I got kicked out of the beer house, and this big man with thick mustache kept humiliating me outside. Some men inside were laughing, and rose a toast.
I’m just a thin man, and had nothing. I have no home, just wandering in this cold place of Siberia. Luckily, I have survived the frost, hunger, and lack of shelter, as I stay on some sheds, and hunt animals on the frozen wild forest.
“Young man, f*ck off!” the big man spitted and...
Kapow!
... I felt my jaw unsettled on my mouth for some seconds and a sharp pain travelled through my flesh. I saw his fist clenched and went back inside the beer house. This tastes like iron, but never mind. I’ll go somewhere empty.
Or, through the woods?
This feels heavy, the boots. How can I resist this cold air, if I’m too weak, and starving?
[Lalong lumamig ang paligid. Hindi sapat ang kapal ng mga suot ko para mabawasan ang lamig. Malapit na ako sa kagubatan, at nagpatuloy pa rin sa paglalakad. Lumalakas ang simoy, pero nilalabanan ko ito. Bumibigat na ang pakiramdam ko. Pero, nakikita ko na ang kweba. Doon muna ako mananatili hangga’t wala pa akong mahanap na tirahan.]
I built fire using the dried twigs near the cave, and the safety matches I always have inside my backpack. If this strong wind doesn’t stop, then it will be a long stay here, hope there’s no bear inside.
[Sumagi sa isip ko kung may pamilya pa ba ako. Kung sakali man, may matutuluyan na ako, pero walang nakakakilala sa akin dito sa Siberia. Sa dami na rin ng lugar na napuntahan ko rito, ni isa ay walang nagsabing pamilyar ako sa kanila.
Naglapag ako ng sapin at natulog na lang, nagbabakasakaling sa paggising ko ay tumigil na ang malakas na hangin.]
. . .
Something’s off. I heard a growl inside the cave. If it’s a polar bear, then, it’s a bye - bye for me. Fear crept but, I don’t want to be killed by this way. Every lapse of time, the roar of hunger echoes through the cave, I thought it is so wide and lived a lot of creatures that also fight for survival.
Another huge unusual creature came, furry and as white as snow. Two monsters have this staring competition at my front, preparing themselves for a fight. It looks like, either of them wins, I’ll still be their prize, and be killed in the end.
[Isa siyang nilalang na galing sa mga kwentong sinalin - salin, at ngayon ko lang nakita ito, lalo na’t sa personal. Kung malalaman nila ang tungkol rito, at mahuli ko ang nilalang na ito, magiging sikat ako sa lugar, at maaaring madali akong mahanap ng mga kamag-anak ko.]
With his tough arms, he carried the bear up, and throw somewhere afar, to the woods. The white bear accelerates so much that it is no where to be seen. Jaw - dropping.
After that scene, this creature came out of the cave and glared at me. But, he looked away and went also to the woods.
[Plano kong kaibiganin ang nilalang na ito, at walang makapipigil sa akin.
Sa kalaunan ay naging kaibigan ko siya, naging malapit siya sa akin. Palagi kaming naglalakbay sa mga kabundukan sa Siberia, ngunit wala pa rin siyang kaalam - alam sa plano ko.]
I set a trap to the cave, huge enough to get the Yeti caught, and I went back to the village to tell the news. I’ll be a legendary hero who hunted the creature that once in the stories.
They don’t believe what I’ve said, so I gathered them to the cave where I set the trap, and there I saw the Yeti trying to escape. It’s no use, bud, I made it sure you cannot get out of that sh*t.
[Naniwala na nga sila sa akin. Ang mga dating nang-api sa akin, kinaibigan ako. Maraming nagbigay sa akin ng pagkain, matitirhan, kasuotan, at mga babae. Malaki pala ang pakinabang ng Yeti na ito sa akin. Nang dahil sa kaniya, naging maganda ang buhay ko. Nahanap ko rin ang mga kamag-anak ko.]
I was surrounded by many ladies when my relative came and raised her eyebrows.
“Hey, I will borrow money again from you. There is a grand ball at the kingdom, I’ll be needing an elegant gown. Lend me some money, I need it!”
In times of poverty, they were not there, but when I have prosperity, they are present. Society is.
Most of the days, I woke up with these things, but this didn’t make me happy anymore.
I just wanted to have... genuine happiness.
But I have to decide, whether I’ll leave this life and be a thin man with nothing, again, or stay here, with the same scene I have told.
[Nagtago ako para palayain ang Yeti sa kaniyang kulungan, pero may mga bantay. Handa akong mawala ang mga kayamanan na ito, ‘wag lang ang pagkakaibigang nabuo namin.]
“Friend, you are free now, you can go home now,” I whispered to the Yeti while I’m unlocking his cage.
“Run!”
He left me. I know that this deed will satisfy what my soul needs. I need him to live longer, and I’m the reason why he has experienced that pain. I’ll sacrifice myself.
A strong force left me unconscious of everything, my sight turned into darkness, and I could only feel the cold air once again.
