Waking up in Another World

Chapter 5: Embarking on a Journey (II)

Celine's POV

I looked in front of me and saw a white ceiling. Wait, maybe nasa langit na ako? besides it's comfortable in here, malambot yung hinihigaan ko.

So nakahiga ako sa ulap? oh my gosh, ang galing.

Itinaas ko ang kamay ko at tinignan iyon, tinry kong abutin ang puti na nasa harap ko ng may magsalita sa gilid ko, "Uhmm, miss, what are you doing?" takang tanong nung babae.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marealize ko na buhay pa pala ako. Oh my goodness, nakakahiya. Pilit ko pa man ding inaabot yung kisame, akala siguro nila nag-iinterpretative dance ako, shocks.

Binawi ko ang kamay ko at saka ibinalik iyon sa dati nong pwesto at saka ako tumingin dun sa babae. "N-Nothing"

"By the way, okay ka na ba?" she asked.

I nodded and took a look at my leg. Wala nang mark doon kaya nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

"What happened?" I asked.

"You got biten by a snake, right?" she asked.

I nodded as a response and she continued, "After you fainted, Drei and Clark saw you then they brought you here"

"Drei and Clark?" I asked while remembering where I heard that name. Oh, yung Drei yung isa sa mga naglalaban kanina. If I'm not mistaken siya yung undercut guy na gumagamit ng tubig, kasi yon yung tawag sa kanya nung mahaba ang buhok.

"They're the ones you were spying in the forest"

Nanlaki ang mata ko and I looked at her in surprise, "G-Grabe naman yung spying! di ba pwedeng nanonood lang?"

"Hehe, they told me that you're watching from a distance so I thought you're spying on them, sorry"

"By the way, where am I?"

"You're here at the village of Norbury, located inside the forest"

"Inside the forest? so malapit lang to dun sa lugar kung san ako nawalan ng malay?"

"Not that much, it's still 2-3 km from there"

"So that means, t-they carried me towards here?"

"Yup!"

"N-Nasan sila? I- I want to thank them..."

"They already left since may pupuntahan pa sila"

"B-By the way, are you the one who healed me?" I asked. She stared at me and nodded for a while.

"B-Bakit? ma-may masakit pa ba sayo?" parang kinakabahang ani niya.

"Wala naman, I also just wanted to thank you... maraming salamat nga pala, if you didn't heal me, I would have been dead by now"

"Huh? I didn't actually do that much. I-I just accelerated your recovery"

I looked at her with a questioning look and mentally told her 'What do you mean'. It seems that she understood what I'm trying to say base on my facial expression that's why she answered, "The snake that bit you is not actually poisonous. Though, it can make your whole body numb but it can't kill you. You'll return eventually in your normal state after 4-5 days. What I did is that I just accelerated your recovery from the numbness so instead of 4-5 days, you regained your consciousness for just half a day"

I nodded but I still thanked her. Well, if it's not for her, I could've been still paralyzed as of now.

Pero, di daw poisonous yung snake? pucha, napasabak pa man din ako sa drama. Pero anyway, I'm glad na kahit di pala ako naligtas kanina eh di ako mamamatay. Phew! that's a close one.

"W-What time is it?" I asked.

"It's already 4:13 in the afternoon. I suggest that you should stay here to rest for just the whole night. The forest can be dangerous at night" she said and smiled at me.

"O-Okay lang naman sakin na umalis na. N-Nakakahiya din kasi hehe"

Shocks, ngayon ko lang narealize na napaka-pabigat ko pala dito. Jusko, nakitira na ako ng nakitira sa bahay-bahay dito.

"It's fine with me. Besides, I just live alone here and living alone is kinda sad. That's why I'll be very glad if you stayed for at least a night. It's a rare occassion having a visitor especially if it's a girl" nakangiting ani niya. "Besides, there are some bandits roaming around at the forest at night so wandering around can be very dangerous, lalo na't babae ka pa man din"

I nodded shyly, "O-Okay, t-thank you again very much" I muttered.

"Do you want to go outside? hapon pa naman kaya medyo maliwanag pa" she said. I nodded as a response since I also want to know how the Norbury village looks like.

She assisted me and I'm actually amazed that it actually feels normal. I mean, di nananakit o nangingimay ang tuhod ko kaya nakakatayo na ako ng ayos.

"Kaya mo na bang tumayo?" she asked and I nodded. She motioned me to follow her and so I did.

Lumabas kami ng silid na yon at bumungad sa akin ang isang village. Well, tanga ko din noh? malamang nasa village ako kaya ba't parang nag-expect ako na mga waterfalls ang makikita ko HAHAHHAHA.

There are kids around and people at different ages. May mga bahay din and most of them are made from wood. There is also a water fountain at the center but it's not that big.

"Uhmm, by the way what's your name?" she asked.

"My name is Celine, hehe ikaw?" I asked.

"I'm Sam, it's nice to meet you Celine!"

"It's a pleasure to meet you too hehe, by the way, kapatid or jowa mo ba si Drei o Clark?" I asked.

She stared at me unbelievably and laughed, "HAHHAHAHAHAHA, anong jowa? kadiri"

Wow, choosy, charot. Pero grabe naman yung kadiri, parang kinasuklaman niya ang buong pagkatao nung dalawa.

After a while of laughing, she started talking, "Drei and Clark are actually the pride of the Norbury Village"

"Pride? as in parang hero ganon?"

She nodded and smiled, "Sort of... pero kahit na sila ang pride ng Norbury Village, maloko ang dalawang yon"

"Are they close with each other?" I asked while recalling how they treated each other. Well, they boasted to each other and the other one pointed a sword at the other one's neck, but I think they're quite close.

"Yup! they're both orphans and they grew up together. But they are too silly, even though they're close they still treat each other as rivals kaya kung maririnig mo sila lagi silang nag-aaway" she said and giggled as if she remembered something.

"So, anong relasyon mo sa kanila?" I curiously asked. Based on her statements, mukhang close silang tatlo.

"They're an acquiantance of mine. I can't say that I'm friends with them but they're always conversing with me. Hehe, Drei also said that he likes me, though I'm too old for him HAHAHHA"

My jaw dropped and my eyes widened, what? ang haba ng hair.

"Aren't you just 18-19 years old?" I asked.

She stared at me and laughed, "HAHAHHAHA, no I'm not. I'm already 24 years old while Drei and Clark are just 17 years old. See the gap?" she asked while laughing.

"But, may gusto ka sa kanya?" I curiously asked.

"Of course not. I'm not interested on having a relationship with someone younger than me" nakangusong ani niya.

We saw a vendor on the side who's selling breads and she immediately dragged me towards there.

"Which one do you like? I'll pay for it" she said.

Napatingin ako dun sa mga tinapay, at shet bigla tuloy akong nagutom. "Hehe, wag na... busog pa naman ako" pagsisinungaling ko pa. Nakakahiya naman kung magpapalibre pa ako, nakikituloy na nga ako sa kanya.

"You're not good at lying, Celine. I know you're starving since you haven't eaten anything after you woke up... kaya pumili ka na, HAHAHAHHA, besides isang beses lang naman to"

Sige na nga, pinilit niya ako eh. I shyly pointed the bread that I want and she bought it from the vendor, "5 pieces nga po non, atsaka 5 pieces din non" she said, pointing our orders.

Nagulat ako kasi lima ang binili niya, mas lalo tuloy akong nahiya. The vendor gave us the bread and she paid for it.

Inabot niya sakin yung supot and we started walking away. "By the way, where did you came from?" she asked.

I halted and thought about it, should I tell her? I don't think she's going to believe me but I guess I'll be honest with her, "Alam mo yung Pilipinas?" I asked.

Her eyebrows creased and she looked up as if she's trying to remember where is that place but she just frowned and throwed me a questioning look, "Pilipinas? I haven't heard of that place"

"That's where I came from. Though, I don't think everyone knows it"

"Could it be that you came from other empires?!" gulat na tanong niya.

"Anong other empires?"

"You don't have any idea?"

I nodded and she took a bite on her bread then started talking, "In this world, there are 4 empires, namely: Bawhad, Aglea, Eclein and Driegro Empire. This is the Eclein Empire, at yung Pilipinas? I don't know if nasa ibang empire siya but I'm certain na wala non sa Eclein"

My lips parted slightly and confusion can be seen all over my face, possible nga kaya yon? pano kaya kung yung Pilipinas eh parte lang pala talaga ng Bawhad, Aglea or Driegro? pero weird talaga, I haven't heard any place before that is called like that.

"I'm pretty sure that I don't know that empires" I muttered.

"Huh? kung ganon, san ka nanggaling?"

"I don't know, I just woke up suddenly at the town of Rigella"

"No way... could it be?" gulat na ani niya. Napatingin ako sa kanya at tinignan ko siya nang nagtataka.

"Anong could it be?"

"Maybe you're a victim of human trafficking!"

I frowned at her because that's not what I was expecting, though that seems possible. Siguro yung percentage ng probability niya is 7% lang kasi if I'm not mistaken, there's no one in my room that night and I'm certain that I'm not abducted.

If I'm a victim of human trafficking, I should have been aware of that. Besides, meron ba non? sa ibang mundo nadala?

"I don't think so"

"Then, what happened to you? you know where you came from but we haven't heard of that place before. I don't think you're lying cause you seems serious about it"

"I also don't know why. Nalilito nga din ako but that's why I embarked on this journey, to find an answer"

"Journey? anong plano mo?"

"I'm planning on meeting Serena, the elf that lived on the Rotten Grove. The one who kept me back then told me that maybe she can answer my question" I muttered.

"Serena, huh? I also think that she can help you but the thing is, I just don't know if it will be safe for you to embark on a journey towards there. Rotten Grove is a really dangerous place, tapos may iba pang instances na baka mapahamak ka habang naglalakbay, so I suggest that you should stay away from potential dangers or you could just cancel your journey. I'll help you find the answers that you've been looking for in any way that I can"

"Don't worry, I can handle it. Besides, I've already made up my mind. I'm already decided that I'll take my path towards there even though it might seem dangerous, besides, I don't want to bother someone just for my own sake" I said and smiled. She helped me a lot, and that's already more than enough.

"Are you sure?" she asked and I nodded.

"Okay, but if you need help, I will always be here"

"Got it. Thank you very much!"

Medyo nagulat ako kasi she suddenly pulled and hugged me. Shocks, baka ako pala crush neto? charot.

Parang nagulat din siya sa ginawa niya kaya inilayo niya ang katawan niya sa akin at saka tumingin sa akin, "I-I'm sorry... it's my first time kasi na magkaroon ng friend na babae" nahihiyang ani niya.

"I-It's fine... that doesn't bother me that much at all"

Parang may anghel na dumaan kasi biglang tumahimik sa pagitan namin. Awkward... medyo awkward din talaga sakin kasi wala talaga akong kaibigan hehe.

I can't actually say that Cain is my friend but yeah, I think we're close? or maybe he considers me as an acquiantance. But anyway, di naman siya clingy kaya di din ako sanay.

Binasag niya ang katahimikan at saka humarap sakin, "By the way, do you still want to roam around? babalik na kasi muna ako sa bahay dahil magluluto pa nga pala ako ng hapunan"

"Yeah, I'll roam around first. Uuwi nalang ako maya-maya"

"Be back before 7 pm, okay? stay safe, bye!" she waved her hand and I also bade her goodbye. I looked at her figurine until she disappeared from my sight and I went on roaming around.

I went at the plaza of Norbury Village and I saw a large fountain at the center, there is also a bench beside the fountain and I decided to sit on it.

I looked around the village and saw some kids playing some sort of games, I just don't know what's that game since it's unfamiliar to me, but that seems quite fun.

Tinanggal ko ang eyeglasses ko at pinunasan ko iyon gamit ang hem ng aking skirt. I also ate the bread that Sam gave me and it's really delicious.

I don't know what this bread is called but it's really delicious, though, I haven't eaten anything like it back then at the mortal world.

"Meeeoooowwww" a cat meowed at a distance, that's why I took a look at it.

I saw a cream colored cat that's walking slowly towards me. The cat's head is facing downwards that's why I don't know how it looks like but I think it looks cute.

When the cat arrived at the bench, I gave it a piece of bread because the cat seems hungry. Now that I mentioned it, I suddenly missed Chubby. I wonder what would happen on him now that I'm here, far away from where he is. It makes me quite sad thinking how will he spend his day now that I'm gone, I hope Cain take care of him while I'm not yet back.

When the cat is done eating, I petted it and it purred. Well, it somehow look comfortable with me that's why I gently grabbed the cat and I lifted it slowly to see what it looks like.

My eyes widened and my jaw dropped when I saw the cat's face. His beautiful jade eyes stared at me as it glistened since it's quite dark. No way, it can't be...