Victims of Medusa｜PUBLISHED UNDER UKIYOTO

Chapter 01

-THE GIRL WHO CRIES NO TEARS-

      The hour was golden, and the rays of the silver lining passed through the wooden sliding window beside the young Agnes. She was on her seat, with her hands both on her legs. She was sitting straight while staring directly into the eyes of a middle-aged lady who was in her white doctor's gown.

      The lady instructed the young girl to do something but she only gave her a meh and said, "Paulit-ulit. Sabi ng ayoko na nga."

      This time, Agnes saw her sighed as she took off her thick-lensed glasses that are of wide circles. Batid niyang nai-i-stress na ito sa katigasan niya ng ulo. The lady stood up and told her, "Dito ka muna saglit hija ha, kakausapin ko lang iyong kasamang tiyahin."

      Young Agnes only gave her a cold look before the lady went out of the door where her guardian was waiting. Alam niyang kakausapin na naman nito ang kaniyang tiyahin para sa susunod na hakbang na gagawin. There she goes again, looking at the door while patiently waiting for them to enter, for her aunt to fetch her so that she could go home already.

      Not too long when she heard the wind whistle, as something fell on her hand. Nilipat ng batang si Agnes ang kaniyang tingin dito and there she saw a golden blossom.

      "Hmmm, lovely," she said, before deciding to shred it into pathetic pieces.

      She looked at it with less enthusiasm while dropping its shred before she gazed through the wooden window to know where it came from. From this angle, she realized it came from the golden bloom of the trumpet trees that were outside the scape of Malaybalay municipality.

      Everything seemed peaceful and clear; the whistles of the breeze-driven leaves can be heard, as well as the music of a certain ballad that's playing from a nearby jukebox. Subalit ang kaniyang pananahimik ay ginulo nang makita niyang gumalaw ang talahib ng santan sa baba ng bintana.

      Una ay hindi niya na ito pinansin sa pag-aakalang ito'y gawa lang ng isang ligaw na hayop, ngunit nang siya'y dumungaw na ay isa pala itong batang lalake na kasing edad niya lang. Tawang-tawa itong nakaluko sa likod ng talahib na animo'y may kalarong pinagtataguan.

      "Bleeh, bahala ka d'yan, ate Joy." Narinig ni Agnes na sabi nito sa ilalim ng talahib. She decided to stand by the window. Pinatong niya ang kaniyang siko sa kuwadro ng bintana upang siya ay makapagpalumbaba at mapagmasdan ang ginagawa ng nagtatagong bata.

       "Kung gusto n'yo eh kayo nalang uminom ng mga gamot na iyon," sabi pa ng bata at rinig na rinig niya ang pandidiri sa boses into.

       "Aquil magpakita ka na!" Rumihestro kaagad ang boses na iyon sa ere matapos ang isang saglit. Pagmamay-ari ito ng isang babaeng na ngayon ay basang-basa na ng pawis ang mukha at sumisingasing na habang humihinto muna sa kakatakbo.

      "Giatay na bata, ang kulit talaga," sabi pa ng nars na halos lalawit na ang dila sa kakahabol ng hininga at napahawak na sa tuhod. Napamura na tuloy ito sa diyalektong Bisaya.

      "Pambihira, sa sakit niya eh ang bilis pa rin niyang tumakbo?" dagdag pa nito bago umayos ng tayo para muling maghanap.

       "Aquilino Ruiz, magpakita ka nang bata ka!" That was what both the children heard from the stressed nurse bago ito nawala sa eksena.

      "Tumatakas ka, panigurado." Young Agnes saw the boy who was called Aquil gasped out of surprised upon recognizing her presence.

      Agad siya nitong pinanlakihan ng mga mata at itinapat ang hintuturo sa labi na animo'y siya'y sinasabihang huwag mag-ingay at magsumbong. Tingin lang ang sinagot ng batang si Agnes at napahikab na sa pagkabagot subalit naramdaman na lamang niya na may mga kamay na tumakip sa kaniyang bibig kaya naudlot ang kaniyang paghinga.