"Even the air here is different." Dina couldn't help but let out as she stepped out of the resort.

The birds, trees and sky were all different. Everything was different here.

It was as if finally seeing these sights automatically switched Dina's childlike mind on. She itched to explore even more.

"Carl, let's go further into the mountain!"

Just like that, Dina turned into an explorer, and Carl wasn't any better since he only gladly and blindly followed her. The full moon had already taken its place in the sky, but this didn't stop them.

Not one of them noticed that the path which they walked on was now deserted of people, neither did they notice the 'TOURISTS NOT ALLOWED' and 'SACRED TEMPLE' sign at the top of the mountain.

Absentmindedly and curiously, they both walked further into the mountain.

Thick bushes lay on either side of the path they treaded, but they were unmoved. They walked deeper into the mountain as if enticed, unknowingly passing strange plants each housing unsuspecting fairies which stalked them as they walked.

Dina led the way until sounds of gushing waters were heard just upfront.

"Wow!" Dina and Carl said in unison.

It was a huge waterfall. They both were in awe.

As if it was the perfect spot, the silver light from the moon fell carefully on Dina's face. Because of this, her sharp facial features and the ethereal arrangement of her face particularly stood out. This sight didn't make matters easy for Carl.

He knew that he had fallen in love with a beauty, but he never knew her to be this beautiful.

Was it the ambience of the place? But like he was seduced, Carl stepped further. "I like you, Dina."

Dina turned to Carl and noticed his conflicted-looking face. Was he finally confessing? She thought.

She had always known him to be a shy and reserved type. Why did he change? Why now? Why here?

Shaking his head in discomfort, Carl walked closer to her. "No Dina, I love you!"

Dina's mouth fell open.

"I want to spend the rest of my life with you," Carl said as he held Dina's hand tight.

It was a peculiar night. The full moon shone and stood as an unnatural lighting in the darkness of this mountain, one could blindly mistake it for studio lights, but all this strangeness was the least of both their concern.

It was as if they were blinded to the happenings that occurred around them.

Carl was now on one knee. It looked like the perfect romantic scene, but Dina was uncomfortable.

"Carl…I can't."

Dina saw as Carl's facial expression drastically changed.

"What do you mean?"

Carl held her hand tighter.

"I thought you loved me?" He began to shake his head in doubt. "Why then did you agree to come with me on this trip?"

Dina couldn't believe her ears. Where was all this coming from?

"Carl! I came with you because I thought the trip would be fun since you suggested it."

From what Dina could remember, Carl casually invited her on the trip as a coworker.

"Are you rejecting me now?" Carl's voice increased.

Carl had completely changed from the reserved and calm man she knew. She looked at him in horror.

"You must be mine!"

Carl jumped on Dina, grabbing her shirt and tearing it apart.

"Carl, what are you doing?!"

Dina was horrified. As if luck was on her side, she struggled herself away from underneath him and began to run into the mountain.

Everything happened so fast. Dina was now on her heels, in an unknown place without a shirt, running away from her coworker.

She raced into a thick forest, aggressively pushing away the plants that tried covering her face. All that was on her mind was to run.

But no matter how fast she ran, Carl was closing in on her.

In the cold of the night, sweat damped Dina's body as she bustled around the trees. She ran with all her might but could still hear the voice of Carl nearing in on her.

"You deceived me! You deceived me, Dina!"

As much as Dina wanted to understand the situation, she just couldn't wrap her head around it. Why was Carl suddenly acting in this manner?

Moving around the mountain in fear suddenly made Dina dizzy. Her pace dropped as her sight blurred. Instantly, she hit the ground with a thud.

Was this finally her end?

Dina's eyes traced up in the sky as she lay down on the ground, surrendered to her fate. She noticed the full moon and its unnatural lighting.

How can the moon shine so bright? Was she dreaming?

Regardless of whether she was dreaming or not, she knew that Carl was coming closer, and he was sure to find her.

Shutting her eyes, Dina braced up for the worst.

"He's getting close."

Dina's eyes reflexively opened. In shock, she turned her head in search of the one who spoke. But she found no one.

Her eyes rested on the moon again, and as if slowly, the full moon began to take a different form. In astonishment and fear, Dina watched the full moon shapeshift.

Her body was too exhausted so she couldn't afford to move. She lay on the ground with her face in the night sky, eyes widened and mouth opened, watching the sight above her.

Dina watched as this bright moon finally turned into a man.

He appeared like a regular tall man, but he was not just any man. His skin was a pale-looking bronze, his hair like braided wool, and his eyes, sharp blue. He only wore strange-looking pants; ones ancient Egyptians would naturally wear. He was bare-chested, revealing his unnaturally fit-looking torso.

This man looked heavenly.

He floated above her and spoke again.

"He's getting close."

***

As they often say, nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

Maybe that's why Dina resolved to go far away to the innermost part of Mexico to unwind. Living her dream in the corporate world as an investment banker didn't seem to be fulfilling anymore.

She must have realized that working away her life wasn't giving off a sense of 'living'. Also, the constant pressure from her mum about marriage wasn't exciting. She was 28 years old, and so what?

She needed to go away.

The journey away from home was a bit depressing. Was it because this was her first time leaving home, or was it the anxiety that came with going into a new place?

Dina wasn't sure why she felt so down, but a sense of assurance erupted inside of her when she turned to look at Carl who snored away beside her.

She wasn't alone.

Shutting her eyes, she let her worries pass and embraced the beauties that were awaiting her in this strange land. She could only mouth 'This will be fun' as she fell deeper into the seat of sleep.

~~~

"Dina, wake up."

Dina's eyes opened wearily.

The bus had stopped and the passengers were alighting.

"We've arrived."

Although Carl snored without mercy, Dina was grateful that he somehow knew when the local bus had stopped and the passengers began alighting the bus.

They were in a small village in Mexico, famous for its natural scenery. The setting sun cast in the arena gave the view an orange-tinted look.

"It's beautiful."

Carl was astounded by the view and Dina couldn't agree more. Grabbing her box, she dragged it in the direction of the local resort that everyone else went to, with Carl following behind.

As soon as she entered her room, she fell, exhausted onto the small-sized bed. The room was bland, nothing too special, but even this fascinated Dina.

All her life, she was held to the standard of luxurious perfection. She had the perfect job and could afford the perfect lifestyle. The room's look was a confirmation that indeed she had left home, and had distanced herself from her 'perfect' life.

Now, she was in a faraway land living a completely different life. There was a sense of peace that came with this thought.

A knock on the door disrupted her thoughts.

"Hey, wanna go look around?"

It was Carl. She noticed as his fingers shook anxiously on the doorknob as he asked.

Sitting up and inhaling deeply, Dina smiled. "I'll be out in five."

She laid back on the bed, ignoring the wide smile and excited look on Carl's face as he shut the door.

She was going to ignore that and even overlook the way he's been overly nice to her at work, and his overwhelming shyness whenever he was around her. She was also going to brush off his constant staring at her, here and there.

Dina knew that Carl admired her, but she was unwilling to acknowledge him. She was more than thankful that he also was silent about his feelings. The last thing on her mind was to encourage a relationship.

People would often say that she hated relationships, but Dina didn't think so. She just didn't want to live the marriage her mother once lived.

Initially, Carl's suggestion about this trip caught Dina by surprise. At first, she hesitated because it was Carl, but she eventually accepted leaving with him because she needed to.

Work was taking the best of her life. It seemed like that was all she was about. This was her only chance at remaining sane, she had to take it.

This time, she wanted to be selfish.

.

.

Now, see where her selfishness has gotten her. Helpless and exhausted in the middle of a strange mountain.