Rachel and the three girls headed to the beach camp even though they are still an hour early. They knew that they arrived at their destination when they saw a beautiful wooden arc that welcomed them there saying, "Welcome to Camp Pag-ibig" which meant 'love'. It was adorned with different colorful fresh flowers and Christmas lights that would take anyone's attention even from afar.
"Wow, this is so pretty! Take a picture of me, please!" Nina pleaded to her friends and they gladly took it.
"Me too!"
"Alright! Smile!"
Meanwhile, Rachel looked at the signboard beside the arc and read it:
[Come and join us at Camp Pag-ibig where you will find love and happiness that you've never experienced before!]
She smiled upon reading it. She thought, can they really find love and happiness that she has never experienced before here? She chuckled but not because of her silly question, but because she questioned it. Rachel felt like she was acting like a hopeless romantic teenager.
"Sis, let's take a picture of you!" Nina said that took her attention away from the sign board.
"Oh, sure. Here," then she gave her the camera she brought.
"Then let's take a group photo later," she suggested.
After they were satisfied with their photos, they decided to head to the camp. But before that, Rachel decided to walk barefoot to feel the white sand on her barefeet. The moment she step on it, she couldn't contain the happiness that is pouring into her heart like it was her first time.
She then took several shots of the hanging lanterns that led their way to the beach as if something surprising was awaiting them at the end.
And when they arrived at the beach, there were already people in there, dancing and laughing with each other. Some were preparing the campfire, and some were preparing the tents and grilling the barbeques. Meanwhile, the others were bringing cases of beer and ice.
"The barbeques smell so good," she mumbled.
Everyone seemed so excited while Rachel just sat on the wooden bench near the cottages that has cute lanterns where you can buy foods and beverages. Everything around her was just so relaxing especially when they started playing romantic music in an old stereo that lits up with different colors in every beat.
Rachel had never felt as relaxed while enjoying other people having fun. She kept wondering what it would be like if her mom and brother was here. If they only agree to join her it would be nice.
"Sis! Come here with us!" Marie yelled to take her attention. They were meters always from her and seemed to be having fun while greeting other people.
Rachel muttered, "I'm fine here. Go on," and smiled. Unlike the three, Rachel doesn't have much energy to converse with strangers.
Meanwhile, the number of people in the camp is slowly increasing from ten to twenty. And when the event started there were about thirty people in the camp. What Rachel loved about this people was they weren't as chaotic as the people she met in the city.
They were all just chilling, conversing, and jamming to the music. Soon enough, everyone started distributing bear as they sat down on the white sand, surrounding the big camp fire. Some brought their camera to capture the beautiful moment, and some brought blankets to keep themselves warmer since the breeze from the sea is getting cooler.
Rachel can't help but adore the cute summer outfits of the people who attended the camp. They all seemed about her age while some were younger like Marie, Lia, and Nina.
When the three girls took her hands and pulled her to sit on the sand with them, Rachel couldn't do anything but follow. Some looked at her direction and greeted her while the others gave her snacks and a bottle of beer.
She hasn't really drunk a beer before because she finds its bitter taste disgusting. Instead, she would drink wine with a low percentage of alcohol. So she just held it and snacked as she listens to the guy who was playing guitar.
"Why are you not drinking?" a woman sitting next to her asked. SHe seemed to be older than Rachel. "Come on... Drink it," she added and chuckled.
"It's bitter though…"
"Just try it a little," the woman said and smiled at her.
Rachel laughed sand replied, "Alright," before taking a sigh. She took a little sip from the bottle but she instantly regretted it, covering her mouth with her palm as she tries her best to swallow it.
Meanwhile, the three girls chuckled as they find her amusing. "Sis, you are older than us yet we are better drinkers than you," Nina stated and laughed.
"Wow, she's older than you guys? I thought you were just in your 20s," the woman beside her uttered in surprise.
"I'm actually 30," Rachel replied and smiled awkwardly. The woman is a foreign from a western country which is probably why she wasn't used to seeing Asian people age slow.
"You gotta be kidding me," the woman responded.
The two conversed for a while about the different places the woman traveled to. Rachel also learned that her name was Carmela. It turns out that her goal is to travel the world with her husband Miko but he died last year. Carmela still wanted to complete their bucket list which is why she's here in Batanes alone.
Hearing that made Rachel sad especially knowing how their love didn't start easy. Miko's parents didn't like Carmela for her because they want Miko to manage their business. They faced so many ups and downs until they finally married each other. But it didn't end there because it turned out that Miko had a child with his first girlfriend who wanted to meet him. It almost ruined their relationship but they still fought for their love. Until one day they discovered that Miko was sick and wouldn't live a long life. He continued his promised to Carmela until the day he died. Meanwhile, Carmela was left to fulfill hers.
It was a long yet sad love story of two people who loved each other truly. Rachel realized that someone else was lonelier than she is right now. She still felt lucky that she isn't alone in life unlike Carmela who was an orphan since birth.
The sun was already rising when Rachel realized that they'd been by the beach for longer than she planned. The three girls seemed to have not drained her energies yet opposite to what Rachel was feeling.
"Aren't you guys gonna head back to the lodge?" she asked the three who were playing card games. Some of the people already left them camp and probably only 20 people remained including them. Carmela on the other hand was sleeping on the sand covered with a blanket.
She seemed to have consumed a large amount of alcohol, which was most likely due to her ongoing grief. Despite her desire to depart, she stayed for a moment to keep an eye on them until they decided to live.
As the sun rose, she something floating in the sea caught her attention. Even though she's a long way off she can tell it's large. She rose up and squinted her eyes to look at it, but she couldn't identify anything. But for some reason, she had an idea in mind which she feared.
She stared at the three sleepy-eyed girls. "I'll be right back, I promise," she guaranteed, despite the fact that they didn't appear to notice.
Before going forward, she gulped three times and calmed herself down.
"It should be nothing," she convinced herself. And then she proceeded gently towards the floating object that was slowly being washed at the coast. Slowly, as she got nearer, her heart started beating fast.
But then her eyes widened in horror, her heart skipped a beat, and her face turned pale when she realized it wasn't just a floating object.
"A h-human…" she mumbled as her head went blank.
—
End of chapter 3