The joy-ride

Aviore was walking alone on the road. It's only five in the morning. Melany woke her up early. She didn't want to wake up but melany tickled her ear with a chicken feather. Her spirit was awaken immediately because she's easily tickled.

It's six o'clock in the morning. She was wearing a white cotton t-shirt with 'Dream on' written on its chest part and a denim shorts halfway up her thigh. She also wore a black rubber shoes and ponytailed her hair.

Aviore is carrying a large black backpack that she did not know what the contents were. Just after she got dressed, Melany told her that her things were already packedshe for the trip. She was taken aback when she saw the big backpack and was even more surprised when she almost couldn't lift it.

She thought that it must be Don Tanduay punishing her. This must be the consequences from her comfortable living in his house like a princess. Before she left, the only thing Don Tanduay said to her was "You can do it Aviore!"

"huhuhu .... They didn't even give me a free ride to the entrance of the mountain. They really want to torture me." Aviore tried to fix the position of the bag by pulling the strap more upward.

"This is gonna be fine. Just keep walking Aviore." She encouraged herself.

It's been ten minutes since she was walking. She saw people glancing her way but don't bother talking to her. She also saw a Windmill although she just saw the head of it.

Seeing it, she thought how many windmills could there be? She's been staying at Don's house for a while now but she never asked about the windmills. Such a pity she thought. It never crossed her mind.

She just kept walking. She's been walking for fifteen minutes. Sweat was already forming on her forehead. She had to get to where she was going right away otherwise she'll get there by dark.

Aviore abruptly stopped walking when she thought of something.

"Wait!-" Aviore slapped her forehead. "Why am I walking when I can ride? Such an idiot Aviore. Argh!" She turned around and saw a mango tree a few steps away from her. She walked over there and took shelter. She just need to wait for a tricycle.

She looked around. Everywhere you look there are mango trees. They have fruits and the fruits are wrapped in newspaper or plastic. How did they reach the top fruits? She wondered. Just great. As far as she knows, Guimaras is known for having the sweetest mangoes in the whole Philippines and it is forbidden to bring other types of mangoes from outside the island. It is forbidden so that other types of mangoes do not mix in the island.

Several motorists and jeeps have passed by but there are no tricycles passing by. She has been waiting for ten minutes.

Seconds later and Aviore glanced at the motorist who stopped in front of her. He was wearing a helmet so she couldn't see who it is. The guy lifted the wind shield of the helmet and looked at her still not going down.

"hey!" he said.

She is sure she is the one he's referring to. She's the only person standing there.

Aviore's eyebrows furrowed. She couldn't recognize the man.

The guy removed the helmet.

"hello there pretty lady! Remember me?" He said smiling.

"Norton!" Aviore exclaimed excitedly.

He got off his motorbike and hang the helmet on the handle of the motorbike before walking up to her.

He is wearing a plain white shirt and a denim pants. Black shoes and messy hair.

"What are you doing here?" He asked when he's just inches away.

"Ahh. I'm waiting for a tricycle that I can ride to Mount Lanting. You know that?"

"Yeah! It belongs to Don Tanduay."

Norton noticed the backpack she is carrying. "Are you planning to go camping?"

"Ahh ... Yeah, sort of. Hehe" she couldn't say her purpose after all.

"Alone?"

"Uhh, yeah! Unfortunately." she replied saying the last word in a low voice that made Norton furrowed his eyebrows.

"Why would you go alone? Aren't you afraid? Should I go with you? I just need to get some stuff at -"

"NO!" Aviore screamed cutting his sentence with both her hands in mid air like she's pushing something. She's reminded of Don's order that she should go alone.

Norton was taken aback of her reaction.

Realising of her behavior Aviore scratched her head. "Uhh, I mean I planned to go alone so if you come, you'll ruin my plan right? Uhh, right?" she answered thinking if her reason even have a sense.

"Oh Okay! I get it."

"Good! Thank God." Aviore answered him with a shy smile. "Isn't there a tricycle passing by here? I've been waiting for a while." She added changing the topic.

"There are some but it will take you a while waiting them. If you want I'll drive you there."

"Really? Will you take me? But don't you have any errands to do?"

"Oh no, I came from my friend's house. It was his birthday and I slept there. I'm heading home now."

Aviore's eyes lit up. "Really? Okay then, let's go." She matched to the motorcycle with Norton following her behind.

"Hold on my waist." Norton's commanded.

"Wait! What if your girlfriend see us?" Aviore hesitated.

Norton smirked. She was surprised when he pulled her two hands and crossed it against his waist. "no one will get angry so hold on tight."

"O-Okay!" she hugged tightly not wanting to fall. While on the road to Mount Lanting, Aviore satisfied her eyes with the beautiful scenery and the wind mills she's seeing in the area.

"How many windmills are there?" She asked Norton.

"Do you want to know?"

"That's why I'm asking!" They both laughed at her answer.

"I know a place where you can see all the windmills here. Don't worry, it's just on the way."

"Really? Let's go." She said excitedly.

"Yes ma'am!" the amusement was obvious in his voice.

In just a few minutes, the motorcycle turned right and climbed up the steep rough road. She breathed a sigh of relief as they reached the top. They passed a windmill and they saw the quiet plaza of San Lorenzo opened up to him. There are a few people walking around not more than ten. Norton's motor went straight. When she looked to the left, she saw small umbrella cottages made of cement with thatched roofs. There were also a few people sitting there. It is in the lower part of the area. You won’t see it when you’re at the other end of the plaza. Her gazed went to front and she saw the huge letters that sits in the upper part of the plaza saying 'SAN LORENZO'. It is painted white. They passed the letters and stopped in front of the two-storey building that stood in the highest part of the area. She read what was written on the front of the building and it read ‘San Lorenzo Municipal Hall’. She got off the motor. She looked around and she could only find two windmills. Her eyebrows furrowed. She looked at Norton who was already removing his helmet. Is he fooling her? She thought.

Norton looked at her and smiled so she smiled back.

"Let me carry your bag." he offered.

Aa she felt the heaviness of the bag, she gave it to him without any argument.

"Woah! I never thought its this heavy. I wonder how you managed to carry this with your petite body.

"Trust me, It's so heavy I can't feel my back anymore. " she answered jokingly.

Norton chuckled at her answer.

"With this weight you're carrying. It's good that you managed to carry it. Come on!"

"Where?"

She was surprised when he grabbed her hand and pulled. "where are we going?"

"In the place where you'll find all the windmills here." He replied without looking at her.

She didn't answer and just go with him. They took the stairs up to the second floor of the building. It has a stainless hand rail attached to the wall upwards. The staircase they tool is on the right side of the building. When they went up, she thought it was there but there's still onother staircase to climb. They climbed it to the top.

"Wow!" The only thing she exclaimed as she saw the view from above. It's also nice to feel the mild touch of breeze. She could clearly see the whole place. She could also clearly see the sea from the vantage point.

"Count how many windmills you see." Norton said and moved over beside her holding on to the railings. Norton dropped the backpack just beside him.

Aviore smiled and said "Sure!"

The windmills are at different distances. Avioree counted it well. She doesn’t want to miss anything.

Norton watched her with a smile.

"27" she answered excitedly. She faced Norton with a grin. She caught him staring at her and smiled.

"Nice! You got it right." he answered looking at her.

She could feel the intense look from his eyes that gave her a little uneasiness "Uh Yes, the place is nice, isn't it? It's a good thing you brought me here." she said and looked around again.

Norton smiled. He also stared at the view.

"You're right. There are 27 windmills here. Did you know that windmills are found in four barangays of San Lorenzo?"

"Really?"

"Yup. These are the barangays of Cabano, M. Chavez, Cabungahan, and Suklaran." he answered.

Even though Aviore know nothing of the places he mentioned she was still glad he told her what he knew.

"Each windmill produces 2 megawatts so in total 27windmills produce 54 kilowatts. Did you know that the government has a plan to add 20 more windmills? And they also plan to export electricity to Iloilo City by under water cable." He added and looked at her again.

"Wow! Great! That's super cool! I hope everyone would use a windmill as a source of electricity. Wouldn't it be so helpful?"

"Yeah! I think so too." Norton answered shortly.

They silently observed the surroundings. A few moments later Aviore remembered that she has to go to the mountain. She looked at her watch and it was close to nine o'clock in the morning.

"Norton, I need to go up the mountain. I'm too late." she took the backpack but Norton just snatched it from her.

"Let me!" he slung the backpack behind him and at the same time they went down the stairs. They went straight to his parked motorbike.

"I can carry that now!" Aviore pointed to the backpack.

He handed it to her and she attached it to her back and then they got on the motorbike. Aviore looked around one last time before Norton started the engine.

They drove down the road behind the municipality. How she wished she could go back to that place. Hopefully if she'll be able to come back alive. The thoght made her sigh.

"Are you sure you can do it alone?" Norton asked as they drove down the road.

Aviore didn't answer right away. She also doesn't know if she can do it. If he can ever come back to life. What happened to her at Don Tanduay's house is like a dream that would not want to wake up. But right now is the reality. A nightmare and she doesn't know if she will be able to return after that.

"O-of course" she answered weakly. It is much better not to tell him than make him worry. "I'm so fond of it."

"Aren't you scared? Would you like me to accompany you?"

"Oh no. I can do it. I love adventure." she answered trying to make it more realistic. Especially that Don Tanduay instructed her that she should go alone.

"Is that so? I can really come if you want too."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing to worry about." Aviory answered surely so that he would not worry.

A few minutes later and they stopped in a place with trees in every corner.

"This is it." Norton's exclaimed as he stopped the motorbike ang removed his helmet.

Aviore climbed down and looked around. All she could see were trees and wild grasses. She could also hear the birds chirping.

Looking at the abyss like mountain, she started to think of horrible scenarios that could happen to her.

"Aviore, Hey!"

Aviore snapped back bulging as Norton tapped her shoulder.

"Are you ok?" he asked worriedly.

"Oh! Uhm yeah, sorry, I got so excited that I can already imagine that I'm going to have so much fun. Yeah that's right, I'm gonna have so much fun." She lied.

"Are you really okay?" He stared at her as if trying to figure out what was on her mind.

"Uhh, yes, I'm ok here. You can leave. Thank you very much!" She answered not looking at him.

"You've helped me a lot. I will never forget your kindness." Aviore said sincerely.

"It"s nothing. I'm happy to help you." He said smiling at her.

"All right, you can leave first. I'm sure your family's looking for you now."

"uhh ok. I'll go ahead. Be careful. Are you really sure you don't want me to go with you? Uhh, can I just go with you?"

"I'll be fine. I can handle myself. When we meet again, I'll be the one to give you a free meal." she replied.

"Oh all right! You should fill your wallet cause I'm gonna broke it. Haha!" Norton joked.

"Then I should start filling it then." she replied chuckling. "Be careful on the road!"

"You too." he replied. He waved goodbye as he started the motor.

Aviore watched him disappear from her sight. "I hope we can meet again." Aviore said to herself.

She turned and faced the towering trees and bushy path. She closed her eyes for 3 seconds. She widely opened both her hands and sniffed a lot of air then exhaled loudly before opening hee eyes.

"Ok! This is it! This is it. Whatever happens to you Aviore, just think that you love yourself so much. You can do this! Fight!" She encouraged herself and began to walk into the thick forest.