JESSA
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Bago pa tuluyang nagdilim ang kalangitan ay nakahanap na kami ng lugar na pwede naming tulugan.
It is a place not too low but not very high. Inakyat lang namin ang ilang mga malalaking bato para makapunta roon. We are almost at the same level as the trees, so the night sky is spreading above us.
May naramdaman ako kung anong hapdi sa wrist ko. Pagtingin ko ay may mahabang hiwa pala ako doon. A cut deep enough to slash my sleeves. Buti nalang ay hindi ito malalim masyado para matamaan ang mga ugat ko, pero nanlamig naman ang ulo ko sa biglang panic.
Buti nalang ay agad na kumilos si Stefan. Kumuha siya ng kung anong gamit mula kay Castillo, narinig ko pa ang maikling bangayan nila, at umupo sa tabi ko.
"Kalmahan mo lang." Nagsilaglagan ang mga hawak niya pagkaupo niya. "I'm fine."
"Let me." He offers his hand to me, and I can't help but to see the resemblance to our dance back in the castle. I realize how far we have come in this world.
A soft, gushy life feeling melts in my guts. I smile at him and give him my blood soaked wrist.
Una niya munang binuhusan ang maliit na tuwalya ng tubig at dahan dahan na nilinisan ang sugat ko. I wince in pain at every dab he does.
"Saan mo ba ito nakuha?" He asks.
"Hindi ko na rin alam," sagot ko. "Everything's happening so quickly when we're on the scene. Para 'bang nakakain ng takot 'yung senses ko." Pinanood ko ang dahan dahan na pagpahid ni Stefan ng gamot sa sugat ko. And, I just want to melt into a pink puddle right in the spot. "Kaya siguro ganon nalang halos mabaliw si Castillo kanina. Imagine feeling everything in detail?"
"Mhmm," he agrees. His eyes are pinning on my wrist, his hand on my skin burns in careful fondness. "I'm glad you're okay."
Para 'bang sabay sabay na sumigaw ang mga boses ng iba't ibang personalities ko sa utak. Wala na akong ibang nagawa kundi ngumiti. "Me too. I'm glad na wala masyadong napuruhan sa atin."
Comfortable silence falls between us. Numerous clattering can be heard from where the rest of the group are setting down their own belongings. I swear I just heard a few small giggling from the girls, but I do not have the energy to know.
Kumuha na ng para 'bang mahabang band aid at dahan dahan na itong tinakpan ang sugat. But instead of focusing on Stefan's work, my eyes got distracted and found its way towards his face.
Ang gwapo gwapo talaga nito.
Kahit na medyo may bahid ng dumi ang mukha niya, kahit na may maliliit na gasgas sa pisngi niya, he is still the most handsome guy in my eyes.
I slowly lift a hand and use my finger to carefully push his face towards me and meet my gaze. "May sugat ka rin." Sakto naman na tapos na niya sa wrist ko kaya ako naman ang inabot ang mga gamit na dala niya. "Pulang pula 'yang gasgas oh. Ang hapdi nyan."
"It's fine." Sabi niya pero kumikilos na ako para linisin ito. There's still thin lines of pain coming from my cut, but it's bearable. Marahan akong lumapit sa kanya at nilinis ang gasgas.
"Let me clean it para hindi na rin lumala pa." I carefully dab the cloth to the wound. Stefan heaves a heavy, yet relaxed sigh.
There's a shiny liquid thing that he had put in my wound, so I assumed na gamot ito. So nilagay ko ito sa towel kong hawak at marahang pinahid sa gasgas.
"I like this.."
Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. I put down my cloth to look at him. "Ha? Like what? Being half way injured?"
"No." He chuckles. "I like you taking care of me.. Like this."
At para na namang may samu't saring hayop ang sabay sabay na nagwala sa kaluluwa ko sa sinabi niya. I feel my cheeks heating up before shaking my head. "Nadali ba 'yang ulo sa bato? Sa puno?"
"No." He chuckles again. "I wouldn't mind being injured and hurt if you're the one who's gonna take care of me, Jessa."
"Stefan," I say with a funny tune. He laughs. "Para ka namang sira. Huwag mo naman ma-manifest 'yang hurt and injured." He only smiles while looking at me. My heart jumps in my ribs as I see the glint in his eyes. "I.. I cannot take it if you get injured. Or anyone in our group."
"Fine, fine. Just stay with me.. With us, I can endure everything in this magical universe."
"I'm not going anywhere, Stefan." I assure him. "I'll never leave you and the group."
Another comfortable silence shrouds the both of us. Pareho nalang kami nakatingin sa ibaba. Muli ko na naman naalala noong kami lang dalawa ni Stefan sa mundong ito, 'yung parehas lang kami walang nagawa kundi ang umupo, manahimik, at mapalayo sa mga naghahanap sa akin—kay Blaidrah.
I realized how alone I had felt during those times. But, it is all different now.
Narinig ko ang mahinahong 'ohhh!' of delight ni Jonah habang binuhos ni Castillo ang mga laman ng kanyang bag. Habang si Liam at Christopher ay mukhang nagtatalo sa malayo.
"Samahan mo ako manghuli ng isda, please." sabi ni Liam kay Christopher.
"Kung tuktukan kaya kita? Huli ng isda eh gabi na? Ewan ko nalang kung may makuha ka. Tsaka bakit kailangan ng isda?"
Napamewang si Liam. "Kailangan natin ng pagkain, hindi ka ba nagugutom? Tsaka, sa mundo na totoo ang mahika, impossible pa ba sayo na baka may isdang pwedeng mahuli sa gabi? Hindi 'nga yon posible sa mundo natin, dito pa kaya?"
Christopher rolls his eyes. "Nanahimik ako tas ako hahatakin mo dyan? Iba nalang kasi."
"Sabihin mo lang kung ayaw mo." Pinulot ni Liam ang bow niya mula sa lapag. "Sabihin mo lang na natatakot ka lang at hindi ka marunong manghuli ng isda. Naiintindihan ko naman 'yon."
"I did not say anything like that!" Tumayo na si Christopher. "Goddamn fine! I'll go with you! You better not be wasting my time and energy on your stupid fish!"
"That's the spirit I'm looking for!" Liam exclaims. "We'll search for food!"
"Ingat kayo!" I said.
"Kung napahamak kayo, sigaw lang kayo ng 'Darna!'" Castillo jokes.
"Fuck you!" Christopher says before disappearing in the distance.
I first tapped Stefan on his shoulder, mouthed a short 'thank you', before standing up to see what Castillo and Jonah's been up to. Umupo na rin ako sa tabi ni Jonah at naghanap sa kalat mula sa bag ni Castillo. There are spoons and forks, some clothes, there are dried up leaves and flowers too. And, an unhealthy amount of knives.
"Ano ba balak mo dito, Ate?" Tanong ni Jonah kay Castillo. "These are random items."
"Si Hoderlia talaga nagipon nito so clueless ako sa kung ano 'to." She scans the mess. "She probably did this before I invaded her body. I have a strong instinct to bring the bag so I took it with me."
"And the number of knives!" Kinuha ni Jonah ang isa at pinagmasdan ito.
"Hoderlia likes knives," I said.
"Probably for her protection." Sagot ni Castillo.
We continued sorting the items from Hoderlia's bag. There, we found what seemed to be a small torch that we could use if we needed a light source. There is also a box full of brown band-aids that are surprisingly similar to how it looks in the modern and normal world.
Hinila ni Stefan ang bag na puno ng weapons palapit sa amin at umupo sa tabi ko. "Hindi ba natin to bubuksan? Ako lang ba naa-atat na makita laman nito?"
"Oo ikaw lang," sagot ni Castillo.
"It's still freaking me out," sabi ni Jonah. "Pero kung gusto niyong buksan, sige lang po."
Oo 'nga naman. Kahit ako ay hindi rin makuhang magpaka-curious sa maaring laman ng bag. Alam kong halos mabawian kami ng buhay para lang dito, pero ngayong nakuha na namin ito para naman akong natatakot na malaman ang pwede laman nito.
"Aish!" Umiling nalang ako sa mga naiisip at kinuha ang bag mula sa kapit ni Stefan. "Sige na buksan na natin. Matapos tayong magkanda-matay matay para dito."
But my hands are slightly shaking so I can't properly untie the knot. But Stefan's warm hand touches mine. "Let me." He gently removes my hand from the knot. "Ako na magbukas."
The rope seems so endless as he undoes the loops and ties. Hindi naming maiwasang tatlo na sumilip sa loob nang nabuksan na nga ito ng maayos.
Una kong pinasok ang kamay ko at agad akong may nakapa na malamig at tila ba bakal sa loob. Marahan kong nilibot ang mga daliri ko sa bagay na iyon. I instantly recognize the object I am holding. It's a hilt of a.. Knife? Sword?
I grabbed the object and pulled it out of the bag.
It is, indeed, a two-edged knife. The blade of the knife is adorned with heart-shaped holes, and the hilt is also decorated with the same design.
"Ah great! More knives!" Jonah exclaims.
Inikot ikot ko ito at pinagmasdan. "What is this? For cutting food?" I tested out its weight on my hand.
"I think it's a throwing knife,ypu know, like a weapon," Castillo said. Tumayo siya at sinenyasan na ibigay ito sa kanya. So I did.
"Ang dami dito oh!" Kinakalkal ulit ni Stefan ang bag at kumuha ng mga lima na magkakapareha din.
"More and more knives!" Tugon ni Jonah.
Castillo spins the knife in her hand and throws it. The knife spirals in the air and hits into a tree.
"Woah." Wala akong nasabi dahil accurate ang pagkakahagis niya at talagang malalim ang pagkabaon ng dulo ng knife sa puno.
"I didn't even know I could do that!" Castillo exclaims. "My body moves like it was not the first time!"
"Hoderlia's been practising throwing knives, I guess." I said. "Since we are in their bodies, we'll adopt all their muscle memories too."
"That explains why biglang naging magaling kami ni kuya sa pakikipaglaban," sabi ni Jonah. "Lalo 'yung una nating pagkikita, 'yung hinahabol kayo nung Prinsipe? Para 'bang hindi na bago sa katawan ko na tumakbo sa gulo at makipaglaban."
"Kayong magkapatid ang pinakamagaling sa amin kapag nakikipaglaban." Tinuro ni Stefan ang isa sa mga throwing knives kay Jonah.
"I second that!" Sabi ni Castillo na naglalakad palayo para kunin ang knife niya mula sa isang puno.
Namula ang tenga ni Jonah at napatingin sa ibaba. "Hi..Hindi naman. Wala naman akong kinalaman sa muscle memory at maaring magical ability ng katawan ni Aurixy." Kinapa niya ang sariling braso. "Also, that would also explain Liam's extraordinary archery skills, right?"
"True. Unless talaga palang marunong sa archery si Liam bago pa siya mapunta sa katawan ni Hurawn." Sagot ko.
"This bag is endless," biglang sabi ni Stefan na hindi pa rin pala tinitigilan ang bag. Pinasok niya ang isang kamay sa loob. "Wait a minute... this one seems big and heavy."
Bago pa ako makapagsalita, ay dahan dahan na niyang nilabas ang nasa loob. Napa-abante ako palayo sa kanya.
"AN AXE!" Napahiyaw ako. Hindi ko akalain na ang malaking weapon na iyon ay magagawang magkasya sa bag na iyon!
The two silver crescent-shaped blades look so heavy as Stefan grips on the wooden handle. He stands up as he swings the axe in both directions.
"Be careful of that!" I shrieked.
The blades of the axe glimmer under the moonlight. Delicate curves embellish the edges of both blades, and what appear to be thin strips of leather crisscross along the handle.
"Throw it!" Castillo shouts.
"'Wag!" Jonah tries to yell, but it is too late. Stefan swings the axe one more time, before throwing it. The axe spins multiple times, then stabs the nearest tree with a loud TWACK!
Castillo gasps then jumps excitedly. "Another throwing weapon! That's so cool. Can you cut the tree with it?"
"Hoy!" I yell. "Hindi. Hindi magpuputol ng puno."
"It can if I want to," sagot ni Stefan at kinuha ang axe mula sa puno. "But no."
Tuloy tuloy sa pagkalkal si Jonah sa bag. And then, she got two daggers from the inside. "More knives," she said. Mahigpit siyang nakakapit at tinitigan ito.
The double-edged daggers glow in perfect silver. The hilts of both daggers are thicker than the ones Castillo have, and I don't think it is a weapon meant to be thrown.
"It suits you," I tell Jonah. "It's perfect for your combat expertise, right? Close combat."
"Ohhh.." Nagningning ang mga mata niya sa akin. "You're a genius, Ate. Tama ka."
Ngumiti lang at muling kumuha ng kung ano mula sa bag. This bag indeed feels so endless. Tila ba wala itong dulo, lalo na't nakita ko kung papaano nagkasya ang mabigat at malaking axe na pinaglalaruan ngayon ni Stefan.
My fingers touched something that does not feel like a hilt of another dagger, knife, or an axe. It's circular in shape, and it reminds of a wooden water bottle. Pwede 'bang maging weapon ang wooden bottle?
Kinuha ko iyon mula sa bag at napagtanto na hindi naman pala ito wooden bottle. It's a quiver full of arrows.
"Ay, sakto ito kay Liam!" I said. Nilapag ko ang weapon sa ibaba. "He'll be happy with this new set of arrows!"
Hindi ko alam kung ano na ba ang ginagawa ni Stefan at Castillo sa malayo, basta ay tawa sila nang tawa sila doon habang natatanaw ko rin na nakakabit na sa iisang puno ang kutsilyo at axe nila.
"A spear!" Jonah exclaims. Nilingon ko siya. May hawak na siya na matangkad at payat na spear. The weapon almost glows under the glimmer of the moon above. The tip of the arrow head glints sharply at the top.
Muli kong pinasok ang kamay ko sa loob. Again, I felt another hilt that seems to perfectly fit into the curve of my palm. Hindi na ako nagisip at mabilisan itong nilabas mula sa bag.
"Oh wow." Jonah says.
In my grip, is a beautiful sword. The silver double-edged blade almost matches the moon's brilliance in the night sky, the hilt in my hand feels warm and comforting, and the green crystal sitting in the center of the rein guard glows.
"It's so pretty," Jonah sighs as her glittering eyes run across the blade. "It fits you."
Bago ako makasagot ay bigla nalang dumating sila Liam. Liam's almost jumping up and down as he excitedly shows us the three big fishes they managed to catch despite the darkness of the night. "YOU CAN FISH IN THE NIGHT IN THIS UNIVERSE!" He jumps. "AMAZING!"
While Christopher's carrying a bunch of buckets full of water (saan galing 'yung bucket?) and a few thick woods to start a fire.
All I know ay nililinisan na ni Castillo at Jonah ang mga isda habang ang mga lalaki ay abala sa pagbubuhay ng apoy. Buti naman ay hindi pa nakakalipas ang isang minuto ay agad na nag-apoy ito, na para 'bang may gasolina ito, at sinumulan na nila ang pag-ihaw ng isda.
Pinanood namin na maluto ang isda mula sa apoy. Alam kong malamang wala itong lasa dahil wala naman silang nailagay na asin o kahit anong timpla. Pero kung gutom ka, lahat ay makakain mo.
The smoke sizzles from the fish and it reminds me of the fish my father used to grill every Christmas as a part of our celebration. I remember how the flavoured scent would waft around the air during holidays, during the happiest days of our years.
"Palaging nag-iihaw mga tao sa bahay kapag nakakabili ng malaking bangus," biglang sabi ni Castillo, na para 'bang kausap niya lamang ang sarili. "Ako lagi naghihiwa ng sibuyas at kamatis na sinisiksik sa isda. This.. unseasoned and bland fish right infront of us—"
"Reminds you of home." Tinapos ko ang sinasabi niya. Tumingin siya sa akin, tsaka marahang ngumiti. "This reminds me of my home, too." I continued.
Lalong lumapad ang ngiti niya at muling binalik ang tingin sa isda. "Yeah.." She croaks out.
"I'm getting it." Tinaboy ni Jonah ang kamay ng kuya niya sa stick kung saan nakatusok ang isda. "Gets ko na para 'di nasusunog 'yung isang parte lang."
Tanging si Christopher ang nakatayo sa amin dahil lahat kami ay pinapanood ang pag-ihaw ng isda. Sasabihin ko palang sana umupo na rin siya dahil mukhang malapit nang maluto ang isda, nang tumalikod na siya at naglakad palayo.
"Where's he going?" tanong ni Liam.
"He's tired," sagot ni Jonah. "Let's just leave him alone."
I remembered the conversation we had earlier. "So he's capable of having friends." Castillo had said. I can't help but wonder, how must it feel like to be a friend to Christopher Salazar? The short tempered dude who cuss and swear a lot like a sailor, someone who seems to hide inside the wall he had built himself?
If I am not currently in this universe, I wouldn't believe it if someone would tell me that I'll have this kind of wonder flying around in my mind.
Hindi na rin nagtagal ay naluto na 'nga ang isda. Stefan and Castillo took the honor to carefully cut them into even pieces. "Kain na mga anak," biro pa ni Castillo habang nilagyan ang mga plato namin (plato na galing sa bitbit ni Castillo sa bag niya. It's interesting how Hoderlia seems to predict this event). "Pasensya na ito lang ang nakayanan." Biro niya ulit.
She even stood up and ran towards Christopher—na halos nakalimutan ko na— who was sitting at the edge of the cliff, as if talking with the moon. "Hey!" I heard Castillo say. "Kain na tayo. You need food. Or ayaw mo makisama muna sa amin?" Walang sagot akong narinig. "Oh sige, eto kainin mo nalang dyan. Jonah even insisted this part of the fish be given to you."
Maya maya lang ay bumalik na si Castillo sa bilog namin. None of us once again questioned Christopher and dug in with our food.
Nanahimik na kaming lahat at kumain. Wala talaga itong lasa, pero hindi na ito masama para mabigyan ng laman ang mga tyan namin. Malambot naman ang isda, pero talagang wala itong lasa at timpla.
"Sa kanin." Liam suddenly blurts out like he's been trying to find a conclusion. "Sa kanin sana, mas okay 'to."
"Ugh." Castillo groans. "Miss ko na ang kanin. Grabe, hindi ko akalain na dadating ang araw na mamimiss ko ang kanin."
"Toyo din na may kamatis, okay na okay na 'to." Dagdag ni Stefan habang puno pa ang bibig.
Nakita ko na halos paiyak na si Jonah habang ngumunguya. "Natatakam naman ako eh, tigilan niyo na nga please."
"Tapos may coke na nakaabang after." Para 'bang nanlumo ang mga kasama ko sa sinabi ko. "'Yung nagyeyelo."
Binaba ni Castillo ang plato niya para kumuha ng tubig. "Kapag nakabalik tayo, ililibre ko kayong lahat ng samgyupsal at milk tea talaga."
Nagningning ang mga mata ni Jonah. "Hindi pa ako nakakapag-samgyupsal. I always wanted to try it. "
"Ako naman hindi masyado nahilig sa samgyup na 'yan." Liam says before taking a big gulp of water. "Pero I like milktea."
"Ako basta nakakabusog, gusto ko." Sabi ni Stefan na nagpangiti sa akin. "Hindi ako masyado maselan sa pagkain, basta 'wag lang ampalaya."
"Hoy masarap ang ampalaya!" I protest. Jonah nods enthusiastically while Castillo's face crumbles into pure disgust.
"Hindi naman magiging mapait ang ampalaya kung maganda ang pagkakaluto," pagpapaliwanag ni Liam.
"Hindi rin." Umiiling si Castillo. "Hindi ko magets mga taong gusto ang ampalaya. Super pait!"
"Diba diba?" Stefan even stands up and points to Castillo. "You get me!"
Tumayo na rin si Castillo at nag-high five sila. Napa-iling nalang ako at sumubo ulit ng isda.
"Team Anti-Ampalaya!" Castillo even said and laughed.
"Let's see nalang kung hindi pa rin kayo masarapan sa ampalaya kapag nanay ko na nagluto," Liam said.
"Beh," Castillo once again shakes her head. "Kahit sino pa. Kahit si Gordon Ramsey pa 'yan!" She creates an 'x' sign with her fingers. "No and no!"
"Paano nalang kung 'yun nalang 'yung natitirang pagkain sa mundo?" Jonah asks.
"Edi mamatay nalang." Sagot agad ni Stefan na nagpatawa sa aming lahat, lalo na si Castillo na muling nakipag-high five sa kanya.
Alam kong may kung ano 'pang tanong si Jonah tungkol sa ampalaya pero hindi ko na ito halos marinig dahil tuluyan na ngang bumalot ang pagod at antok sa sistema ko. Sobrang bigat na ng talukap ng mga mata ko. Their voices become unclear and it echoes in my ears.
"Ampalaya dito, ampalaya dyan." Narinig ko nalang na sambit ni Stefan. "Makauwi lang tayo, maka-alis lang tayo dito, baka magawa ko nang makakain ng ampalaya sa tuwa."
Para namang nabuhay ang dugo ko sa sinabi niya. No one attempts to take that as a joke. I saw Castillo in the corner of my eyes genuinely smiling with eyes full of hopes. I am expecting for anyone to say more, to verbally support Stefan's statement. But none of us talked. It's like there's already an invisible agreement that already exists between us that no one needs to mention it anymore.
We will come back home.
I watch the water glistening inside my cup. No noise came from my comrades, they are obviously tired and the only thing they want to do tonight is to sleep. The fire in the middle of our circle continues to burn bright.
Napangiti ako dahil para 'bang nasa overnight camping ang vibes namin ngayon. But, the difference is, hindi ko kasama ang pinakamalalapit kong kaibigan. Instead, I am with my classmates na wala naman akong balak makipag-kaibigan. Kung hindi 'nga lang dahil sa research namin, wala naman kaming rason para magsama sama.
But, alas! Instead of research lang ang iisipin namin, buhay pa namin ang pinoproblema namin.
Instead of thinking only about the chapter one of our research, andito kami sa kakaibang mundo na nasa ibang katawan, and thinking about dragons and the fate of our lives.
I stand up. The four of them looked at me with visible confusion on their faces. Maybe it was the small regained strength I got from the food, or maybe I was already too tired to even think properly, but I raised my cup in the air.
"We will come back to our homes." No one speaks from them. I continued. "In one week, we'll have our happy ending. Our successful epilogue."
Tumayo rin si Castillo at tinaas din ang kanyang baso. "We will have our happily ever after!"
Tumayo na rin si Stefan, Liam, at Jonah. Samantalang tumalikod si Castillo para hilahin si Christopher papunta sa amin.
"Ano na naman 'bang drama niyo?!" Christopher yells but Castillo is unfazed as she continues to drag him out of the shadows.
I raised my cup higher, the rest of them followed (Christopher looks like he wants to dash away, but Castillo's grip on him is solid—She even nudged at him to follow my example), our cups met under the glimmering moonlight.
"TO OUR HAPPILY EVER AFTER!"
Our voices blend in with the delicate rustle of the trees from the tranquil night's breeze. The words are thrown unto the universe. A flicker of hope had ignited between us,
A hope that we'll have the happily ever after we deserve, no matter the odds.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Hello! It's been a long journey, ano? Kahit chapter 15 palang tayo!
I want to let everyone know that this chapter is the final conclusion of the this story's 1st Act. Next chapters will be part of the story's 2nd Act! If you're confused about the difference between 1st and 2nd story acts, you can look it up on Google! In that way, you'll be given a hint of what will happen in the next updates.
That is all. Thank you for everyone who read everything until here, together, let's explore the twists and turns of The Blood of the Dragon.
with love and magic,
Helen Parker