*Note this story is in Tagalog
“Sandali lang! ang bilis niyong maglakad!” habol-hiningang sabi ni Reymark sa mga kasamahan. “Akala ko ba simpleng paglalakad-lakad lang ‘to, para kayong kasama sa marathon sa sobrang bilis.”
“Okay, nagrereklamo na yung makupad sa grupo, siguro ibig sabihin lang nuon ay kailangan nating ayusin lahat ang paglalakad.” ganting tugon ni Maria habang nakangisi. “Bakit ka pa ba kasi sumama? Alam mo namang lahat kami dito, mahilig umakyat sa bundok, natural lang na mabilis kami maglakad.”
“Alam ko kung bakit siya sumama,” sabi ni Jori habang sinisiko at binibibigyan ng makahulugan tingin si Reymark.
“Manahimik ka nga” si Reymark, habang sinisiko pabalik ang kaibigan.
“Tama na, huminto na kayong lahat. Sobrang tahimik at nakagagaan sa pakiramdam itong pag-akyat natin sa bundok. Pwede bang panatilihin nalang natin na ganoon?” Tinuro ni Danilyn ang silong ng puno ng Balete sa ‘di kalayuan. “Pwede tayo magpahinga roon.”
Huminto sa pag-aasaran ang grupo at sinundan ang sinabi ng kanilang tumatayong lider. Mahirap at malayo na rin ang kanilang nilakbay, hindi rin biro ang kanilang ginawang pag-akyat kahit pa sabihing sanay na ang karamihan sa kanila. Pumayag ang lahat na umupo at magpahinga muna para uminom ng tubig.
Nag-iipon na ang pawis sa kanilang noo, isabay pa ang init mula sa tirik na araw.
“Mauna na kayo. Susunod nalang ako.” Ani ni Reymark
“Oh, halika na. Malapit naman na tayo. Hindi naman pwedeng lagi ka nalang titigil kapag nahihirapan ka na. Konti nalang, kaya mo yan.” tugon ni Danilyn sa kaibigan at umaasang kahit papano’y magbago pa ang isip nito at tumuloy nalang, ngunit hindi siya nagtagumpay.
“Seryoso ako. Mauna na kayo. Dito muna ako sa lilim at magpapahinga hanggang sa maramdaman ko nang kaya ko na ulit umakyat.”
“Pero Rey, hindi mo makikita yung magandang view.” Sabi ni Jori habang nakaharap sa direksiyon ni Maria, na buti na lamang ay walang malay sa tinutukoy niya.
“Guys, totoo. Mapapabagal ko lang kayo. Pwede tayong magkita kapag natapos na kayong umakyat at pwede rin namang kumain muna ako o maghintay.”
“Sige, sabi mo eh.” Si Danilyn habang kinukuha ang bag at sumipsip ng kaunting tubig. “Guys, mag-ayos na kayo. Tapusin na natin ‘to para makita na natin ang tuktok. Bilisan niyo na.”
Kinuha nang lahat ang kanilang gamit at tinuloy na ulit ang pag-akyat sa matarik na daan. Nagmadali naman si Jori upang masabayan si Danilyn sa paglalakad, ngunit hindi na ito pinansin ni Danilyn tulad ng lagi niyang ginagawa. Nalalapit nanaman ang eleksiyon kung saan may balak tumakbo sa pagka-Presidente si Jori at ipinapakita niya ito sa palihim na pakikipagkumpetensiya sa dalaga.
Sa isang banda, nasa kaniyang sariling mundo si Maria. Suot ang earphones, nagsimula na rin siyang umakyat. Sinadya pa niyang ilakas ang kantang pinakikinggan upang hindi siya magambala. Wala siyang pakialam sa mga posisyon o kahit anuman sa mga mataas na katungkulan. Sumama lang siya upang makapagpahinga at makalanghap ng sariwang hangin, malayo sa magulong pamumuhay sa siyudad.
Naiwan si Mark sa silong ng puno ng Balete. Normal na ang paghinga niya at waring nasa mas mabini ang tibok ng kaniyang puso kumpara kanina. Ngunit nagnakaw ulit siya ng tingin sa papalayong pigura ni Maria kaya naman bigla ulit itong bahagyang bumilis.
“Kainis naman oh, ‘wag ngayon.” Tila inuutusan ang kaniyang puso na balewalain ang tunay na nararamdaman para sa dalaga. Ngunit agad din siyang bumigay. Siguro ngay oras na upang magtapat ukol sa inililihim niyang pagtingin sa dalaga.
“Ano bang masamang pwede mangyari?”, pagsasa-boses niya ng naiisip.
“Marahil hindi siya ang para sa’yo.”, sumbat ng isang maganda ngunit hindi pamilyar na tinig.
Nagpalinga-linga si Reymark subalit wala siyang nakitang ibang tao sa paligid. Nahaharangan ng mga sanga ng punong Balete ang sinag ng araw at natitiyak din niyang siya lang ang naiwan doon kasama ang nasabing puno.
“Ngayon naman, kung anu-ano na naririnig ko.” Ginusot-gusot ni Reymark ang mga mata at humikab. Masyado ata siyang napagod sa pag-akyat. Napagdesisyunan niyang umupo sa isang malaking bato at isandal ang likod sa puno.
“Hindi ka niya mamahalin.” Narinig niyang muli ang boses. Sa pagkakataong ito, mas malakas at may diin na, tila ba’y sadya itong itinapat sa tenga niya.
“Jori? Naku, kung isa nanaman ‘to sa mga pakulo mo, tumigil ka na. Hindi na nakakatawa!” Naghintay siya ng sagot? Naiinis na siya sa mga pang-aasar ni Jori nitong mga nakaraang araw kaya naman oras na rin siguro upang pagsabihan niya ito.
“Hindi ka niya mamahalin. Gaya ng pagmamahal ko sa’yo.” Galing ang boses sa kaniyang likuran. Nilingon niya ang pinanggagalingan ng boses at nakita niya ang pinakamgandang babaeng nasilayan niya sa buong buhay niya. Ang mukha niya’y tila nililok mula sa pinakamahal at makinis na marmol. Ang kaniyang buhok ay mahaba na tila isang bumabagsak na tubig mula sa mataas na talon.
Napukol siya sa titig ng maganda babae. Ang kaniyang mga mata ay malalim at itim na itim na tila nakikita ang kaibuturan ng kaniyang pagkatao habang tumatagal.
“Bakit mo siya mahal?” tanung sa kaniya ng magandang babae.
“Matalino at maganda siya,” sagot ni Reymark.
“Hindi lang ‘yon. Meron ka pang gusto na mas malalim pa.” Ang kaniyang mapanuring pagtingin ang sumira sa mga pag-aalinlangan ni Reymark.
“Siya ay—” sinubukan niyang sumagot ngunit naputol ang kaniyang sasabihin nang ipinatong ng babae ang kamay nito sa kaniyang dibdib.
“Hindi mo maitatago ang katotohanan. Kahit pa sa sarili mo” Tumingin siya sa mga mata nito gamit ang halos mapanglaw na pagtingin. “At kahit pa gustuhin mo.”
“Siya lang ang laging tumatawa.” Tila ba napakadali lamang sabihin ang totoo niyang nararamdaman. “Sa tuwing magbibiro ako, lahat sila lagging sinasabi ang korni daw, ako pa pinagtatawanan. Pero iba siya. Lagi siyang tumatawa sa mga biro ko. Lagi siyang ngumingiti sa tuwing makikita ako kaya inakala kong gusto niya rin ako ngunit hindi ko pa rin alam. Hindi ko naman sinabi.”
“Na mahal mo siya?”
“Siya lang ang babaeng inaasam ko. Gagawin ko ang lahat para lang makasama siya”
“Isang mapanganib na damdamin.” Umupo ang babae sa batong katapat ni Reymark. “Ang ganiyang klase ng pagmamahal ay madalas hindi nauuwi sa maganda.”
“Ano ang ibig mong sabihin?”
“Ang maalab na ningas ng apoy ay mabilis matupok.”
Tinitigan ni Reymark ang babae. Maganda man ito, nararamdaman niya ang kalungkutan sa likod ng kalmado nitong ekspresiyon. Hinawakan ng babae ang puno sa likod niya at may kinuhang bungo.
Napaatras siya sa gulat sa nakitang hawak ng babae.
“Ito ang aking unang minahal.” Tumitig ang babae sa bungo at lumambot ang kaniyang tinig. “Iniisip nating atin ang mundo upang sakupin,” nilagay niya ito sa paanan ng puno. “ngunit mali tayo.”
Naramdaman niyang gumalaw ang lupa sa kaniyang paanan. Nagmistulang bumubukas ang puno ng balete, ang mga sanga at dahon nito’y naging kakila-kilabot sa paningin. Makikita ang nakahilerang anim na kalansay sa ilalim ng nasabing puno. Napakalinis ng mga kalansay, na tila kumikinang sa sinag ng araw.
“Nagkamali tayong lahat.”
Kahit ang hangin ay tila sumang-ayon sa mga nangyayari sa paligid. Nanatiling tahimik si Reymark, ang kaniyang hininga’y nagsilbing palatandaan sa naturang sitwasyon niya. Tumayo sa kaniyang harapan ang babae, na tila’y lingo sa sariling isip.
“Alam mo ba ang nangyayari sa tuwing nagmahal ng isang tao ang mga katulad namin?” wika ng babae habang naglalakad papunta sa mga kalansay. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ng isa sa mga ito at sinabing, “Ito ang mangyayari.”
“Ang pag-ibig ay sayaw sa nakamamatay na ritmo. Naiwawala mo ang ilan sa mga parte ng pagkatao mong hindi mo inakalang meron ka. Hanggang sa matauhan ka. Lahat ng ito’y dahil sa pag-ibig. Ang sanhi at puno’t dulo ng walang katapusang panganib. Ang katapusan at simula.”
Aninag ang liwanag sa kaniyang mga luha.
“Hindi ka niya mamahalin. Gaya ng pagmamahal ko sa’yo.”
Naramdaman ni Reymark ang panghihina ng kaniyang mga binti, kumakalat sa buo niyang katawan. Nagmistulang tumutubo sa paligid niya ang puno ng Balete, ang mga sanga’y binabalot ang kaniyang binti.
Humilig palapit sa kaniya ang babae at hinalikan siya.
“Mahal kita.”
Tuluyan nang niyakap ng puno si Reymark. Hindi niya maigalaw ang katawan kahit anong subok nito. Nilamon na siya ng puno hanggang sa walang ni isang bakas niya ang matira.
“Mahal kita.”
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English Version
“Wait up! You’re walking too fast!” Reymark tries to catch up to the rest of the tour group. “I thought this was supposed to be a stroll, you guys act like you’re in a marathon.”
“Ok everyone, the slowpoke’s complaining, I guess that means everyone else has to adjust.” Maria hit back with her trademark smirk. “Why did you even come with us? You knew that you’d be in the group with experienced mountaineers.”
“I know why he’s with us.” Jori elbowed Reymark and gave a knowing glance.
“Shut up.” Reymark elbowed back.
“Enough, all of you. This is a nice, relaxing trek. Let’s keep it that way, alright?” Danylyn pointed towards the base of a balete tree. “We can rest over there.”
The group stopped their bickering and surrendered to their leader’s wishes. It had been a rough trek, even by their standards. The mountaineers welcomed a chance to catch their breath and rehydrate.
Sweat was collecting on their foreheads, the sun was especially merciless today.
“You guys go ahead, I can catch up,” Reymark said.
“Oh come on, we’re less than halfway there. You can’t keep taking breaks when things get hard. Soldier on.” Danylyn tried to boost her friend’s morale, but there was little success.
“I mean it, go ahead without me. I can stay here by the shade and catch up when I have my energy back.”
“But Rey, you’ll miss the great view.” Jori nudged his head in Maria’s direction and she was thankfully oblivious to the gesture’s meaning.
“Guys, seriously. I’ll just slow you down. We can meet up after you guys finish the trek and I can have lunch or something.”
“If you say so.” Danylyn picked up her backpack and took a final sip of water. “Alright guys, gear up, let’s get this hike finished and see the top of this mountain, time to hustle.”
The rest of the group took their gear and headed up the steep incline. Jori sped up to match Danylyn’s stride and Danylyn ignored him as she always did. Elections were coming up and Jori wanted to be the president, he tried to show his capabilities by attempting to overshadow Danylyn.
Maria was in her own little world. She put her earphones on and set the volume to maximum. She didn’t care about petty things like positions. She came to the mountain to unwind and leave the burdens of the city behind.
And that left Reymark underneath the balete tree. His heartbeat had stopped its rapid crescendo and normalized into a smooth aria. He caught one last glimpse of Maria before she caught up with the rest of the group and his heart started up again.
“Dammit, not now.” He ordered his heart to ignore the truth he so desperately tried to hide. Reymark gave a sigh of surrender. Maybe it was finally time to roll the dice and tell Maria what he felt.
“What’s the worst that could happen? “ He thought out loud.
“Maybe she isn’t the one for you.” A beautiful, almost melodic voice replied.
Reymark looked around, there was no one there with him. The shade of the balete tree shielded him from the overbearing sun, and he was certain that only the tree and himself were the only living beings around.
“Now I’m hearing things.” Reymark rubbed his eyes and yawned. The trek must have taken more out of him than he thought. He sat on a flat rock and leaned his back against the tree.
“She will never love you.” He heard the voice again. This time it was loud and crisp, almost as if the voice spoke directly to his ear.
“Hello? Jori if this is another one of your pranks it’s not funny!” Reymark waited for a reply. Jori’s incessant teasing was getting on his nerves and it was about time he gave the pest a piece of his mind.
“She will never love you. Not like I do.” The voice came from behind him. Reymark turned around and faced the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Her features seemed to be carved from the most expensive marble, her hair cascaded down her shoulders like a jet-black waterfall.
It was her eyes that he couldn’t escape from. They were deep set and seemed to pierce into his soul the longer she looked at him.
“Why do you love her?” The strange woman asked.
“She’s smart and beautiful,” Reymark answered.
“No, that’s not it, is it? There’s something more.” Her penetrating gaze shed the layers of doubt that normally filled Reymark.
“She—“ Reymark tried to answer again but he woman put her hand on his chest.
“You cannot hide the truth, not even from yourself.” She looked him in the eyes, with an almost melancholy expression. “Even if you wanted to.”
“She was the only one that laughed.” The truth seemed to flow out of him. “Whenever I tell jokes, everyone says how corny they are and they make fun of me, but not her. Maria was the only one who would laugh at my jokes. She would always smirk when I was around and I thought that meant she liked me too but I’m not sure. I never told her.”
“That you loved her?”
“She is the only girl I dream about. I would do anything to be with her.”
“A dangerous sentiment.” The woman sat on a flat rock in front of Reymark. “Love like that never has a good ending.”
“What do you mean?”
“A fire that burns that bright only lasts half as long.”
Reymark stared at the woman. Beautiful as she was, he could sense sadness behind her placid exterior. She stood up and touched the tree behind him and pulled out a skull.
He stepped back, startled by the object the woman was holding.
“This was my first love.” The woman stared into the skull and her voice softened. “We thought the world was ours to take.” She set it on the foot of the tree. “We were wrong.”
Reymark felt the ground rumble. The balete tree looked as if it was opening up, the vines and leaves revealing a macabre sight. Six skeletons were lined up beneath the tree. The bones were in immaculate condition, shining bright in the afternoon sun.
“We were all wrong.”
Even the wind respected the stillness of the scene. Reymark stood silent, his breathing a reminder of the reality of the situation. The woman just stood in front of him, lost in her own thoughts.
“Do you know what happens when one of my kind falls in love with a human?” She walked to the rightmost set of bones and held its hand. “This happens.”
“Love is dance to a deadly rhythm. You lose parts of yourself you didn’t realize you had. Then, it finally hits you. It was love all along. The cause and crisis, the ever-present menace. The end and the beginning. “
The light reflected on the tears flowing down her face.
“She will never love you. Not like I do.”
Reymark felt his legs buckle, weakness spreading over his body. The balete tree seemed to be growing around him, the vines wrapping about his limbs.
The woman leaned in close and kissed Reymark.
“I love you.”
The tree embraced him, he tried to move his arms but his body would not cooperate. The balete tree engulfed Reymark until not a single trace was left.
“I love you.”
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*Tagalog is an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by a quarter of the population of the Philippines and as a second language by the majority. Its standardized form, officially named Filipino, is the national language of the Philippines, and is one of two official languages alongside English.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Translation by Marel Melendez
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Marel Melendez
Inspired by ‘The Enchanted Tree of Parang.’ in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.
Engkantada Illustration by Kurt Prieto
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