abbygamata

[abbygamata]

The Mountain

In a place they called mountain of fears, there lived a couple who were living peacefully yet they feel incomplete because they can not bear a child. There were days that they feel happy on their own, but sometimes, they wonder what would they feel if they have kids running around their home.

One night, Randy woke up to the sound of Sansa crying. "What is wrong, my wife?," he asked. Randy's atten tion drew on their wooden wall and saw the silhouette of his wife. "I really want to have a child…" she said and wiped her tears. Randy's heart broke because he knew he is the reason why they can't have one. He hushed her and tucked her wife to sleep.

"I'll be back later, my wife. Caloy just needs help in his butchery, and I have to be there in exchange of our debt," said Randy to her sleepy wife. The only thing that you can hear during that time is the sound of the crickets and owls.

Randy is used to walking from the top of the mountain up to the city. During times like these, he sings songs through whistling to fight his fear. Even though they've been living in the mountain for a few years now, he still gets lost. The last time he got lost, he found himself on the other side of the mountain. The couple has heard many stories about the mythical creatures that live on the mountain. His parents also used to tell him that but he shrugged it off. "Oh," Randy murmured when he realized that he's not on his way down the mountain. He scratched his head like a kid. He remembered what his father used to tell him, "When you get lost, you turn your clothes over."

Minutes later, he finally saw the way down. "Ah! How I wish the way is cemented from our house down to the road," he said and turned off his flashlight because the sun is finally showing up.

When he arrived at his cousin's house, the pigs were already butchered. He apologized and explained to Caloy what happened. "Why don't you just go back to your parents' house? I'm sure they will be glad to have you back," Caloy said nonchalantly while drinking his beer.

Randy shook his head. His parents do not like Sansa because they thought she's the reason why they can't have a child. What makes them hate Sansa even more is the fact that they eloped when she knew that Randy is an only child. Randy's parents were furious that time but when they saw how happy Randy is when he's with her, they just accepted it. However, they still despise her. When Randy felt the alcohol kicking in, he went home.

Sansa on the other hand is watering their vegetable plants. They have a wide farm which is the source of their money and food. The farm is not totally exposed to the sun, just enough for the crops to grow healthy.

"Where's the water coming from?" Sansa felt like her soul left her body for a second. "Jesus!" she shouted. It's a woman who looks like she’s in her 50s carrying firewoods in her back. The old woman smiled and apologized. "Do you also live here?" Sansa asked.

"Yes, but I live at the foot of this mountain, and I came here to get some of these," she said while pointing the firewoods. Sansa moved the hose to the corn crops. She wiped the beads of sweat in her forehead using the towel on her shoulder and went towards the old woman. “That looks heavy,” Sansa said and helped the old woman place the woods on the ground. “Do you need anything? Water? I think I have some left,” she said while searching the water bottle in her woven basket. Sansa gave it to the old woman and the latter took it in one shot. “Thank you, pretty girl. My name’s Emily,” the woman said. Sansa introduced herself and they both sat in the grassy field. “Really? My daughter’s name is Sansa, too! Well… it’s Sunshine but we call her Sansa,” Emily said while smiling. She then noticed that Sansa became quiet immediately so she asked why. “I wanted to have a daughter, too… or a son, I’d do anything to have one,” Sansa said in a low voice. Sansa felt comfortable immediately. She grew up without her parents, only her grandma, that’s why. Before the sun sets, Sansa told Emily the direction of her house before both bid their goodbyes.

Randy is humming while carrying the cooked pig’s head that Caloy gave before he went home. She then saw Emily walking. Randy felt something weird because this is the first time he saw a different person aside from his wife in his years here in the mountain. His thoughts were interrupted when he felt something itchy in his feet, he stepped on a colony of ants! He removed the big red ants on his feet and when he looked up, Emily isn’t there anymore. He just shrugged and continued walking. “Sansa! I brought you something for dinner!” he said upon entering the door. He saw Sansa preparing food in the kitchen. That night, Sansa told Randy about Emily. “She seems like a good person,” Sansa said when Randy told her not to talk to Emily anymore because she might be a witch or some scary creature pretending to be a human. Sansa rolled her eyes. “There he goes again,” she thought. One day, the couple is back in their farm watering their crops. “Hi, Sansa!” it’s Emily! Sansa waved back and run immediately towards her. Randy shook his head. He followed his wife and tried to stop her. “No, that woman is a witch!” Randy shouted. “What is wrong with you?” Sansa shouted back. “Honey, it’s okay…I’ll just head home,” Emily said in a calm voice.

“That was so rude, Randy!” Sansa said and followed Emily.

“I’m so sorry about that. He grew up hearing stories about witches and stuff,” Sansa said. “Do you believe him?” Emily asked and raised her brows. “W-well…at first, but I haven’t seen one yet,” Sansa answered. They continued walking until they reached Sansa’s home.

Sansa gave Emily cooked sweet potatoes for her to eat something on her way down. “Bless you, sweet heart. You have a pure soul, I wish you get pregnant in no time,” Emily said while holding Sansa’s belly.

The next morning, the couple was eating breakfast but they were not talking to each other. Sansa is still mad about Randy’s rude behavior. Sansa then felt like her throwing up so she immediately rushed outside their home. “What’s wrong?” Randy followed her. "I don't know, I felt sudden dizziness and my stomach feels like it's turning over," she said in a low voice. Randy caressed his wife's back. "Can it be?" Randy thought. "Maybe because I had too much sweet potatoes yesterday, " Sansa continued.

"I wonder what happened to that nice aunt," Sansa said while munching on her food. "Let me guess, maybe she got caught when her body was divided into two and the person who caught her put huge amount of salt in her lower body?" Randy said and laughed after. Sansa narrowed her eyes on him, "What?" Randy said, trying to be innocent. "It's been 3 months, you know. Should we visit her? I remember her telling me she lives at the foot of this mountain," she said excitedly. She made a face when Randy said no.

"How are you there, boy?" Randy said while holding Sansa's stomach. "You're crazy, he or she can't hear you yet…" Sansa turned out to be pregnant. Emily was the one who told them that when she visited Sansa three months ago. At first, they can not believe it, but imagine their joy when they saw Sansa's belly getting big as days go by. The joy they felt when they found it out was so out of the world. Randy thought maybe it's a miracle, but there's part of him that says there's something wrong. However, when he saw how happy her wife is, those second thoughts left his mind. "If it's a boy, we'll name him Lucio, if it's a girl, we'll name her Lucy," Sansa said dreamily. Randy smiled and said he loves it. Months passed by and Sansa is now on her eighth month. Anytime soon, she is going to deliver her first child. Randy's parents already knew that, they were happy but they do not want to visit Sansa. They said they will only visit once she gives birth. "You know what? Never mind, do not bother visiting us anymore, " Randy got angry to his parents because of their attitude. He left their home and promised himself not to go back there anymore.

It was three o'clock in the morning, Sansa's scream blends with the sound of the crickets and owls in the mountain. They didn't expect that she'll give birth very soon that's why Randy had no choice but to help Sansa deliver their baby. "Just a little more, push…" Randy said while holding the head of their baby. One last scream and their boy is finally in his arms. Randy let a lone tear as he looked at his son. "Lucio…" he said happily. Sansa felt so weak that she immediately fell asleep without seeing her son.

The aroma of ginger and the sound of rooster woke Sansa. She is in deep pain but when she saw her son beside her, the pain was replaced with joy. "Finally…" she whispered.

"SANSA! RANDY! LET ME SEE MY SON!" her attention drew to the voice outside their home. Is that Emily? Despite being weak, she tried to get up from the bed to see who's shouting and to her shock, it was really Emily! But, wait, son? What shocks her most is Emily's appearance-- dark under eyes, messy hair, dark lips and bloody clothes.

"Emily, what is happening? Why do you look like that?" Randy asked. He is holding a knife with blood on its blade. "I want to see my son, Lucio!”

“He’s not your grandson!” Randy shouted back. Sansa had goosebumps when she saw Emily smiled and it showed her black teeth. Emily laughed crazily. “Sansa, you are a good person, but your husband isn’t…” Sansa’s brows furrowed. “I haven’t done anything to you, Randy, but you have always been so rude to me, that’s why I asked my depraved husband to grant you something in return, and guess what? It’s Lucio, but na-uh, I know you’re wondering why Sansa got pregnant when you knew yourself you can’t give her that, ” Emily laughed again, this time, you can see lightning and hear thunders on the sky. Randy threw his knife towards Emily and it hit her shoulder, but the couple’s eyes grew big when Emily just removed it and licked the blade with her black tongue. “Please, Emily, stop this,” Sansa pleaded but Emily just continued laughing.

“Sansa, my dear, come with me and I will spare your husband’s life…” Emily tried to reach Sansa but the latter stepped back. “No, no, no! Please!”

“Aha, you don’t want to be with me?” she said in a thin voice while playing with her long black nails. “Then just let me see you child…” “You think I’ll let you?!” Randy said and threw salt to Emily. Emily then acted like she is in pain even when she isn’t. Sansa ran inside their house and immediately grabbed her son. She heard her husband shouted so she went outside while carrying Lucio. Sansa saw her husband getting surrounded by black smoke, so she ran towards Emily and pushed her. “Please stop this!” the crying and shaking Sansa said. “I’ll come with you…” Emily smiled wickedly, “Oh no, I’ve changed my mind. I want something else…” Emily looked at Lucio and before Sansa could speak, Lucio’s eyes turned black.

[abbygamata]

That One Road

"12 degrees,” I muttered as I looked at my phone screen. I fixed my scarf and followed my aunt and her friends, who were on their way out of the restaurant.

As we were walking, I could not help but shiver. This is my first time abroad, and it feels like a dream! Hong Kong is something else—great views, tasty foods, and lots and lots of places of entertainment! 

I grabbed my phone and took pictures of the tall buildings that we passed by. “Taikoo Shing Road.” I grinned as I read the road sign. 

“Auntie Allyn, would you please take a photo of me here? ”I asked excitedly while rushing towards her to give me my phone. I was grinning from ear to ear because an idea popped into my mind. The night after that, I posted the photo on my Facebook account story and received a notification that caused a fluttering sensation in my chest.

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[abbygamata]

SUKLAY

Hindi ko mapigilan ang pagkunot ng aking noo habang nakikinig sa mga bilin ng aming guro.

"Gago, ang tagal mag-dismiss ni sir, naiihi na 'ko," mahinang sambit ko. Biyernes na ngayon at ito ang panghuling klase namin. Tinignan ko ang labas ng bintana at nakita na medyo pa-dilim na. Alas kwatro pa lang naman ngunit dahil tag-ulan ngayon, maagang dumidilim ang paligid.

Ayoko namang lumabas dahil nasa ika-apat na palapag ang silid namin at ang gumaganang palikuran ay nasa groundfloor pa. "Nakakatamad kayang umakyat-baba kaya titiisin ko na lang muna," ani ko sa aking isipan.

"Pst, Agatha. Teh, pahiram naman ako ng suklay mo," tinignan ko ang katabi kong si Sheena. Nakatalikod siya sa'kin dahil may kinakalkal siya sa bag niya. Kinuha ko na lamang sa aking bag ang suklay at inilagay 'to sa mesa niya. "Teh, balik mo yan ha. Baka i-uwi mo na naman," natatawa kong sambit.

"Agatha, anong tinatawanan mo diyan?" Halos pasigaw na sambit ni sir Jethro. Umiling na lamang ako at yumuko dahil sa kahihiyan. Hindi ko namalayan at nakatulog pala ako sa aking upuan, nagising na lamang ako dahil sa pag-alog ni Sheena sa aking balikat.

"Huy, tara na. Alas sais na, tulog mantika ka talaga. Buti hindi ka nakita ni sir kanina," aniya habang naglalagay ng kolorete sa kaniyang mukha. "Daan muna tayong CR ha," dagdag pa nito.

Tumayo na kami at nagsimulang maglakad. Konti na lang ang natitirang estudyante at nagsisimula na ring lumakas ang ulan.

"Nakakainis talaga, lahat na lang barado," maktol ko habang iniisa-isang binubuksan ang mga cubicle.

"Sa dulong cubicle na lang ako, ihing-ihi na talaga ako," sambit ni Sheena habang patakbong naglakad patungo roon. Wala na din akong nagawa kaya pumasok na lamang ako sa isa sa mga cubicle at umihi.

Limang minuto na ang nakalipas pero hindi pa rin lumalabas si Sheena. Malakas na ang ulan at konti na lamang ang mga estudyanteng dumadaan.

"Hoy Sheena, ang tagal mo a!" sigaw ko at tumingin sa'kin ang dalawang babaeng dumaan. Nakakunot ang mga noo nila na animo'y para akong baliw at nakikipag-usap sa multo.

"Ate, si Sheena Ruiz po ba yung tinatawag niyo?" Tumango ako at nagbulungan sila.

"Ate, dalawang araw na pong nawawala si ate Sheena. Bali-balita pa po na ginahasa siya ng tatay-tatayan niyang ni sir Jethro bago patayin. Dito din po siya huling nakita----" nanlamig ang buong katawan ko sa narinig, hindi ko na sila pinatapos at agad-agad akong tumakbo sa cubicle kung saan pumasok si Sheena. Wala nga siya doon, pero nandoon ang suklay na hiniram niya kanina.