Three years later

"I'm so sorry for the inconvenience, ma'am, but as I mentioned in our phone call and email exchange, we do not have a booking rate for singles. I hope you can understand."

"Like I said, I don't mind paying for the couple rate."

"But you're single."

"Hopefully not for long," I muttered under my breath.

"What's that, ma'am?"

"I've stayed here before as a single. Can you please do me a favor and ask..." I trailed off when Vinny emerged from the courtyard entrance.

His wide eyes and slightly parted lips revealed his shock before he spoke my name softly.

"Sir, you know each other? Ma'am Martinez has been requesting to book a room—"

"So book her one," he said distractedly. He peeled his eyes away from me and started to stuff his backpack with things from underneath the counter.

"But she doesn't have a partner, sir."

He stopped fidgeting with his backpack for a second and cleared his throat. "It's fine. Book her in the Talon room."

"Talon, sir?"

"Yes," he said curtly before continuing his chore.

"Okay, then. Ma'am Laya, how long are you staying with us?"

"Two weeks," I said at the same time Vinny said, "Two days, right?"

"Weeks, Vinny," I corrected him. "Two weeks, please."

"Sure," he said, looking past me to the front door. "Whatever you say. I'm off."

"Wait, um, do you still do tours of Matigol Falls?"

"Yes, ma'am," the front desk agent said when Vinny kept mum. "We have one scheduled for tomorrow. Would you like to join that group? If that doesn't work, I have the schedule here."

"Tomorrow works."

Vinny turned his gaze towards me, his expression unreadable. Without saying a word, he slung his backpack onto his shoulder and quietly made his way out.

**/////**

The next day, Vinny wasted no time in guiding me to the car as soon as I met up with him in the lobby.

"Aren't we going to wait for the others?" I asked.

"They went ahead. Car was full."

I buckled my seatbelt, and then turned to him. "So it's just us."

"Yeah." He buckled his seatbelt too and adjusted the rearview mirror. "Is that a problem?"

"No, not for me. You?"

"Not at all," he said. But he must've had some problem with it since he wouldn't look at me, or anywhere in my vicinity.

Also, he insisted that I take a nap during the four-hour drive. It's been years since we've had the chance to spend time together, and it felt like such a missed opportunity to catch up and chat while we were alone in the car. I didn't try to hide my sigh of disappointment before I closed my eyes.

**/////**

"You don't have a bag."

"I didn't think I'd need one."

"What, you think I came here just to get some sleep?"

Vinny shrugged. "I don't know what you came here for. Not now. Not then. Just be direct and tell me what you want."

"The tour group wasn't full, was it?"

"It's more convenient this way."

"Well, I'm going up there. You can do whatever you want. You know I can find my back by myself."

That was uncalled for and I knew it. Vinny was in a bad way when they returned to the inn three years ago. Laura mentioned that he was out of his mind with worry that something had happened to me. They all were. That's why they came back so late because it took so long to find a clue that I may have gone back to the inn.

I had only gone ahead to spare them from feeling rushed. It was truly surprising to realize the depth of care from these five strangers I had just met. I guess some things we just have to learn the hard way.

"Laya. Laya, wait!"

As I turned around, I was surprised to see Vinny catching up with me so quickly, a bag in hand. It was only then that I remembered that he always kept one in the trunk. The hike up this time felt serene, not just because it was just the two of us, but compared to my first time here when my mind was consumed by anxiety. Back then, I could hear my heart pounding loudly in my chest, everything in me urging me to leave. But this time, it was different. It was quiet. I only felt my heart beating loudly when I felt the warmth of Vinny's touch as he helped me navigate difficult terrain.

As we arrived at the pool, I couldn't help but be awestruck by the breathtaking view. The cascading waterfalls across five tiers stretched out before me, just as Laura had described. I wasted no time in stripping down to my swimwear and dashing into the inviting water. Vinny soon joined me, and together we swam and captured the picturesque scenery in photographs.

Feeling a surge of courage, I asked Vinny to take a photo with me. Surprisingly, he agreed without much fuss. As we posed, I half-expected him to maintain a serious expression, but to my delight, he flashed a genuine smile at the last moment. In that instant, we looked like a couple, and I found myself wishing that it were true.

**/////**

Silence is overrated.

On the drive back, the stillness seemed to amplify the thoughts swirling in my mind. Among them were thoughts of Vinny—memories of our time together in the falls intermingled with desires I wasn't quite ready to acknowledge. Upon returning to the inn, he inquired about my plans for the evening. I feigned an interest in the festival activities, but as I wandered the city for an hour, my thoughts never strayed far from him. Suddenly, amidst the bustling crowd, there he was, seemingly searching for me.

"Vinny?"

"I miss you. All the time."

"I miss you too. I'm sorry. For the way I left."

"I pushed you too hard."

But he didn't. He listened to my fears with genuine concern and was there for me every step of the way. He made sure I drank enough water and kept my balance on the rocky terrain. Without his support, I don't think I would have had the strength to confront my fears. I just needed to overcome them at my own pace, and he had to know that.

"It was exactly what I needed. Do you know what I've been up to these past years?"

"What?"

"Chasing waterfalls," I said. "I started with small ones. Fake ones, actually, in a pool. Until I learned how to swim."

He smiled at that.

"I rock climbed in the gym."

"You flew here too. Seems like you've gotten rid of almost all your fears."

"Pretty much."

"It's okay to still be a little scared."

"I mean, there's one more fear I have to conquer."

"Can you tell me what it is? Maybe I can help. I do that, apparently: help people with their fears."

"Well, I think I'm scared of being in a relationship. Can you do something about that?"

"I think I can help with that."

With a smile that mirrored my own, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me close. I felt the warmth of his embrace and the beating of his heart as he leaned in to kiss me. The bustling sounds of the parade faded into the background of our unforgettable moment. It was a kiss that felt like time stood still, creating a memory that would last a lifetime. A soul-stirring kiss.