Marcos and Carolina met a few years ago while at the Taipei American School in Taiwan. Taipei American School is both for ex-pat children as well as locals but it one of only 8-10 schools in Taiwan that is English speaking. Marcus had a crush on Carolina for a long time but was afraid to express his feelings to her. His friends, Kevin and Smith advised him to approach her courageously and tell her about his feelings. One day he decided that it was time to tell Carolina how he felt.

Carolina was the most beautiful girl in the school. All boys admired her and each one of them made advances towards her but she never accepted them. She was a simple, rich and more focused on her study books. She never gave a damn to any nuisance person in her life. She had cool friends, Akisha and Nadia.

Marcos declares his feelings to Carolina

I decided to approach the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in my life. She was sitting with her friends at a table having lunch. It seemed like she was really having a lot of fun hanging around with her friends.

“Hello ladies?” I greeted them as soon as I reached the table they were seated.

“Hello Marcos,” they replied in unison.

“What brings you here? “ Nadia asked.

“Do you mind if I talked to Carolina for a second? “ I asked them.

The all indicated that they didn’t mind because they rose and went away almost in unison giving me a cautionary look to handle their friend well.

The day awaited for had finally come, there she was the most beautiful girl I had ever set my eyes on. She seemed a little bit shy being alone with me and all that time she was staring at her hands.

Finally I broke the silence and said, “How is your day going? Are you well?”

She replied in simple words, ‘Just fine.”

“Carolina, there is this thing I have always wanted to tell you,” I said.

“Go on, I am listening” she replied.

“I have always had strong feelings towards you and I want you to know I like you very much. I have always admired how you carry yourself around. I mean you are beautiful, unique and hardworking,” I said.

All along she kept on staring at me with blank mind not believing what I told her. I waited for her to comment on whatever I had told her but she was just silent. This made me feel guilty and regretted for approaching her and expressing my feelings.

Finally she said, after what seemed an eternity, “Marcos I really appreciate you for liking me. It’s a huge a message to take in and I wasn’t expecting it, but I hope all will be well as we continue knowing each other”.

I felt something strange in my stomach as she uttered those words. For the rest of the lunch period we talked, laughed and shared a lot about school, home and also future plans. She really avoided the relationship topic since she was not comfortable talking about it at this time. She was a cool girl to hang out with and that made me like her a lot. The bell rang and we went back to our particular classes since we were in different classes.

Carolina’s feelings and reaction

I saw Marcos approaching our table from a distance. He was a cute and handsome guy that any girl could have fallen for him. He was medium height, curly hair and soft lips that could make you yearn for his kiss. He greeted us and asked if he could talk to me for a second. At first, I was

confused and felt uneasiness being with him alone in the same table. As soon as he started talking I started being comfortable around him.

He declared his feelings towards me and this caught me by surprise. I didn’t expect such a good looking guy to have strong feelings towards me. His reputation in school was not good – known as a bit of a player. He has been known for using girls and dumping them soon after. This made me feel uneasy till I decided to remain silent for a while thinking about it all. All that time he was staring at me waiting for a response. I felt a little bit shy and guilt formed inside me. Finally I decided to break the silence by telling Marcos how the message got me by surprise and it was a really heavy message to take in all in a short while. We talked, laughed and shared more about ourselves. I found out that he was a different from the other boys who approached me, he laughed to every joke that I made and he was a cool person too.

Marco Asks Caroline Out Again

After two days I asked Carolina if we could go out. Most people would think it was a date but it wasn’t. It was like spending some quality time with the person whom you like the most and have strong feelings towards. She finally accepted the invite after long persuasion. She was not just comfortable hanging out with for the whole day. I took her to a park which was on a hill-top. From there you could see the entire landscape of Taipei City from a distance. It was really amazing.

She really liked the place and that made be happy too. We talked about everything; the things that make sense and the ones that didn’t. All in all we made each other happy and I felt that we were comfortable with each other. I really liked her lips and couldn’t wait for the day she will be ready to kiss me. She caught me admiring her and she smiled.

“Why are you looking at me like that Marcos?” she asked. “Is there anything

wrong?” she continued with a confused look.

“No” I replied. “It is just that I like you a lot and my world would not be complete without you. Will you be my girlfriend, Carolina?”

This made Carolina more confused and surprised at Marcos’ statements. That was the least of her expectation. Her answer was not immediate. She sat on the bench thinking and a lot and tears started flowing from her eyes.

“The thought of my mother being beaten senseless by my father just made me cry.” She said.

I sat next and hugged here reassuringly to help her to calm since this made me confused. I did not know about this domestic dispute and decided not to talk about it again till she was ready to open up.

Carolina’s declaration

We met every day over lunch and after classes in the evening for many months. This has drawn us closer together and made me like him so much. He truly loves me and cared for me so much. He made me smile every moment we were together. He made me forget my problems which I had at home and I was not willing to share with anyone else but him and not even him fully. One day we were in a café having lunch and then I decided to declare my feelings to him. How he made me feel and that he really meant the world to me.

This made him so happy and he told me, he will take me to a special place during the weekend. I tried to convince him to tell me the name of the place but he said it was a surprise. He finally placed his lips on mine and he kissed me passionately as he deepened the kiss. This sent a shiver in my body making me yearn for more. He was really a good kisser, it was almost as if he had taught how to kiss again. We kissed for more than ten minutes.

He then said, “You are really amazing and I love you so much.”

The word love was really heavy to say at our age, what I see at home and since it was still the beginning of our relationship. I just smiled showing a sign of appreciation. We decided to go home and he dropped me at our house. He bid me goodbye and gave me a goodnight kiss before he left. I had a lot to learn about the true meaning of love.

MARCOS REACTION

I didn’t believe she said I really meant the world. This was really amazing and it made me feel the luckiest guy in the world. I placed my lips on hers and kissed her passionately. Her lips were very soft and charming that I didn’t want to stop the kiss. She reciprocated by kissing me back which made it more real and awesome.

Marcos Elephant Mountain

The weekend had come and it was time to take Carolina on the special date for a weekend. We were going camping on Elephant Mountain where I used to come with my parents when I was younger. Elephant Mountain is the longest hike within Spur Ranch Conservation area, Taiwan. It has plenty of nature and history along the way of the trail. Streams, lakes, a guerrilla base and an overall picturesque natural views are more of what visitors can enjoy at

Elephant Mountain.

About Elephant Mountain

The Elephant Mountain was named after two bodies of fabled lovers, K’Lang and Ho-biang. The two loved each but came from different aboriginal tribes Lach and Chil so although they were madly in love with each other were forbidden from getting married. They ran away together and stayed on Elephant Mountain vowing never to separate.

K’Lang was at one with nature and he could tame animals and produce magnificent crops. He tamed two wild elephants that stayed with them at their mountain top hideaway. However Ho-biang became seriously ill a K’lang managed to keep her alive but could not cure her illness so he walked her back to her tribe where the shaman managed to cure her. The Chil and Lach tribes were very happy for them and all gave them permission to marry.

Ho-biang’s father was a chief of the Chil and was the only one against their marriage. He was so incensed at the thought of these two getting married that he took out his bow and shot an arrow at K’lang. Ho-biang saw this and jumped in front of K’lang the arrow piercing her heart killing her instantly. K’lang was so upset he cried inconsolably and finally made a great scream – now called the Dankia – and died from sorrow. It is rumored that the 2 elephants died too of broken hearts!

Elephant Mountain brings a nostalgic tone to its place because of the sad love story that fable says happened a long time ago, the adventure that visitors experience brings about fun and memorable memories they will treasure for always.

Marco Climbs Elephant Mountain

We go there early on the Saturday morning and had breakfast at the base of Elephant Mountain as it has restaurants around the area. We were ready for getting into some hiking and put our backpacks on and began the steep trip up the mountain. The vegetation was thick, the air humid. Carolina was not her usual chatty self and after about an hour I said, “Carolina, is everything okay?”

Carolina sat down beside the trail and began to cry. She said, “Marcos, I have never told anyone about his before, but my father beats up on my mother. Last night it was particularly bad. I do not think I can live there anymore.”

I held her, and the tighter I held her the more body shaking sobs she release. Holding her for about fifteen minutes she was all cried out and she looked up at me and said, “I love you Marcos.”

The world was now wonderfully colorful to me, the birds singing sound more in tune and louder. I was truly and deeply happy but then I heard something – truly weird. I said, ‘Do you hear that?’

Carolina said, “Yes, I thought it was my imagination. You hear it too?”

We listened and we could hear laughter and chatter but not in Mandarin, or English or any language that seemed to be of this earth. It was coming from the deep forest just off the path. I looked at Carolina and she nodded yes. Without thinking or further ado we pushed through the undergrowth under the canopies of the tree’s and then we saw them. There was no doubt, we knew who they were, it had to be, there was no other explanation.

Couple Go Missing On Elephant Mountain

Rescue Officers are still searching for the bodies of Carolina Summers and Marcos Ironbottom who went missing after going on a hike on Elephant Mountain last Saturday. Officials say that the likelihood that they will be found alive are slim…….