Immediately, Denzel apologized for waiting her companions that long. He left so early but still get caught in traffic.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAnELhOBQv6a
“I'm sorry for keeping you waiting for such a long time,” He said.
199Please respect copyright.PENANApnev3bV8J6
After a few seconds, Gabriel interrupted their conversation. "Are you joining us?" His eyes sparkled that wanted to hear Denzel's response.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAD315ZCVQB1
"Of course, I invited them for an outing," he replied instantly.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAzJF7V8RwgR
Katherine would stop Denzel from uttering any words but it was too late that she made him curious.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAozTvCjmTZa
He stared at the young woman with confusion and asked her, "Why?"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAVCLcPVZzhw
Gabriel was angry as glaring his eyes to Katherine because she lied to him.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAdw7bY5kilH
The girl leaned close to her friend's ear and whispered, "I didn't tell them that you're the one who invited us on a trip except for Arianne."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAEtQQ3RfvCa
Denzel is grinning about it which turning his gaze towards Gabriel. He mentioned, "Oh, your bodyguard looks very mad at you. Why didn't you tell him about this instead?"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAfjjZ1a7j6W
"You think we will be here if I don't lie?'" Katherine retorted to Denzel, defending her decision as she wouldn't have the presence if she hadn't lied.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAde18CEyJXE
"Okay, fine," the young man accepted the situation. “I am determined to ask him," he pointed to Gabriel, whom they had been observing in a moment. "Are you still interested in going for this outing?"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAsZOGvMY06m
"Do I have a choice since everyone is already here?" Gabriel answered, still displaying his frustration. He only shifted his attention to those things they need to be settled in the car compartment.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAN5Dqe9Mf6U
"Thank you anyway. I thought we weren't going anymore," Denzel said with a mark of regret from his voice.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAnw3zAKdOX3
"It's your fault, Kath. Why didn't you just say it?" Arianne scolded her cousin. To avoid being targeted, she acted as if she didn't know anything..
199Please respect copyright.PENANA7MxkDnkZsG
"We still going, right? Maybe, he is just being a killjoy here," Katherine replied with joy and sarcasm.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAOSMP3VQTm2
"Of course, hihihi," the two of them are simply laughing.
199Please respect copyright.PENANABle72qW2cE
"Oh, are we leaving for now?" shouted Denzel to his companions, while Gabriel had already gotten to their vehicle.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAobr9b8HRPa
Katherine and Arianne joined him in the car. A young man is trying to start the engine when Gabriel and Alfred, Katherine's personal bodyguard, appeared themselves outside in a sudden.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAVK0ND0BfQ9
Katherine exclaimed in surprise and confusion, “Hey!”
199Please respect copyright.PENANAJhYospB8Mo
Without delay, Denzel opened the door for them who were outside the car.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAlN2Lr5Jihl
"We'll ride here," Gabriel stated as they were sitting alongside of Arianne.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAyVFfwRtn1x
"What?" asked Katherine with bewilderment on her face.
199Please respect copyright.PENANALpCwOzRVZb
"Why are you riding here?" She interrogated Alfred and Gabriel.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAl6hwLVZab2
"Mr. Villarosa, right?" Gabriel mentioned to Denzel. "I'm just forgot that the two were supposed to come with us."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAjP2NJ8rckX
Katherine sighed and couldn't help but sit next to her strict bodyguard, Gabriel.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAOVbs9XELwK
"Okay, I don't have a problem with this since I know you need to watch over Kath," Denzel said, saliva pooling in his mouth due to the way things turned out.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAToOZF0aTts
"Denzel won't kidnap us. You two are just too strict," Katherine is complaining again.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA4Ypj91t8Hm
"Sir Gabriel gave the order for this, Ma'am Kath. I'm just followed him," Alfred clarified Katherine's statement as pointing out to Gabriel.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA2A3caUHnQp
"Okay, fine," the young woman's reply with a hint of humility, realizing that argument will be a waste of time.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA7u4bChswyo
Once they arrived at the destination, Arianne and Katherine were getting out of the car in a quick. Several trees and plants covered the place with a stream that they could bathe in. It all seems look like a forest, nestled between the mountains.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAXCBcmLS7x8
Katherine's face showed full of amazement of what she saw. "This is nice, Haze," she described then. However, immediately covered her mouth when realized she slipped up and mentioned a wrong name.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAIP3qgkCL6g
"Tsk!" her friend, Gabriel murmured. "How many times do I have to tell you, uh?"
199Please respect copyright.PENANA5OgGvjSv2O
"Sorry. I've probably used to call you Haze," Katherine defended herself.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA3KiTocLppT
After a few minutes, they have managed to set up their tent. Katherine and Arianne shared one tent, while the rest stayed with another, and Gabriel was opting to be alone.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAXuiHvUdwWR
"Let's go hiking!" Denzel announced in a startled voice. "Can you do this, Kath?"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAOK3wespMLS
"Of course. I did this during my elementary and high school days," Katherine is replying with a smile as still gazing to their destination. She had full of confidence in herself to manage hiking.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAfXVpHUeSWM
"I will try this out for the first time. I never been participating in school camping or any field trips like this," Arianne as stating about her uneventful teenage days as leaning to her cousin.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAWxemgOBolM
"Alright, game?" Denzel quickly interjected, feeling the excitement building up. "Let's warm up first."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAfvsSrHhmdx
They started the ascent after a few seconds. Katherine was very cautious with each step, as there were rocky paths, large roots from the trees, and some potentially poisonous plants along the way. Finally, they reached a far distance from where they are earlier.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAVnnEDLuWxP
Katherine and Arianne were gasping for breath and covered in sweat as they continued climbing above. Their faces showed exhaustion, but with a hint of enjoyment.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAujwQbs8IhH
The young man immediately handed them some water, saying, "Drink up first! I saw tiredness in your eyes."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAcYGL25kyZp
Gabriel also caught up with them shortly after.
199Please respect copyright.PENANANTgHbn5kVi
"Wow, Ma'am Kath and Sir Denzel seems like a couple!" Yael commented with a smile after he noticed Denzel drinking the same bottle which Katherine had used.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAr4tsRfLFoS
"Yeah," Patricio agreed. They were both happy, but Gabriel was on the lookout for any suspicious behavior from Denzel..
199Please respect copyright.PENANAyVxZ71jklg
"How long have they known each other?" Gabriel interrupted with a question of his two fellow personal bodyguards.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA5YwHKP87OB
Yael, the one who answered first, "Since they were in college, Ma'am Katherine and Sir Denzel have been friends. He used to visit their house frequently."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAESb2Xn428F
Gabriel staring in a brief at Yael as continuing to share more information. "Also, he became close to Ma'am Solemn, Katherine's mother."
199Please respect copyright.PENANA0OgYJNKjBH
Katherine told everybody that they were just friends. It had only mistaken them as a couple because of Denzel's being thoughtful and kind towards his friends," Patricio added.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAePOjrdRd1q
For Gabriel, their opinions were not enough to make him feel comfortable about and keep trusting. He must stay alert and being observant because which was his primary duty.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAsZt69gAoML
"Take it slowly," Denzel reminded and tried supporting Katherine as they were climbing. Arianne followed them.
199Please respect copyright.PENANANQxZnU43lb
"Wow, it's tiring!" Katherine commented, and they paused for a while after an hour. "But I miss doing this!" She grinned as she recounted her thoughts.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAWdeHwt7QT2
Denzel smiled as he looked at Katherine. Arianne noticed it too.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAKzws5TrAuB
"If you want and if you will allow to do this again, we can go horseback riding or other activities here," the young man suggested.
199Please respect copyright.PENANACVaDOsAzR4
"I hope so," Katherine said, wishing for another opportunity because it made her happy.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAt5JO1kCR9u
"Me too, just to try something different," Arianne chimed in. "And because of Katherine's situation, I get dragged into these things. We're cousins, and I'm her personal assistant too, so wherever she goes, I have to be beside her."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAzj5FcgiNZZ
After two hours of ascending the mountain, they descended and went back to their original spot. It was almost evening, and the surroundings were getting dark. Some of them made a fire to have some light and warmth in their surroundings.
199Please respect copyright.PENANArYn3A4XsPH
Eight of them were sitting now together, huddling in one spot and eating their dinner.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAmlY9LeaNY4
"Wow, excellent cook!" Yael commented while tasting the food. "Who cooked this, anyway?"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAS0fcN5842e
"Kuya Denz cooked it," Arianne answered that turned Katherine into distracting her meal.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAHcORgBH0Gj
"It tasted delicious!" Patricio exclaimed. "Can I have some more?" Laughing while pointing to the dish in front of them.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAbsihm2h4qN
Gabriel have stopped and reminded him, "The five of us haven't eaten yet."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAhZQ4NHZpeI
Patricio frowned in disappointment because he wanted to eat more of the grilled chicken.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAHFKAQVpOrk
After having dinner, some of them dispersed and the remaining five ate their meal.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA8RlAP14Y7A
Denzel picked up the guitar and tried to play it. Katherine immediately recognized the sound of the instrument that had caught their attention from the tent.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAtF9TCAbdei
"You can't sleep?" Katherine is asking the young man.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAPlP3YqwA7J
"No," Denzel paused briefly and invited the girl to sit next to him. They used to do this whenever their professor was absent—playing the guitar while singing along.
199Please respect copyright.PENANARb6DTAIfVB
Arianne have seen them and left the tent temporarily to join where Denzel and Katherine were. Alfred, the young woman's assistant bodyguard, have sensed it too. He sat near to them for listening to their music and also tried to engage in a conversation.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAcScOZJOpTK
Others followed suit and Gabriel, who was sitting at the far end joined them where not being easily visible.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAU8O6LxA9fV
Katherine and Denzel were singing the song "You Are The Reason" by Calum Scott.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA4LGQ6cX1EL
_I'd climb every mountain
199Please respect copyright.PENANAWPOHjYMhiu
And swim in every ocean_
199Please respect copyright.PENANAxJd0bBy6pm
The young man gazing at her while mentioning each line of the song. It was his way of expressing his feelings to Katherine. He would do anything to win her over. He liked her since their college days.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAIzO1RB4u0F
_Just to be with you
199Please respect copyright.PENANA2nN5mfNepm
And fix what I've broken_
199Please respect copyright.PENANAdfAcCJ81cE
Yes, sometimes he regrets that they get separated as friends after graduation. He went to America to work with his family. Now, he had this opportunity not to let it passed.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAokNzGY5Qi0
_Oh, 'cause I need you to see
199Please respect copyright.PENANAgUxmPa6YAF
That you are the reason_
199Please respect copyright.PENANAsVkqX9eAtk
Katherine's eyes is opening widely as she listening to Denzel which he is awaring of the message he wanted to express. He knows that he willing to do anything to make her fall in love with him. Since their college days, she had been simple as his friend, and now she saw him now a different light.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAtg335v4yFL
They sang the next chorus together, harmonizing at the end of the song.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAwbAirayLUt
"Wow, nice! So romantic, dude!" Patricio shouted, applauding them with others who were also watching. Gabriel was examining them attentively. His gaze fixed on Denzel that kept his every move for anything suspicious.
199Please respect copyright.PENANApc1thx38pg
"They seem like a couple, Ma'am Kath and Sir Denzel," Yael commented with a smile.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAli4mpUzcsF
"Yes, they do," Arianne agreed, clapping her hands excitedly. She couldn't help but tease Katherine and Denzel. "Are you two a couple?"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAvpo4UeDuH6
"What kind of question is that, Arianne?" Katherine just laughed. Whenever they sang that song, people always mistaken them for a couple. "We aren't."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAxzQtDNTHkv
"Really?" Arianne replied with a disbelief.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA3NdRP9yk5A
"We are just friends. We simply have a strong chemistry," explained Denzel, with a wink. "Isn't that right, Kath?"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAYnEp8o7WgH
"True!" The girl nodding in agreement.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAXDTVkGh0i1
The evening became filled with full of jokes and random conversations until some of them fell asleep.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAY0kfbeDU8s
The next morning, they went to the nearby spring, where the water was clear and so extensive.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAnaGqfaouJK
They all splashed around, including Katherine. Gabriel and a few other boys barely stayed behind to keep watching. The young man sat near the spring, holding a book.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAfUAyq3lxKz
"Boss Gabriel, won't you join us to swim? The water is so refreshing," Yael called out, inviting him.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAveXMFaGZJd
"It's so nice to dive in the water!" added Patricio that others agreed too.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA6JhyQnhf5p
"Go ahead and I'm just stay here." Gabriel declined, glancing at the book he had been holding and then to Katherine where she was.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAkhZyjYgSZf
"Oh, I wanna swim down here guys!" Katherine bid to her companions with goodbye for a moment.
199Please respect copyright.PENANApO0gQfhmNf
"Sure, just be careful, okay?" Denzel reminded her quickly.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAvwlgCVbbmo
"You cheater, Kath," Arianne scolded Katherine. "We were still talking here, uh!"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAkd13kmTXgl
"Later! I'll take time for this and later, we will go home," the girl replied with a pleading tone from being about five meters away from the crowd.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA6Q2F7AQf3F
"Okay, take care," Arianne reminded her cousin once again.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAGvr16vfV1W
"Alright," Katherine said before submerging herself in the water.
199Please respect copyright.PENANATbTsrxXvni
The others also started swimming after a brief conversation. Several minutes have passed, Arianne couldn't see her cousin, so she quickly resurfaced to call out, thinking she might be nearby.
199Please respect copyright.PENANApAyrfZdFqC
"Kath, where are you?" she shouted, causing Denzel to notice her. "Kath?" she shouted again, but there was no response.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAdqaHlUm9e6
Arianne immediately dove underwater to find Katherine, as she had been missing for a while. She was searching her for three minutes but nothing have found. So, she resurfaced once again.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAiOu2Tj2uO3
Denzel approached her and asked, "What's happening, Arianne?"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAyQYjn6wl9I
"It's Kath that haven't seen her for a while now!" the girl answered anxiously.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAQRnM5CxbDD
"I'll look for her," Denzel dove himself under the water to save Katherine and Arianne continued to find her cousin as she was getting closer from where Gabriel and their other companions.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAH7LiS9OzeE
"We can't find Katherine!" she informed them as her face showing fear and concern.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA8JJIxN2jbN
"Let's go now to search her," Patricio suggested, and they hurriedly went into the water.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAJsI8kdU6s9
A few seconds later, Gabriel also dove underwater to search for the girl.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA6Q8Ix7KszO
In a moment, Denzel spotted Katherine unconscious, and he carried her through his arms towards the edge. Gabriel who still far from where has he was and he just saw how the lady survived through her friend.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAcli7V4wGTW
The young man, Denzel have laid her down and immediately do a first aid for Katherine. Gabriel had also gone to water with a hint of disappointment on his face for not being the one to save the girl whom his responsibility was to protect.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAxGkdHvsil3
Denzel's hands trembled as he applied first aid to Katherine.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAXzKZzoSCgE
"Kath, please wake up!" shouted Arianne.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAryAdZ6PLIf
"Come up, Kath," Denzel said softly but with deep concern in his voice.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA6g1LC7WkxW
After a few moments, Katherine suddenly breathes, spewing water from her mouth.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAQZKhl4rvq5
Arianne patted her back and said, "Thank you!" She embraced her cousin.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA7TJQbLwUuF
Denzel's face lit up with joy as he noticed Katherine have opened her eyes.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAacHHFK00Sj
"Where have you been, uh?" Arianne scolded her. "You said you knew how to swim, didn't you?"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAkNFVuYfx2Y
"I had a cramp in a sudden, Rian when I reached a slightly deeper area," Katherine explained, still feeling weak.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAJ33ZrpPQwm
"Geez, Kath. Good thing that Kuya Denz have saved you." Arianne glanced in a brief expression to Denzel, who only showed nothing but a concern.
199Please respect copyright.PENANADpQpOVUS2k
Denzel hesitated to hug her as he looked at Katherine's face, despite of his deep worries.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA7AdkA7DMCx
"I hope Mr. Rodelio won't find out about what happened," Gabriel interrupted. "Otherwise, we'll be in trouble."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAcPZKQgNcP5
Katherine agreed because Lolo Delio would probably become mad to her.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAFtf6gdoFQp
"That's not right, brad!" Denzel argued with Gabriel. "Her grandfather has the right to know about this."
199Please respect copyright.PENANA31vmXojpuv
"Do you think he will get angry on us if he finds out? You don't know him when it comes to his granddaughter," Gabriel as trying to conclude, raising his voice. "It might be better for us to get ready to leave now."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAsD9RYXYD1z
When they went back towards the mansion, they all proceeded to their respective rooms.
199Please respect copyright.PENANARoM4QMBcwZ
"Are you sure you're okay, Kath?" Arianne asking her with concern
199Please respect copyright.PENANARuvSXOBBR3
Katherine nodded, "Yes, Arianne. I probably just need to rest. My body hurts a lot," she replied then walked to her room.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAkeiHBCkd7W
The next day, Katherine's body still aching. She groaned in pain while stretching her arms. She was feeling unwell so decided to take her bath momentarily.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAHYY90F0ZIh
After she took her bath, Arianne knocked unexpectedly to her door.
199Please respect copyright.PENANABothiM6jN5
"Rian, what is it?" she replied, still feeling weak.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAXjqFZZXnWb
Arianne's head bowing down as speaking, "Grandpa wants to talk to you right now."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAnguT1VvFl7
Through cousin's appearance, Katherine didn't ask further questions and simply left her room. She knocked on Mr. Rodelio's office and entered.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZNFBlI5eM
"Someone said you want to talk with me?" she asked.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA9lfwcdbXdu
"What's this I heard about have an outing with that male outsider?" Mr. Rodelio's face as clearly showed his displeasure.
199Please respect copyright.PENANANqb5om4aum
"He's my friend, Grandpa. He just invited us to go out," Katherine explained in calm expression since she didn't have yet much strength left.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAiRIJhyNmMF
"Invited? And joined with someone you barely know?" Mr. Rodelio said with anger. "Katherine, how many times do I have to tell you-"
199Please respect copyright.PENANAVV0wx25QSr
Katherine cut him off, "I've known Denzel for a long time, Grandpa. He's my college friend."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAaIyDKiAHdd
"How can I believe that? I'm only heard his name for the first time, and I've never seen or met him!" the old man persisted, doubting Katherine's words.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAzQSQ1iSiXB
"We've just been apart because we have our lives to settle, Grandpa. People have priorities and goals that they need to achieve and same as them," Katherine as pursuing to justify hers but it wasn't enough to convince Mr. Rodelio.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAWKTdVF6WXk
"I still don't believe what you're saying, my granddaughter!" Mr. Rodelio disagreed.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAIeoqLtEz9d
Katherine sighed and rationalized herself once again to the old man, "Maybe, I don't need to argue on this anymore. If you really want to assure about him, I'm begging you to investigate him as soon as possible." Katherine's voice was now very serious. "Whatever the result will be, I accept it willingly. I'll avoid him. Isn't that what you want, right? So this could be the best way to do, Grandpa so that your doubts you think I'm lying to you will probably disappear."
199Please respect copyright.PENANAgccKt3dQDT
Afterwards, Katherine turned her back to his grandfather and tiptoed away to his office.
199Please respect copyright.PENANA2PMCXHlJfq
"Katherine, come back here!" yelled Mr. Rodelio, but she didn't even look back.
199Please respect copyright.PENANAMIF1rHAcVy