Page 59 of Between Here and There

“Clearly, you haven’t been listening to me,” he says with a smile. “There’s a buddy system in place. Buddies look out for each other. If any of them are uncomfortable, they have each other to help. You’re my priority here, Em.” I know he means ‘priority’ in a professional way, but it still makes my stomach squirm. “Besides, wouldn’t want you throwing another temper tantrum.” I scowl at him.

“Just so you know, I am the worst possible buddy in this scenario,” I say. “If anything happens to you, I’ll panic. And by the time I’m done panicking, you’ll be on a stretcher, getting hauled down.”

“It’s all the support I need. Pretty sure first respondents can hear your panic from miles away,” he says.

After a few moments, Josh and I pick up our pace. We walk in silence, as the others walk in front of us. Ryan and Bon are in front with Rob and Denise, while Haley, Kate, and Richard are behind them, laughing about who knows what.

We take a break, sitting on rocks beside the trail. I grab my water bottle and take a swig of water. I think we’re halfway to the campsite. Or maybe not. I have no sense of direction because I am an indoor person who is here against my will.

But while my outdoor skills are lacking, my over-preparedness is unmatched. I spent hours researching Mount Pulag before this trip—not to become a wilderness expert, but to know precisely what terrifying scenarios I might encounter. It’s a thin safety net, but it’s better than nothing.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Joshua asks, settling beside me.

I pause, glancing at the trail ahead, then back at him. “Just mentally preparing for what might jump out of the bushes. You know, snakes, wild boars, forest monsters.” I take another sip of water. “I read there’s no actual danger, but the internet can’t guarantee there won’t be something terrifying. So I’m running through my options.”

Joshua raises an eyebrow, amused. “Options?”

“Yeah,” I say, nodding seriously. “Option one: scream my lungs out and hope it scares whatever it is away. Option two: scream my lungs out and hopeyoudeal with it. Option three: scream my lungs out and run. The common denominator is screaming, obviously.”

He chuckles, shaking his head. “Good to know you’re consistent.”

“Prepared,” I correct, grinning despite myself.

“Did you say you… Read? You’ve done some reading?” Joshua asks.

“Duh,” I answer. “I’m not about to hike up a mountain without knowing what I’m getting into. Knowledge is power. Or, in my case, the key to knowing when to panic.”

Joshua laughs. “So what have you found out?”

“A lot. Like, we’re taking the Ambangeg trail. The easiest one, thank goodness. Akiki, on the other hand, is called the ‘killer trail’ for a reason. It’s way steeper and takes longer to climb. Hard pass on that one.”

“You really have done your homework,” he says approvingly.

“Oh, there’s more,” I say, warming up to my mountain monologue. “Mount Pulag is a biodiversity hotspot. It’s home to over a hundred species, some of which are endemic to the Philippines, which means that there might actually be uncataloged forest monsters that exist only here.”

Joshua chuckles and shakes his head. “That’s all?” he says.

“Well, I enjoyed my research a little too much,” I say sheepishly. “Did you know that Mount Pulag is also called the playground of the gods?” I add. Joshua chuckles, as if he’s proud of confirming that I wasn’t done.

“Enlighten me,” he says.

“Um,” I start. “The Ibaloi people believe that the supreme god of the Cordillerans resides on the mountain and that the spirits of their ancestors roam there freely. It’s said that the beautiful sea of clouds at the summit is created by the spirits playing and dancing. Which circles us back to…”

“Forest monsters,” we say together.

Joshua smirks and leans back on his elbows, letting the sunlight peek through the trees and scatter across his face. “And what happens if the ‘monster’ is, I don’t know, a squirrel or a gust of wind?”

“My survival instincts will still kick in,” I say.

“Survival instincts… your screaming?” he asks, and I nod proudly.

“You’re welcome, by the way. I’m keeping us both alive out here.”

“Oh, of course,” he replies, mockingly serious now. “Without you, I’d just walk right into the jaws of… whatever forest monster lives on Mount Pulag.”

“Exactly,” I say, finally relaxing. “I’m basically your guide to staying alive. You should be thanking me, really.”

Joshua shakes his head, still smiling. “Noted. I’ll let you know if I ever need you to save me by screaming at something.”

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