"So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you"~ Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

~'~
Phillipines, Mount Mayon:

"We'll just be riding a bike on the mountain, right?" Jason inquired.

"Yeah, just ride a bike," Agnes replied.

"Yes, but Mount Mayon is 8000ft high. And also, it is the most active volcano of Philippines, and apparently we are going to the lava churning area," Akane apprised them.

"Great," Jason said, smiling. "Now I like this."

Agnes shifted towards him in the bus. "You know biking well?"

"Yes, Ms.Fotaine, why?"

She grinned. "Because then, we can compete."

~'~

The four of them were given helmets, good quality bikes, knee and elbow pads and a bottle of water.

"Be careful. The ride is everything but easy. It will be really difficult to bike. Be careful not to fall," the guide said. They nodded.

Agnes looked at Jason.

"Ready?" she asked.

"Ready."

And then, Agnes and Jason paddled the fastest they could. While they toiled over the terrain , the mountain loomed before them like a goddess who was growing impatient for a sacrifice. Mt.Mayon was wrapping herself in the beautiful white clouds, and Agnes and Jason had no choice but to slow down. They stopped and looked at the beauty of the mountain, the blue sky and the white clouds.

It was very difficult to bike. But they managed somehow. Panting, laughing, falling and getting up again, they enjoyed the ride towards the lava wall. Paddling was hard, and yet fun, and they were happier in each other's company than anything else that was in their realm of comprehension. They crossed a dry riverbed, biked through a single track amid tall coconut trees, and finally reached the destination for the day.

Agnes got down her bike, tired and exhausted. "Done, and done."

Jason smiled, "Finally."

She sat down on one of the rocks. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

"Yes, it's beautiful."

"I've always loved nature. The trees, the beauty, everything is so surreal. It's as if nature is speaking to you, through her intermediatories."

Jason sat down beside her. "That's true."

Silence swept through like wind after that. They looked at the clouds, though their hearts seemed to be attached like a string tugging at their chambers. Sometimes, silence speaks while noise listens; silently, in its noisy confusion.

~'~

Jason and Agnes sat down in the restraunt together, waiting for the food they ordered. Jason looked casually around; at the people, the things, the food.

"Is this a psychology thing?" Agnes ventured to ask.

"What is?"

"Observing people."

"It is, and it is not. People are intriguing, you know. Sometimes, only at from a distance though."

She laughed. "That's true." 

"You are quite observant too, since you observed that I was observing."

"Oh, but my observation of yours was hardly an observation. Observing you observe is different level observation."

"Uh."

"Made no sense. I'll shut up now."

And then, a silence prevailed over them. The food arrived and quietly, they ate.

"Hey, Cherry?"

"Yessum?"

"You don't look good when you're quiet. You talk, alright? You talk, I hear," he said.

Because the waves crash and the shore moves along; only rarely does the right reside in the wrong.
~'~

Japan, Tokyo:

"Today we're going to Cherry blossom viewing," the guide apprised them.

"Yes, the cherry blossom," Jason stressed. Agnes shot him a look. He chuckled.

They sat down in the bus, transferring their luggage , which took them to Shinjuku Gyoen. It is one of the largest and the most popular parks in Tokyo. Jason and Agnes looked around in utter amazement and awe. The park had huge and spacious lawns, meandering walking paths and tranquil sceneries.

They walked through the paths, the soft pink cherry blossom leaves falling on them, making it all look so beautiful and picturesque.

"This is so pretty," Agnes said, looking around.

Jason nodded. Akane and Takumi laid a mat and sat down. The blossoms settled on the mat, the pink and the white glowing on the mat.

"Come on let's walk," Agnes offered.

"We'll pass, you both go," Akane said, settling down. They nodded.

The both of them walked, slowly, admiring the view.

"So, don't you play sports, Jason?"

"Nope"

"Not even when you were young?"

"Nope"

"What did you do then?"

"Read, study.."

"Eh, Jason, you really need to add some fun in your life. Energize it a bit."

Jason laughed. "When I have you, Cherry, I don't think I need anyone else."

"Yeah yeah," she added sarcastically, opening her bar of dark chocolate.

"Again?"

"What?"

"Don't you get bored of eating this?"

"Nah. And plus I've got into the habit of being with boring stuff, you know," she laughed.

"Neat," Jason rolled his eyes.

They looked at the far end of the park. It contained ponds, surrounded by manicured shrubs, green trees, together with several pavilions and the Kyu Goryotei, which was also called the Taiwan pavilion.

"Hey, Jason, do you know how to climb trees?"

"No, why?"

She flashed him an adventurous smile. Then, she whispered into his ear, "because now I guess, we're about to do something illegal."

~'~

"AGNES! COME DOWN. IT'S NOT ALLOWED HERE!" Jason whisper-shouted. She put her foot on the branch of a tree.

"Agnes! Stop it! If they see you--"

"Sssh. No one will notice. I'll help you climb once I'm done. It's not that high," she said.

"Why do you always do things which are so insane?"

"Because life's full of insanity," she said quoting her agenda , gripping another branch and sitting down on one. "Now come on!"

Jason gave a firm shake of head. "No. I'm not climbing. Look, Agnes, come down"

"Jason! The park looks much prettier from here,"she tried to convince him. He sighed.

"I told you, I don't know how to climb a tree"

"Give me your hand," she said, extending her own hand.
He shook his head.

"I'm falling, give me your hand!"

He held her hand and she, being the devil mastermind, starting pulling him in a way where he no option but to claim. Finally, he sat down on the thick branch next to her.

"See? You did it," she said.

He looked at her.

Jason felt like a teenager, scared to get caught because he was doing something wrong. But then, he looked straight, at the pink cherry blossoms flying in the air, so soft and beautiful.

"It is beautiful, thought," he agreed.

She nodded, following his gaze.

"Life is so uncanny, isn't it? At one moment everything's right; you're living and laughing; falling and rising. The next moment, everything is falling like meteors on earth and all you can do is watch the earth in its deduced, scarred, dilapidated form."

"You got that from cherry blossoms?" Jason inquired, a little surprised.

She laughed. "No,  Jason. I got that from life."

~'~

I hope you enjoyed this chapter ! ^^ I'll update the other one soon.
Next chapter: You're writing a new book called..

Any favourites yet?

~'~