Waking up in Another World

Chapter 8: Embarking on a Journey (IV)

Celine's POV

Napanganga ako sa gulat at nanlaki pa ang mata ko. What the f**k happened?

Ay puta! biglang pumatak yung ulo ng aso sa mismong bunganga ko kasi medyo nakanganga nga ako diba? kaya bigla ko iyong hinila at saka itinapon. Tangina, kadiri!

May ilan pang dugo ang pumatak sa mukha ko kaya pinunasan ko iyon. I stood up to see what happened and I observed my surroundings. Where the hell did that came from?

Nagpagpag ako ng skirt ko at saka ako lumingon lingon pa, san yon galing? but I admit that wave saved my life.

"Meow!" a cat meowed at a distance that's why I looked at it and found out that it was Chubby. Wait, siya ba yon?

But that's weird and impossible, weird dahil pusa siya kaya di niya kayang gawin yon tapos impossible kasi dun siya sa opposite direction nagmula. Bale yung wave kasi ay sa kanan ko nanggaling eh nandito siya nagmula sa left ko kaya sa tingin ko di siya yon.

So who the hell saved me? but anyway, salamat pa din sa kanya kasi naligtas ako.

I quickly went towards Chubby and I lifted him up. "Is the boy safe?" I asked.

Chubby meowed as if he agreed with me. "Where did you bring him? pwede mo ba akong dalhin don?" I asked and he meowed again as if he agreed.

Bumaba siya sa pagkakahawak ko at saka tumakbo. I also followed him and I just found myself under a huge tree. Napatingin ako sa baba non at merong parang cave? pero di siya totally cave, parang isang shelter lang sa loob ng puno tapos may entrance but it's quite spacious since the tree is huge.

I went inside and saw a kid hugging his knees with both of his arms. I quickly went towards him and I hold his hands, "H-Hey, are you okay? the hound is already dead" I muttered.

Nanginginig siyang nagtaas ng paningin at maluha luha siyang tumingin sakin, shet para akong nasa GMA, may drama pala.

"I-It's fine, you're now safe, shhh" pinakalma ko pa ang bata but he just sobbed. I caressed his hair and after a few minutes, he stopped crying. He lifted his head and he stared at me, "T-Thank you, a-ate" sabi pa niya kaya medyo nagulat ako.

"Where are your parents?" I asked, "I'll bring you towards them" dagdag ko pa.

"I-I also do-don't know. N-Nahiwalay lang po ako sa kanila while we're camping in this forest"

Tinignan ko siya nang nagtataka, they're camping? pwede pala yon?

"Bakit ka nahiwalay sa kanila?"

"I just followed a butterfly and the next thing I knew is that they're knowhere to be found"

"Why didn't you tried yelling to call your parents?"

"I-I can't. I'm too scared kaya di na a-ako nakasigaw pa... I don't want to call the hounds attention, y-yon kasi ang bilin sakin ni Mommy... she said that I shouldn't create that much noise inside this forest because the hounds are attracted to noises" nakayukong ani niya.

Eh? ganon ba yon? di ko alam. Ang alam ko lang eh nakaseparate daw sila sabi ni Sam kaya wag daw ako mag-alala but yeah, that's quite possible since malapit lang naman tong forest sa territory nila.

"So you didn't created the noise?" I asked.

He nodded and that made me wonder, kung hindi siya, pwes sino? I didn't hear any loud noise when I'm wandering around in this forest so why did the hound show up? kasi for sure, maririnig ko yung ingay kung malakas talaga but I didn't.

I don't know why but my gut feeling tells me otherwise. Maybe there's another factor aside from noises that made the hound show up.

"I'll bring you to your parents. Do you still remember where you came from?" I asked and he shook his head.

I sighed and slowly get up. "I'll just bring you with me for the meantime, hahanapin muna natin ang parents mo"

He slowly stood up and I hold his hands, baka mawala na naman, mahirap na.

We started walking and thankfully, tumahan na yung bata. Though, there are little sobs but it's tolerable naman kaya ok lang.

Actually, I don't really like kids... but I guess this is a way for me to repay those who have kept me for the past few days.

I thought about shouting but I don't think I should. I can't risk letting those hounds show up again. Well, I've survived the hound earlier out of luck, but I don't think I can fight another one, they're too scary.

Chubby sniffed and my brows furrowed, "What is it?" I asked even though I know that he can't answer me.

Biglang lumingon sa isang direksyon si Chubby at saka tumakbo. Nanlaki ang mata ko at saka ko siya sinundan, "Wait!"

What the hell is he up to? don't tell me he picked up a scent of a hound? and he's going towards there?

Hawak hawak ko pa rin yung bata at maigi naman sumabay siya sa pagtakbo, medyo mabilis naman siya at halos kasabay ko lang siya kaya di siya nakakaladkad.

But wait, nakaka-pick up din ba ng scent ang pusa? as far as I can remember, aso lang yon? or siguro nakakapick up nga sila? haist, ewan di naman ako expert pagdating sa mga hayop.

Chubby walked past a huge tree, at tumalon pa siya dun sa medyo nakaangat na surface. Umakyat din ako doon at sinundan siya. Hinila ko din yung bata para makasabay siya.

Maigi nalang di masyadong mataas yung pinagakyatan namin na surface kaya medyo kinaya ko.

Lumingon si Chubby sakin as if he's checking me and he meowed as if he's mentally telling me to follow.

Sinundan ko lang siya hanggang sa makarating kami sa... ilog?!

Napanganga ako ng tumambad sa akin ang isang open space, tapos may ilog pa. Shocks, ang ganda....

Everything looks like as if it's sparkling and the water is very clear that's why I can see the riverbed. The ground is also covered with grass and the green color of the leaves of the trees around the area are vibrant that's why everything looks aesthetic.

"Meow" Chubby meowed as if he's motioning the river. "S-So? ito yung pupuntahan mo? I can't believe that you can also sense water..." bulong ko pa.

I slowly walked towards the river and I stared at the water. I can't say if it's filtered but I think it can be a substitute for a drinking water since the water is very clear and it also look clean. Di ba malinis naman talaga yung mga tubig na nagmumula sa forest?

Pinagdikit ko ang dalawa kong palad at saka iyon isinandok sa tubig. Ambaboy man pakinggan pero dun nako uminom sa palad ko, sorry naman kanina pa kasi akong nauuhaw.

Tinignan ko kung anong lasa ng tubig at okay lang naman siya. Di ko masabing masarap kasi wala namang lasa ang tubig but this water just taste like the normal drinking water.

"Hey, ano nga palang pangalan mo?" I asked the kid. Tatawagin ko sana siya na sumunod sakin kaso naalala ko na di ko nga pala siya kilala.

"Aaron" he said shyly.

"Aaron, are you thirsty? this water just taste the same with potable water at mukhang malinis naman siya so I think it's safe to drink it"

Aaron walked towards me at lumuhod din siya upang sumandok ng tubig sa ilog.

Tinikman muna niya yung tubig but eventually, he scooped again and again. Uhaw na uhaw?

"A-Aaron?!" someone behind us suddenly shouted that's why I flinched. Puta, medyo nanginig ako don sa gulat ah?

Dali dali akong napalingon at nakita ko ang isang babae na tumatakbo papalapit samin tapos kasunod niya ay isang lalaki, I think it's her husband.

Napalingon din si Aaron tapos biglang nanlaki ang mata niya, "M-Mom?!" sabi pa niya tsaka dali-daling tumayo at tumakbo papunta sa mama niya.

Bigla nitong niyakap yung nanay niya at napaiwas nalang ako ng tingin, I miss my mom.

"A-Are you okay?! m-may nangyari bang masama sayo?!" nag-aalalang tanong nung nanay niya.

Biglang humagulhol yung bata at hinaplos naman ng nanay niya yung ulo nito at saka pinatahan.

"W-Who are you?" tanong sakin nung lalaki, yung tatay ata ni Aaron.

"Uhm, Celine" I simply said. Umayos na ako ng tayo at saka ko sila tiningnan.

"A-Anong nangyari sa anak namin?! bakit nai---" medyo nataas na yung boses nung lalaki sa akin kaya napakunot ang noo ko. Aba, ang kapal ng mukha, parang sakin pa magagalit?

"D-Dad, calm down. S-She saved me..." sabi ni Aaron na nag-angat pa ng tingin sa tatay niya. Nahihiyang napalingon sakin ang tatay niya at biglang humingi ng paumanhin.

"S-Sorry... I-I thought you're k********g my son..." nahihiyang sabi pa nung ama. Yung nanay naman niya eh nagsorry din sakin, "Uhm, it's fine... I understand that you're just being protective with your son. Kung ako din ang nasa posisyon niyo, I think I'll also do the same thing" sabi ko pa na ngumiti pa ng pilit, shocks, ang awkward.

"Did something happened, Aaron?" baling nung nanay niya dun sa bata.

"I was attacked by a hound and she saved me. If she's not there, I would've been devoured" nakayukong ani nung bata.

Aaron's parents was left speechless. Biglang may tumulo na luha sa mata nung nanay niya and she hugged her son tightly.

"I-I'm ve-very sorry..." sabi pa nung nanay at saka ipinatong ang mukha niya don sa balikat nung bata habang naiyak.

The father also hugged his son tightly at parang may family reunion sa harap ko. Shet, ang awkward, nakakahiya naman na maki-singit tas sasabihin ko na aalis na ako.

Tinignan ko lang sila at promise mukha akong tanga dito, intayin ko munang matapos ang moment nila bago ako magpaalam.

After a few minutes, kumalas na sila ng yakap sa isa't isa. Magsasalita na sana ako pero biglang lumingon sakin yung nanay niya at saka lumapit sakin.

Medyo maluha luha pa siya tapos bigla niyang hinawakan ang dalawang kamay ko, "Ma-Maraming salamat sa pagliligtas sa anak ko... pa-pasensya na din kung nahusgahan ka agad ng asawa ko, I sincerely hope you forgive us"

"Uhm, y-you're welcome... and actually it's fine, naiintindihan ko naman" nakangiti pang ani ko.

"B-By the way, aalis na p---"

"Wait, before you leave, take thi---" nanlaki ang mata ko ng biglang kumuha siya sa bulsa niya ng isang pouch and I think it's full of coins, kaya pinutol ko na ang pagsasalita niya.

"Wag na po, I am not asking for something in return. As long as your son is safe, that's already fine with m---" naputol ang sasabihin ko ng biglang kumalam ang sikmura ko.

Fuck? nakakahiya. She giggled at nagliwanag ang mukha niya na parang may naalala siya.

"Oo nga pala, may natitira pa kaming pagkain dito. Sayo nalang" sabi pa niya na binuksan ang bag nila na nakasabit sa likod ng asawa niya. She grabbed two tupperwares and she handed it to me, "Di yan madami, but I guess it would suffice"

"Ha? wag na po..." shet, ano isusunod ko don? wala akong maisip na palusot lalo na't narinig niyang kumalam ang sikmura ko.

"Hayaan mo na, para makabawi naman kami sa kabutihan na nagawa mo sa anak namin. By the way, that's not a leftover food, hehe, labis yan na pagkain samin" nagkakamot pa sa ulong sabi niya.

Sige, kung pinipilit niya eh, charot. Pero gutom na nga ako kaya kinuha ko nalang. Sorry naman, gutom na gutom nako eh.

I smiled at them, "Thank you po!"

"Here, kuhanin mo na din tong pe---" pinigilan ko siya bago pa niya mailagay sa kamay ko yung pera, okay na sakin yung pagkain, di naman ako mukhang pera eh.

"Wag na po. Okay na po sakin itong pagkain, hehe labis pa nga po eh"

"O siya, kung ayaw mo talagang tanggapin. Sige hija, mauna na kami ha?"

"Sige po, ingat po kayo!" I said and I bade them goodbye.

They also bade me farewell as we went on our own separate ways.

Well, I guess it's not that bad doing heroic things like that. Who would have thought that I can satisfy my hunger just because I saved a little boy from a hound?

I chuckled at the thought and I decided to just eat the food near the river. Para may supply na din ako ng tubig if ever I become thirsty.

Umupo ako sa isang bato na nasa gilid ng river at sumunod naman saken si Chubby. Upon opening the tupperware, I can already smell its' pleasant aroma which made me even hungrier.

"Itadakimasu!" I said before starting eating. Hehe, I usually hear this from Japanese people especially in anime and they usually say it before eating. Napapanood ko lang siya sa anime kaya I thought of doing the same, wala lang trip ko lang. Besides it is a way of saying grace before eating so I thought it's not that bad saying it.

I started eating and I also shared some to Chubby. Though, Chubby can't understand me, I still shared my experiences upon waking up in here. It just feels nice talking to your pet, especially sharing your unforgettable experiences.

Though, the thought of embarking on a journey may sound as a bad idea, I also thought that maybe this is actually an adventure that I'm looking for. I just hope that I won't fall into misfortune again... kasi kung may malas na naman na mangyari sakin, jusko wag na, bahala na to baka di nako tumuloy... char lang, no choice kaya ako.

Anyway, we continued eating until our hunger faded. I stood up and I head towards the river to drink water.

"Tara na, Chubby. Let's now continue our journey..."