Wages Of Sin

Kabanata 19

Kabanata 19

Hapong-hapo akong napahawak sa tuhod nang makarating sa kalagitnaan ng gubat. My hope is falling when I realized that I can't remember the way back to my house anymore. Dagdag mo pa ang duration.

It took me 3 days to find Iko. That far. This means I'll consume 3 days more. No, I'll be wasting 3 days more.

Napa-upo ako sa ilalim ng puno kung nasaan ako ngayon. I swallowed when I felt my throat dried. I need water yet I don't have one.

Napatingin ako sa langit. Maggagabi na. Ni hindi ko na alam kung nasaan na ako. Napalinga-linga ako sa paligid—hoping I might familiarize things here. But no. I am hopeless.

"Tubig..." I whispered and closed my eyes.

Slowly, I tried to get up. Hinang-hina ako nang magsimulang maglakad habang palinga-linga. I'm not really hoping for someone else to come. I believe that I can help myself. I had lived alone, and will be living alone.

"Ilog!" Iko suddenly shouted.

Bumaba naman ito galing sa balikat ko saka tumakbo papunta sa isang... ilog! May ilog!

Agad akong sumunod kay Iko saka tumakbo rin papunta sa ilog na itinuro niya. Nang makarating ay agad kong sinalikop ang iilang tubig sa palad ko saka ito ininom. Wala nang arte-arte. I'm thirsty.

I closed my eyes when I felt the liquid flowing thoroughly in my throat. Napa-upo ako habang mabigat ang paghinga. At least I felt satisfied.

Sinimulan ko ring linisin ang dumi sa puti kong damit. But due to the dirt's thickness, may iilan akong hindi natanggal. It's fine. If I'll get back to my home, I might find some worthwhile outfits.

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang may makitang lumulutang na parang bato. My brows creased. The stone is moving. But rocks don't usually move and float in water, right?

"Shiiiiit!" I screamed when a crocodile suddenly showed up.

My eyes widened. Natumba pa ako mula sa maayos kong pagkaka-upo. I saw Iko jump into my shoulders. Pero hindi ko alam kung tatakbo ako o magpapakain na lang. I'm stunned. Its teeth are sharp. Malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

"What the fuck!" I shouted when I realized that I need to run.

Instead of running, I showed a stop sign using my hand to the crocodile. I can still see how it groans. I gulped. This is where I'll be dead. Oh, shit.

"Fucking go away from me!" I shouted. Then an idea came out to my mind. Unconsciously, I shouted his name. "HELP ME YOU COWARD!"

Natigil ako sa pagsigaw nang makarinig ng malakas na tunog ng pagtakbo. At ungol. A rough, grudging, groan. Napalingon ako kung saan iyon nanggaling. Then I saw him.

Muli pa akong napalingon sa buwaya. It's running away—what? Why is he running away?

I turned to the Lion. I saw him roared when he saw me. Na para bang nai-irita siyang makita ako. Tumalikod lamang ito saka naglakad palayo.

"Wait!" I stopped him and followed. "Why did he run away? Did you stop him?"

He showed his sharp teeth. Uh-oh, he's angry. "I eat meats. Go away, hoeman."

Napa-ismid ako dahil doon. I don't know what to react. Did he just call me hoeman?

"Coward!" I shouted.

Hindi ko ba alam. Noon naman, dumidistansya ako sa kaniya. For safe purposes. But after I heard what Thora and Robin said about my ability and this Lion, things suddenly changed. Though nand'yan pa rin 'yung kaba.