(photo credits to the owner)

Chapter 03
The Start of Her Journey
[ Ava Maureen ]

THE STRANGE feeling... It's here again. I don't know if my dream will going to be real. Is it really true that there's a portal here? The other half of myself was thinking about me, being crazy for believing things that doesn't even exist and never will be. But the other one thinks the otherwise.

I step closer to the tree and face the part where the portal in my dream is located. Dahan-dahan ko iyong ginagawa at baka may sumakmal pa sa 'kin dito.

My breathing hitched when I really saw the portal there! It's really here, swirling literally with its blue color! Ang outline ng oblong ay isang ginto na para talagang pinako gamit ang martilyo dahil sa pagkakadikit.

How on Earth this was happened? The magic or power or whatever is that, is true?! How come? Sa buong buhay ko, ngayon lang siguro ako maniniwala sa mga ganoong bagay kung makikita ko nga ito.

Because to see is to believe, they said.

Namamangha kong pinagmasdan ang lagusan sa aking harapan. I can't still believe it was true. Kaya pala iba ang pakiramdam ko sa puno na ito. It's really something I cannot explain. So this is the reason why... but there's no time to shriek and amaze right now. I need to hurry or else, Uncle will find out about this.

However, I'm still thinking about where is the place this portal could reach out?

Kinuha ko na ang mga gamit na dadalhin ko at tumapak papasok sa portal na may asul na umiikot. The feeling of being dizzy is what I was thinking before I stepped in, and it's because of the movie I once watched. Nahihilo raw kasi sila ro'n, eh.

At first, it feels like I'm flying at heaven with an open arms and wings at my back, but the longer I'm inside in this portal, the longer it feels like I'm going to vomit and I already felt the dizziness I'm expecting. And I swear, this is worse than what I think it should be!

Oh, my goddess! I hate this feeling!

So this is what you're going to feel when you're at the portal, huh? The swirling sensation is all over my body right now. Parang hinihigop na ako at pinapapunta sa lugar na kung saan at humihingi pa ng pahintulot sa katawan ko.

My body immediately agreed, I think? Our body don't do talking—oh, my pretty mind, you're useless at times like this.

How many minutes should I stay like this? Ang tagal naman nito! Kahit nakatayo ako ay pakiramdam ko sumasakit na ang paa ko. Gaano ba ito kalayo? Goodness gracious! Ugh, nasusuka na talaga ako! This is worse than the plane and the helicopter above the clouds!

At last, nahinto na rin ang pakiramdam na parang hinihigop ako at pinapaikot lang. Nahinto ako sa isang gubat na parang 'yong nasa panaginip ko. Pero mas maganda pa rin 'yong sa panaginip. Here was just like an ordinary forest. Simple yet looks powerful and mysterious.

Sana lang ay walang mga nilalang na magtangkang saktan ako rito...

Ang sarap ng aking pakiramdam at parang may kumikiliti sa kailaliman ko. Parang may gustong kumawala pero may harang din. What is this feeling? Binalewala ko na lamang ito at nagsimula nang maglakad patungo sa kawalan.

There are sounds of insects everywhere. Crickets hiding somewhere but their voices would probably reach outside in this forest. Napalingon ako sa likod nang may marinig akong kaluskos. I roamed around my sight and found no one. But when I got the urge to continue to walk, there's a cute bunny landed on my sight.

Namilog ang mga mata ko. It has white fur and a baby pink bunny ears. She/he's biting a carrot. I immediately put down my bag and carry the cute bunny. Kinarga ko siya sa aking mga bisig at hinihimas-himas. I wonder, what's the gender of this animal? I look down there and take a look of the sex of it.

It's a girl! What should I name her, then?

Oh! I already know! I'll name her Ami. A combination of my name, Ava is for the A and Megami, for the Mi. I really appreciate myself for making beautiful names.

I decided to continue my journey with the bunny hanggang sa marating ko ang isang kweba. There's no one inside there so I guess I'm free to rest. Besides, it's already one in the morning.

Hindi ko na namalayan na kaarawan ko na pala. I'll eat first and then sleep here, and continue my first ever forest adventure tomorrow. My 18th birthday will be the best birthday ever if ever I'll find my real destination.

Ready yourself, Ava. That is going to be a tiring day...

Kinain ko ang mga baon na dala. Ang plano ko ay ipagkasya ang baon sa dalawang araw, but because Ami is present, I decided to share my food with her. Pagkatapos kong kumain ay saglit akong nagpahinga bago humiga. But before I close my eyes, I saw a guy but couldn't figure out his face. He has a lean body, halata na nagw-work out. I think he's just with my age or more than that.

Sino 'yon? He's not turning in this direction. Maybe because I'm at the dark side of the cave and he doesn't know that there's a person here. Or he didn't felt my presence. He then run like there's someone chasing him.

Hindi ko na lamang pinansin 'yon dahil tuluyan nang nilamon ng dilim ang aking paningin.

NAGISING AKO dahil may naramdaman akong tumatalon-talon sa tiyan ko. It's Ami. I smiled upon caressing her and put her on my lap. Tiningnan ko ang oras sa wristwatch na dala ko.

7 AM.

This is my first time having 6 hours of sleep. My sleep was usually seven hours or lesser than eight. Now, probably, there will be a lot of changes in my life and I shall be ready for that.

Tumayo ako at sumunod naman agad si Ami. Sunod lang siya nang sunod habang naglalakad ako. Nahinto ako sa paglalakad dahil pakiramdam ko ay may tao sa likuran. Ano na naman kaya ito ngayon?

"Who's there?" bahagya ko pang nilakasan ang boses ko pero walang sumagot. Nilingon ko ang madamong parte ng gubat sa may likuran nang parang may gumagalaw ro'n.

Linapitan ko ito. I gasped when I saw a guy that has lot of wounds all over his body. Hindi naman ito malalim, parang mga galos lang. He's leaning his back on the tree and his eyes were close. His figure looks familiar. Parang siya 'yong lalaki kagabi...

"OMG! What happened? Your precious skin is wounded!" I shrieked when I looked closely on his wounds. I thought his wounds were from the tree branches only, but it's not. It's like a claw brushing unto his skin. Puno ng dugo ang kaniyang damit at hawak-hawak niya ang isang parte ng kaniyang katawan.

I admit, he's handsome. He has a fair jawline. His eyebrows were perfectly formed and a good shape of nose above with his pouty pinkish lips. Hmm... this is the type of guy I usually dated.

At bakit siya nandito? Ano ang ginagawa niya rito sa gubat? Nagpapasugat lang, gano'n? Napansin ko rin na nakasuot siya ng isang uniporme, a school uniform. Siya nga 'yong lalaki kagabi!

Napalingon siya sa'kin dahil sa pagsigaw ko. He opened his eyes and for a second, his jaw dropped which made me rolled my eyes. Snapping him, he instantly went back on his own accord. Napakurap-kurap pa siya bago magsalita. "Si-Sino ka?"

"That's not important for now. Come and let me heal—" napatigil ako sa pagsasalita. Paano ko nga pala siya gagamutin kung walang gamit na pang-ospital dito? Napalingon ako sa kaniya. He's waiting for my words. "How can I tend your wounds if you don't have a medicine kit..."

"Ano? Ang daming halaman diyan sa gilid-gilid, oh. Hindi ka ba marunong gumamot gamit niyan?" reklamo niya. Napansin kong dinidiinan niya ng hawak ang tagilirang parte ng kaniyang tiyan na parang may iniinda siya roon.

Sugatan din siguro siya riyan... ano kaya ang ginawa niya at nagkaroon siya ng ganiyang kalalim na sugat? Nagkalmutan?

"Uh..." I feel embarrass knowing that I didn't even know what kind of plants they have here. "What plant should I get and how will I heal you just the use of it?" I softly asked.

Sinuyod niya ng tingin ang kabuo-an ko. "So, naglalayas ka? Bakit ka may bagahe na dala? You're not in a mission, either. Because only a high ranking students and the prime ministers can go in the Delphic Forest."

"Delphic Forest?" I asked in confusion.

He nodded. "Delphic Forest was the name of this forest. Kung saan makikita na pagala-gala ang mga halimaw. Kaya nga sugatan ako ngayon dahil kinalaban ko ang pitong naglalakihang halimaw rito. This forest is popular at lahat ng taga-rito ay kilala ito bilang mapanganib na gubat. Kaya paanong hindi mo alam?" the guy explained.

How should I tell him that I don't live here? Na nandito lang ako dahil may kailangan akong hanapin? Baka hindi ito mapagkakatiwalaan... my trust issues was looking at me right now.

Napalingon siya sa may likuran ko at lumaki ang kaniyang abo na mga mata nang makita si Ami. My forehead creased. Nagpabalik balik ang kaniyang tingin sa akin at kay Ami. "Dō shita no?"

"Halimaw 'yan!" he exclaimed. "Parang awa mo na, ilayo mo 'yan... hindi pa magaling ang mga sugat ko, oh,"naiiyak na pagmamakaawa niya.

Turning my gaze at Ami, I asked, "You are a monster, Ami?" the animal nodded like she really understands me.

Napatingin ako sa lalaki na hanggang ngayon ay nanlalaki parin ang mga mata. He's looking at me like my head just got tripled. "Dios mio naman po! Ang kalma pa magsalita.... isa ka bang dyosa rito? Bakit hindi ka man lang natakot? Huhu!"

Napairap ako. "For your last question, I was not scared because I don't want to scare myself just because of an animal who lives in the forest. Besides, I will just hurt them if they'll hurt me."

He sighed and winced. Nataranta naman kaagad ako. "Pwede mo bang kunin ang halamang iyan? Hindi 'yan nakawawala ng sugat at sakit pero nakababawas naman. Pwede ba, mahal na dyosa?" aniya.

He still has the nerve to joke around when he's in pain, huh? Such a cutie...

I nodded and get the plant he pointed. It's a leaf that has crown-like design and the color was green mixed with purple. Inabot ko sa kaniya ito matapos kong makakuha ng marami. Then, he put it all over his deep scratches.

Tutulong na sana akong lagyan ang mga sugat niya pero hindi niya ako pinayagan. "Huwag na, baka marumihan pa 'yang makinis mong kamay!" Tinampal niya ang kamay ko kaya napalayo ako sa kaniya. I blinked several times.

"And you care because?"

"Wala! Taga saang bundok ka ba?" tanong niya habang ginagamot ang sarili.

Napakurap ulit ako. "Bundok? Sorry, but I don't live in mountains. I was living in an urban area and I'm just here because I needed to find someone..." I told him about my story kung bakit ako napadpad dito. I also asked him his name.

Maybe he's not harmful and I could still trust him a bit. Just a bit, though.

"James Bradley Apartelle, ikaw?"

I smiled a little. "Megami Maureen Shimizuo, just call me Maureen."

"So, you're here because you need to know your real identity and find your family?" tanong niya, "Edi sumama ka sa 'kin! Pupunta tayo sa school na pinapasukan ko. Maganda roon, pramis!" he excitedly exclaimed.

Tumayo na ako kaya tumayo na rin siya. Napansin kong hindi pa siya masyadong nakakakilos dahil sa mga sugat niya. Pero bago pa ako makapagsalita ay hinila na niya ako at sumunod naman agad si Ami. Nag-alinlangan pa siya kung dapat ba naming isabay ang halimaw na sinasabi niya dahil baka matakot ang mga estudyante pero nagpumilit ako kaya wala na siyang ibang pagpipilian pa.

And today, I met a carefree guy who loves to kid around...

@eggarru