*Note this story is in Tagalog
Palubog na ang araw sa tabi ng bundok at ang daan ay nagiging padilim na ng padilim. Si Carlo at Che ay pabalik na sa kanilang bakasyunan pagkatapos ang isang araw na paglalakbay ng pagiging isa sa kalikasan. Ito na ang pangatlong beses sa loob ng maraming araw na napagdesisyonan nila na galugarin ang katabing bundok at ang mga local na gabay ay higit pa sa pagiging matulungin.
Naisip ni Carlos na maganda ito. Higit pa sa isang buwan simula noong napagpasyahan nilang magkabalikan at ang mga bagay ay patuloy na bumubuti.
Kahit papaano ay naisagawa nya ang pagbabayadsala para sa mga maling kanyang nagawa, o siguro ay napagdesisyonan nlng ni Che na patawarin sya. Ngunit ngayon ito ay parang katulad ng unang panahon. Noong nakakapagtawanan pa sla at nakakapaglakad-lakad at nahahawakan ang kanyang kamay. Hiniling nya na magpatuloy ito habang buhay.
Ang daanan ang mahirap na makita ngayon at natuwa ang magkasintahan na naalala nilang magdala ng mga lente at mga ulo lampara. Nasanay sila sa paggala sa labas at nagkakila pa sila sa mountaineering club ng kanilang paaralan. Para sa kanila, parating may magandang dulot ang pagiging handa.
“Nararamdaman mo ba un?” tanong ni Che.
“Wag mo nang ikabahala iyon, mabilis talaga bumaba ang temperatura sa lugar na ito” sagot ni Carlos. “Dapat ay malapit na tayo sa resort ngayon, magbigay o tumagal ng 15 minuto.”
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
“ano iyon?!” Inikot ni che ang kanyang lente sa paligid upang subukang mailawan ang mga puno.
“Marahil ay isa lng iyon sa mga ligaw na ibon. Wag kang mag alala, walang ano man ang makakapanakit saatin dito” malumanay na sagot ni Carlos. “Che? May mali ba?”
Nahulog ni Che ang kaniyang lente at nagsimulang tumakbo papunta sa ibang direction mula kay Carlos. Hindi nya alam kung ano ang nangyayari at umikot sya para makita kung ano ang tinakbuhan ni Che.
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
Ang tanging bagay lng na narinig ni Che ay ang tunog ng hiyaw ni Carlos habang tumatakbo sya pababa sa daan. Inaasahan nya na maging mas mabilis si Carlos sa kung ano mang bagay iyon pero alam nya na iyon ay mapaghangad na pag-iisip.
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
Nadarama na niya ito sa likuran niya.
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English Version
It was sunset along the mountainside and the trail was getting darker and darker. Carlo and Che were headed back to their resort after a day’s journey being one with nature. It was the third time in as many days that they decided to explore the nearby mountain and the local guides were more than accommodating.
Carlos thought this was nice. It had been more than a month since they decided to get back together and things were looking up. He had somehow managed to atone for the mistakes that he had made, or maybe she just decided to forgive him, but now this was like the old times. When they could laugh and walk and he could hold her hand. He wished that this could go on forever.
The trail was getting hard to see now, and the couple was glad they remembered to bring flashlights and headlamps. They were used to going outdoors and they had even met in their school’s mountaineering club. To them it always paid to be prepared.
“Do you feel that?” Che asked.
“Don’t worry about it, the temperature drops really fast in this area.” Carlos replied. “We should be near the resort now anyway, give or take 15 minutes.”
“We’re more than 30 minutes away, I recognize this tree from the trek going up.” Che smiled, she always liked to remind Carlos who had more experience on the trail.
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
“What was that?!” Che spun her flashlight around trying to illuminate the trees.
“It’s probably one of the wild birds. Don’t worry, there’s nothing here that can hurt us.” Carlos calmly stated. “Che? What’s wrong?”
Che dropped her flashlight and started running towards the opposite direction from Carlos. He didn’t know what was happening and he turned around to see what Che ran away from.
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
The only thing Che heard was the sound of Carlos’ scream as she ran down the trail. She hoped that he would be faster than whatever that thing was but she knew that was wishful thinking.
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
KAO-KAO
She could already feel it behind her.
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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 Alexandra F. Opon
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © Alexandra F. Opon
Story inspired by The Myths of the Philippines: The Terror of the Thalon. Gaverza. 2014.
Mhenamad Thalon Illustration by Leandro Geniston from Aklat ng mga Anito
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