*Clyde's POV*

"Hoy Impakto!"

"Hoy! Bitawan mo nga ako!"

I stared at her beautiful face, galit na nga sya pero ang ganda ganda pa rin nya. I smiled at her, she looked at me with a puzzled expression on her face.

"Should I let you go?" I asked.

She just smiled at me and then she nodded.

"I don't deserve you, Clyde. I don't deserve your love" She said.

"Arielle" I said.

She shook her head at me. Then she jumps towards me, the next thing I knew she's hugging me—real tight, like she doesn't want me to let her go. Her words don't match her actions and it's making me confuse.

"Clyde, just open your heart" she said.

Umiling ako.

"Ayoko" I said.

I don't want to open my heart. I don't want to love someone else, unless she's Arielle. I don't think I can love someone else other than Arielle.

"Let go, Clyde. Nasa isip mo lang yan. Set yourself free" she said.

I hugged her tight. Ayoko syang pakawalan, ayoko syang umalis, ayoko syang bitawan pero alam kong wala akong karapatan. Ano ba nya ako? Kaibigan lang. It sucks to be in my position—Kaibigan lang.

"I don't want anyone else but you" I said.

"You do want someone else, Clyde. You're just denying it" she said habang nakatingala sa akin then she smiled.

I frowned at her. Wala akong ibang gusto! I'm not denying anything! At sino naman yung sinasabi nyang gusto ko?!

"If you will not open the door for her, she will knock them down" She said in a serious tone.

My forehead creased.

"At sino—"

"Kapag nahulog ka na, hinding hindi ka na makakaahon pa" she said.

I stared at her serious face. Ano bang sinasabi nya? Sino bang tinutukoy nya? Naguguluhan na ako.

"She's a thunderstorm covered in an enchanting flesh, wanting to be felt and understood in a world that loves sunny days. She's unreadable, unpredictable-- She's a mystery that no one can fathom" She said.

"Ano bang sinasabi mo?" I asked.

"She will break your heart in pieces that you can't even imagine. She will pick those pieces up, not minding that she might hurt herself. She will definitely turn your world upside down and you will love her even more because of that" She said.

I hugged her again then I laughed. Bakit ba kung ano-ano yung sinasabi nya? Nababaliw na ba sya?

"You broke my heart. Does that mean pupulutin mo yun? Will you turn my world upside down?" I asked.

She shook her head to disagree and it felt like I was stabbed in the chest. I caressed her hair. Sino ba kasi yung tinutukoy nya? She gently pushed herself away pero hinila ko lang sya pabalik sa akin.

Niyakap ko sya ng mahigpit, pinaglaruan ko yung malambot nyang buhok na amoy strawberry. I sniff her hair then my forehead creased. She doesn't like strawberry scented shampoo. Tinignan ko yung buhok nya, Arielle's brunette pero biglang naging gray yung buhok nya.

Napamulat ako and that's when I realized that the devil is sleeping soundly inside my arms. Her face was buried on my neck, I can even feel her nose. Her right arm is wrapped around my waist then her left hand is on my chest. I froze and there goes the abnormal beating of my heart.

I remembered placing a pillow between us! Anong nangyare?!

I can't even move a muscle, baka magising 'to mahirap na baka masapak ako bigla. Damn it!

"Hmmmm" She mumbled then she move.

Napayuko ako and to my surprise, nakatingala na sya sa akin then our noses met. Damn it! She's too close—too close for my own good! Napatingila na lang ulit ako. I'm mentally cursing myself, I can hardly breathe. I need to move bago pa magising 'tong devil na 'to.

I gently lift her arms away from my waist, tinanggal ko din yung kamay nya sa dibdib ko then I pushed her slowly. Umatras ako palayo sa kanya ng dahan daha—

*Bogsh*

"Fck" I groaned in frustration. Ang tanga ko naman para malaglag sa higaan.

Mabilis akong bumangon at tinignan kung nagising yung devil, fortunately she's still sleeping. Kinuha ko yung unan ko at nilapit sa kanya, bigla naman nya yung niyakap ng mahigpit. So she loves hugs huh?

I glanced at the digital clock on the side table, it's just 2:15 in the morning. Tumayo ako at kinuha yung towel sa bag ko. Damn it! Ngayon ko lang napansin na pinagpapawisan ako. I quickly walk towards the CR, we need to prepare dahil magcocommute pa kami papuntang Ifugao.

Damn that devil! Mababaliw na ako sa kanya!

*Mielle's POV*

I woke up by the sound of the water rushing down from the shower. I covered myself inside the comforter but then my brows furrowed. Paano nagkaroon ng comforter sa sofa? That's when I realized that I was on the bed. So it means, the beast slept on the sofa?

Tumayo ako at naglakad papuntang sofa, I touched it—malamig sya and it looks like the beast didn't sleep here. I glanced at the bed, so magkatabi kami?!

The CR door swung open and the beast came in wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair still dripping wet, his abs are—

"What the hell?!" I said then tumalikod ako.

"You should've warned me na gising ka na" inis na sabi nya.

I rolled my eyes. Should I say that 'hey beast gising na ako'? malay ko bang nasa CR pala sya. Nakatalikod pa rin ako but I felt his presence on my back kaya humarap na ako and to my surprise, he's too close! Basa pa rin yung buhok nya, there are dark circles around his eyes.

"Dahil sayo hindi ako nakatulog ng maayos" he said then umatras na.

"I didn't do anything" I said.

"Yeah you didn't do anything" he said sarcastically.

Did something happen? May ginawa ba ako sa kanya? I tried remembering what happened pero wala akong maalala, nagbato-bato-pik kami, natalo ako and then natulog ako sa sofa, but I woke up on the bed.

"Bakit nasa higaan na ako kanina?" I asked as I point the bed.

"I carried you" he answered.

"Why? So it means, magkatabi tayong matulog?" I asked.

I don't mind though, nakatabi ko na ding matulog si Alexandrei and even my guy bestfriend. Wala lang sa akin but I think something happened.

"Yeah, kumilos ka na at aalis na tayo" he said.

I brought my bag with me along with my towel. I'm glad there's a hot shower, it's too cold here. I did my morning ritual. I chose to wear black leggings and a white shirt that says 'I have nothing to wear'

Lumabas na ako ng CR then I saw the beast already prepared to go and I'm still here with my hair dripping wet. I wrapped the towel around my hair then I start fixing my things.

I don't know but I felt awkward like something happened. What the hell happened?! I just shrug the thought off and focused on fixing my things instead. I wore my hoodie then I'm good to go. Lumabas na kami ng kwarto, binalik na namin sa caretaker yung susi.

Sumakay na kami sa sasakyan, without saying any word. Why do I feel like something happened?

"May nangyari ba?" I asked.

*screeeeeeeech*

My forehead almost bumped to the dashboard because of his sudden break! I shot a glare at him at sinapak yung braso nya.

"Aray! Tsk!"

"What the hell was that?" I asked.

Bakit bigla bigla syang nagbreak?! He's not looking at me. So something really did happen. Sumandal ako ng maayos sa upuan at pinilit kong alalahanin yung nangyari pero wala talaga, maybe I'm just overreacting.

"Walang nangyari" He answered then he resume on driving hanggang sa makarating kami sa terminal. He parked his car on a private parking lot then bumaba na kami. It's just 3 in the morning pero madami ng tao sa terminal especially on the market.

Bumili muna kami ng coffee then hinanap na namin yung jeep na sasakyan namin papuntang Ifugao.

"Excuse me, saan po yung sakayan papuntang Ifugao?" the beast asked the old man.

"Ayun hijo, yung jeep na yun malapit ng mapuno kaya't humabol na kayo dahil ang susunod na jeep ay mamaya pang alas singko" the old man said.

The beast grabs my hand then he pulled me towards the jeep. Geez! He doesn't have to pull me kaya ko namang maglakad.

"Manong, papunta po ba 'to ng Ifugao?" the beast asked the guy.

"Puno na Hijo, mamayang alas singko pa yung susunod na byahe" the guy said.

I glanced at the jeep, it's huge unlike the ones in Manila then I noticed the roof may mga boxes. I smiled at the thought that entered my mind.

"Sa bubong, pwede ba kami dun?" I asked.

Both of them stared at me in awe, I'm used to it—same reaction I get whenever I say something crazy or I'm about to do something stupid.

"Pwede naman" the guy said.

"Nababaliw ka na ba?" the beast asked.

I remove his hands on mine then umakyat na sa bubong ng jeep.

"Devil! That's dangerous" he said.

I rolled my eyes. It's exciting!

"Come on, beast. We have no time kailangan nating matapos yung project ngayon" I said.

Wala syang nagawa kundi sumunod sa akin. We sat down beside each other, nakasandal kami sa box then may binigay na tali sa amin na pwedeng kapitan. This would be fun!

The jeep started moving, the cold breeze touch my face. Yung beast sa tabi ko tahimik lang, such a killjoy.

"You prefer to stay inside? Siksikan dun" I said.

Nakita ko kanina punong-puno na yung jeep, I don't want to squeeze myself in pwede namang sa bubong na lang. Hindi nya ako pinansin at nagsuot ng earphones, kinuha ko yung isa. He just glared at me pero hinayaan na nya akong gamitin yung isa.

I closed my eyes and let myself fall in slumber.

*Tap. Tap. Tap*

Who the hell is tapping my face?! I opened my eyes then I saw the beast's face inches away from mine. Nakasandal ako sa balikat nya, I quickly move away from him and then I realized it's already twilight, the sun is peeking behind the mountains and it's breathtaking.

I took my camera from my bag then I started taking pictures of the scenery. The beast did the same thing. Hindi ako nagsisi na dito kami pumwesto, this is the best spot ever!

Tinignan ko yung mga kuha ko, I can't help but smile. Then I heard a shutter sound of a camera. I glanced at the beast whose busy taking pictures of the scenery, sunod sunod yung shots nya. Hindi ko na sya pinansin at kumuha na rin ako ng pictures.

Nung maliwanag na, I stopped taking pictures instead pinanood ko na lang yung mga bundok na nadadaanan namin. I let the wind brush my hair, I closed my eyes then I raised both of my arms outwide.

"I'M THE QUEEN OF THE WOOOORLD!" I shouted.

" WOOOORLD!"

"WOORLD!"

"WORLD!"

I laughed because of my echo. I never felt so free until this day. Hinayaan ko lang na nakataas yung kamay ko, it felt so good. I glanced at the beast, he's just staring at me like I did something crazy.

"Bawal bang sumigaw?" I asked. Pero hindi nya ako sinagot, I rolled my eyes at him.

"WOOOOH!" I shout.

"WOOOH!"

"WOOH!"

Natawa na naman ako dahil sa echo, this isn't the first time that I heard my echo pero natutuwa pa rin ako pag naririnig ko.

"Try it! It's fun" I said.

Of course being the KJ hindi nya sinubukan. Tsh! He's no fun!

"ANG PANGIT NI CLYDE!" I shout.

"CLYDE!"

"CLYDE!"

"CLYDE!

He shot me a deadly glare, as if I'm scared. Bahala sya dyan.

"BAKIT MAGANDA KA BA!?" he shout.

"BA!?"

"BA!?"

"BA!?"

"MAGANDA AKOOOO!" I shout.

"KOOO!"

"KOO!"

"KO!"

"ANG KAPAL NG MUKHA NG DEVIIIIIIL!" he shouts.

"VIIIL!"

"VIIL!"

"VIL!"

"MAS MAKAPAL YUNG MUKHA NG BEEEEAAAASSSST!" I shout.

"BEAST!"

"EAST!

"EAST!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA" we laughed our hearts outs then we glared at each other. He just called me devil!

Minutes later we arrived at our destination. The driver said kailangan naming maglakad ng konti bago makarating sa Igorot tribe. The path is slippery and muddy. It's my first time to walk on mud.

"Ngayon ka lang ba nakakita ng putik?" the beast asked me.

I raised my eyebrows at him. Why does he care? I took a step but of course it's slippery so nadulas ako, I was expecting a muddy ground would catch me but it did not. I opened my eyes and saw the beast's face inches away from me, his arms are wrapped around my waist and then I found myself lost in his dark brown orbs that also stare at me. We stayed in that position for about a minute, he's the first one to look away then he helped me to stand up.

"Grab my arm and hold onto me para hindi ka madulas" he commanded.

My mind can't seem to process what he said, bigla na lang nyang kinuha yung kamay ko at nilagay sa braso nya. He rolled his eyes at me and the next thing I knew, our hands are already intertwined.

"Let go of me" I said.

Napatingin sya sa kamay namin then he let go of me, na-out of balance ako pero hinila ulit ako ng beast sa kamay para hindi mahulog. I glared at him.

"Just hold my hand, devil. It won't kill you" he said.

I held his hand tightly dahil madulas talaga at malubak pa. Inalalayan nya ako sa paglakad, I didn't expect him to be a gentleman.

Nang makalapit na kami sa taas, we saw other tourist who also want to visit the tribe. May mga foreigners and some students dahil nakasuot pa sila ng t-shirt with the name of their school.

When we finally reached the top, I was even more amazed on what I saw. The famous Rice Terraces is in front of me, yung pagod sa paglakad kanina parang biglang nawala. On the other side of the terraces, there were houses and people, the Igorot tribe.

We followed the tourist and students, they were talking to the old man wearing a tribal costume or is it really their clothing here? He was speaking tagalog, I thought hindi sila marunong.

"He can speak tagalog" I said and the beast nodded.

"Sya yung chief ng tribe" he said.

I was about to get my GoPro in my bag when I noticed our hands—still intertwined. Patag na yung daan, so I think he can let go of me now or he doesn't want to? Then suddenly I heard Alex's voice reminding me about our 'business' narinig ko rin yung boses ni Kat saying that "Make him fall for you". I mentally rolled my eyes.

"You can let go now, beast" I said.

Bigla naman nya akong binitawan then kinuha yung camera nya sa bag nya then he started taking videos. The foreigners and students were gone, they parted ways and tour around the tribe. Then the chief is staring at us with a smile, I smiled back at him then I pulled the beast's shirt—he's too busy taking videos that he didn't notice the chief in front of us.

I bowed—I'm not sure if it's the right way to show respect, but I did anyway. The beast did the same thing.

"Mga estudyante po kami sa Manila, pwede po ba kaming kumuha ng video ng mga ginagawa ng mga katribo nyo?" the beast asked in a polite way.

The chief nodded.

"Pwede po ba kaming tumulong sa ginagawa nila? for experience" I asked.

"Hahaha sure" the chief said.

He can speak English! That's incredible!

"Chief Ammo, ang pangalan ko, may mga turistang bumisita noon dito at isa ako sa mga naturuang gumamit ng tagalog at kaunting ingles" he said.

"Clyde" the beast said then they shook hands.

"Mielle" I said then we shook hands too.

"Mga estudyante kayo, kung ganoon ay para sa proyekto nyo ito?" he asked and we nodded.

He motioned us to follow him, I started taking videos too.

"Mababait naman ang mga tao dito, sanay na sa mga turista. Madalas ang pinupunta ng mga turista dito ay yung aming tattoo" he said.

Yeah, I did a research about. If I remember it right it's called mambabatok—the way they called the tattoo application? I guess. Then a girl came, she hugged the chief—I think she's the daughter.

"Si Isa, ang anak ko. Marunong din sya ng tagalog" he said.

"Hi" I said.

She just nodded at me then she hide behind her father. I think she's just 10 years old—though I'm not sure.

"Kamusta?" the beast asked Isa.

Isa smiled at him then she walk towards the beast and she touched his face. What the hell!?

"Gwapo" she said.

Shock expression was written in the beast's face but then he smiled at the girl then the chief laughed.

"Isa, bakit hindi mo sila samahan? Ipakita mo sa kanila yung mga ginagawa sa tribo" the chief said.

The girl just nodded and clings to the beast's arms. Just what the hell is happening?! Don't tell me that little girl likes the beast?! Nauna silang maglakad sa akin, I followed them. Naguusap sila, hindi ko sila marinig—I don't care though.

"Hey!" I said.

Hindi ako pinapansin nung beast, he's busy with the little girl. Konti na lang iisipin kong Pedophile sya.

"Hey beast!" I shouted.

They stopped walking then they faced me, the girl has this annoyed expression as she looks at me. What the hell!?

"What?" the beast asked.

"I think we should split up, para makuhanan lahat ng videos" I said.

He nodded at me then iniwan na nila ako. Just great!

I tour myself around the tribe, took pictures of them. The old ladies taught me to weave a basket. Then I saw the beast taking videos of the men while fixing their stuff, I walk towards him then I took a video of him. I noticed the girl, she's glaring at me!

The whole time, I was just tailing the beast and taking his videos as he tries the daily activities of the Igorots. It's almost lunch time when I stopped taking videos. I took a bag of biscuits and ate it. May mga batang lumalapit sa akin so I gave them some of my biscuits.

*Clyde's POV*

I saw the devil, she's siting on the ground at napapalibutan sya ng mga bata. I fished my camera from my bag and started taking videos of her. She's smiling as she gives cookies to the kids, she pats the kids head everytime na manghihingi sila ng biscuit. I don't think na nakakain sya dahil lahat yata ay binigay na lang nya sa mga bata.

"Kuya, sino sya?" Isa asked me.

"Kaibigan ko" I answered her.

Her forehead creased at tinignan nya ako na parang hindi sya naniniwala sa sagot ko.

"Bakit iba yung tingin mo sa kanya?" she asked.

Paano naging iba?

"Talaga?" I asked.

She nodded then she frowned at me.

"Parang mukha ni papa kapag tinitignan si mama" sagot nya.

What the hell?! I gave her a smile and ignored what she said, nagfocus na lang ako sa pagkuha ng videos nung devil kasama nung mga bata. She's laughing while she's wiping the face of the kid. I didn't expect to see her laugh or to see any emotions on her face. I wasn't expecting that she's close to the children.

The kids started to play the devil's hair, she seems fine with it dahil hindi sya umaangal instead she's laughing at inaalalayan pa yung bata na makatungtong sa bato na sinasandalan nya. The kids tied the devil's hair into a braid, the other girls came with their basket of flowers at nilagyan nila yung buhok ng devil.

"Maganda" I heard Isa said.

I smiled, yeah she is.

Nagpaalam na yung devil sa mga bata, we followed her at nagpunta sya sa mga gumagawa ng kumot? Basta the other women are weaving. There's wooden machinery used for weaving and the devil is trying to weave, tinuruan sya ng isang matanda. I took pictures of her, seryosong seryoso yung mukha nya but then she smiled because she got it right.

"Hey" I said.

Napatingin sya sa akin then she glared at Isa? Tinignan ko si Isa, she's also glaring at the devil. Uh? What's happening? Lumapit kami sa kanya, she's busy looking at the strings that are hanged on the ceiling, I took a picture of her.

I heard Isa murmured something but I ignored her then I focused the camera to the devil who's now talking to someone—one of the students we saw earlier. The devil wears a poker-face expression while talking to the guy who's reaching his phone to the devil.

So he's asking for her number huh?

The devil said something then she left the guy. Lumapit kami sa pwesto nila. Some of the students are laughing at the guy who approached the devil.

"I told you, she's a snob"

"She's not even that beautiful"

"She is beautiful, I saw her laughed kanina! Damn her smile!"

I search for the devil but she's nowhere to be found. I felt Isa's hand pulling my shirt. She pointed somewhere.

"Doon sya nagpunta, kay Apo Whang-Od" she said.

Sumunod kami sa kanya, pero hindi pala sya nagpunta sa bahay ni Apo Whang-Od, she went to the women of the tribe who are busy making necklaces and such. Lumapit kami sa kanila, the devil noticed us. She motioned me to sit beside her but Isa pulled my shirt at pinaupo ako sa tabi nya.

The devil is busy making necklace as I took a video of her, her brows furrowed as she shoot the beads into the string then she smiled as the women starts singing in their language. I don't understand them and so is the devil.

"Kanta yan tungkol sa Araw at Buwan" Isa said.

I nodded. The woman touched the hair of the devil, parang pinaguusapan nila yung buhok nya. The devil doesn't mind though. I glanced at Isa hoping that she'll translate to me what the woman said.

"Sabi nya, parang sya yung buwan dahil sa buhok nya" Isa said.

The devil just smiled at them then she bowed and left the women. Sumunod naman kami sa kanya.

"That felt weird, I don't understand them" she said.

"They were singing about the sun and moon and they thought you were the moon" I said. She looked at me with a puzzled expression then I pointed Isa.

"Gusto kong magpatattoo" I said.

She glanced at me then she pouted. We headed straight to Apo Whang-od's house, fortunately walang ibang tao na magpapatattoo.

"Isa, sabihin mong gusto kong magpalagay" I said then she nodded at kinausap yung matanda. The old woman prepared her things for the so called mambabatok.

"Gusto ko din" I heard the devil said.

"Edi magpalagay ka" I said she shook her head.

"The witch doesn't want me to have one, madumi daw sa katawan" she said then she rolled her eyes.

The witch?

"Sino yun?" I asked.

"My mom" she answered casually.

It seems like they're not in good terms that why she called her mom, witch.

"Saan mo daw gustong magpalagay?" Isa asked.

I pulled my shirt up and pointed at my lower right abdomen.

"Ahm... maglilibot muna ako" the devil said then she left.

"Anong ipapalagay mo?" Isa asked.

"Araw at Buwan" I said then Isa translated it to Apo Whang-Od.

The old woman nodded and motioned me to lie down. Pinunasan nya yung part na lalagyan ng tattoo then she started drawing.

"Masakit" Isa said.

"Kaya yan" I said then I smiled at her.

The old woman started the so called mambabatok or pambabatok is the right word? There's a wooden stick with a pointed thing—I think it's a needle then pinupukpok nya ng isa pang kahoy. It's painful pero kaya naman. I don't know how many times I mentally cursed—mahapdi na kasi. Nakapikit lang ako the whole time.

Then minutes later the old woman stopped at kinausap si Isa.

"Tapos na" Isa said then she smiled at me.

I glanced at my tattoo. It's a half sun and moon, maayos yung pagkakagawa. I bowed at Apo Whang-od and fished a thousand bill from my pocket pero pinigilan ako ni Isa.

"Wag na" she said.

Dahan dahan akong tumayo dahil mahapdi talaga. I decided to remove my shirt para hindi masagi ng tela. Now I'll walk around the tribe, half naked. I resume on taking pictures and videos. Malapit na mag-dilim pero hindi ko pa rin makita yung devil. Umalis na si Isa dahil kailangan daw nyang tulungan yung mama nya sa pagluluto.

I walked straight to the terraces and there I found the devil. Wala syang ibang kasama naglalakad lang sya sa makitid na path walk na gawa sa putik. Nakataas yung dalawang kamay nya, it's as if she's balancing herself para hindi mahulog. I took a picture of her. She's staring at the sky, nawawala na yung araw and the moon started to show up.

I slowly walked towards, I'm still taking her pictures that's why I notoiced na nakapikit sya, then she opened her eyes slowly, parang nagiba yung kulay ng mata nya dahil sa sikat ng araw, she covered her face probably nasilaw sya.

*splash*

Then the next thing I knew, nakaupo na sya sa putikan. I stop myself from laughing, puro putik na yung damit nya and there's a frog on her head! I took a picture of her, may mga putik din sa mukha nya. She shook her head para umalis yung palaka but then the frog just jump on her knees.

Hindi sya nandidiri?

Tinignan nya lang yung palaka.

"Are you my prince charming?" she asked.

I burst out laughing because of her question.

"Why don't you kiss him?" I asked.

She darted a glare at me then she shove the frog away. Lumapit ako sa kanya para matulungan syang tumayo.

"May dala ka bang damit?" I asked.

Umiling sya.

"Anong laman ng bag mo?" I asked.

"Camera" she answered the she glanced at my tattoo.

"Bakit wala kang damit?" she asked.

"Mahapdi pag nababangga" I said then she pokes my tattoo.

Napasigaw ako sa sakit, then she just laughed at me then naunang maglakad.

What a psycho!

Nagpunta kami sa bahay ni Chief Ammo, para makapaglinis yung devil. Tumulong ako sa mga students na gumawa ng bonfire kasama yung ibang mga lalake sa tribo. They put several logs paikot sa bonfire. We started eating, nagihaw sila ng palaka at manok.

"Nasaan na yung kasama mo?"

Napalingon ako sa nagtanong. He's the guy who asked for the devil's number. I just shrug, hindi ko naman talaga alam kung nasaan yung devil na yun. I scanned the whole area pero hindi ko sya makita then I saw Isa.

"Nasaan si Mielle?" I asked.

"Nasa bahay, kumakain" she said.

At talagang doon pa sya kumain ah? Unbelievable!

Natapos na kaming kumain pero wala pa rin yung devil, I'm getting uneasy here. The guys started playing music with their drums, gongs and such. Tatayo na sana ako para hanapin yung devil but then nakita ko na syang naglalakad papunta sa akin.

She's wearing a tribal costume as her skirt then a black sports bra?! What the hell?! though meron namang tela na nakapatong, it's the same as her skirt. Her hair was curled down probably because of the braid then she's wearing a head piece made of beads.

She stood in front of me, nakatingala lang ako sa kanya.

"I look weird" she said then umupo sya sa tabi ko.

She's not! Though she doesn't look like an Igorot but damn! She's, she's, she's...

"Gorgeous" I whispered.

"How's your tattoo?" she asked.

I stared at her. Her face was illuminated by the bonfire and it doesn't make her less beautiful, besides fire suits her because she's the devil—right she's a devil.

I shook my head, bakit ba kung ano ano naiisip ko!? if someone reads my mind, maiisip nyang may gusto ako sa devil na 'to but I actually don't like her!

"Ok na" I said then I faced the bonfire.

I saw the devil, checking on her Instagram, while scrolling down she saw the photo that I posted. It's a photo of the sunrise with her silhouette. She glances at me and our eyes met. She has this questioning look on her face, but before she could say something lumapit yung mga bata sa kanya at niyayaya syang sumayaw.

"Go on" I said.

Nahihiya syang napatingin sa mga tao sa paligid namin, they were waiting for her to stand up. Hinihila na sya ng mga bata hanggang sa tuluyan na syang makatayo.

She just stood there while the kids are dancing around the fire. The students are cheering for her, hindi naman nya malaman kung ngingiti ba sya or maiinis but then she smiled. At first she's just swaying her body while she stared at the kids dancing around her, yung isang bata parang tinuturuan pa sya then later on she really is dancing.

Kung paano yung sayaw ng mga bata ganoon na rin yung sayaw nya, she's laughing and smiling as she twirl around the fire. I took a picture of her and that's when I realized that this scene is quite familiar same as the scene a while ago on the jeep.

I remembered Arielle screaming she's the queen of the world while we're on my pick-up truck, and I remembered her singing while there's a bonfire in front of her.

"Sinasayaw nila yung Araw at Buwan" I heard Isa said.

"Hinihintay ng Buwan na dumating yung tamang panahon na magsasama sila ng Araw" Isa added.

Is she referring to the eclipse? Solar Eclipse I guess?

I stared at the devil while she's dancing around the fire there goes my heart again beating so wildly, I think it's because of the drums. Yeah it's because of the drums.

*End of Chapter*