Chapter 10

Billy can't explain how happy he was. He woke up early in the morning, unusual waking time for a man like Billy. He usually awakened by sun's agleam or half an hour late to 8:00 am. The day was filled with cheerfulness and intimacy. The sky was clear, bluish as it was. The sun rose beautifully, start of dry season. Dragonflies flew freely and birds swooped in March morning. Terrestrial air breeze touched Billy's face. Fresh to replenished him. Billy has to be busy for Grace. He readied everything and stood looking afar. Smiled at the crimson sun over the horizon.

Rooster's alarm awakened Grace. Rays of sun peeped in the window striking her sleepy eyes. She wrinkled and shrank them. She idly rose and sat beside her bed. Ten minutes after awakening her brain and blood, she walked straight out the farmhouse and she saw Billy showered in sun rays.

"Good mornin', Love." Grace yawned freely and stretched her arms up. And he strode near to Billy. Billy embraced her in the back, casting a shadow on the green land, making it sweet. They both shrank their eyes as they looked at the sunrise. "It's relaxing… refreshing in here, Billy, Love."

"As you know, this is the place I was reared by my parents and Lopap, my grandfather who died ten years back… Banaue has so many good memories, the reason I'll always want to come back."

Billy smiled in a tight lined lips and added, "Anyway, I'll tour you here. There are many amazing natures that I'm sure you'll love to see. The places we should have visited."

Grace was just feeling comfy in his hug and wowwed when she heard nature. "It'll be exciting visit and a date." and looked at Billy waiting for a yea response.

Billy loosened the hug and turned Grace unto him and said, "You'll also love the culture and dance."

"Yea. I know. Tayo? I'd also danced that in our Humanity class."

"Is it nice?" asking for approval and Grace uttered, "It was one of the nicest native dance I'd ever saw." She thought of on how Billy dance and teased him. "Show me on how you hit the ground. Dance for me, Love."

Billy scratched his head and grimaced. "Is that a challenge? Then watch me hit the ground." He boasted and he positioned in 'muntayo' to start dancing and Grace danced too.

"You danced bad." Billy jeered and laughed at her. Grace narrowed her brows and chased Billy to spunk him but Billy ran swiftly and stopped in a sudden, and caught her in the waist and carried her, hugged her tightly. "I love you."

After morning meal, they arrived towards Batad to give an eye to the Staircase to Heaven. The day was perfect to gallivant around. Billy hanged his DSLR camera on his neck as he used to when he has a trip or travel to capture the subject he wanted to. Billy and Grace walked atop of the mountain to have a best view of the Rice Terraces and it's beauty. They took some memories, photos to be cherished as time flees by.

The season was perfect for bountiful harvest. The land and field owned by Billy's father was vast enough to fully fill their barn, it was never left empty. But after the death of his parents, Liza managed to transfer all the titles and all the properties to Billy. The grains appeared to be golden already, harvest was a week later.

They went down to refresh in the waterfalls. Billy told his childhood story in the Tappiya Falls. As they were striding, they were full of laughs and chuckles. Grace was very happy that Billy can laugh that loud and smile wide, that he's now fine and mentally healthy. Just after almost 3 hours of walking, they reached the falls behind the forest.

"It's a beautiful nature, Love." Grace said in awe. The falls freely flowed and cheerfully fall as what I envy, Billy reckoned as he captured the scene. Grace splashed a water to Billy who's looking from nothingness. Billy was shocked in to it's chillness, and he even shrieked. "Ooh! What the..." and Grace just smiled soaking her feet in to the water. Billy wiped his wet shirt, and handed off the camera. He unclothed his upper half and removed his long pants. "Let's have some plunging." Billy ran and dove in. Grace stared at Billy as he got off the water coming towards her. "Love, take off your clothes and plunge in." Grace smiled and took off his clothes, in his two-piece. And soaked her sexy body slowly in the water. She swam towards Billy and embraced him on his back. "I love you, Billy." Billy turned and faced her, "l love you more" and kissed her.

An hour. They were sitting on the rock facing the sun on the horizon. Billy wrapped his arm around Grace's. "I'm lucky... I have you, Grace." Billy spoke them out softly. Grace looked at him and smiled. "I will spend my time not with other guys around, but for you, Love." Grace added, "I'm to you."

The sun was getting hotter so they took their things and changed. They walked back toward the farmhouse, Billy pocketed his hand as he was fishing something, and smiled.

Grace decided to visit the museum. "I want to be acquainted with the ifugao culture, Love."

Billy held her hand and walked through. "You'll love how they named the things." Smiled that made his eye partly closed. An hour of walking, he noticed that Grace stumblingly walking along the weedy field. He suddenly stopped and bent, "Get in to my back. I'll carry you."

"I'm okay. I can still walk."

"You're not."

Grace was so relaxed in his back. She even got a nap.

"You are my medicine and life, Grace." Billy seemed tired but strolled still. He didn't heard any from Grace. "She napped again. Ah! She might not heard it."

"Oh. Sorry, Love. I napped. Put me down, I'm okay now. Where are we now?"

"We are 50 meters far to the museum." Billy bent and put her down. "Are you really okay?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

Grace was just smiling and awed by the beauty of the mountains. She wandered her eyes around and refreshed by the nature. The surrounding was for tourists' eyes to be satisfied. The mountains stand green and natural. Yellow, small butterflies flew over the wild weed's flowers. Folks proudly wore their attire as they do field works and rituals. They were rich of culture as Grace thought before. She looked vista on the Ifugao children playing cheerfully as they were catching yu-yu. And smiled so beautifully as the breeze blew warm that flipped her hair. Billy noticed it so he quickly clicked the camera in a side view shot, her best angle.

"Grace let's keep going?"

"Oh. Yes"

They arrived in 20 minutes time at the cultural museum. "Why there so many people here? Billy asked the usherette.

"We are celebrating a cultural festival, sir." She replied pleasantly.

"Oh. Yes. I forgot it. Today is the best day of the festival, right?"

"Absolutely sir. Welcome."

"Are we going to wear the attire?"

"It depends on you, sir. If you want it?"

"You want it, Love." Billy asked Grace.

"Yes. Of course. I want to experience too."

Billy wore the wanow and bayyaong. Grace also in her Lamma and Amppuyo.

"You look good." The usherette's compliment. They roamed around the museum and learned about how rich Ifugao is. Not material but the intangible one. Culture. Grace asked so many questions about Ifugao culture which Billy has a hard time explaining all alone. Billy asked for a tour guide to describe and explains all the curious questions of Grace

Billy heard the sound of the gongs outside. He grabbed Grace's hand and ran down the stair. "It was a society dance. Let's dance with them."

They engaged with other Ifugaos dancing the Tayo, Grace happily followed the steps of the women. Smile was painted on their faces joyfully dancing. They did payyad gracefully as they were freely hovering the horizon.

After the society dance, Grace asked again, "Why are they doing this?" and Grace did the payyad.

"Payyad shows the resiliency of Ifugao. Whatever adversity comes along, they stand strong to face it. It is like an Eagle freely hovering in the sky."

Grace was amazed.

The gongs sounded again, and the people were in line showing letters.

Grace curiously looking at them. "W? I? L? L?" Grace read the letters in tears. She looked at Billy, smiled.

Billy suddenly bend his knees offering a ring to her. Saying, "WILL YOU BE MY LIFETIME PARTNER?" Sighed, "Again."

Grace wiped her tears off and smiled, "Yes." She said it twice but the second time was louder and in joy.

Billy fitted the ring into her finger and hugged her with tears and joy in his face. "Thank you, Grace." The crowd had applauded and yeahed. Some had weeed.

Grace's smile never fade as she said, "No, Billy. Thank you. Thank you for loving me."

"I love you, Grace."

"I love you too, Billy." She sighed, "so much."

It was already 12:00 when they began to have a boodle fight. The society rejoiced for Grace and Billy's unison.

The whole afternoon consumed by Grace and Billy touring around. They were happy and enjoying their company as they were climbing in the mountain.

When they were atop of the mountain Billy was amazed again as he was amazed when his Lopap brought him there, smiled and looked vista.

Grace stared at Billy's face, looking at his smile when Billy noticed her staring, he patted her palm on his cheeks and give her a twist kiss. His hands went down on her hips and wrapped her passionately.

"I swear in to this mountain that my love will never fade until death do us part!" He screamed out.

Grace shouted out loud, "I swear unto this mountain that my love will only be for him until death do us part!" It echoed and wind blew so cold. Billy kissed her so intense as the sun was setting.

Four hours later. Grace was so excited to inform her parents about the engagement. She thought of surprising them.

***

They stayed at the farm for two days more. They were enjoying each other's company. Caresses. Love. Touches. They love to burn in passion. That's what love consequences, without fire in love, there's no progress.

March 22, the night was perfect, the sky was clear and stars were visible. Billy and Grace were watching, Fifty Shades of Grey. Billy was aroused of the scene, and looked at Grace who was too. Billy kissed her, a german kiss. Grace was in tense so she twist him and got on top of him. Billy turned and went on top. He unbuttoned her one by one while kissing.

Billy starked naked Grace, and disrobed his shirt, and unbutton and unzipped his pants, pulled it down. Billy smacked her again but Grace twisted her lips.

Billy pulled down her pink pantie, and aroused her. Grace groaned in passion. Then, he took off his boxer. He laid on her. "I love you, Grace." And kissed her.

Grace wrapped him with her hand, and her finger impressed on his back. "I love you too, Billy."

Billy held her hand, and they were in heat.

***

The second day, they were about to kick the blanket off when Billy saw a man peeping outside. He hastily jump off the bed and took the blade with him. He ran after the man swiftly towards the forest.

"Billy! What are you... Where are you going?"

"Billy!!!"

The night got deep when Billy came back with a mad face. He panted as he asked Grace. "Did you see the man peeping us?"

"I haven't seen any." In shock, she was frightened. "But if ever there is, were in danger!" She hugged him tightly and, "Let's travel tomorrow morning back in Baguio, Billy."

Billy rubbed her back in comfort and answered without hesitant, " Yes, Love. Don't be afraid, Love. I am here."

Before they went to bed to sleep, they spent 30-minute time to pray. Grace cried for Devine protection. Billy wrapped his right hand around Grace and consoled her. "Let's get some sleep for tomorrow, Love." Grace nodded as approval.

***

The roasters chorused in the cockcrow. Billy got up early to prepare their baggages while he cooked for breakfast. Grace was awakened, she was still mindful of what had happened and stared Billy like saying "let's go home." But Billy calmly called her for breakfast and comforted her through a tight hug. In the table were scrambled egg and boiled 'okra', and boulevard rice prepared by Billy himself. Billy called the caretakers and they ate all together. Billy looked at his phone, "23 miscalls."

From the Hotel, Luke came down the farmhouse. The caretaker helped Luke put their baggages on the trunk of the car. Grace entered in the car first.

"Sir, are we off." Luke asked Billy who was on his phone. Billy signaled Luke to wait for 20 minutes. Billy grimaced his face as he off the phone. "Let's go."

They left Bananue at 8:00 AM.