BREAKING IT SOFTLY

As they are nearing the farm...

"Wow! I love the view! Mountains! Cool breeze! Luz exclaimed!

Tony and Juan in the Bongo truck.

" We had mushrooms, vegetables, and Beef. We will cook it tonight. Shabu-shabu. I learned this from your mother. Tomorrow we will have Native chicken egg omelet, in the afternoon Native chicken Tinola. In the evening, grilled fish from the pond and nilagpang" Tony said.

"Wow! that's a good food plan, Father. I hope they like it. But I'm confident in your cooking." Juan said.

Juan is still thinking about Jacky. It is just comfort that Her family is good to him, but what is our relationship if Jacky is the one who is my problem" Juan can not stop but think of it.

"I observe you and Jacky sad in your graduation, Juan? Just be patient, I think, the end of school is hard for those who love it here." Tony comforting his son.

" What do you mean Dad?" Juan asked.

" It seems Jacky is not ready to be separated in the school, her friends, and from you." She is probably building a wall so she will not be hurt so much." Tony said.

"I get your point Dad, actually the same from me. But I appreciate your observation and wisdom. I now understand. I feel the same, and that is also I'm thinking to do so that I will not be hurt so much when she disappeared in an instant, but she has done it to me first, and I was caught surprised. I get it." Juan said.

"Just be kind and understand her, she's hurt of that idea of separation. The best way is to break it gently and assure her that you will never stop communicating and with the technology today, you can let her feel that she is just next door." Tony advised his son.

"Thanks, Dad for that advice. I now understand why she is acting that way. It's really good that you have that wisdom. Juan is thankful for the truth he sees.

They parked near the barn and Ely park beside them.

Juan welcome them right away and guide them to the house. He smiled at Jacky and Joel and invited them to the pond side. Joel agreed and bring Jacky there.

Ruthie made the fire to cook rice, Juan change clothes and cut some firewood, Tony prepared the shabu-shabu grilling and hot pot near the pond nipa hut. Ely asked Tony if they can fish, Tony agreed and gave them earthworms from his vermiculture organic compost pit.

Ely, Luz, and Joel started fishing with the fish rods bought from SM, during the first visit of Ely on the farm.

Jacky went near Juan who is about to finish cutting firewood.

" Juan, thanks for understanding." Jacky wants to cry.

"Jacky, I now understand. Please never think that I will abandon our friendship, our brotherhood..." Juan is explaining.

Jacky interrupted him.

"I love you, Juan. I can not just accept or adjust my self and feelings that we will be separated this far and this long time." Jacky admit.

Juan was shocked by the revelation. She does not expect that Jacky will confess her true feelings to him.

"I will never fail you, I love you too. I'm hurt too of the fact that you will leave me here. But we can be strong for us. We can use technology to feel as if we are just neighbors and find ways to meet at least every six months." Juan assured her.

They want to embrace and cry in each other's arms but they controlled their emotions. Juan holds her hand and kisses it. He then invited her to go inside the house.

Ruthie smiled as they enter and ask Jacky if she wants to change her dress. Jacky nod and bring her backpack to Ruthie's room and changed dress.

"Big fish" Luz shouted so excitedly.

"I get one also!" Joel exclaimed.

"My line is moving, Yes! Ely said.

All of them gathered near the shabu-shabu setup and Tony lead the prayer for the food. They start dipping their own meat or vege in the hot pot and dip it in the sauce and eat. Ely cleaned his fish and cut it thinly, he wants to cook it in the shabu-shabu. Rice was served, beef meat, shrimps, mushrooms, vegetables are in the small table, Ely said, "we are just like in Japan". "Tony, this is a good shabu-shabu, it seems we are in a top-rated restaurant." Luz complemented. They reminisce the days Martha was with them.

After eating, they sat in the hut near the pond, looking at the reflection of the moon in the pond with the lilies, Tony fired the campfire and they feel the heat in the cold night. Jacky sits leaning to her mother, called Juan to come nearer.

"Juan and I talked already Mom, can I ask you that I can come to the Philippines at least every three months with Dad? Jacky turned to her Mom's face. Luz turned to Ely and signal him to come closer.

" Your daughter has a request. She wants to go with you here in the Philippines at least every three months." Luz explained.

Ely thinks deeply and said, "We can arrange that on weekends three of us can do that.

Jacky embraced his father.

Juan was just silent but happy. " Thank God! He whispered.

Ely then told Luz that tomorrow they will hike to Calaja Cave than to Sanchez Peak.

We are more prepared now than before. Let's make this trip enjoyable.

Early hike for one hour to Calaja cave.

"I nearly drowned here," Ely said.

"Yes Mom, Juan saved him, he had a cramped in his leg muscles," Jacky said.

"True, Darling? Juan saved you here? Luz asked.

"That's true, I just didn't tell you so you will not worry," Ely said.

"This is cool, let us find a safe place to rest for tonight and have a bushcraft camping here," Joel suggested.

They cut some bamboo to be used to cook rice as the container and prepared to grill three dressed native chicken they brought.

"I'll find some banana leaves to make as our table and paper plates," Jun said.

Jacky and Ruthie went with him. They find some edible mushrooms, ferns, and ripe banana in a tree.

"Wow, Ruthie, I have tasted this mushroom before, ferns for salad and saba banana free food, and free degradable plates," Jacky exclaimed.

"Jacky, are you OK if we will make a purity promise? Did you remember the true love waits seminar we attended?"Juan asked.

" What's purity promise?" Ruthie asked.

"Hahaha, that's for lovers Ruthie not for children!" Jacky said.

"So, both of you are lovers Kuya Juan?"

Juan and Jacky did not answer. They don't know how to explain it.

We can not say we are in a relationship because we never had an agreement. But we can not say we don't have feelings with each other, because we already admit that we love each other. Jacky doesn't know what kind of relationship they have except as brothers and sisters in the faith.

If we will confirm it now then later we fail and will not end in marriage. I don't want it that way. I don't want to commit now but I don't also want to lose her. What do you really want Juan? Juan asking himself in his mind.

Juan hold her in her hand and said: "Jacky, what if we are not for each other? what if we can't hold on, what if this is not love but lust only? what if this is just a passing feeling? I don't want to hurt you. We can only know for sure when the right time will come."

"So what shall we do now? we will be separated after one or two days." Jacky sighed.

Silence.

Ruthie suggested, "What about let's go back and eat and talk again about that?"

Both of them came to their senses that they need to cook their food and everybody is waiting for them.

They walk back to their camp tent. Ely and Luz dating, Tony and Paulo were sharing ideas about their next painting project. Paul invited Ruthie to learn archery with Ely's bow.

Jacky went to grill the rest of the chicken, Juan went beside her and cooked the mushroom and fern.

"I agree with the purity promise" Jacky opened the conversation.

"Good, let's do that in church." We will invite all of them to witness." Juan said.

"OK... Jacky answered.

A young people in the church had that before, Both of them attended and they had a purity ring each and promised to be pure until their marriage.

"The bamboo rice was cooked, and the chicken, let's eat!" Jacky called them all.

Juan helped her prepare the food in banana leaves arranged the rice and the chicken grilled and suited mushrooms and fern with canned tuna in oil. They also served the banana.

"This is the most memorable tent experience!"Luz said.

" Agree!" chorus.

After the enjoyable supper...

"I have an announcement, We invite you all to attend our purity promise celebration in church after tomorrow."

"What's that? Ely asked.

" Purity promise?" Luz asked also.

"Is that which means not to f*ck before marriage?" Joel asked.

"Watch your word brother! Jacky said

"Sorry!"Joel replied.

"That is a promise to be pure before marriage. I like that."Tony explained.

" We agreed with it and that will make our relationship officially under provisionary status pending college graduation." Juan seconded what Jacky said.

Ely, Luz, and Joel were amazed by their declaration.

"I support it," Ely said.

"Me too," Luz said

"Brother, this is the only time I heard such things but I agree, why not? It seems nice and I'm proud of both of you. Joel said.

" Thank God, my Father" Jacky said praying.

Juan, Jacky, Paulo, Ruthie, and Joel listen to music on Bluetooth.

Early morning they fetch their tents and hiked to Sanchez Peak happily. All are at high spirits, Jacky singing while walking, Juan smiling, the rest are enjoying the view... They had a good lunch and they decided to come down just after two hours in the peak and hiked back to the farm.