Kapuwa walang ideya sina Harika at Waki na tatagal pa sila ng ilang araw sa inn upang ipagpatuloy ang isang linggong bakasyon na iyon. Waki has been planning an out-of-town trip because of her, which he should've postponed this year. What happens that night does flip around everything immediately after leaving Cascade. Harika doesn't want to waste a moment either. Sa kabila ng mga alaala at hinanakit na bumabagabag sa kanya upang mawala siya sa kasalukuyang kaganapan, nagawa niyang paglahuin ito dahil sa mga salita ni Waki. He's right after all. Why does she seem to be so bothered by that accident and her blind eyes? Nangyari na ang mga nangyari, may magagawa pa ba siya? Kung mayroon, ano? Ang magalit at kamuhian ang mundo? Para saan? Hindi niya maintindihan.

Maraming nangyari sa mga nakalipas na araw sa kanila. Harika had no idea that she had invested so much of herself in these pursuits rather than worrying about everything she has been thinking and dealing with lately. Sa tulong ni Waki—sa mga salita't paglalarawan nito sa paligid, nagawa nitong makalimutan niya ang lahat ng alalahanin at isantabi ang mga ito upang mas ma-appreciate niya ang bawat lugar na napuntahan nila. They visited a sunflower field and a strawberry farm, both of which Harika enjoys going to. Malapit lang ang mga ito sa Cascade na una nilang napuntahan. Aside from that, they rode dirt bikes and played in mud. Sinulit na rin nila ang araw na iyon kasama ang isa't isa sakay ng nirentahang off-roader vehicle habang pinagmamasdan ang papalubog na araw sa mabuhanging lupain.

Itinigil ni Waki ang pagmamaneho, ipinarada ang kotse sa gitnang bahagi ng malawak na buhanginan, saka sila naupo sa hood ng off-roader. Hindi nawawala ang alalay nito kay Harika, lalo na sa tuwing kasama siya nitong naglalakad.

"Did you enjoy everything that happened today?" he asked softly, looking at her over his shoulder.

Harika grinned as she absorbed their current situation. "I'm having fun and enjoying everything, especially being with you," she said and stretched for his hand like she wanted to hold it forever. She almost find the light in him that she couldn't find herself.

Napangiti si Waki sa isang tabi. Hindi nito inaasahan na manggagaling iyon kay Harika dahil halos maunsyame na ang bakasyon nila noong nakaraang mag-iba ang timpla niya. And despite the fact that Harika's satisfaction and happiness was currently filling her soul at the moment, it is something she needs and always search for since.

"Where do you wanna go to spend the remaining days before the week ends?" he asked.

"I'm fulfilled with everything happened these past days, thank you for being my eyes and for describing everything for me to imagine it clearly. Iniisip ko tuloy ngayon kung paano na 'ko makababawi sa 'yo at pormal kang mapasalamatan. I can't thank you enough."

"Hindi mo kailangang i-require ang sarili mong bumawi sa akin. When I see those beautiful smiles on your face, that's what matters most to me."

Halos napalibutan sila ng isang minutong katahimikan matapos iyon, tanging pagaspas ng hangin lang ang ingay na maririnig sa paligid.

"Waki, puwede bang mag-request?" Even though Harika wasn't staring directly at him, their connection still exists between their tied hands.

"Anything for you," walang pag-aalinlangang tugon nito. "What is it, though?"

"Inilarawan mo na sa akin ang lahat... bawat detalye. Now, all I want to do is make assumptions of your face by touching it. Your words, adjectives, and descriptions have flooded my ears. I'd like to picture your face right now using only my sense of touch."

Without saying a word, Waki slowly raised her hands and cupped his own face with them. Naramdaman agad nito ang pagdampi ng nilalamig na mga palad ni Harika. And after losing her vision for several months, it's amazing for her to feel his face once more. Natatakot lang siguro siya kung malaki na ba ang ipinagbago ng mukha nito sa huling pagkakataon niyang nasilayan ito.

Ang unang parteng dinampian ni Harika ng kanyang mga daliri ay ang parteng noo nito, followed by running her fingers through his hair. Ang mga namumulang tainga nito ay hindi niya nakikita, ngunit naramdaman niya ang lamig nang magawi siya roon. When she last touched his nose, it was exactly the same. As she went down, she can also feel the sprouting hair on his chin that hasn't been shaved. Makinis din ang balat nito na ikinaiinggit niya noon pa man. But his soft lips were the only feature of his face she chose not to touch. As she thinks back to the time they shared that lengthy and unforgettable kiss, she was too afraid to go on it. If only that had continued any longer—alcoholic wine in their systems—she could have believed they'd had sex.

Kapagkuwan ay itinigil na niya ang pagsuri sa mukha nito gamit ang kanyang mga daliri. She felt relieved leaving his lips untouched. Hindi naman umapila si Waki sa desisyon niyang huwag nang hawakan ito. Sapat na kung ano ang mga nadampian ng kanyang mga daliri.

Bago sila umalis ay muling hinawakan ni Harika ang mukha nito saka niya kinintalan ito ng halik sa pisngi. It was so quick and random—almost hit the side of his lips, yet Waki, on the other hand, was stunned with widened eyes in surprise. His cheeks were flushed pink and filled with pure excitement; he was almost captivated by it. Bakit naman niya ito binibigla nang ganoon?

"P-para saan 'yon?" nauutal at nahihiya nitong tanong, dinampian nito ng palad ang nag-iinit pa ring mga pisngi.

Tipid na ngumiti si Harika. "Just for everything..." tanging sagot niya.

Hindi malaman ni Waki kung ano ang mararamdaman nito sa halik na iyon. Although it was merely a peck on the cheek and they shared kisses not so long ago, why does it hits him so differently?

Pagdating sa byahe, tahimik lang itong nagmamaneho. Hindi pa rin makalimutan ni Waki ang tungkol sa halik na iyon hanggang sa makabalik na sila sa inn. Iyon na ang huling gabi nila sa lugar na iyon at gusto nitong isurpresa pa si Harika.

"What? May pupuntahan pa tayo?" She asked while brushing her hair and getting ready for bed.

"Yes. I wanna take you there before this night ends." Waki keeps her unaware of their destination.

Tinernuhan lang nila ng matching jackets, pants at sneakers ang lugar na tutunguhan nila. Malamig noong gabing iyon dahil katatapos lang ng katamtamang ulan, tama lang ang kasuotang mayroon sila. On the side table, Harika applies lip gloss and sprays cologne around her neck. Si Waki pa ang nagpusod ng buhok niya kahit hindi pantay. Alaalay lang siya nito palabas ng inn patungong kotse.

They only took a forty-five minute drive before they finally arrived at Waki's most favorite places he's ever been to.

"Tell me where we are," Harika demanded, her voice filled with excitement. "Siguro naman sasabihin mo na sa akin since naririto na tayo."

"Not yet. Not until we hop in it."

"Sasakay ulit tayo? Saan? Sa carousel? Sa ferris wheel? Siguro dinala mo ako sa amusement park, ano?" With her creative imagination, Harika drew her head in an amusement park setting where her Lolo Dad used to take her when she was younger.

Hindi na nagsalita si Waki at sinimulan na nilang maglakad patungo sa mismong supresa nito. When they got there, he provided her instructions for the aerial tramway they were riding.

Waki prompted her to hop in with the help of his arm by saying, "Take a big step."

"Ano ba itong sasakyan natin? I have the impression that we are boarding a ferris wheel pod. Tama ba ako?"

Waki let her keep on guessing, not until they got inside. "Seems like you guessed it just close. Although nasa loob naman talaga tayo ng pod ngayon, but more likely a car... we're inside a cable car."

"Cable car? Wow, I've never ridden one. Madalas lang akong makakita sa mga pelikula ng mga taong sumasakay sa cable cars. And for me to be inside of it right now must be like a dream come true." She then sat on the plush seat while giggling with such joy in her voice.

The pod began to lift them up.

"Sa lahat ng lugar at maaaring mapuntahan dito sa Windercoln, sumakay rito na yata ang pinakapaborito ko. Iba kasi sa pakiramdam ang idea ng mga cable car na parang dinadala ka sa mataas na bahagi at sa mga makakapal na ulap. Noong bata pa lang ako, kasama ang kuya ko, iba na ang sayang naidudulot sa akin simula nang unang beses na makasakay ako rito. Yes, I did sound too idealistic when I said that being inside of this pod was like being in a hot air balloon. 'Tapos makikita mo pa ang maliwanag na siyudad 'pag gabi, pati na ang mga lugar na hindi mo sabay-sabay na nakikita kapag nakatapak ka sa lupa. One of the coolest things my eyes have been hankering to see is a bird's eye view..."

Hindi nagkulang ang experience ni Harika upang maramdaman nang lubusan na kasalukuyan siyang nakasakay sa isang cable car, kahit pa wala siyang paningin ay maayos na naikukuwento ni Waki sa kanya ang lahat kahit pa hindi nito nailalarawan ang dapat na ma-absorb ng kanyang isipan. He related tales to her about his upbringing, his ideals, and the memories he would cherish forever. Nakikinig lang siya sa mga kuwento nito habang dinadama at pinahahalagahan ang mga sandali na magkasama silang dalawa. What a special moment for her to remember.

Bakas na bakas kay Waki ang galak sa tuwing ibinabahagi nito ang kabataan noon. He was thrilled to tell her everything, as though it were Friday night to him. Hindi nito ipinagkakait na i-share ang lahat sa kanya. He's just content with the good old days and has come to the realization that sometimes being grown-up kinda sucks.

Hindi pa rin bumibitiw si Harika sa kamay ni Waki simula nang sumakay sila sa pod, ayaw niyang mawala ang koneksyong nabuo nila pagpasok na pagpasok pa lang. Kahit pa may mga minutong nagiging tahimik sa loob, maputol man ang usapan at least nararamdaman nilang nariyan sila para sa isa't isa.

Nang makaramdam nang kaunting pagod sa maghapon ay napailig na si Harika sa nakasandal na balikat ni Waki. She desired to experience their closeness and the serenity of the present moment. Kasunod niyon ay ang pagpatong naman ng ulo nito sa nakailig niyang ulo.

No kisses, no snuggles or sexually related matters... just pure romantic time of being together. Everything was just perfect, falling in love at the heights of simple times. A half hour of an aerial trip, they wished they could put the moment on pause so it feels like it will go on forever... yet that forever went so fast.