Chapter 258 - Home In Molave 4

Jane watched Cherry taking off her feet from the zipline platform. With a squeal from the top of her lungs, she waved a hand as her harness glided through the cable. She even stretched out her arm and took a picture of herself before taking in the beautiful scenery beneath her. She was always the adventurous and fearless type, the positive characteristics she possessed,  grounding her resiliency. Once she decided to leave something behind, she never looked at it again with a heavy heart. The only thing she was not able to let go for a long time was her heartache against her mom. However, the moment she forgave her, she never recalled anything about the past. Their relationship was good as new, as if untarnished and unbroken.

"Where does her adventurous spirit comes from?" Gerald Dioko's voice startled Miss Perez as she also watched her daughter gliding through the cable.

Miss Perez looked down and glanced at Mr. Dioko. "Perhaps, from her father, because I am not that brave and courageous."

"If you don't mind, Miss Perez-" Mr. Dioko started to bring out another subject but Miss Perez cut her off.

"Just call me by my name. I'm Rose, Cherry Rose," she smiled, amused at the similarity of the names.

"If that's the case, then please call me by my name, also."

"Gerald," Rose mentioned it, drawing a smile of approval from Mr. Dioko.

"What's your question again, please?"

Gerald chuckled before repeating his question. He knew it was something confidential.

"I was just wondering where is Cherry's father now if you don't mind."

Rose drew in a lungful of air before she answered. "The last time I heard was that he was with his new family in the States."

"Has he not asked about her daughter's whereabouts?" Gerald did not hold his curiosity, and he was happy that Rose answered his questions.

"Ever since he left me several years ago, we no longer had communications. His parents did not mention anything about him, either."

Gerald nodded and continued, "Why haven't you remarried?"

"Nobody's interested in settling down with a playgirl when I was younger," Rose looked at Gerald straight in the eyes, and there was full sincerity in the way she held his gaze.

"Perhaps, you're not also giving yourself a chance."

Rose replied with a burst of mirthless laughter. "I don't believe in love. Gerald, can we move on to another subject? We are already too old to talk about such kind of topic."

"Go, Allie!" shouted Jane across them, cutting off entirely the subject that Rose wanted to change. All of them looked up, including Hayri, as Allie put on her helmet and allowed Ajie and the guide to help her with the harness.

Hayri's heart pounded. He used to be so protective of Allie before, not even allowing her to go anywhere without him. And now Ajie is helping her with the protective gear.

"Careful, d-dear," Hayri was about to hold back his endearment, but even his subconscious self had been so used to calling her that way. He knew it was everybody's affectionate word, but for him, it still implied something deeper.

Jane, on the other hand, felt nervous about Allie. She had not seen the daring side of her yet. However, as soon as her foot lifted from the platform, she even stretched her arms wide and waved at them while screaming in excitement. Ajie followed her calmly, indicating that he was already an expert in ziplining.

"Jane, let's go," urged Hayri, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"No!" protested Jane, shaking her head vigorously with a peal of laughter,  pinning her feet to the ground.

"Why? I'm here."

"I have a fear of heights."

"Then start overcoming it. I'll be with you, let's glide together."

Jane held his gaze for a while, contemplating whether she would go or not. She laughed and shook her head again but no longer resisted when Hayri pulled her gently towards the platform.

Jane and Hayri climbed up the platform and allowed the guide to put on them their helmet, gloves, and full-body harness. After having their safety locks checked, Jane looked at Hayri in his full gear. He seemed so tall, lean, and handsome in his sporty built. Her sense of nervousness started to creep inside her, but Hayri gave her his reassuring look. She laughed, although her voice quivered, hoping to calm down her erratic heartbeats. 

Facing Jane, and holding her hand, Hayri gave her a wide grin before pulling off his feet from the edge of the platform. With a loud shriek and a push from the guide, Jane glided fast along the cable with Hayri. Hayri laughed loud this time, never leaving his gaze away from Jane.

"Ahhhhhh!"

"Look down and take in the scene! It's beautiful," urged Hayri once they slowed down on the middle part.

Jane nervously looked down and squealed again once she realized how high they were. She felt her intestines also dropped down and rolled out, constricting her airways. Shouting louder gave her a sense of relief as she drew more air in the end.

"Isn't it?"

"It is. Yeheey! I made it! I made it!"

Mrs. Lopez clapped her hands and squealed as she watched Jane. Mr. Angelo did the same, and his shouts of encouragement and cheers were even louder than his wife.

"Go, Jane! Louise, boy!"

As soon as they both disappeared from their sight, Mrs. Lopez tugged her husband's sleeve.

"Angelo, do you think our Jane and Louise would make a good pair?"

Mr, Angelo squinted his eyes as he gave his wife a long stare, startled at her question. His mind started to recall the scenes of Jane and Hayri together. He was so used to seeing them together that he never gave a different meaning to their closeness. He then felt tickled at the idea and chuckled.

"How I wish, dear. The best relationship is one that is founded by a beautiful friendship."

The night came. Exhausted by their activities throughout the day, all of them retired early to their beds after dinner. Even the farmers in their huts put off the lights on their kerosene lamps early. Their full stomach after a tiring day induced them to sleep early. Leo and Issa also treated them to a sumptuous dinner, and the red wine afterward was like a sleeping balm.

When midnight came, the farmers heard footsteps outside. Nobody moved, pretending that they did not hear the pulling of the sacks of corn under their huts. The sound then progressed to lifting-sacks- like-sound and dropping it to the shoulders.

During harvest, Leo intentionally left sacks of rice outside the huts. He knew that in one of the ravines, there were men in hiding who also needed some food. They may not have harmed his crops, but sometimes, they reaped his produce ahead. Leo understood their needs, and even without communicating with these people, he thought about them.

Under the canopy of a tree outside Leo's lawn, a man wrapped an eight-year-old boy with another jacket.

"Son, I have told you this many times already. As I said, I can no longer bring you along with me. Someday, you'll understand that our lives are in danger. I want to spare you from all of this. I promise to take you back when everything is over."

The boy did not reply but threw his little arms around his father's neck, followed by his stifled sobs. The man hugged his son tighter in return while holding his breath to keep his tears from falling.

"I'll leave you here as soon as the day breaks. Do you still remember the name?"

The boy nodded. "Yes, dad. Dr. Jane Lopez."