Ilang oras na akong nagbobrowse at nagsesearch in the internet but kahit isa, wala akong nakitang matinong results. Kung hindi Twilight Saga ni Stephanie Meyer ang lalabas, kung ano-anong werewolves and vampires inspired movies and novels ang nakikita ko. I am getting tired and hopeless. Muntik na akong mabaliw at magwala dahil sa mga nangyayari, buti na lang, Jane arrived.
"Just like what I think. Ang galing mo talaga tumakas at magexcuse Vera. By the way, I have a take away food from your favorite resto. Come, let's eat dinner, I am starving." nangaasar na saad ni Jane. Well, it is already 7pm and guess what? I am still having a blank sheet. Wala pa rin akong makita. Buti na lang Jane had brought dinner. I definitely need a break time.
"Alam mo, John was so furious. Galit na galit. He said that you are just taking your position for granted. And thank you kasi lahat ng inis niya, sinalo ko." giit ni Jane habang nagpreprepare ng utensils. "I am so sorry Jane, I'm truly is. You know, I just needed time to research for something that is connected to Angelo's work. If I do not focus on this, mas maraming sermon ang maririnig natin sa sobrang nakakainis nating boss." sagot ko while getting some serving of my favorite pasta. "Eh, ano ba yang ginagawa mo? What is his problem this time?" Jane asked. "He has a writer's block na somehow peculiar and strange but I already had an idea to cure it. I just needed to find an artistic inspiration for him. " I said in full confidence. "Are you sure? Do you need my help?" Jane asked. "Nope. I can handle this things. I will just update you and tell you kapag hindi na kaya ng powers ko." saad ko. Jane just nodded and sighed.
After dinner, bumalik na ako sa aking ginagawa, hoping na this time, I will find something. In the middle of my deep research and reading, I bumped into a site of an unnotable news company. I have feeling that I am close on getting my desire. Looking upon the page, mukhang matagal ng walang bumibisita sa site and it looks like the company is no longer on operation but my attention was caught by their feature article posted way back 2014 which was about the hidden ancestral tribes of Benguet. I immediately click the article and the site redirected me to the page where it was posted. This what makes me both scared and curious, the author of the article was Rebecca Razon. Sa mga naalala ko sa panaginip ko, the man who seems to be the leader of the tribe, called the woman who physically maltreated me with the name, Rebecca. Well, I think this is just a coincidence and nothing of it really means but I cannot silence my heart because it seems that a part of me wanted to believe that she was the woman in my dreams.
Going back to the article, the writer of the article focused on discussing a tribe that was not discovered by human civilization for centuries. Based on the article, the tribe existed in the northern mountains of Benguet and they have a peculiar tradition every full moon, they called it, Ka-ila-An which means appearance. There are no more details about the tradition but the article said that every full moon, the people gather and do something about the appearance. While reading it, I am definitely trembling. There is something in me that is scared at its finest and there is also a part in me that is curious. In addition, the article says that this tribe has many myths and legends. Some says, na hindi ito kayang matagpuan ng mga taong hindi parte o hindi blood relative ng mga indigenous people ng tribe. Some comments on the post are also shocking. Most of it, were comments posted out of fear. Some says that Rebecca shouldn't have posted the article because the tribe was definitely shape shifters.
On the logical side, myths and legends are just a ripple on human's vast imagination. In short, they are not realities. I tried to set aside my personal agenda and the dream that bothers me. I decided to make a proposal out of this. I look for Rebecca Razon on different social media platforms and luckily, I found her. She is now leading a radio broadcasting company near my office, named Hobre Lobo Inc. Later that night, I intricately do and finished my proposal for John to meet Rebecca and hopefully go to the ancestral tribe she had done an article about. I am also hoping that he will approve this. This is the best idea I've got to help Angelo.
Early in the morning, I rushed to the office. Iniwan ko na nga si Jane na tulog na tulog. I don't know but I am so excited to meet Rebecca. Hindi ko alam kung bakit but I shake off that excitement and tried to be composed. Kailangan kong magmukhang convincing kay John lalo pa't galit siya sa akin since yesterday. Exactly 8 am, John arrived, I greeted him. "Good Morning, Sir John." I said and smiled. "Ms. Vera, we have things to discuss. Come right away to my office." John replied in a very serious tone, mababakas mo ang matinding inis na marahan niyang tinatago sa kanyang usual face reaction.
As I enter his room, he scolded me immediately just like there is no tomorrow. "Ano ba yan Vera, you are so unprofessional? You leave work for a made up excuse. You are so childish. You know, I am so furious yesterday because you act as if you are the head. Know your place, Vera. Submit to me please, I am your editor in chief for the company's sake. Grow up to a lady, stop being a brat!" John said. " I am so sorry, Sir John. It will not happen again. I know it is a tactless act but Angelo needed my help because he is now facing a crucial situation. He wanted to stop writing the story that is nearly on its end. I just can't help but to create a spark again in him to continue writing. Sorry, sir. As a matter of fact, I have a proposal here to solve the problem." saad ko kay John while giving him the proposal.
Bakas pa rin sa mukha ni John ang pagkaupset and pagkainis but I cannot take my gaze away from him. I know this sounds weird, knowing that I hate him. Yes, I must say, may itsura si John. Fine, he is indeed gifted in appearance. Kung hindi lang sana mayabang at annoying ito, I might definitely like him. With a silent sigh, I come to think of that idea, it actually made me cringe. "So, para pagtakpan ang mga childish excuses mo, you are now bribing me a solution. How sure are you that this proposal can help Angelo?" he asked with a smirk. Ito, ito yung kinakakinisan ko sa kanya. He always make me feel intimidated and wrong. Parang yung ideas ko are not good enough for him. He depreciate the value of my ideas. How annoying!
"I can assure you, sir. Let us give it a try." I convinced him with all the confidence I have. "Well, for me it is just a waste but let us see if it works. Okay, I will call Hombre Lobo Inc. I will talk to you again if the appointment was set. You may now leave." John answered.
I go out from his room as soon as I can. Hindi ko na matagalan yung attitude niya. He is such a pain and torture in my ego. I hate him. I head towards the comfort room and while looking in the mirror, it feels like my consciousness traveled in a different dimension. It had given me tons of head aches. Ang sakit.
I don't know if I am dreaming while I am standing or I already passed out but now I can see fields of tall grasses and sea of clouds. "Lizette, halika na. Bilisan natin. They are now coming." tawag ng isang nagmamadali sa takot na lalaki sa babeng humahangos din ng takbo na tila ba may tinatakasan. Her face was familiar to me. I definitely saw her in some photos. "Leon, tumakas ka na, dalin mo ang bata, magpakalayo layo ka. Hahadlangan ko sila hanggang sa makakaya ko." giit ni Lizette. "Lizette, hindi ko kaya na wala ka. I cannot live without you." saad ni Leon. Dama ko ang matinding pighati na nararamdaman ng lalaki sa puso ko. "Leon, makinig ka, mahal na mahal kita at yang bata na nasa mga braso mo. Alagaan mo siya para sa akin. Magtago ka. Bilisan mo. Sige na." sabi ni Lizette in the middle of her cries. Tumakbo si Leon ng napakabilis at unti unti naglaho siya sa dilim ng kagubatan.
"Lumabas kayo dyan. Ilabas niyo ang mga anyo niyo. Mga halimaw." sigaw ni Lizette. "Hindi lang kami ang halimaw, Lizette. Halimaw ka din. Baka nakakalimutan mo, bahagi ka ng lahi natin. Dugo ng tinatawag mong halimaw ang nanalaytay sa mga ugat mo" saad ng lalaki na tila ba siya ang pinuno ng mga humahabol sa kanila. "Wala akong ginagawang mali." diin ni Lizette. Unti unti sa dilim, naaninag ko ang mga mata nilang, kumikislap katulad ng liwanang ng buwan. May mga kuko sila na mahahaba at matatalim. "Hindi ko kayo papayagan na saktan si Leon at ang bata. Dadaan muna kayo sa bangkay ko." sigaw ng babae. "Ikaw pa naman ang nakatakdang maging susunod na pinuno. Wala kang galang at respeto sa lahi natin. Traydor ka!" sigaw ng isang babae.
Mabilis ang naging sunod na pangyayari. Lumaban si Lizette pero walang kasing bilis ang kanyang mga kalaban. Tila hangin kung gumalaw ang mga ito at dali daling pinuntirya ang lokasyon ni Lizette. Alerto si Lizette. Nagawa niyang itumba ang ilan pero nakapagtamo siya ng malalaki at malalim na kalmot mula sa mga kuko ng mga ito. Dahil sa panghihina, inutusan ng pinuno ang kanyang mga alagad na hawakan si Lizette sa magkabila niyang kamay at iharap sa kanya. "Wala kang laban sa amin. Pinahina ka na ng emosyon mo. Wala ka ng silbi." tinuran ng pinuno. "Alam niyo na ang gagawin dyan." dagdag niya habang dahan dahang nililisan ang lugar. "Sa tingin mo, nagtagumpay ka na? Magbabalik ang anak ko at puputulin niya ang mala halimaw niyong pamumuno. Hindi kayo nararapat maging pinuno." saad ni Lizette. Sa isang iglap, parang papel na tinusok ang katawan ni Lizette. Walang awang dinukot ng isang babae ang kanyang puso. "Marami ka pang sinasabi, you cannot win against the tribe, Lizette. Never." saad ng isang babae. Nawalan ng buhay ang babae at iniwan magisa ng mga taong lumapastangan sa kanya.
"Darating ang araw, magbabalik ang anak ko, na siyang tunay na itinakda na maging pinuno ng lahi namin. Vera, magpalakas ka." mahinang daing ng babae habang unti unting nawawalan ng hangin ang kanyang mga baga.
Bakit niya binanggit yung pangalan ko? Why does my name uttered by an unknown woman? This words made me even more confused. What? Is it me? Ako ba yung bata na kasama ni Leon? How is that possible? Maya't maya pa, in just an instant, nakaramdam ako ng sobrang sakit sa aking ulo, tila ba napipilipit ang mga ugat nito. In the middle of the pain, I was able to open my eyes. Then, I saw myself in a hospital bed.