Chapter 12

Butterfly Meadows.

It was written on the arch upon entering the premises. Manghang-mangha naman agad ako dahil hindi ko inaasahan itong pupuntahan naming lugar. I've only had in mind na baka normal na food place or kaya naman park ang pupuntahan namin. This place was far from what I've imagined.

"What is this place?" I uttered.

"A magical place," sagot ni Sy sa akin. "It has been a dream of mine na pumunta at makita ng personal ang lugar na 'to. I'm here now. I'm a few feet away to witness the beauty of this place."

Napakunot ang noo. "Wala pa ba tayo sa lugar na tinutukoy mo?"

"We're here, but there's more that you have to see," anito. "Let's just go inside. I can't wait to see it."

Sinundan ko siya papasok sa loob kung saan ay may nag-aabang na staff na siyang idinerekta kami sa front desk. Before we could go to the viewing area, we have to pay for an environmental fee which helps preserving the natural state of the place. 

They wrapped neon paper bracelets on our wrists to validate our entrance. Pansin ko naman ang pananabik sa mukha ni Sy. Sa aming dalawa ay siya lang ang may idea kung anong makikita namin sa lugar na 'to. 

"How are you feeling, Sy?" I asked.

She took a deep breath and let it go slowly. The smile was plastered on her face and I don't think it will go away. "I'm so excited, Cho. This is my dream. This is what I've been looking forward to happening. I'm only a few feet away from seeing it. Ikaw ba? Anong nararamdaman mo?"

"I'm feeling good," simple kong sagot sa kanya. "I'm more invested in seeing your reaction though."

Natawa naman ito nang bahagya. "Loko ka talaga. Let's find our way na to the viewing area. I bet you will also fall in love in this place at masasabi mo na lang na super worth it ang ibinyahe natin."

"Okay, let's see. . ."

We took the pathway heading to the viewing area. We're passing by some tall bushes and lines of different flowers on the side. Hindi na rin napigilan ni Synestine ang sarili niya at bawat nadaraanan namin ay kinukuhaan niya ng picture. She said it was for the memories. She even told me to get pictures of her. Nag-suggest pa siya na kuhaan niya rin ako ng picture. I declined it at first, but she kept on pushing me so I had no choice, but to pose with some of the flowers.

"See? Ang gwapo mo kaya. I wonder why you don't have a girlfriend? E, mukha kang model," pambobola pa ni Synestine.

I shook my head, letting out little laughs. "You're kidding me, Sy. Alam mo naman na napakalayo no'n sa katotohanan, e."

"You're the only one who's thinking about that. Gwapo ka nga! Ibo-boyfriend kita riyan, e."

Napangisi ako. "Stop it, Sy. Baka may masabi pa ang iba, e."

"Na ano naman?" she questioned, raising her brow. "Wala naman siguro silang pakialam kung maging mag-boyfriend and girlfriend tayong dalawa. You're single and so am I. Kung gagawin nilang big deal 'yon, sila na 'yong may problem. Not me. Not you. Not us."

"Okay, sabi mo, e," tipid na sagot ko na lamang. Hindi ko alam kung anong sasabihin ko. I was taken aback kung anong salita ang lalabas sa bibig ko at baka magkamali ako.

"Come on! Kailangan natin maabutan ang sunset!" Kinuha nito ang kanan kong kamay at saka niya ako hinigit papunta sa area kung saan na pwede naming makita ang paligid.

Every path we passed ay nagugulat na lang din ako kapag may butterfly na lilipad papunta sa amin o kaya makakasalubong. It does make sense dahil hindi tatawaging butterfly meadows ang lugar na 'to kung walang butterfly mismo.

"There it is!" anunsyo ni Sy nang marating namin ang viewing deck.

She kept pulling me while I was in awe of what I was looking at. I was speechless and every corner of my eye could witness all the beauty of it. There was a broad field across us and each aisle had different flowers—lavender, dahlia, sunflower, butterfly weed, and many more that I never thought I would see in this tropical country.

"Ano? Naniniwala ka na ba?" tanong pa ni Sy na may mapaglarong ngiti sa labi. "Worth it, 'di ba?"

"It is, Sy. . ." I muttered.

The breeze of the wind feels lighter. We watched butterflies and other sort of flying bugs everywhere, and it was so nice. Bukod do'n ay tiningnan ko ang reaksyon ni Synestine ay nagniningning ang mga mata niya. She must be feeling so proud of herself for finally getting to this dream destination of hers. Kung noon ko pa nalaman ang lugar na 'to, I would drive all the way just to get here because I knew it would be worth it.

"Can you see that pathway there?" Tinuro ni Synestine ang pathway sa field na hindi kalayuan mula sa akin.

"Yes, I can see that. Do they allow people to walk down there?"

Umiling ito. "Before, they allow it, pero ngayon hindi na. From what I've watched sa recent videos ng mga bumisita rito, they have to get special permission to walk down there and have a closer look sa flowers do'n. Especially may mga butterfly na makikita ro'n na hindi lumalapit sa viewing deck."

"Oh, that makes sense. I guess they were trying to preserve the area as soon as possible."

"'Yon din ang pagkakaalam ko. As far as the videos I've watched, may mga pasaway kasing bumubunot ng bulaklak sa fields kahit na pinagsabihan na bawal pumitias or whatsoever."

"Sila pala may kasalana, e," aniko. "We could've had the chance to do it."

"I thin it's alright. . ." aniya. Huminga ito nang malalim saka ipinikit ang mga mata. Nang pakawalan niya iyon ay muli niyang iminulat ang mga mata niya. "This is fine for me. Hindi na ako magde-deman pa when in the first place, ang gusto ko lang naman mangyari ay makita ito in person before it's too late."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. "Why would it be too late? For sure hindi naman nila aalisin 'to."

Napakibit balikat naman siya. "Nasabi ko lang. Ilang beses ko na rin naman nabanggit sa 'yo na maraming beses ko na rin niyaya si Cameron na pumunta rito. He doesn't really care about what I want. Masakit, pero hinayaan ko lang. . ."

"Ngayon na sarili mo naman ang pina-priority mo, alam mo na kung anong happiness ang dala nito sa 'yo," sambit ko. "Cameron would realize all the things he missed doing with you. He should've put you first other than anything else."

"Well, I was the one who kept believing he would do that one day, pero nagmukha lang din pala akong tanga at masama. You know what, let's forget about all the drama and shit stuff back home, we're here to be free, seek for ourselves, and have fun. This summer will end fast and won't know we're back walking down the hallways."

"Yeah, you're right. . . Come on, give me your phone. I'll take many pictures of you!"

"Yes, please! Don't worry, I'll do the same thing for you!"

Sabik na ibinigay ni Synestine ang phone niya sa akin at sinimulan niya akong utusan kung saan ko siya kukuhaan a kung anong klaseng shot ang gusto niyang makita. She said she would love to post it on her Instagram. She has been sharing them everytime kaya naman maraming magugulat na napuntahan na niya ngayon ang lugar na nasa picture lang noon.

A moment later, a staff came to us asking if we wanted to go down the fields. At the back of my mind, we weren't allowed to do so, so why she was asking about it?

When they told us that they are giving special permission to selected guests at some point and they said they were ecstatic about Synestine's reaction and her energy seemingly thrive anywhere. Mas lalo siyang natuwa sa balitang iyon dahil hindi namin inaasahan na bababa kami sa field mismo.

They made us some a paper which if ever we made a violation against the rule, we'll be fined for it. Kahit na medyo malaki 'yon, hindi alintana kay Synestine. She just signed the paper and excitedly screamed. Natawa na lang ako sa kanya.

A staff informed us about the rules when we got down in the field. Bawal pumitas ng bulaklak. Bawal tumakbo. Maglakad lamang sa tamang pathway. Ilan lamang iyon sa paalala nila habang pababa kami ng hagdan.

As soon as we were on the field, I watched Synestine and I noticed how she timidly walked down the pathway. Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa isipan ko at lumapit ako sa tabi niya saka ko hinawakan ang kamay niya.

She looked at our hands and raised her head to look at me. I thought she would pull her hand away from me, but she smiled at me. That kind of smile was a little assurance for me.

They only allowed us for a few minutes on the field and we took our time just before the sunset. We took as many photos as we could while we were on the field. May staff pa na lumapit sa amin para kuhaan kaming dalawa at sinabi pa nito ang cute namin as a couple. Nagkatinginan na lang kaming dalawa ni Sy at hindi itinama ang staff.

Pagbalik namin sa deck at dumidilim na ang paligid ay binuksan nila ang ilaw na siyang nagbigay liwanag. Pati na rin ang field ay nagninigning pa rin.

"Wow. . . This still feels like a dream for me," Synestine said. "I never imagined in my whole life I would be able to be in this place. Paulit-ulit na ba ako?" Natawa pa ito.

"Yeah, if I was you, hinding-hindi rin talaga ako makakapaniwala na sa wakas ay nakita ko na 'yon. It was my first time knowing about this place. I'm sure my parents would love to see this one, too."

"It's special," she said. "There's something about this place that makes it so special, and I don't care if I don't know what is it. It can remain a mystery for me. . ."

"So. . . We've still got a couple of days left. Where are we staying?"

Tinapik nito ang balikat ko. "Don't worry, Mister de Amos. I booked us a hotel near this place. May swimming pool 'yon sila, I think. So, imagine that this is the perfect getaway you have planned for a very long time."

"Sure. . . Keep surprising me, Synestine. I love it."

She giggled. "Well, you gotta keep up with me because I've got a lot of things in store for you," she said, winking at me.

Sy and I decided to grab some dinner at their in-house coffee shop. They were serving some pastas so we both ordered them. Their shop will open until nine in the evening and so we have to check in to our hotel. Pagpunta namin sa hotel ay si Sy ang pumila sa reception para sa pag-check in namin.

"Cho, don't get mad at me. . ." Sy said as she walked in my direction.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"I booked us the wrong date and our check-in time would be tomorrow. I tried to ask if they have spare rooms for tonight, pero fully booked na raw sila. What do we do? It's too late na to look for hotels."

"We've got Tomas' car naman," I said. "We can spend the night there or whatever. I don't mind. . ."

"Okay, if it's okay with you then I'm good with it! I'm sorry for the trouble. . . I didn't realize it. I'm so stupid!"

"Hey, it's okay. Don't worry. . . Don't let it ruin your night. How can we make this night even more memorable? I guess, let's look for someplace out there. . . What do you think?"

"What kind of place?"

I grinned. "Some place we can have fun and all. . ."

She squinted her eyes. "Hm. . . I mean, hindi naman ako KJ to reject your idea. We're out here by ourselves so let's have some fun. . ."

A life like this can't be replaced. I love my life. . . I love this girl.