*Note this story is in Cebuano
Dinagkotan ang mga kandila. Ang mga bulak ug tabako nangahaluna. Ang bunga giputos og pulang nuog.
Takna na.
Ang mabugnawng hangin namalukag sa iyang panit. Uga iyang ba-ba sa paglinaylay, apan dili na siya makaundang karon, dili karon nga hapit na siya.
Misiga ang alirong og lunhawong dan-ag ug nasayod siyang hapit na mahuman. Dili na siya makahulat pagbuklat sa iyang mga mata ug sud-ongon ang kahalangdon sa matuod nga Diwata.
Gikan sa kawalad-on midangat ang harianong umol sa babaye, sinaptan og bughaw.
“Kinsa ka?!” misinggaak si Alyssa.
“Ika’y nanawag kanako, di ba? Gidahom ko ang ingon nianang kawalay-batasan gikan sa usa ka dalakitnon, apan nagtuo akong ang mga tawo, sa kinubos, aduna’y bisan gamayng kaikog nga motimbaya og linalang ingon sa akong pamayhon nga aduna’y diyotayng sukod sa pagtahod.”
“Diwata ka?”
“Oo inday, unsa diay imong pagtuo?
Sa tinuod wala magtuo si Alyssa nga ang Diwata hilabihan ka… tawhanon. Anaa kaniya ang maong tabonong panit, dulom nga kaping mga mata, ug ang iyang buhok lamang ang makapugong nga maalaan silang kaluha.
Sa pagkabatyag sa gipanghunahuna ni Alyssa miingon ang Diwata, “Ang mga tawo, mao gayod sa gihapon. Inigkahuman mawala sa kakurat ug katingala magtuo ka nga nasipyat ka. Nganong dili man ako mahimong ingon niini sa panan-aw?”
“Mura ka ra’g ako tan-awon.”
“Oo, napasantop na kana nato.”
“Dili ka mahimong mura’g ako! Diwata ka, isipirito sa kinaiyahan. Ang imong buhok nagtabisay unta nga suba, ang imong panit nagsidlak unta ingon sa adlaw, imo—”
“—Imong panahom sa kon unsa’y ‘angay’ tan-awon mao unta’y undangon. Sa tinuod lang pagsup-ak nimo gikan sa kawayan akong giingnan ang uban nga ikaw wala’y lain kondi gubot, apan naminaw ba sila? Alang-alang wala, nalipay lamang silang aduna’y sumilimba sa ilang mga kamay ug tawag.”
“…Apan.”
“Ug kining mga panumanon, wala mo ngani taronga paghan-ay ang mga halad. Kinahanglan puti ang ngatanan, o wala kana nila itudlo kanimo? Sa tinuod lang nagkadugay ang panahon nagkasamot ang pagkamalimtanon sa tawo bahin sa mga mahinungdanong butang. Apan mura’g maarang na kana. Nan, nganong ania man ako?”
“Unsa?”
“Ikaw mao’y nagtawag kanako ug kasagaran nagapasabot kana nga aduna’y hinungdan kanako nga mapatawag. Manggad ba kana, gahom? Pagpangita sa nawalang gugma? Buot mahibalo sa mga hilom sa kapunawpunawan? Ingon niana man gayod kanunay kaninyong mga tawo.”
“A….”
“Iluwa na kana, wala kita’y tibuok kadayonan. Aw, sa kinubos usa kanato ang mao’y wala.”
“Duna’y lalaki.”
“Alang-alang aduna gayod.”
“Dili ko niya tagdon, gibuhat na nako tanan aron makuha iyang pagtagad pero mas maayo pa tingaling di na lang ko makita.”
“Nan inay nga mangita ka og laing laki nagsugod hinuon ka og panumanon nga mitawag sa usa sa mga labing gamhanang kinaiyanhong ispirito gikan sa iyang panimalay sa Kalangitan ug nagapakilimos kaniya nga luwason ang imong gugmahanong kinabuhi.”
“Aw kon ipakaingon nimo ‘ana pagsulti gamay ra kaayong butang.”
“Ay kon isulti ko kana sa ingon niana mao kana’y kamatuoran. Ang mga tawo kanunay magtuo nga sayon-sayon lang nilang makuha ang ilang mga tinguha pinaagi og baylo ug nahibalo kong dili ka ingon ka buringog sa imong panagway. Unsa’y imong ikatanyag?”
“Maayong isipirito, matinahoron nakong ihalad kining bungang pinutos og pulang nuog, kining mga bulak ug tabako, kining pagkaon alang sa imong sustansya.”
“Wala niana ang akong gipasabot, hinuon makita ko ang paningkamot. Ang akong buot ipasabot ang kon unsa gayo’y andam nimong itugyan.”
“Wala ko kasabot, giandam na nako ang tanang gikinahanglan. Angay unta ko nimong tabangan.”
“Kon ugaling makita ko ang halad nga angayan, ug wala kini makaabot sa akong sumbanan.”
“Wala na ko kabalo’g unsa pa’y ikahatag.”
“Itubag ako og pangutana.”
“Unsani, ispirito?”
“Unsa’y nahitabo sa imong nawong?”
Mainandanong gisangkil ni Alyssa ang payok sa iyang aping. Naghunahuna siya pagbalik niadtong adlawa nga gilabnot sa tulo ka babaye ang iyang buhok ug gitukmod siya sa bungbong. Gikabuangan siya nila tungod sa iyang sinul-ot nga Harry Potter nga taklay sa liog ug giingnan siya nga labing maayo pa og mag-unay na lamang siya.
Midalagan siya sa banyo aron paughon ang iyang mga luha. Iyang gihapyod ang iyang mga tudlo sa gisi sa iyang taklay ug gihanig kini sa mabugnaw nga salog. Naghigda siya didto og kadugayon nga daw walay kahangtoran kutob nga mibukas ang pultahan ug laing pundok na usab sa kababayen-an ang nanulod.
Usa pa ka ginhawa ang iya lamang gikinahanglan aron malimtan ang sakit. Migawas siya sa banyo sa unsa’y nahabilin sa iyang taklay nga nagtabon sa iyang aping ug nangita og laing katagoan. Diin dili siya nila makit-an.
“Dili man tingali kini mahitungod sa lalaki?” Miliatbang ang Diwata, migamay siya tan-awon kay sa una niyang pagbutho.
“Tingali kon namatikdan ko niya iya kong panalipdan.” Milingiw si Alyssa palayo sa Diwata, napakaulawan na siya pag-ayo ug dili na buot modugang og kahuyang sa natipun-og.
“Wala ka ba’y mga higalang makatabang kanimo?”
Ang panan-aw sa mga mata ni Alyssa mao ra’y kinahanglan makit-an sa Diwata.
“Aw sige.”
“Unya tabangan ko nimo?”
Mitutok og halalom ang Diwata sa mga mata ni Alyssa.
“Dili.”
“Ha?! Pero gitawag ta ka, sakto ang tanan nakong gibuhat!”
“Ug tungod imo kanang gibuhat masulbad na ang tanan mong suliran sa ingon niana lang?”
“Naa ka’y gahom nga buhaton na!”
“Tingali, oo, apan dili ko mausab ang labing hinungdanong butang.”
“Unsa?!”
“Dili ta ka mausab.”
“Aw mao na’y imong hunahuna?! Nga ako gihapon ang gamayng hilakong bata nga daogdaogon. Gusto lang nako’g usa ka adlaw nga dili nako kinahanglan ikaulaw ang pagkalahi. Usa lang ka higayon nga ang mga tawo naa sa akong dapig.”
“Ug basin makuha kana nimo. Apan angay kana nimong buhaton nga mag-inusara.”
“Unsa’y imong gusto ispirito? Puydi nako mahatag ‘nimo ang tanan, ihatag pa gani nako ang akong kinabuhi! Sige na gud, palihog. Usa lang ka adlaw.”
“Ang paghatag sa imong kinabuhi dili sayon-sayon nga butang. Kinahanhlan andam ka nga atubangon ang mga dalangatan.”
“Palihog.. Usa lang ka adlaw.”
Nakamata si Alyssa gikan sa usa ka katingad-ang damgo, dili niya mahinumdoman ang mga katukiban, apan natiman-an niya nga nakigsulti siya og babaye.
Nag-ilis siya padulong sa tulunghaan ug namatikdan nga ang iyang Gryffindor nga taklay natapakan na. Lagmit giayo kini ni Lola samtang natulog siya.
Lahi karong adlawa, wala siya masayod, apan aduna’y kalainan sa hangin nga nakapawala sa iyang mga kaguol. Wala ngani siya motultol sa iyang naandang agianan aron magtago-tago gikan sa iyang mga tigdaogdaog, daw nanghaom ang tanan-tanan.
Mipahiyom siya samtang misulod sa mga pultahan sa tulunghaan, lagmit ang kinaunhang higayon sukad siya mibalhin.
“Wala’y ginok?”
“Piyong ang mata, wala mangibot ang tawotawo, wala’y kibo sa mga papukaw.”
“Kailo ‘aning bayhana. Unsa na ka dugay sukad siya maadmit?”
“Tulo ka bulan. Nadunggan nakong ang mga babayeng naghimo ‘ini nasikop na g’yod.”
“Maayo. Angay nilang matagamtaman ang angayan ‘nila. Isipon ‘ning bayhana og ingon ‘ana, makasisilag.”
“Atlis dili na siya mobati’g kasakit.”
Mibiya ang duktor ug nars sa kwarto, apan wala mag-inusara si Alyssa.
“Ingon bitaw ako nga aduna’y bayad. Unta mahimuslanon kadtong adlawa.”
Kinabitan og mga tubo ug nagapuyos sa iyang higdaan sa hospital, nagpagawas si Alyssa og kataposang pusnga ug mingisi.
Tuod g’yod man.
=——————————-=
English Version
The candles were lit. The flowers and tobacco were in place. The betel nut was wrapped around with red cloth.
It was time.
The cool air bristled against her skin. Her mouth was dry from chanting, but she couldn’t stop now, not when she was so close.
The circle alighted with a greenish glow and she knew that it was almost over. She couldn’t wait to open her eyes and see the majesty of a true Diwata.
From nothing came the regal form of a woman, draped in blue.
“Who are you?!” Alyssa screamed.
“You were the one that called me, did you not? I would expect such rudeness from a dalaketnon*, but I thought humans would at least have the decency to greet a being of my stature with some measure of respect.”
“You’re a Diwata?”
“Of course dear child what did you expect?”
In truth Alyssa didn’t think the Diwata would be so… human. She had the same kayumanggi **skin, dark brown eyes and her hair was the only thing that would stop them from looking like twins.
Sensing Alyssa’s thoughts the Diwata said, “Humans, always the same. After the shock and awe disappears you think you’ve made a mistake. Why can’t I look as I do?”
“You look just like me.”
“Yes, we’ve established that.”
“You can’t look like me! You’re a Diwata, a spirit of nature. Your hair should be a flowing river, your skin should shine like the sun, you—“
“–Should stop having expectations on what things are ‘supposed’ to look like. I swear when you were split off from the bamboo I told the others you’d be nothing but trouble, but did they listen? Of course not, they were just happy to have worshippers at their beck and call.”
“…But.”
“And these rituals, you didn’t even set the offerings right. Everything has to be white, or did they not teach you that? I swear the longer time goes on the more humans forget the important things. But I guess it will have to do. So, why am I here?”
“What?”
“You were the one that summoned me and usually that means there’s a reason for me to be summoned. Is it riches, power? Finding a lost love? Wanting to know the secrets of the universe? It’s always something like that with you humans.”
“I….”
“Spit it out, we don’t have all of eternity. Well, at least one of us doesn’t.”
“There’s this boy.”
“Of course there is.”
“He won’t notice me, I’ve tried everything to get his attention but I might as well be invisible.”
“So instead of finding another boy you started a ritual that called upon one of the most powerful nature spirits imaginable from her home in the Skyworld and are begging her to salvage your love life.”
“Well when you say it that way it seems petty.”
“When I say it that way it’s the truth. Humans always think that they can get whatever they want with a bargain and I know you aren’t as stupid as you seem. What have you to offer?”
“Great spirit, I humbly offer this betel nut wrapped in red cloth, these flowers and tobacco, this food for your nourishment.”
“I don’t mean any of that, though I can see the effort. I’m talking about what you are truly willing to give up.”
“I don’t understand, I’ve prepared everything I needed. You’re supposed to help me.”
“Only if I find the offering suitable, and this does not meet my standards.”
“I don’t know what else to give.”
“Answer a question for me.”
“Yes, spirit?”
“What happened to your face?”
Alyssa instinctively brushed the bruise on her left cheek. She thought back to this morning when the three girls grabbed her by the hair and pushed her to the wall. They made fun of her for wearing a Harry Potter scarf and told her it would be better off if she killed herself.
She ran to the bathroom to dry her tears. She runs her fingers through the rip in her scarf and stretches out on the cold floor. She lies there for what seems like an eternity until the bathroom door opens and another group of girls enters.
One more breath was all she needed to forget the pain. She walks out of the bathroom with what’s left of her scarf covering her cheek and finds another place to hide. Somewhere they won’t find her.
“This isn’t about the boy is it?” The Diwata leans down, she seems smaller than when she first appeared.
“Maybe if he noticed me he’d protect me.” Alyssa turned her head away from the Diwata, she was humiliated enough and didn’t want to add weakness to the pile.
“Don’t you have any friends that could help you?”
The look in Alyssa’s eyes was all the Diwata needed to see.
“Alright then.”
“So will you help me?”
The Diwata stared deep into Alyssa’s eyes.
“No.”
“What?! But I summoned you, I did everything right!”
“And because you did that your problems would be solved just like that?”
“You have the power to do that!”
“Maybe I do, but it won’t change the most important thing.”
“What?!”
“It won’t change you.”
“So that’s what you think?! That I’ll still be this weak little crybaby that gets beaten up. I just want one day where I don’t have to be ashamed of being different. Just one time when people are on my side.”
“And you may get that. But you will have to do it alone.”
“What do you want spirit? I can give you anything, I’ll even give you my life! Just, please. Just one day.”
“Giving your life isn’t a trifling thing. You must be prepared to face the consequences.”
“Please.. Just one day..”
Alyssa awoke from a strange dream, she couldn’t remember the details, but she recalled talking to a woman.
She got dressed for school and noticed her Gryffindor scarf was patched up. Lola probably fixed it while she was sleeping.
Today would be different, she didn’t know why, but there was something in the air that made her worries disappear. She didn’t even bother to go her normal route to hide from her bullies, it was as if everything was falling into place.
She smiled as she entered the school doors, probably for the first time since she transferred.
“Any response?”
“Eyes are closed, pupils are nonresponsive, no response to outside stimuli.”
“Poor girl. How long has it been since she got admitted?”
“Three months. I heard that the girls that did this to her finally got sentenced.”
“Good. They should get what they deserve. Treating this girl like that, it’s disgusting.”
“At least she can’t feel any pain.”
The doctor and nurse left the room, but Alyssa was not alone.
“I told you there’d be a price. I hope that day was worth it.”
Tied to tubes and cocooned in her hospital bed, Alyssa let out one last gasp and smiled.
It was.
*An evil engkanto
** Tawny or light brown
=————————————-=
*The Cebuano language, alternatively called Cebuan and also often colloquially albeit informally referred to by most of its speakers simply as Bisaya (“Visayan”, not to be confused with other Visayan languages nor Brunei Bisaya language), is an Austronesian regional language spoken in the Philippines by about 21 million people, mostly in Central Visayas, western parts of Eastern Visayas and most parts of Mindanao, most of whom belong to various Visayan ethnolingusitic groups, mainly the Cebuanos. It is the by far the most widely spoken of the Visayan languages, which are in turn part of wider the Philippine languages. The reference to the language as Bisaya is not encouraged anymore by linguists due to the many languages within the Visayan language group that may be confused with the term.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Cebuano Translation by Francis Triexl Kyle Gobi
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Francis Triexl Kyle Gobi
