CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE Emily
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Emily
D ear Lord, help me. It’s only been two hours since we started hiking, and I want to go back in time and pull past Emliy’s hair just to talk some sense into her. What the hell was she thinking?
I’m still holding Joshua’s hand because it’s much better than any kind of walking stick. Despite being the leader in this expedition and driving six hours to get here, he’s surprisingly sturdy. He’s not showing any sign of tiredness. I have no idea how it’s possible because I, on the other hand, am out of breath, freezing, and my legs hurt so much, an amputation might be the best solution. I try keeping up, but my natural athleticism (or lack thereof) is slowing me down. Thankfully, Josh notices, and matches my pace, slowing down with me.
When Rob and Denise reach us, Rob asks, “You guys okay?” I’m starting to feel okay with him around. I expected to get pissed off every time I see them, but so far, I haven’t even given them any thought.
“You go ahead, we’re fine,” Josh says, as they walk past us.
“Aren’t you the leader, and should go first? You can let me trail behind,” I say.
“Clearly, you haven’t been listening to me,” he says with a smile. “There’s a buddy system in place. Buddies look out for each other. If any of them are uncomfortable, they have each other to help. You’re my priority here, Em.” I know he means ‘priority’ in a professional way, but it still makes my stomach squirm. “Besides, wouldn’t want you throwing another temper tantrum.” I scowl at him.
“Just so you know, I am the worst possible buddy in this scenario,” I say. “If anything happens to you, I’ll panic. And by the time I’m done panicking, you’ll be on a stretcher, getting hauled down.”
“It’s all the support I need. Pretty sure first respondents can hear your panic from miles away,” he says.
After a few moments, Josh and I pick up our pace. We walk in silence, as the others walk in front of us. Ryan and Bon are in front with Rob and Denise, while Haley, Kate, and Richard are behind them, laughing about who knows what.
We take a break, sitting on rocks beside the trail. I grab my water bottle and take a swig of water. I think we’re halfway to the campsite. Or maybe not. I have no sense of direction because I am an indoor person who is here against my will.
But while my outdoor skills are lacking, my over-preparedness is unmatched. I spent hours researching Mount Pulag before this trip—not to become a wilderness expert, but to know precisely what terrifying scenarios I might encounter. It’s a thin safety net, but it’s better than nothing.
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Joshua asks, settling beside me.
I pause, glancing at the trail ahead, then back at him. “Just mentally preparing for what might jump out of the bushes. You know, snakes, wild boars, forest monsters.” I take another sip of water. “I read there’s no actual danger, but the internet can’t guarantee there won’t be something terrifying. So I’m running through my options.”
Joshua raises an eyebrow, amused. “Options?”
“Yeah,” I say, nodding seriously. “Option one: scream my lungs out and hope it scares whatever it is away. Option two: scream my lungs out and hope you deal with it. Option three: scream my lungs out and run. The common denominator is screaming, obviously.”
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Good to know you’re consistent.”
“Prepared,” I correct, grinning despite myself.
“Did you say you… Read? You’ve done some reading?” Joshua asks.
“Duh,” I answer. “I’m not about to hike up a mountain without knowing what I’m getting into. Knowledge is power. Or, in my case, the key to knowing when to panic.”
Joshua laughs. “So what have you found out?”
“A lot. Like, we’re taking the Ambangeg trail. The easiest one, thank goodness. Akiki, on the other hand, is called the ‘killer trail’ for a reason. It’s way steeper and takes longer to climb. Hard pass on that one.”
“You really have done your homework,” he says approvingly.
“Oh, there’s more,” I say, warming up to my mountain monologue. “Mount Pulag is a biodiversity hotspot. It’s home to over a hundred species, some of which are endemic to the Philippines, which means that there might actually be uncataloged forest monsters that exist only here.”
Joshua chuckles and shakes his head. “That’s all?” he says.
“Well, I enjoyed my research a little too much,” I say sheepishly. “Did you know that Mount Pulag is also called the playground of the gods?” I add. Joshua chuckles, as if he’s proud of confirming that I wasn’t done.
“Enlighten me,” he says.
“Um,” I start. “The Ibaloi people believe that the supreme god of the Cordillerans resides on the mountain and that the spirits of their ancestors roam there freely. It’s said that the beautiful sea of clouds at the summit is created by the spirits playing and dancing. Which circles us back to…”
“Forest monsters,” we say together.
Joshua smirks and leans back on his elbows, letting the sunlight peek through the trees and scatter across his face. “And what happens if the ‘monster’ is, I don’t know, a squirrel or a gust of wind?”
“My survival instincts will still kick in,” I say.
“Survival instincts… your screaming?” he asks, and I nod proudly.
“You’re welcome, by the way. I’m keeping us both alive out here.”
“Oh, of course,” he replies, mockingly serious now. “Without you, I’d just walk right into the jaws of… whatever forest monster lives on Mount Pulag.”
“Exactly,” I say, finally relaxing. “I’m basically your guide to staying alive. You should be thanking me, really.”
Joshua shakes his head, still smiling. “Noted. I’ll let you know if I ever need you to save me by screaming at something.”
We fall into a comfortable silence, listening to the rustling of the leaves, our friends’ chatter, and the faint calls of birds somewhere in the distance. After a moment, he tilts his head toward me. “But seriously, are you okay? Not too tired?”
I shrug, realizing he’s not teasing anymore. “I’m tired, sure. But I’m okay. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d get this far without wanting to tap out, so… progress?”
He nods, his expression softening. “You’re doing great. Just a little more, and you’ll get to say you survived a hike up Mount Pulag. Think of how smug you’ll feel.”
I roll my eyes but laugh. “Oh, absolutely. I’ll bring it up at every possible opportunity. ‘Did I ever tell you about the time I conquered Mount Pulag?’ People are going to hate me.”
“They’ll envy you,” Joshua corrects, standing up and offering me his hand. “Come on, conqueror. Let’s keep moving before the ‘forest monsters’ catch up.”
I take his hand, feeling a little steadier on my feet, and together we head back to the trail.
We reach the campsite just as the moon replaces the sun in the sky. I have to admit, for all my grumbling about the hike, it’s beautiful up here. The air is brisk and refreshing, with a coolness that feels invigorating rather than uncomfortable. And the view? It’s otherworldly. A delicate fog blankets the landscape, curling around the mountaintops like a scene from a dream. This is the only time it feels good to feel small. Like, suddenly, there’s a whole big world out there, and I’m only a tiny speck of dust in it. It makes my problems feel less daunting. A hush falls over the group as we all take it in, each of us equally awestruck by nature’s quiet magic.
Bon is the first to break the spell, her camera clicking softly as she snaps pictures of the view. As a film producer, she’s always ready. She’s been documenting every part of the hike—the challenging climbs, the laughter, the little breaks in between—and now she turns to us. “Group photo! Come on!” she calls, waving everyone over.
We gather together, clumsy and tired but still smiling, as Bon sets up the shot. The camera clicks once, twice, capturing us as we are, windswept and surrounded by clouds that look close enough to touch.
After the group photo, everyone scatters to take their own pictures, phones and cameras snapping away. Bon, ever the director, calls out again. “Em! Kuya! Photo together!”
Joshua, who’s been silent beside me for a while, casually takes my hand and leads me closer to the edge where the view is clearest. I freeze as I look down, my stomach flipping violently. Yikes. Big mistake. The drop below feels endless, and suddenly my legs feel like spaghetti.
“Relax,” Joshua murmurs, his voice steady, his arm wrapping securely around my waist. “I got you. Just look straight ahead.”
And, somehow, I do relax. His grip is firm and unshakable, and even as my pulse races, I trust him. Slowly, I exhale, forcing myself to look up instead of down.
Bon calls for us to smile, and we do—first one photo, then another. On the third, just as the camera clicks, Joshua slides an arm around my shoulder and presses a quick kiss to my cheek.
I freeze. My eyes probably go wide as dinner plates, and my face burns like the sun’s still out. Joshua chuckles softly, clearly amused by my reaction, and I can’t help but glare at him.
“What?” he asks.
I just roll my eyes. From a distance, Bon says, “That’s adorable! Okay now scoot, it’s our turn.” She pulls Ryan up to the edge.
We head toward the tents to set up our sleeping areas while Bon and Ryan stay behind, fully immersed in their own little photoshoot. They laugh and strike pose after pose against the backdrop of clouds and fading light, clearly unwilling to waste a second of the moment. The guys proceed to pitch the tents, while we set up the food.
“I would’ve loved a bonfire, I wonder why it isn’t allowed here,” Haley says.
“Because this is a protected area,” I say. “There are special species of plants here, and endangered animals like tarsiers and mountain rats.” And undocumented monsters.
“Thank you, Google,” she replies.
“Did you… research about the mountain?” Denise reluctantly asks.
“She researches everything,” Bon interjects. She proceeds to set up the chairs. Denise helps her, while Haley and I attempt to put up the table. It’s harder than it looks, so, yes, it’s a two-person job.
“Why?” Denise asks.
I chuckled. “Believe me, I ask myself the same question,” I say. “I just get really paranoid and want to make sure that I’m prepared for anything. I don’t want to be caught off guard.” What I don’t tell her is that ever since my dad died from a sudden heart attack, and I felt helpless because I couldn’t save him, I knew I never wanted to feel that way again. I have to be prepared for anything and everything.
“That’s impressive,” Denise says.
“Glad to know you think so,” I reply.
When the tables, chairs, and food are set up, we take our seats and wait for the guys.
“Tents pitched!” Richard yells. He strides over to Haley and shows her his watch. “I told you it would only take us twenty minutes. Pay up, little loser.”
Haley scowls and begrudgingly hands him a crumpled one-thousand-peso bill. “I’ll get that back,” she warns him.
Ryan, who’s finished his tent setup, settles down beside Bon. Rob follows shortly after, sitting next to Denise, who’s already helping herself to a thermos of hot tea. I lean back in my chair, taking a moment to enjoy the peace.
“Okay, sleeping arrangements!” Josh announces, walking over with an amused look on his face. I glance up, meeting his gaze, and he winks at me before continuing. “There are four tents, three of which are 2-person tents. So you guys—” he points to Haley, Kate, and Richard, “will share the biggest one. Then, the couples take one tent each.”
Wait. Did he just say couples?
My heart skips a beat, and my brain struggles to catch up with the words that just left his mouth. I look up at him in confusion, but my eyes betray me—my pulse is already racing. I’m going to be sharing a tent with Joshua. Just… the two of us? My mind can’t even process this, but my heart is already running ahead, imagining what could happen.
I glance over at Josh, half-expecting to see a smirk or a smug face, but he seems completely unaware of the chaos his words have just set off in my chest. He’s casually brushing dirt off his pants, clearly thinking about something else entirely. But I can’t shake the rush I feel at the idea of being alone with him in a small, shared space.
My cheeks flush, and though it’s an almost frigid eight degrees out here, I feel a warmth spreading that has nothing to do with the layers I’m bundled in.