla na lang sumulpot si Meera sa gilid ko, nakangisi at nakapatong sa railings ang mga braso.

I frowned and stare at her. She even grins wider.

What's with this girl that makes my stomach tight? She looks so average as the other girls, yet she makes me feel strange in one smile.

"So... You're an atheist, huh?"

Hindi ko inaasahan na bigla niyang io-open ang topic na iyon.

Nanatiling nakadungaw si Meera sa railings, habang ako ay simpleng nakatayo sa tabi niya at hawak ang camera.

"What makes you think that there's no God?" she added. Her eyes are sparkling while observing the volcano's view.

I stare at her face, not bothered if she notice me or not.

"What makes you think that there is a God?" I countered.

There's a three-second silence between us. The cold wind past by and there's the flock of birds across the sky.

"I simply believe in Him," she answered.

Unti-unting nagtama ang mga mata namin. I want to tell her that her response is very weak. That's the stupidest response I've ever heard. Pero habang nakatitig siya sa'kin at ako sa kaniya, parang pinuputol ang paghinga ko. I can't speak. I can't breathe.

Her eyes are casting spell on me, that's why I can't find my voice. Damn it.

"Sinagot ko na 'yung tanong mo. 'Yung tanong ko naman," aniya at ngumisi. "What makes you think that there's no God?"

She's really pushing the argument, huh?

"It's illogical," I straightforwardly said, then shifted my eyes to the scenery below us. "At the first place, if He's true and powerful, then why did He create us just to abandon us? Why's there suffering? Why's there pain? Why's there negativities?"

"Abandon us?" Her eyebrows furrowed. "It's said in the Bible, Hebrews chapter 13 verse 5, God has said, never will I leave you. Never will I forsake you. That's because He loves us. You can't blame the Creator for the mistake of His creation. The suffering and pain were our fault."

"Why not? He created the creation. Why can't He take the blame? Or if He's even real?" pigil-inis na tanong ko.

"Tsk," Meera clicked her tongue. Now she's intently staring at me. "Tatanungin kita, kilala mo ba si Karl Benz?"

Her question is out of the world. Nagtakha ako. But then, I abled to answer it.

"Yes, an engineer. Karl Benz is the first inventor of a motorcar, the very first considered practical automobile. So?"

"Right." She nodded her head. "Do you know that in United States, as of the studies in 2016, the data showed that the average of motor vehicle accidents are 102 per day? The fatality rate is a huge amount. Many died because of motorcars."

I frowned.

She met my eyes and asked, "Now, can you blame Karl Benz for those accidents that happened?"

"No..." Umiling ako. Realization hits me.

Ngumisi siya. "See? You said it yourself. You can't point your finger at someone who just invented something and causes destruction. Perhaps, hindi ang imbentor ang may problema kun'di ang imbensyon mismo o ang nagmamanipula ng imbensyon."

I was speechless. Literally speechless.

Hindi ko in-expect na gagamit siya ng metaphor at historical concept para sagutin ang tanong ko.

Looks like I underestimated her. It seems she's more what meets the eye.

Meera Guizon. I stare at her angelic face, puzzled. Who are you?

Tumayo siya nang tuwid at hinarap ako. I was unaware when she suddenly stepped forward. Her eyes were focused on mine. I hold my breath when she tiptoed, then our faces come closer.

"I will make you believe in Him," she declared. "Before this road trip ends, you will believe that God exists and alive."

I raised my eyebrows and resist to smirk. Is she serious?

That's the funniest threat I've ever heard.

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