Watermelon Dreams

Prey

Napaawang ang mga labi ni Olivia sa nangyari. Tinignan muna nya ang nadurog na kadena saka tumingin sa kapre. Napatitig sila sa isa’t- isa. “Magmadali ka.”

Malinaw nyang narinig ang malalim na boses ng kapre sa isip nya habang tuloy pa rin ito sa paninigarilyo.

Bahagyang nawala ang takot ni Olivia. Naintindihan nyang hindi sya nito sasaktan. Bagkus tinutulungan sya nito. “Parating na sila,” babala nito. “Sundan mo ang mga alitaptap. Dadalhin ka nila sa kaligtasan.”

Out of nowhere, hundreds of fireflies hovered around the balete tree.

Narinig ni Olivia ang mga yabag. Marami ang mga ito. Natitiyak nyang buong baryo ang patungo sa kanya kaya hindi na sya nag-atubili pang lumabas sa kulungan.

“S-Salamat.” Nagawa nyang huminto saglit sa harap ng puno at tumingala sa kapre.

Tumango ang nilalang saka nagbuga ng mas makapal na usok. Bago pa man matakpan ang paningin nya, nakita nyang dumating na ang mga tao sa pangunguna ng magkapatid. Narinig nya ang galit na sigaw ni Lucio.

They were furious. Each of them was enraged that their prey escaped. Olivia’s heart hammered inside her chest when everyone slowly transformed into either a huge boar or an oversized black dogs with red gleaming eyes.

The smoke covered her from the terrifying creatures, making impossible to see clearly around them. The dogs howled, the boars snarled angrily.

Bumalik na naman ang matinding takot ni Olivia. Nanginginig na tumayo ang mga balahibo nya at hindi nya maihakbang ang mga paa palayo.

“Hindi ka namin hahayaang mapahamak. Magtiwala ka,” muling sambit ng kapre.

Olivia tried hard to calm herself. The fireflies flew around her, encouraging her to follow them. And so she did.

Nagsilbing tanglaw nya ang mga alitaptap na lumilipad sa unahan nya dahil tuluyan nang nabalot ng dilim ang kapaligiran.

Hindi na nya alam kung gaano na sya katagal tumatakbo. Nagpo-protesta na ang mga paa nya ngunit hindi sya pwedeng huminto kahit sandali.

She could hear howling and pounding of creatures going after her.

Olivia kept running passing balete and bamboo trees until she reached an open field. She didn’t slow down but she mistakenly looked up when a light suddenly crossed the sky.

She mentally cursed herself for stumbling upon a rock and fell. She used her arms to brace the impact, wounding her.

Olivia groaned in pain, her arms bleeding. She struggled to stand up. Her jeans were ripped and blood was seeping through it.

When she managed to stand, twenty or more of her hunters emerged from the woods. Their angry growls filled the quiet night. Two large black dogs bigger than the others were leading them. Must be Lucinda and Lucio, Olivia figured.

The creatures stopped few meters from her. All of them crouched and ready to pounce. One of the large dogs howled. It was a signal to attack her.

Olivia ran fast as she can. The creatures’ footsteps thundered.
She was startled when something bright, large and fast fell from the sky, hitting the creatures behind her. There were whimpers of pain and raging growls.

The strong crash made her almost lost her balance. Her jaw dropped when she turned to look and saw a huge ball of fire. It was blazing with a combination of blue and violet flame. Olivia could feel the heat on her face, she backed away from it.

The monsters were terrified by it and bolted. The fire ball went after them.

Hindi nag-aksaya ng panahon si Olivia at nagpatuloy tumakbo palayo kasama ang mga alitaptap. Huminto ang mga ito sa isang ilog. Kita sa repleksyon ang bilog at maliwanag na buwan. Tahimik ang agos ng tubig, senyales na malalim ito.

Lumingon sa pinanggalingan nya si Olivia para tiyaking walang halimaw na sumusunod. Dapat ba nyang languyin patawid ang ilog? Saan ba sya patungo?

“Huwag ka ng mabahala, Olivia. Ligtas ka na.” Nagulat si Olivia nang may babaing nagsalita.

Isang napakagandang babae ang nakaupo sa isang bato sa gilid ng ilog ang nakangiting nakatingin sa kanya. Nakasuot ito ng cap, leggings, hiking boots at sleeveless shirt, na pinatungan ng windbreaker.

Nag-iihaw ito ng marshmallow sa maliit na bonfire. Isang tent naman ang naka-set up malapit dito.

“Ihahatid na kita sa ligtas na lugar bago ako umakyat ng bundok,” wika nito. The silhouette of Mt. Arayat loomed in the distance.

Gabi na. Hiker ba talaga ito? “Sino ka?”

Nahihiyang napatawa ang babae. “Pasensya ka na. Ako nga pala si Sin.” Inilahad nito ang kamay nya na wala sa sariling tinanggap naman ni Olivia.

Dahil alam nito ang pangalan nya, batid na ni Olivia na isa itong mahiwagang nilalang.

“Marami kang katanungan, alam ko. Masasagot din ang lahat. Sa ngayon, kailangan kitang ilayo rito.”

Olivia heard a gurgling sound like a boiling water. When she turned to the river, it appeared to be boiling in the middle, then a large wooden canoe with animals and trees painted on its side, came out of the water.

The light brown canoe drifted on itself until it reached the bank. “Hop in!” Sin blurted cheerily. Nauna na itong sumakay at umupo sa dulo. “You can trust me.” She threw Olivia an assuring smile.

Walang syang pagpipilian kaya sumakay na rin si Olivia at umupo sa kabilang dulo paharap dito. Mabilis ang naging andar nila nang umpisahang sumagwan ni Sin.

Nais mang magtanong ni Olivia ngunit wala na syang lakas. Gusto lang nyang makarating sa farm ng Lola nya at magpahinga.

Maging si Sin ay tahimik lamang sa ginagawa nito. Inalok nyang halinhinan ito ngunit umiling lamang si Sin.

Everything was still surreal. She wouldn’t be surprised if she woke up and learned that it was all a dream. She’d just worry about it tomorrow. She longed for her soft bed and get a long dreamless sleep.

For how long they’ve been cruising the river, Olivia wasn’t sure anymore. The peaceful night was tempting her to doze. She fought the urge to sleep, afraid she might wake up somewhere she didn’t know.

“Nandito na tayo.” Sin motioned behind Olivia, who looked.

“S-Sin.” Fear gripped her heart when she noticed a black hooded figure with a formidable looking scythe on its hand.

The wind blew, cold wrapped around Olivia. She shivered.

“Matagal na kitang hinihintay, Olivia.” He spoke in her mind. His cold voice was very chilling.

Hinihintay? Anong ibig sabihin nito?

Olivia looked at Sin, who was expressionless.

Nagkamali ba syang sumama rito?

Did Sin deliver Olivia to Death himself?