Immediately, Denzel apologized for waiting her companions that long. He left so early but still get caught in traffic.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA3Mt6pV1MtY
“I'm sorry for keeping you waiting for such a long time,” He said.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAATp9gaVaR8
After a few seconds, Gabriel interrupted their conversation. "Are you joining us?" His eyes sparkled that wanted to hear Denzel's response.
193Please respect copyright.PENANABLg4WMAJic
"Of course, I invited them for an outing," he replied instantly.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAGDi1Ldt8ly
Katherine would stop Denzel from uttering any words but it was too late that she made him curious.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA2MR4PVVtBE
He stared at the young woman with confusion and asked her, "Why?"
193Please respect copyright.PENANAcXUoKpxCnG
Gabriel was angry as glaring his eyes to Katherine because she lied to him.
193Please respect copyright.PENANApk12mV2g21
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."
193Please respect copyright.PENANA1zs2Oxxw34
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?"
193Please respect copyright.PENANApt6gqtHSHF
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAoCNU074bNb
"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?"
193Please respect copyright.PENANAsq1jsEEW3s
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAkNMQDa5HwO
"Thank you anyway. I thought we weren't going anymore," Denzel said with a mark of regret from his voice.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAdzehlOAybh
"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..
193Please respect copyright.PENANAwgorgRyNqp
"We still going, right? Maybe, he is just being a killjoy here," Katherine replied with joy and sarcasm.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAw6mLmtNIqX
"Of course, hihihi," the two of them are simply laughing.
193Please respect copyright.PENANABkNys7pYKU
"Oh, are we leaving for now?" shouted Denzel to his companions, while Gabriel had already gotten to their vehicle.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAc2xfF7CIY9
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAf8QfPOzvwV
Katherine exclaimed in surprise and confusion, “Hey!”
193Please respect copyright.PENANALnfCIZoscH
Without delay, Denzel opened the door for them who were outside the car.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA66w26Ixz1Y
"We'll ride here," Gabriel stated as they were sitting alongside of Arianne.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA6phdbumwGP
"What?" asked Katherine with bewilderment on her face.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAwAySq5xZmA
"Why are you riding here?" She interrogated Alfred and Gabriel.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAlUxJe5HUZS
"Mr. Villarosa, right?" Gabriel mentioned to Denzel. "I'm just forgot that the two were supposed to come with us."
193Please respect copyright.PENANAyp2xhKs8B3
Katherine sighed and couldn't help but sit next to her strict bodyguard, Gabriel.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA8QklpCvjD6
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA4FXuyi8N0h
"Denzel won't kidnap us. You two are just too strict," Katherine is complaining again.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAS52eCkJGM6
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANANpKMVzQIBU
"Okay, fine," the young woman's reply with a hint of humility, realizing that argument will be a waste of time.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAOSByfLB5d3
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAlGr94JsjUB
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA9jMBTfKiYv
"Tsk!" her friend, Gabriel murmured. "How many times do I have to tell you, uh?"
193Please respect copyright.PENANAWl1F0OXjqT
"Sorry. I've probably used to call you Haze," Katherine defended herself.
193Please respect copyright.PENANANDoib2xCbz
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAHqgf8sNbB5
"Let's go hiking!" Denzel announced in a startled voice. "Can you do this, Kath?"
193Please respect copyright.PENANAXJ8p0BkyUj
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAodkKSqLaDS
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAWOH84V9j8S
"Alright, game?" Denzel quickly interjected, feeling the excitement building up. "Let's warm up first."
193Please respect copyright.PENANABmxm6SfSvQ
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANASVlELcvEdP
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA5jl8JZtxv5
The young man immediately handed them some water, saying, "Drink up first! I saw tiredness in your eyes."
193Please respect copyright.PENANAPcK1M1ohJF
Gabriel also caught up with them shortly after.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAIdq45Y6yKE
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAEFbLHEsyjk
"Yeah," Patricio agreed. They were both happy, but Gabriel was on the lookout for any suspicious behavior from Denzel..
193Please respect copyright.PENANANkaZyASwTg
"How long have they known each other?" Gabriel interrupted with a question of his two fellow personal bodyguards.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAzHf5Z5EzDA
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."
193Please respect copyright.PENANA4QvOp0XmbJ
Gabriel staring in a brief at Yael as continuing to share more information. "Also, he became close to Ma'am Solemn, Katherine's mother."
193Please respect copyright.PENANAQoBAnY854Q
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA1U2fUS8dBe
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAWnPkyyQQJX
"Take it slowly," Denzel reminded and tried supporting Katherine as they were climbing. Arianne followed them.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA3X3OdQVkL8
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAZ702jRJzG9
Denzel smiled as he looked at Katherine. Arianne noticed it too.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAO74tp0rhwN
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANADwzu5nZPMy
"I hope so," Katherine said, wishing for another opportunity because it made her happy.
193Please respect copyright.PENANALOZmDo2kvg
"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."
193Please respect copyright.PENANAd5kI6asR3B
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAm1ce8QSzyJ
Eight of them were sitting now together, huddling in one spot and eating their dinner.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAMZXXybCGs7
"Wow, excellent cook!" Yael commented while tasting the food. "Who cooked this, anyway?"
193Please respect copyright.PENANAZ5hlxwZLLj
"Kuya Denz cooked it," Arianne answered that turned Katherine into distracting her meal.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAqqs30RGCvR
"It tasted delicious!" Patricio exclaimed. "Can I have some more?" Laughing while pointing to the dish in front of them.
193Please respect copyright.PENANANok7bxQUqL
Gabriel have stopped and reminded him, "The five of us haven't eaten yet."
193Please respect copyright.PENANAamIVkmMZlw
Patricio frowned in disappointment because he wanted to eat more of the grilled chicken.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAILRxC5zeBs
After having dinner, some of them dispersed and the remaining five ate their meal.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAzIqUG9t7UQ
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAsQDn5oGZeH
"You can't sleep?" Katherine is asking the young man.
193Please respect copyright.PENANArxVVaLGNie
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAW4zCV3f9vk
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAQSeALhw2bF
Others followed suit and Gabriel, who was sitting at the far end joined them where not being easily visible.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAhlgotTni3L
Katherine and Denzel were singing the song "You Are The Reason" by Calum Scott.
193Please respect copyright.PENANADF2GNQcA3G
_I'd climb every mountain
193Please respect copyright.PENANAj53WG6civ8
And swim in every ocean_
193Please respect copyright.PENANAzXKDiLkoRd
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAwK2EY9biLP
_Just to be with you
193Please respect copyright.PENANAv8PBhaCFnl
And fix what I've broken_
193Please respect copyright.PENANAuqQ9bZv7u9
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANARmjK9FsXxQ
_Oh, 'cause I need you to see
193Please respect copyright.PENANAjkpJJlGigV
That you are the reason_
193Please respect copyright.PENANANpqoK5S6BT
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAVK7sEvFHV8
They sang the next chorus together, harmonizing at the end of the song.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAhgln7yS96Y
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAp4DQC1uLPl
"They seem like a couple, Ma'am Kath and Sir Denzel," Yael commented with a smile.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAsHFF5fztso
"Yes, they do," Arianne agreed, clapping her hands excitedly. She couldn't help but tease Katherine and Denzel. "Are you two a couple?"
193Please respect copyright.PENANAzCeh3PGe1Q
"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."
193Please respect copyright.PENANA8yVlGrwxI4
"Really?" Arianne replied with a disbelief.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA4S0AhO5iyG
"We are just friends. We simply have a strong chemistry," explained Denzel, with a wink. "Isn't that right, Kath?"
193Please respect copyright.PENANAVuf4c6BdqY
"True!" The girl nodding in agreement.
193Please respect copyright.PENANABNjZcLpfdT
The evening became filled with full of jokes and random conversations until some of them fell asleep.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAWLB5pP30ZO
The next morning, they went to the nearby spring, where the water was clear and so extensive.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA3xPXf4RBFX
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAXkFDcQSRWa
"Boss Gabriel, won't you join us to swim? The water is so refreshing," Yael called out, inviting him.
193Please respect copyright.PENANASAMWUUBghy
"It's so nice to dive in the water!" added Patricio that others agreed too.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAla9oAVCCF8
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA0mK8jzPCmD
"Oh, I wanna swim down here guys!" Katherine bid to her companions with goodbye for a moment.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA0Yum8clDCn
"Sure, just be careful, okay?" Denzel reminded her quickly.
193Please respect copyright.PENANASKj3vrdBvW
"You cheater, Kath," Arianne scolded Katherine. "We were still talking here, uh!"
193Please respect copyright.PENANAxNDUr0KNxE
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA8G3FitdTO6
"Okay, take care," Arianne reminded her cousin once again.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAk5o6yPjgsv
"Alright," Katherine said before submerging herself in the water.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA2mZoRa53gv
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAjiSw6fwwiS
"Kath, where are you?" she shouted, causing Denzel to notice her. "Kath?" she shouted again, but there was no response.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAsyJkvZDzFA
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANABx5EeOCRYD
Denzel approached her and asked, "What's happening, Arianne?"
193Please respect copyright.PENANA5ZNUIEl4ev
"It's Kath that haven't seen her for a while now!" the girl answered anxiously.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAyXzUxQ1Gn3
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA1BFFC0Ohsn
"We can't find Katherine!" she informed them as her face showing fear and concern.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAR51EBxXc2j
"Let's go now to search her," Patricio suggested, and they hurriedly went into the water.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAvOG5vEDLHn
A few seconds later, Gabriel also dove underwater to search for the girl.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAsJVnIseHKF
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAmdWlraTf6e
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAmuM0xhAOmP
Denzel's hands trembled as he applied first aid to Katherine.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAUM6Eh8DfZI
"Kath, please wake up!" shouted Arianne.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAXnz0uuW6Mf
"Come up, Kath," Denzel said softly but with deep concern in his voice.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAupHjAX3ryx
After a few moments, Katherine suddenly breathes, spewing water from her mouth.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAvpdaLi6gLA
Arianne patted her back and said, "Thank you!" She embraced her cousin.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA64Cr7kUbEc
Denzel's face lit up with joy as he noticed Katherine have opened her eyes.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAjBGdHEmVSu
"Where have you been, uh?" Arianne scolded her. "You said you knew how to swim, didn't you?"
193Please respect copyright.PENANAQlxOmQ0cBS
"I had a cramp in a sudden, Rian when I reached a slightly deeper area," Katherine explained, still feeling weak.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAPl4fJrTFD3
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANA4tE9TxD6UQ
Denzel hesitated to hug her as he looked at Katherine's face, despite of his deep worries.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAv36H2qmsS2
"I hope Mr. Rodelio won't find out about what happened," Gabriel interrupted. "Otherwise, we'll be in trouble."
193Please respect copyright.PENANA9cDszRWG1Q
Katherine agreed because Lolo Delio would probably become mad to her.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAWr2mVpkPn6
"That's not right, brad!" Denzel argued with Gabriel. "Her grandfather has the right to know about this."
193Please respect copyright.PENANAewVcueuqCT
"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."
193Please respect copyright.PENANAthPgK87LdR
When they went back towards the mansion, they all proceeded to their respective rooms.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAKa0krfNjMN
"Are you sure you're okay, Kath?" Arianne asking her with concern
193Please respect copyright.PENANAn9F1yCEhoZ
Katherine nodded, "Yes, Arianne. I probably just need to rest. My body hurts a lot," she replied then walked to her room.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAaWPVYm7GZd
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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAyGO5wkhND0
After she took her bath, Arianne knocked unexpectedly to her door.
193Please respect copyright.PENANABFmC0bwcHk
"Rian, what is it?" she replied, still feeling weak.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAVv0m7rECdO
Arianne's head bowing down as speaking, "Grandpa wants to talk to you right now."
193Please respect copyright.PENANALBuPudWVoi
Through cousin's appearance, Katherine didn't ask further questions and simply left her room. She knocked on Mr. Rodelio's office and entered.
193Please respect copyright.PENANACpML2i52pg
"Someone said you want to talk with me?" she asked.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAYvuXIMndQC
"What's this I heard about have an outing with that male outsider?" Mr. Rodelio's face as clearly showed his displeasure.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAQnAG7FMuob
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAIPkjbgyFc7
"Invited? And joined with someone you barely know?" Mr. Rodelio said with anger. "Katherine, how many times do I have to tell you-"
193Please respect copyright.PENANABU6xw7cEJk
Katherine cut him off, "I've known Denzel for a long time, Grandpa. He's my college friend."
193Please respect copyright.PENANAM5QvSzTEps
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANApi3trqKG7Z
"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.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAH09xvkkdXo
"I still don't believe what you're saying, my granddaughter!" Mr. Rodelio disagreed.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAB2TkuyGk4R
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."
193Please respect copyright.PENANAiUy2s5ShMo
Afterwards, Katherine turned her back to his grandfather and tiptoed away to his office.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAO9kAcdkP2M
"Katherine, come back here!" yelled Mr. Rodelio, but she didn't even look back.
193Please respect copyright.PENANAyJk5QS4Wso