The Trio & Fond Memories

"Quick, we are approaching a trio!" The man on the wheel burst out excitedly. She opened her eyes to this sight.

Aah, Mother Nature displaying her raw beauty, she thought.

Three waterfalls cascading down the moss-covered steep rock face, landing in the other lane.

That wasn't their first time finding runoffs turning into small seasonal waterfalls along that long winding highway. It has become a normal sight during any prolonged monsoon season, and the scenery always mesmerizes her.

"Trio my arse, ha ha!" her mind mumbled while quickly tapping on her phone for a few more shots. Unlike before, their driver didn't slow down. It's a narrow road after all, and they weren't the only passersby.

Her thoughts wandered, imagining what it felt like to be under the torrents of the cascading water. Her mind flashed back to her only waterfall experience over two decades ago, with the same man on the wheel.

Back then, they were young and pretty adventurous. One summer, they took a grueling hike with a group of friends for a famed waterfall near the peak. She had many firsts that day; that's probably why it is engraved in her memory. It was her first long hike (it took them half a day to the spot).

First time eating off a gabi (taro) leaf; trying an exotic dish (stir-fried young, tender vining shoots of the passion fruit, only to spit it out soon after); yelling at the top of her lungs and listening to her voice echo on the mountainside.

Well, they played under the waterfall to their hearts' content, bathing gleefully like they were real kids. It was so fun they didn't notice it was already late afternoon. They rushed, but couldn't get home, so they spent the night at their friend's place. By the next morning, her thighs and legs were so sore she didn't wish to move.😁

"Were you able to take some decent shots?" A voice brought her thoughts back to the present. The man behind the wheel was grinning. "Nope, thanks to you, all three are but blurry snapshots," she teased. They both laughed.

"What a little journey that was!" she murmured, as she glanced lovingly at the man beside her.