VALE smiled when he viewed the ecstatic face of Einille when they reached the endpoint of their traverse. She enjoyed their adventure for this day because she was so lively. Her happiness was genuine, and he was glad. He hoped that it would last long.

"I can't believe it! Next on our list is Mount Pulag." Einille started to remove her trekking shoes that full of dirt

"Ma'am, I suggest you dropped by at Mount Kalugong tomorrow. It's like a park," Rudy suggested when he started driving.

"I agree. There's an overlooking view of the city on top," Vale said.

He noticed the wondering face of Einille. Before they reached the endpoint, she asked him if his body was sore and pushed him to drink a pain reliever medicine. He just laughed at her. The mountain was so easy to scale. It was suitable for beginners.

"Have you been at Mount Kalugong?" Einille asked.

He gave her a slight nod as a reply. Then Einille agreed on Rudy's suggestion to drop by.

They would spend the night in Baguio City. They rented out a whole house and used different rooms, including Rudy. They merrily ate their dinner, but Einille excused herself to rest early.

Vale went to his room, too. And he immediately called Rab, who asked about their current location. He reported everything, and after a serious conversation, the call was ended.

He wanted to doze off, but he couldn't sleep. He thought of Einille from the other room; maybe she was comfortably asleep by now. He decided to go out of his room and pass the time on the terrace.

Vale paused when his vision caught Einille. She stood on the terrace with her hands on the ledge. She seemed to enjoy the night view of the city. She wore a knitted hello kitty beanie, and the wind seemed to play in her long wavy hair.

He carefully leaned on the wall and watched quietly from behind. He witnessed her arms crossed because of the icy temperature.

Vale removed his thermal jacket to give it to Einille. He hesitated for a moment when he heard her sob.

"Take this. It's freezing here at night."

Einille turned her head and casually brushed her tears.

"No thanks, I'll be back to my room." She lowered her gaze and turned back on him.

Vale just stared at her walking away. He lightly shrugged and focused his attention on the blinking city lights.

He prayed that Einille would feel better because for the first time he had seen her cry, his heart bleeds for her. He wanted to shoot the person that caused her such misery.

THE following day, the two woke up early and went to their destination for the morning time-the Mount Kalugong Eco-Park.

Rudy drove them going there. It didn't take long since it was just a few kilometers from their transient house.

Einille gasped when she reached the highest elevation of the park. Thick fog covered the city, she waited a little more for a clearing.

"This place is indeed stress-free." Vale said, looking at a tree where a wood card was attached to it, with a print, 'this is a stress-free place.'

She was thankful that Vale didn't mention the incident last night, where he found her crying. She fell asleep peacefully last night, maybe because her body was exhausted.

They strolled down, going to a treehouse. There was a swing connected to the branch of a massive mango tree.

"This looks fun," Einille hurriedly seated on the swing, her hands holding the strings. She sensed a sudden movement upward, only to find out that Vale was pushing the swing.

Vale laughed when he started pushing it hard.

"Hold on tight!" he ordered. And he didn't stop pushing until the swing flew higher.

Einille screamed, "Valentino, enough!" She had to tighten her grip to the strings or else she would fall, "Shit!"

She felt dizzy. And when Vale noticed her discomfort, he immediately stopped the swing's movement.

Einille went down, held her giddy forehead.

"You, son of a bitch!" She punched his arms.

Vale only laughed at her. But he was attentive when she was nearly out of balance. He hurriedly stretched his arms and held her shoulder.

"Oops, easy!"

Her head collided with his chest, and she looked up at him, "Are you trying to kill me?"

Vale glanced down, and his lips curved to a teasing smile, "Of course not!"

Einille had to blink many times for that smile. She immediately distanced herself.

Something is wrong with your eyes. She convinced herself. She tried her best not to look at him again. She had been like this since yesterday. No matter how much she denied it, she felt comfortable with Vale's presence.

"I think you had fun with the swing. Let me try it as well." Vale was seated comfortably as if entertaining himself. He glanced in her direction.

"Hey, Ein! I guess you're okay now, come here. It's your time to push me." Vale requested her like a kid.

She rolled her eyes but didn't complain. She positioned herself behind him and pushed the swing with all her might. Unfortunately, it only moved an inch.

"That's it? More please," Vale complained.

She tried it again, several times until the swing finally moved up. She ran afterward to avoid the fallback.

"I'm disappointed, Ein. I'm barely moving." Vale made an effort to move.

Einille burst into laughter when the swing moved higher, and he almost fell.

Vale screamed, having fun.

Einille noticed just now that Rudy was taking a video of their stupidity. The old guy was laughing, too.

"What is that?" Vale asked the driver watching their funny footage, "Hey, don't make it viral. That's embarrassing."

"You two are looking so cute and sweet." Rudy sounded amazed.

Einille and Vale looked at each other, but she couldn't last it, so she gazed in a different direction.

Now she realized that her first impression of Vale was wrong. She thought he was conceited and arrogant most of the time, but she had never seen his funny and childlike side. About his self-assuring character, she found it his good attribute. He looked so sure on everything he does.

If someone would ask about his character as of the moment, she could reiterate his good side. Although he was naturally playful, at least that made her smile. For a moment, she had forgotten the real reason she took a break from work, to heal herself.