"Okay."
That was all Belinda said aa she came out to the veranda to eat breakfast. Juan looked up at her and replied, "Good."
They ate breakfast in silence but it was, oddly enough,not an awkward silence.
"Ummm. When are we leaving?" Belind inquired. "Tomorrow at 7am." Juan replied without even looking up.
"You knew I would say 'yes?'" "Yes."
Juan finished eating his rice and smiled at Belinda. "I knew you would want to meet your father. I knew would want answers. You are an intelligent woman,Belinda. What intelligent person would not want to find answers."
Belinda looked at Juan and narrowed her eyes at him. "What?" be asked her. "Nothing. Nothing at all."
"Your face says otherwise."
"Whatever." she replied dismissively. Belinda really did not want to talk with him right now. She sipped on her coffee.
"We should be going." Juan said sipping his coffee as he stood on the veranda watching her. She looked up at him, "Where are we going?" "To prepare for tomorrow's trip. You need appropriate gear." Juan chuckled at her. Belinda took offense. "What gear?" "Hiking gear. The right boots and a larger pack to begin."
Belinda blinked and coughed as she choked on her coffee. "Come, woman." "Woman? whatever! Do not..." Before Belinda could finish the sentence Juan had her in his arms and kissed her. She was stunned. Unable to process what just happened she stood like a statue in his arms. As quickly as he kissed her pulled away and walked towards the gate. "Are you coming?"
Belinda blinked, turned beat red and stuttered, "Yyyyeeees?" He chuckled.
He knew right then she was his. He felt the sizzle, the sparkles, the vibration. No doubts any more. None what so ever.
She on the other hand was dumbfounded. She walked behind him in a daze. She was questioning her own sanity even more. And was totally confused by the physical reaction to his touch, his kiss. Belinda now had to stop and consider maybe everything he said was true...?...maybe?
They boarded a jeepney with 5 other Filipinas and 3 chickens and 1 pig (which was tied to the top). Juan and Belinda sat opposite one another in the back. The last ones in put them right bear the exit. They were headed to Cebu airport. "Ummm.Did you tell my host family we were ..I was leaving?" Belinda inquired of Juan. Juan looked at her and frowned, "Like I would forget to explain where you went and risk the police searching for you." Belinda cocked her left eyebrow and rolled her eyes at him. They rode in silence. Once at the airport, he grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the domestic airline desk. "Two tickets to Cagayan de Oro." Belinda huffed at him. She was capable of paying her own way and capable of ordering her own ticket, "Male chauvinist pig" she thought. Juan looked at her with a scowl as if hebheard her. He couldn't, right? This so called world was so new to her. He grabbed the tickets and dragged her through security and to the gate. Just as they arrived it was announced theybwere to board. He dragged her again by the wrist and raced into the airplane. He sat her on the inside near the window and took the seat on the aisle,"Wouldn't want you to try anything." and winked. Like she could do anything inside a plane! Ridiculous man!
The trip was short. It was just a hop and skip from Cebu to Cagayan de Oro. They arrived and once again he dragged her by the wrist out the airport to a waiting jeep. He had already alerted his people to be at the airport. He settled her into the jeep and she strapped her safety belt. She sat waiting...waiting for... what was she waiting for exactly? Juan? Her father? Confirmation of this ridiculous fantasy story? She didn't know exactly. But she was waiting. Juan jumped into the driver's seat. "Ummm. Where did the other guy go?" she asked. "He will run back." he responded. "Run? How far is it? 35 km." he answered blandly. "He will run 35km ??" She was shocked. "Yes." and he turned his full attention to the road. 10 km outside of the city, Juan took a hard right and headed up a steep and muddy "road" (if you could call it that)...it looked more like a ravine. The jeep slipped and Belinda held on for dear life. She had grown up in suburban America...paved streets, rain drains, sidewalks. Even the somewhat rural,, jungle outskirts of Cebu City were more "civilized" than this. Belinda quickly looked over at Juan. He was concentrating on the road. They came.to a.flat space and he pulled.under a banana tree and stopped. He turned off the ignition and said, "We walk.from here." Belinda looked around her. It was dense forest. There was no path, even the ravine like "road" ended. "How far?' "Til we get there." he responded flatly. She got down off the jeep and took a few reserved steps towards the front of the jeep.She was leaning against the jeep to keep her balance in the mud. She thought, "Heavens, how am I going to hike in this?" He stood looking slightly down at her. "Can you navigate on your own or do you need to be carried?" There was no emotion in his voice. "I...I...will...I will be ok, I think?" She didn't sound very confident in herself, even she had to admit it. He scowled again. Cleared his throat, turned away from her, walked into the dense forest and disappeared. She gulped. Pushed herself away from the jeep and took a step tentatively forward and promptly fell flat on her backside. Immediately a large black wolf appeared in front of her, starring. Belindaxs heart began to race. The wolf looked at her and nudged her arm as if to encourage her to stand. She tried to get up but the mud ... she kept sliding around. She felt.like a pig taking a mud bath. The wolf sat back on his honches and starred. After a few more attempts she sat where she fell and closed her eyes. The wolf, whom she now assumed was Juan, stood beside her and gave her his side. She placed her muddy hand on his neck and grabbed hold of his fur and while she I ulled herself up , he kinda pushed her up as well. She stood. He did not move while she stablized herself beside him, holding onto his fur. She started to tale a step and he growled. She froze. He bowed down and seemed.to be trying to get her to ...to what exactly??... no... ride him? Belinda paused. Scowled. Then tried to take another step. He again growled and bowed down. She sighed. "Fine." she relented and sat on his upper back sideways. He shook his head. "Ok...fine." and she straddled his back like one would ride a horse. He took a step forward and she fell off. He stared back at her. "What? I have never ridden a wolf before! I have never even ridden a horse before!" The wolf sighed. Stood beside her again allowing her to grab hold of him while she stood up. Again he bowed. Again she mounted him onky.this time she buried her hands in his thick.coat and hung on for.dear life. He took a step.forward and she stayed on. He took 3 steps and she remained on his back. " I think I have it noe." she remarked to the huge black wolf she sat upon. He growled low,not aggressively but a growl nonetheless. He walked a bit faster and she stayed on.He jogged a but and she nearly slipped off but squeezed her legs around him and grabbed fast to his fur. "Good," Juan thought, "she is gaining her balance. She feels.so wonderful on my back. I could get used to this." He decided to see how well she was balanced and took off at a sprint. She held on for dear life and was doing well until.he jumped a fallen tree. She was airborne before she knew what was happening and landed about 20 meters from the tree...on 4 paws. She had shifted. Her wolf had innately protected her by taking over and shifting. Juan darted towards her, sniffed her and rubbed against her. She was startled and looked down at her paws. Her beautiful white paws. She felt strong.She felt less confused and strong. She rubbed him back and together they took off through the forest . She ran slightly behind d him for she did not know where theybwere going. She felt free. She felt ... she felt wonderful!