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Chapter 16

/16/ SECOND DESTINATION

“As the heavens are higher than

the earth, so are My ways higher

than your ways and My thoughts

than your thoughts," said the Lord

- Isaiah 55:9

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KHEL'S POV

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Second destination: Lemery, Batangas

After we ate lunch at the mall, we proceed on our trip. Dahil malapit lang ang aming sunod na destinasyon, 30 minutes in approximate, napagdesisyunan na naming tumuloy hangga't maaga pa.

The camper van is taking the main road, when my eyes flew out of the passenger's window. Tall pine trees were bunched at the far sight, then behind those trees stood a majestic structures. Towers of colorful and Disney-like designs.

Mula sa main road, lumiko ang aming van sa isang pathway na hindi dinadaanan ng mga sasakyan. Sa gitna ng pathway na 'to, huminto ang sasakyan namin nang marating ang isang malaking gate. The principal entrance.

The van stopped and parked at the side lane. Bumaba kami ng sasakyan, nagtungo sa gate, at nagbayad ng fee. After that, we proceed on our way. We passed through the gateway, another long road is ahead of us.

We walk through that empty road. There's nothing but tall pine trees. But as we go further, the main itinerary slowly reveals itself. The beautiful castle that hides behind the emerald treetops was beheld with my eyes.

Hindi nagtagal, narating din namin ang naturang palasyo. An arched and medieval styled gate is the castle's entrance. The first courtyard is undoubtedly wondrous. With fined bushes and trees at the pathway's side. Medieval architecture and towering structures are everywhere. Colors were blended with both magical and eerie vibe.

"Whoa! This is so amazing! May ganitong lugar pala sa Pinas?" Narri excitedly said and clapped her hands like a kid.

"Ngayon ko nga lang rin nalaman ang lugar na 'to eh. Wow! Para tayong nasa loob ng fantasy movie! Haha!" Brint scanned the place with astound expression.

"Yeah..." Meera, too. "It's so beautiful."

Not as beautiful as the woman I'm staring at.

Oh, d*mn. I shook that thoughts off my head, cleared my throat, then fixed my eyeglasses. Tumungo na lang ako at in-operate ang aking camera.

Eventually, we begun wandering at the palace. Na-realize kong walang katao-tao sa lugar na 'to bukod sa kaunting maintenance workers. Kami lang 'ata ang turista ngayon sa lugar na 'to.

As the four of us are roaming around the corners, I just recalled that this place is supposed to be the Philippine's very first Disneyland. But the construction had to stop because of financial conflict. And now, this place is known as "Fantasy World", or more like: the Abandoned Disneyland of the Philippines.

Yet, even though it was called abandoned, the facility still requires the maintaining of cleanliness by hiring workers to preserve the itinerary's condition. I can say that they're doing a good job for that.

This place is aesthetically built. The walls' paint and curves are very precise. The pavements and trees were cut in good shape. The fountain on the center yard is still on function. The towers, halls and chambers are also very tidy and coat with royalty. The entire venue has this magical ambiance.

I took several pictures of the beauteous structures, with the camera hanging on my neck. Thereafter, I walk back to the spot where I left my companions lately; at the maze garden.

Ngunit ipinagtaka ko nang wala na sila do'n. Napakamot-ulo ako at lumingon sa kaliwa't kanan. Wala talaga sila. Looks like they went to stroll around without me.

Fine, then, I'll stroll on my own.

While walking between maze of bushes inside the garden, I saw a tall tree house from a few meters away. Nagtungo ako sa tree house na 'yon at umakyat sa spiral stairs nito. As I reached the top platform, which is the main tree house, I saw the palace's view beneath my eyes. The fountain and the maze garden looks amazing from up here.

Then there's a hanging bridge. The bridge is, perhaps, twenty to thirty meters long. Plus, it hangs between two tree houses. One is the tree house where I'm standing at, and the other is located a few distance. That bridge is gorgeously detailed with strings and woods.

I step forth, right towards the bridge. Sunlight touched my face as I parted from the tree house and now, I'm walking on the hanging bridge alone.

Huminto ako sa gitna ng tulay, saka ko pinagmasdan ang tanawin sa ibaba. This abandoned palace looks like a fairytale setting. The quietness and the blue sky made the scenery more breathtaking.

It feels like I'm a prince, watching my empire underneath my feet.

"Ganda ng view, ano?"

"Fuc--" halos napamura ako nang may biglang sumulpot na babae sa tabi ko.

Ngumisi sa'kin si Meera na ngayo'y nakatayo sa'king gilid. "Yo! Mabuti at nakita kita. Akala ko nga naliligaw na 'ko sa kastilyong 'to."

Kumunot ang noo ko at lumingon sa paligid. Wala sina Brint at Narri. Nasa'n na kaya ang dalawang iyon? Bakit siya lang ang nandito?"

"Iniwan nga ako no'ng dalawang kasama natin, eh. Nag-date 'ata iyung dalawang 'yon," ani Meera.

She turned her head and faced the side of the hanging bridge. Dumungaw siya roon at tumitig sa hardin na nasa baba ng tulay. She's smiling, hair's waving by the wind.

Heaving a sigh, I fixed my eyeglasses. I also stare down to the open garden underneath this bridge.

There's a moment of silence between us but, once again, she was the first to speak up.

"Alam mo, Khelly? I don't think you're an atheist." Meera gazed at the bridge's edge, down the garden of maze. Eyes are twinkling like stars.

My eyes turned to slits as I stare at her face. "What do you mean? "

Tumingin siya sa'kin at nagtitigan kami. "I think you're a believer, but somehow, you're just confused."

My eyebrows knitted. "How do you know that? Can you read mind?"

"No."

I smirked. "Then your opinion is invalid."

Binawi ko ang aking paningin at tumingin na lang sa ibaba ng tulay. Ilang segundong tumahimik si Meera, ngunit ramdam kong nakatitig pa rin siya sa'kin. Quit that d*mn stare, I'm melting.

"You know what blind faith is?" she talks. "It's putting your faith in worldly things than putting it to the One's above."

"There's no One's above," I countered with eyes staring blankly down.

"There is. That's why it is called blind faith. You're blinded by all of these worldly stuffs, that you forgotten God exists. He's just waiting for you to take off that blindfold."

She's serious about this argument, huh?

"Science it's not a blindfold," I said. "It's the truth."

And she quickly retorted, "I'd never said that science is a blindfold nor it's not true."

"Yeah?" I crossed my arms and faced her, with eyebrows raising in sarcasm. "You said it. Science isn't a blindfold. Then why still believing there's God?"

With all her guts, she stared back at me. "You know what's the common mistake of human? They're putting border between science and spiritual. Which is wrong... in a way."

Bigla akong naging interesado sa sinabi niya. My eyes intently focused on her, so does her to me.

"I'm listening," I said.

"You see? Science is the human explanation of God's wonder," she proceeds. "In Isaiah chapter 55 verse 9, said the Lord, as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."

I've never heard that line before, but it sounds interesting.

"And?"

"But others don't realize that the human's way cannot be leveled with God's way. Which means, science maybe true but shallow. God is the total truth and His ways are deep. We tend to fit mankind's way and explain His wonderful creations, but it turns out complicated for us because our level of understanding is very weak compared to His," she said.

I may say that her words are convincing, but I still got many questions. So I am not giving up my stand.

"It's funny how you picture this God as greatest, smartest, and all so perfect Being. But you've never even saw Him nor find physical evidence of Him," I sarcastically smirked.

"Well, two thousand years ago, God became a human being as Jesus of Nazareth. He is literally living in flesh that time and teaches moral---"

"Are you alive two thousand years ago?" I challenged.

Her lips pursed and eyebrows furrowed. Mukhang naiinis na siya sa'kin. Gusto kong matawa sa itsura n'ya pero pinipigilan ko. She's darned cute.

"No," aniya.

I scoffed, "See? You're not. And you still believe in Him. How stupid, isn't it?"

That was rude, but it's fact.

I thought she'll get mad at me for saying those words. But, no. Instead, her lips curved with a sly smile. Kumunot ang noo ko.

What is she thinking?

"Yeah?" she dared. "Just like how you believe in Big Bang Theory that happened a BILLION years ago. Are you alive billion years ago?"

I blinked and frowned. "No."

"See? You're not. And you still believe in it. How stupid, isn't it?" panggagaya niya.

Dahil do'n, napaawang ang bibig ko. Ilang segundong nablangko ang aking utak. This is the first time that someone finally made me look dumb.

I can't believe that she smashed back the argument at me in just a second.

"Aha... Hahahaha!" I bursted in laughter.

Crap! I've never laughed like this before.

I hold back my laughter, then looked at Meera's face. She's staring at me with complete innocence.

Amused, I uttered... "Fair enough."

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