They’ll drown you without a second thought. That’s just the kind of monsters that they are.
Marabi brought her hands to her ears and shuts out the noise from her lolo. She thinks about flowers and how beautiful they are. Something that beautiful could never hurt her.
Her lolo grabs her hands and tells her to listen. She is old enough now to be told the story of the river and he will make her listen whether she wants to or not.
Marabi says nothing.
Her lolo tries again. The Tanjay river might seem like a place to have your fun, but there is a reason no one wants to be left alone in the darkness.
Marabi looks up defiantly at her lolo. But she’s so beautiful.
You mustn’t trust beauty. That’s how she lures you in.
Marabi looks insulted, as if she’s being talked down to because she’s a child. I don’t believe you.
In an instant her lolo’s face is twisted with annoyance. Why can’t you understand that I’m doing this to protect you?
It’s just like her lolo to condescend to Marabi. After her parents died he was all she had left. She wished she had more.
She despises him.
Look, just promise me you won’t go to the river alone?
Is that it? Fine. I promise.
She gets up and leaves.
Her lolo rubs his temples and sighs. Someday that girl will be the death of him.
The winding river greets Marabi with quiet charm. Today there were people out having picnics by the riverside.
She sighed and waited until the sun travelled across the sky.
She waited until the last few people packed up their things and left.
She waited until she was alone.
Or was she?
By the river bank, reflected in the starlight was her.
Marabi never asked what her name was, maybe she didn’t have one. All Marabi knew was that she was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
She gasped and took a few steps forward.
The woman beckoned Marabi to come closer. Hello there my pretty pet, have you been talking about me?
Marabi felt a lump in her throat. She knew, of course she knew. Her kind would know if they were being talked about, that’s what her lolo told her.
The woman smiled. It’s no matter. Your lolo tries as hard as he can doesn’t he? But we both know where your heart lies.
Marabi took a few steps forward and touched the woman’s skin.
It should have felt cold and damp from the river, but at her touch it was like the smoothest silk with a hint of warmth.
Marabi wished she could feel it forever.
Come now my pet. Let us dance.
The thought echoed in Marabi’s head.
Forever.
Idla! Get away from there.
The young girl laughs as she balances on the river rocks, being extra careful not to fall in. She doesn’t understand why the adults won’t let her play, and such is life.
I won’t have you doing that! Now get back here!
You should listen to your mother.
Idla almost slips off the rock. A stranger appears, an old man. His eyes are red and puffy, as if he had been crying recently.
Why should I listen to the grownups? All they do is tell me not to play.
She only wants what’s best for you.
How do you know that?
It’s what I wanted for her.
In that moment a quiet understanding fell over Idla. This was him, the lolo of the girl that went missing.
I’m sorry, I’ll go to my mother.
Please do. And remember, this river is dangerous.
I will lolo.
The girl gracefully skips among the river rocks, bounding towards her mother.
And the lolo stares at the river, holding his bolo. Tonight it would have to be enough.
It passes in a daze.
Marabi remembers the color red. She sees herself dancing with the beautiful woman in the bottom of the river, in a palace made of gold. She was happy then.
It is only later, in the harsh light of day that things come into focus. Sitting at home waiting for her lolo the recollections come flooding back.
She sees the woman in front of her, dancing to an unknown song. He hands are on Marabi’s waist. They spin around until she hears him.
Her lolo’s voice.
In that moment the spell is broken and she sees things for the way they are. The woman’s beauty remains, but it is cruel in the starlight. Her nails have grown, her teeth have sharpened and her hair coils violently in the water.
The woman screams and points towards the surface. Through the moonlight Marabi can see the glint of her lolo’s bolo cutting the water in a cross shape.
Throughout all of this Marabi hears only her name, over and over.
Come home Marabi.
Come home.
In an instant she pushes away from the woman and swims towards the surface. She is afraid that she will be followed, and she looks behind.
The woman remains unmoved as if chained to her position. Marabi knows that this is her lolo’s doing, but she doesn’t know how.
Marabi breaks the river’s surface and gasps for air.
You’re alive. Thank Jesus you’re alive.
She hungrily devours more life-giving air and she tries to stand.
Lolo! Please, I was underwater and the woman was there and—
I know iha, I know. And I will make sure she never hurts you again.
What do you mean?!
Her lolo goes by the riverside and dives in.
Marabi screams for her lolo. She wants nothing more than to be in his embrace.
But such is the way life is.
Her lolo is not coming back. Not like she did.
And in the harsh light of day she cries, wishing that she had listened to his stories.
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Based on The Mermaid of Tanjay River. Historcal Data of Tanjay, Negros Oriental. in Philippine Folk Literature: The Legends. Eugenio. 2002.
Illustration by Brylle Infante Patiu
Instagram: @bryllepatiu.dwg