Chapter 02: Danger
"Sigurado ba kayo sa Mt. Sabino Canyon?" The driver asked.
Kasalukuyan kaming nakasakay sa taxi ngayon at maagang umalis sa bahay. Hindi ko na inisip pa kung anong magiging reaksyon nila Daddy dahil ito na ang huli pagsuway ko sa kanila bago ko tanggapin ang kapalarang hindi na ako mag-eenjoy sa buhay.
"Oo Manong. May problema ba? Bakit mo po natanong?" Andrea answered in astonishment. Napalingon din ako sa driver at nagtama ang mata namin sa salamin at bakas ang pangamba sa kanyang mga mata.
"Misteryoso ang bundok na iyon. Marami akong mga naririnig na pagtatangka na pumasok sa bundok ngunit walang nakikita isa ang bumalik. Mag-ingat kayo." its a serious answer that worries me a lot.
"Thank you. Its seems isa lamang itong haka-haka na ginawa ng mga tao. We are going there to explore and be sure to watch our contents on youtube. " I said and suddenly chuckled.
I turned to Andrea who was holding back a laugh while giving an approved sign. The driver did not answer. I know in myself that nothing bad will happen to us. Hopefully.
I did not realize the time and we already reached the mountain.
"Nandito na tayo."
Lumingon ako sa labas. Medyo madilim pa rin ngunit naaaninag ng kaunti ang itsura bundok dahil sa sikat ng araw.
"Sige po. Thank you po sa ride." I said and Andrea and I went down.
Pagbaba namin ni Andrea ay umalis na agad ang taxi. Nasa harap na kami ng bundok ng Sabino. If you look at it, it is just like the ordinary mountains that we used to visit. We also slowly see the beauty of the mountain due to the gradual sunrise.
But I was suddenly taken aback when I noticed that the mountain looked familiar. Totoo ba ito? Parang nakita ko na ito dati! I just can't remember where and when
Something was pulling at me causing me to look at it even more. I just returned to my trance when Andrea started moving in front of me.
She pulled out her camera used for vlogging at binuksan ito at nagsimulang magsalita. Hanggang ngayon naaasar pa rin ako sa itsura niya kapag nag-vvlog.
"Good morning!" its greeting to her camera.
"So, now nandito kami sa harap ng Sabino Canyon to explore and of course with me the most beautiful best friend in history." she said while turning the camera on me.
I immediately smiled and waved at the camera.
"Hindi magtatagal ay pupunta na kami sa bundok, and I'll take another video when we're on top of it. Bye Guys!" masayang pagkaway niya sa camera before turning it off.
"So? Let's go?" tanong ko sa kanya habang naglalabas ng ilan sa aming mga gamit.
"Teka, mag-selfie muna tayo sa harap ng bundok." she once greeted us with her camera.
Andrea and I have the same OOTD. We were both wearing black jackets and pink shirt. We also wore the black boots we bought yesterday at the mall. Talagang nagawa pa naming maging kampante kahit na tumakas kami
"Sige, sabay tayong maglakad. Nakakatuwa mag-explore sa bundok na ito." wika nito habang nakatingin sa paligid.
I wasted no time. I immediately accompanied her on the walk to the mountain.
Nilabas ko ang chalk at isa-isang minarkahan ang bawat puno na nadaanan namin. Mga palatandaan ng aming pag-uwi mamaya. Dahil mahirap mawala sa bundok na ito lalo na ngayon lang kami nakapunta rito.
Andrea, on the other hand, was busy taking pictures with me at sinasabayan ang mahinang music sa kanyang phone.
"Cause ah, ah, I'm in the stars tonight. So let me bring the fire and set the night alight--" she looked at me for a moment.
"Ruthenia! Bilisan mo. Kung hindi tayo makarating agad sa ibabaw ng bundok, we will be overtaken by darkness on the way home." she shouted.
"Hinaan mo nga 'yang boses mo. It's early in the morning! For pete's sake! Evil elements may even awaken and eat us." pagbibibiro ko.
"Hoy! In case there is malignancy here ikaw ang unang ipapakain ko bago ako 'no." its rebuke at the same time give me a confused look ng biglang lumamig at kumulimlim ang paligid.
I also notice the strange feeling around causing my hair to stand on my arm or I just feel it. Gosh!
"Andrea, tama muna iyan. Dito ka lang sa tabi ko at baka magkahiwalay pa tayo." sabi ko sa kanya at agad namang siyang sumunod pero lilinga-linga ito na parang may hinahananap.
"Aren't you wondering?" biglang tanong niya.
"For what?"
She stopped walking and touched one of the trees. "Kakaiba ang structure ng mga trees rito. This is my first time to see something like this. Hindi naman ganito ang mga puno kanina, right?" saad niya sabay picture sa katawan puno.
I don't want to think strangely but I really feel different since we stepped on this mountain. Parang biglang nag-iba ang itsura ng buong gubat or hallucination ko lang.
"Yeah, but maybe these kind of trees are very rare at dito lang talaga siya sa Pilipinas matatag--"
Bigla kaming natahimik at naging alerto when we suddenly heard a noise.
I immediately pulled out my short sword and a cross bow for Andrea.
I forgot to mention, we used these weapons only for emergency dahil hindi maiwasang may ma-engkwentro kaming wild animals lalo na't mga kagubatan at bundok ang madalas naming i-explore. Pa-sekreto kaming nag-aaral ng basic self defense dahil hindi naman payag sina Dad sa ganito.
About my sword, it was forged by a certain sword smith back when we have a vacation in Europe. Normal lang namang espada ito pero lightweight siya and it was inspired by Kirito's sword sa SAO. Sa Crossbow naman ni Andrea it was also bought from the same person who made my sword.
Mas lalo kaming naging alerto nang gumalaw ang isa sa mga kumpol ng damo while drawing our weapons.
Our eyes widened when a white puppy came out from the bush.
Nilapitan namin ito ni Andrea. "Waah! Ang cute! I think its a girl!"
"Grrrr."
Andrea would have touched it but it showed its fang.
I'm not so sure if its a puppy dahil mukha siyang baby wolf. Bumaba ang aking tingin sa white fur niya na namantsahan ng dugo.
"She's wounded. Kailangan siyang magamot." I said worriedly sabay tago sa aking espada.
"Pero paano? Base from her characteristics it's so hard to tame something like her." she said with mix astonishment.
"Hello there cute thing. Come here. Let me touch you." Hindi ko na mapigilan ang sarili ko na tawagin ang tuta. She's quite big for a pup.
Its eyed me when she heard me. Now I can see her eyes I noticed that it have silver eyes that I almost mistook that she is just having a cataract. But fear enveloped her eyes.
She's afraid of something.
"Be careful Ruthenia. She's still a wolf." Saad naman ni Andrea na mukhang siya ang natatakot para sa akin.
I do not feel scared. She is innocent and I can't feel any malice from her. She stepped forward with hesitation. Her face bores confusion and but also afraid.
"Its okay little buddy. Let us just treat you." tuluyan na siyang lumapit sa akin at nagpahaplos.
"Aish. I almost had an heart attack." dinig kong sabi ni Andrea.
"Andrea. Ilabas mo ang first aid kit. We need to treat this pup. Faster..." pagmamadali ko habang nakatingin sa walang malay na baby wolf.
Mabilis kong lininis ang mga sugat niya and I noticed a trace of scratch in its belly na galing sa isang hayop rin, I guess. I immediately finished and wrapped up bandages around her wounds.
"Tara na. Kailangan nating marating ang ibabaw ng bundok and hoping na makita ang magulang ng pup na ito." I said sabay tingin sa karga-karga kong tulog na baby wolf habang naglalakad kaming dalawa.
"Plano mo ba bang ibalik 'yan? Ampunin---"
"No." pagputol ko. "She's a wolf at dito siya nabibilang."
Tahimik...
Sa ilang minuto naming paglalakad paakyat sa bundok nang biglang nagrehistro sa aking utak na ang lugar na ito ay pamilyar sa akin. I suddenly feel dizzy sa sobrang pagkalito.
Tall trees, cold climate, and withering dry leaves cause minimal noise when trampled.
This is exactly the scenario I saw in my dream!
Mas lalo akong kinilabutan ng maalala rin ang istura ng bundok kanina. Its also the same... The same place in my dream.
To my great surprise, biglang napahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa tuta and for a moment I stopped walking in shock.
Andrea also stopped and looked at me in surprise. "May problema ba? Do you seem nervous. You are pale." wrinkled forehead this question.
"No, may bigla lang akong naalala." I lied.
"Oh Ruthenia, huwag ako please.
It's obvious from the way you look. Jus spit it out." sigaw niya while still staring at me seriously.
I just sighed and did not hesitate to say this to Andrea.
"It looks like the place we are treading ....." sandali akong napapikit sa takot.
"What is it? Huwag mo naman akong bitinin..." its irritating language sabay kamot sa kanyang ulo.
I took a deep breath before speaking. "The look of this place, the towering trees, the cold climate, and the withering dry leaves. I already witnessed this scene on one of my dreams recently!" I was horrified to say. Like what the hell?! Can those things be dreamed of?
Her eyes widened in shock.
"Really?" this question shocked.
"Yes! As in that exact scene in my dream." Hinding hindi ako magkakamali. Ito ang hitsura ng lugar sa panaginip ko.
She was silent for a moment before speaking again.
"May sasabihin rin ako sa iyo." it again before we resumed our walk.
"--at ano naman 'yon?" I stammered the question with great nervousness.
Napansin rin siguro ni Andrea na napalunok ako bigla.
"Kunti nalang and my subscribers will reach 1 million!" she shouted so loudly that it barely echoed all over the forest too loudly.
Napasinghap ako ng marinig ko ang sinabi niya. Minsan hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang babaeng ito.
"It's not good to joke in this situation ah. Tsaka hindi ka ba naniniwala?" seryoso kong tanong.
"Naniniwala syempre! But maybe you're just hallucinating naman... Kailan mo ba 'yan napanaginipan? Kinikilabutan tuloy ako sa iyo eh." saad niya sabay tingin sa aming paligid.
"Totoo ang lahat ng sinabi ko. When I fell asleep in Dad's office when we assigned there last Saturday." pagpapaalala ko.
She nodded slowly and seemed to believe and be convinced of what I said.
"I believe in you. Nagbiro lang ako dahil ang seryoso mo ng bongga simula ng pumasok tayo rito sa bundok. We are here to enjoy so you should appreciate the cold climate around." kalmado niyang sabi habang nakapikit at dinadama ang hangin.
"Tumigil ka nga! Hindi mo bagay." I laughed holding back and couldn't help but slap her.
"Oh there you laughed too. Besides FYI ikaw lang naman ang naging dahilan kaya bumagal tayo sa paglalakad." its resentment.
"Oo na! Let's hurry, I'm excited to get to the top of the mountain." I smiled warmly at her.
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Third Person's POV
The two did not know that there was a secret portal on the mountain going to another world.
"Ruthenia! Hurry up! If we don't get to the top early we will be overtaken by darkness on the way home." the woman shouted ahead.
"Lower your voice! For pete's sake!Evil elements may even awaken and eat us." sabi ng babae sa bandang likuran.
"In case there is malignancy here you will be preceded by feeding before." answering the first woman.
While the two friends was on such a walk they suddenly passed through a bright part of the woods. That light swallowed them up and unknowingly they were in another world.
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