*Note this story is in Kapampangan
Aramdaman ke ing marimlang kutsilyu na papakat da keng kakung balat.
Meg-umpisang alas singku ning kaugtuwan. Mabilis yamung meyari ing pyalung a basketball, anya pebalikan na nakeng making maranun, anya mamirapal kung minuli keng peka agyu kung bilis.
Eya masyadong malino itang tunug, mayna yamu, pero eku antindyan.. balamu aliwa.. linawe ku keng kakung Kayli at anyang ikit ke ing tanaman a santol, balu kune nung nanu ne ita.
“Wak…wak…wak…”
Paulit ulit ya itang tunug na dadagungdung keng kakung balugbug na balamu daramdaman kula suwala reng kakung ingkung at apu. “Patye ing tunug masikan ya, ing buri ng sabyan nita ing wakwak malawut ya, pero dapat nakang mingat panga ing tunug bagya bagya yang mimina, kasi ing buri ng sabyan kanita malapit nemu kanta keka.” Mengarimla ku buong katawan kanitang mekalub naku bale.
Ing santol na atyu keng tapat dang kwartu dina maku, balu kung posibling atyu ya Karin itang wakwak. Anyang ikit ke ing kakung mabuktut a inda na manalbeng TV, kanita ku abalu. Megsimula ne ing laban.
Sigidu kung memulayi papunta keng kusina para kumang kutsilyu, ayneng kayan keng kakung gamat, siguru uling sigurado ku keng kakung gawan. Selikut ke ing kutsilyu keng kakung syort, at linukluk ku keng siping ng maku, manenaya kung ustung oras na panga pepakit ne ning halimaw itang kayang malutung dila.
Manenaya ku..
Manenaya ku.
Kapitnang oras ku ring megbante. Kapitnang oras bayu ku linwal papunta ketang santol para pakiramdaman itang tunug.
Menenaya kupa kayi mewala ne itang tunug.
Manggaman ngeni, buri kunang isipan na aramdaman na ning alimaw na apag-adyan ku pamaglaban at ene agyung abiktima ing kakung inda. Pero keng aliwang banda, mangatakutan ku parin pag lalawe ku ketang santol, balamu atin ku paring daramdaman a mayna pero matinis na tunog.
“Wak….wak….wak…..”
=——————–=
English Version
I could feel the cold steel of the knife pressing against my skin.
It started at 5:30 pm. The basketball game didn’t take too long and my mom wanted me home early so I rushed home as soon as I could. The sound was faint, but very distinct. I looked towards my right and when I saw the santol tree I knew exactly what it was.
“Wak….wak…..wak….”
The sound rang in my ears and suddenly I was hit with my grandparents voices, “If the wakwak sound is loud then that means the creature is far, but be careful if the voice is soft, for that means it is very near.” My blood ran cold the moment I entered the house.
The santol tree was right above the bedroom of my parents, so I knew I had to see if there was anything there that the wakwak might want. When I saw my pregnant mother watching TV, that’s when I knew. The fight had begun.
I raced to the kitchen to get a knife, it felt light in my hand,
probably because I was sure of what I had to do. I hid the knife in my shorts, and sat next to my mother, waiting for the moment the monster would let loose its red tongue.
I waited.
I waited.
It was 30 minutes that I stayed on guard. 30 minutes until I ventured outside to the santol tree to hear if the voice persisted.
I waited and it was gone.
To this day, I’d like to think the creature sensed that I was ready for a fight and that my mother wouldn’t be easy prey. But there are still shivers down my spine every time I look at that santol tree, half expecting to hear a soft falsetto of
“Wak…..wak…..wak….”
=——————————————=
* Kapampangan, Pampango, or the Pampangan language is a major Philippine language. It is primarily spoken in the province of Pampanga, southern Tarlac, and northeastern Bataan. Kapampangan is also spoken in some municipalities of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija, by various Aeta groups of Central Luzon, and in scattered communities within the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. The language is known honorifically as Amánung Sísuan (“breastfed, or nurtured, language”)
Written by Karl Gaverza
Copyright © Karl Gaverza
Translation Copyright © April Christian De Leon
Inspired by a story told by Ian Quirante
Wak-wak Illustration by Ian Quirante
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