(Nancy's POV)
I inhaled the air, closed my eyes and tasted the breeze in my throat. Nothing beats nature when it comes to me finding pleasure. I felt the crimson sunset tender on my skin; I let the atmosphere kiss my face. Nature is such a beauty. I opened my eyes slowly to see the serene green scenery. Being in the middle of a silent tall trees, on the peak of a mountain, could be the most dangerous thing for any normal human, but, it's my hobby. I've been called a weirdo for the past twenty-one years of my life and I never disputed that fact. Once one has an amazingly and incredible separate lifestyle that's different from the normal ones, suddenly, one is a weirdo. Watching creatures from the peak of a mountain creates a king-like confidence in me.
As I watched the sun tuck itself in the cloud's blanket, I watched with full ecstasy, diving deep into the golden translucent rays of the sun in the sky.
Snap.
My ears picked the sound. I froze as thoughts began to form in my head. My Mom had warned me several times to stop mountaineering (she thought I was doing it for health. Sorry Mom, it's for fun) because mountains are also abode for wild animals. Not to brag, but I'd seen different species of snakes and I found them all beautiful. I, deliberately, studied Plant and Animal Science during my University days, I aced every trials, tests and presentations. All was because I was always ready to see it all in reality than documentaries. It helped foster my knowledge too.
I heard another snap. At this, I mumbled a prayer for whatever that's making the twigs snap should be a nature I've not accessed before. I'd gone to see Prides of Lion, I'd heard the melodious trumpet of the Elephant (it was so canorous to my hearing, after the chirpings of birds), I'd literally spent a minimum of an hour with everything called nature, or so I thought, until when I turned around and I realized I haven't explored the prominent inevitable form of nature.
While I prayed in my head, the snaps became faster and eventually turned to rustles on the dry leaves. Despite being few feet away from the sound, I could hear it clearly. My five senses of organ had been sharp since I could remember. I could taste and identify different flavors of herbs and leaves, I could distinguish any scent at the faintest smell. As the sound increased and became clear, I could conclude that it was a footstep. A giant footstep, not from claws or talons, or from any reptile. My tightened chest began to slowly release when I could realize it was a human footstep.
Again, I wondered, who could be on this secluded part of this mountain? The mountain has different parts which could be explored safely and otherwise. People tend to avoid the latter parts of the mountain due to the tall trees with thick roots and giant barks along the way to the mountain. People only sightsee from the shallow part of the lower level of the mountain, but that never satisfied my yearnings to explore the deeper parts of the forest/mountain.
Honestly, the shades from these branches are paradise-like once one is under them. The mountain has other little but big rocks around it which served as home for other wild animals. No sane human could afford to be at this part of the mountain, or so everyone thought. I am here, I've always come here, and I'll always come here. However, another human is here.
What if it wasn't a human? Probably a genie? Or an enigma? I quickly stood up to hide behind one of the rocks on the mountain. I could have hidden behind the tree, I wasn't ready to let whosoever or whatsoever is coming to know there's an inquisitive prey available. As I stood up, looking for where to hide, searching for which rock is big enough for me to crouch and hide my entire figure away from what was coming, the footstep became closer and clearer. I caught a glimpse of a rock large enough to shield my slim body and hurriedly approached it. I was about to run around the rock and squat behind it when the footstep stopped. Probably the whatever had stopped walking on leaf rustle and was now on the mountain. I increased my pace beside the rock.
"Um...hello"
I froze. I couldn't hide, I'd been seen. Wait a minute, that's a human voice. A male voice. The voice sounded like a waterfall, a gentle waterfall. While standing like a statue, I turned around in a stone-like manner and I saw the nature before me. Behind him was the crimson color of the aftermath of sunset but it felt like the sun was setting in his face. His face held the most unimaginable beauty of nature. His fair skin and well-trimmed beards made me mistake him for an angel. If he wasn't wearing a black shirt and a jean trousers, I'd have sworn he flew down from heaven. I stood there, admiring his perfect natural face appearance. My jaw dropped, I had goosebumps, I've never met an elegant nature of the human race before. He waved his hands, dumbfoundedly, wondering if was mute. My face broke into a smile, an adventurous smile. I knew I was never going to let this feeling slide; this inexplicable tingle in my chest, I must explore this. I stood there, smiling at him, my diastema glittered than ever, my dimples went deeper than before. At that moment, watching the sun going to slumber behind him, my heart woke up energetic than ever. For the first time in a decade and half, it fell in love with a stranger who shouldn't be on this part of the mountain.
We both stared at each other for a long period of time; I asked myself if this was real or dream. His skin was glowing that I almost reached to touch it. I noticed he was also speechless as we both stared at each other.
The sound of my phone ringing jolted me back to reality. I looked at the screen for the caller ID. I muttered a damn underneath my breath. I haven't submitted my project to my boss. I grabbed everything that belonged to be on the mountain and dashed towards the slope that leads to the foot of the mountain.
This feeling is too strong to neglect. The prominent form of nature is Love. I'm definitely gonna explore this. I thought as I ran down the mountain.