"Hey babe, guess what?" Murdoch asked.
Cliff turned aside their phone. They were watching Masameer Junior, trying to branch out to animation beyond anime. But that would have to wait.
Murdoch sat on the touch, the two lovers' lips touching before cuddling, sinking into the floofy goodness.
"I won tickets for Luzon. Wanna go on a summer vacation and enjoy the tropics, the beach, the culture?" he said the last winking.
"Babe, you are wonderful, you know that?" Clff said, putting their hands on Murdoch's jaw and kissing him, "Of course I'd want to go, but how did you win those tickets?"
"The gods are on my side, obviously. Such is the perk of being their faithful druid."
Cliff's eyebrow wrinkled.
"Okay fine, it was an art competition. My Echo pictures won, the commitee said they were 'enchanting'."
"More like cursed to me" Cliff added.
"Whatever, all that it matters is that we're going on our honey moon before marriage."
"If this is your idea for a 'honeymoon' I can't wait to see what the married version will be like."
"Just you wait and see, mo ghrá."
Cliff looked at him quizzically.
"It's 'my love'. In Irish."
"Oh."
The two then cuddled again.
***
"Tom, no!" Jayce said, turning his head aside.
"But baby-"
"No 'baby' me! I'm not climbing a freacking MOUNTAIN, let alone the tallest peak on Luzon! My muscles with turn to stone like horse meat. DO YOU WANT HORSEMEAT, muchcacho!?"
"N-no?"
"Well me neither, so forget about it!"
"Baby, most of the trek there will be by bus. Then when we're in the designated areas we trek. I swear it's only a hundred kilometers!"
"A HUNDRED WHAT!?"
"Please, think of the sunrise or the sunset there. Wouldn't be romantic?"
"I have no need for romance, for I am SLOTH PERSONIFIED!"
"Okay, 'Sloth Personified', how about this: I'm going to use my weath to personally ensure you have every flavor of icescream at your discretion for the rest of your life?"
Jayce deflated. He sure loved treats, but he didn't want Tom to waste that much money on him.
"Okay, fine, I'll go. But if the bus smell like rotten eggs its on you!"
"Deal."
And the two sealed the deal with a kiss.
***
After a painfully long flight Murdoch and Cliff wasted no time to go to their hotel, all expenses paid. Murdoch took off his clothes, but fell asleep right after, much to Cliff's delight. They liked to watch their boyfriend sleep, it was entertaining sometimes. They soon joined them when he heard something uttered by Murdoch's sleepy mouth.
"Mount... Pulag..."
'Mount Pulag?' Cliff wondered, and quickly looked it up on his phone. When he realised the sheer majesty of the mountain for a sunrise or sunset, as well as all the indigenous cultures to learn from, they couldn't be more elated.
"Okay babe, Mount Pulag, first thing after breakfast."
And Cliff kissed is unconscious lover, before doozing off as well.
***
Both Jayce and even Tom panted as they climbed the trail.
"Beats being stuck in a durian smelling bus, doesn't it?" Tom said, trying to remain positive.
"I'd rather than a bus full of shit than do this ever again" Jayve said, not too venomously since it was his boyfriend he was talking to.
Soon, as they climbed higher, the mountain mists soothed their sore skins, Jayce opening his mouth to basically drink from the air.
"Soooo gooood...."
Soon they arrived at the peak, trees giving way to grasses and shrubs. Along with them there was another couple, a fox and a stoat. They looked exhausted as well, but much happier about their situation.
"Aw, someone got here first!" Tom said.
Murdoch and Cliff turned towards them. Murdoch smiled.
"Let me guess, your boyfriend would rather stay on the shitty bus!"
"Murdoch!" Cliff said, "You don't know these people, how do you know they-"
"Nah, he's spot on" Tom said, pushing Jayce close to his side.
"Normally I'd tell you to fuck off because of the heat, but those wonderful mists from heaven cleansed my soul, so I guess I will allow you this time."
Tom smirked and kissed Jayce on the lips, prompting Murdoch and Cliff to fawn over them.
As nature had it, the sun began to rise in the east, the horizon there covered by clouds. Murdoch entonated a prayer for Aine and Grian, and made a libation of orange juice.
"No, why you wasted such perfectly good OJ!" Jayce said dramatically, "Never opened, never enjoyed..."
"Ha!" Cliff said, "I got that reference!"
"What can I say, its a small gesture for the gods."
"You're pagan?" Tom asked.
"Yes, what of it?" asked Murdoch semi-playfully.
"Nothing, it's just that most people were are catholics or evangelicals. Some have mixed beliefs of course, but sometimes I feel our culture still has room for the old ways."
"For example, I could become a warlock and make a deal with Talagbusao!" cackled Jayce evilly.
"Oh, so you know the local deities?" Cliff asked?
"No, I just watched Trese. It's very good."
"Absolutely" everyone nodded in approval.
As the sun kept rising both sets of lovers took a deep breath, watching the golden light rise.
***
Later that day, the group went to the Quezon City pride parade. Jayce opted to stay in the periphery, just wearing a rainbow cape to better conceal himself, so the gang stuck by his side at a cafe.
"So you're staying here for a week?" asked Tom
"Yeah, a pretty sweet deal don't you think?" Murdoch responded.
"There's lot's to see around here, and not all involve walking for miles" Jayce said, giving Tom the stink eye.
"Don't worry, I'm planning to stick mostly with the beach" Murdoch said, "Though Cliff might want a guide to interact with the locals."
"It's fine, I can conduct research on my own."
"Nonsense, me and Jayce will personally escort you and be your guides."
"Oh Santa Maria!" Jayce said
"Okay, I'll be your guide" Tom said.
"And let the stoat still you from me!? Not way!"
"Have I said we're in an open relationship?" Murdoch teased.
"Noooooo!" Jayce said, and the rest laughed.
For the moment being, they stared at the earthly equivalent of the sunrise: people expressing themselves fully.
