A JOURNEY TO AUTRE MONDE

PROLOGUE

The wind flew my hair away as the car kept on running. The cold breeze touched my skin that made the moment more relaxing. I made the window of the car beside me opened. I could feel the refreshing air and watched clearly the scenery from outside. The blue water of the sea and mountains from afar helped me in emptying my mind. I saw a group of three people, two boys and one girl, who were walking happily at the side of the road. I didn't heard them clearly but I could tell that they were laughing loudly because of how wide open their mouths were.

For hours of travelling, I felt sleepy. I closed my eyes and leaned my head on the seat and immediately fell asleep.

Naalimpungatan ako nang makarinig ng sigawan. I opened my eyes and it sent shiver down my spine. Everything felt like in a slow motion as the car we were riding made a huge crash and fell into the water. I was very afraid for my mom and dad who were with me.

Is this the end? Is this how we die?

Questions popped out because of the situation.

It made a huge splash on the water and I felt weakened. I thought that was my last breath. Floating under the water, I slowly closed my eyes and gave up the life. Before I went unconscious, I saw a gold fish coming towards my direction.

I could feel the pain from my back and numbness of my body. I felt shocked thinking I was alive. I opened my eyes and saw a girl at my age, I guess, with golden brown wavy hair wearing a casual white floral dress. Her eyes went wide when she saw me and immediately left the room. I roamed my sight at the small room. The walls were painted white, a mini bookshelf at the right side of the bed, a side table at my left side, and a window at the right side of the room.

"She's awake!" I heard the girl shouted.

I could hear footsteps coming. A group of people went inside. Two woman dressed as a doctor and a nurse went at my side and checked my vital signs.

"May masakit ba sa 'yo?" tanong ng doktor. Lumingo-lingo lang ako.

"I think she needs more rest," sabi pa ng doktora.

"Where am I?" mahinang tanong ko.

"Ohtmond," sagot ng doktora. Napakunot ang noo ko sa narinig. I never heard of that place before.

"Saang probinsya ito? Nasa Pilipinas pa ba ako?" sunod-sunod na tanong ko at kitang-kita ko sa kanilang mga mukha ang kalituhan sa naging pahayag ko.

"Pilipinas? I never heard of that place before. This is Ohtmond and the places here are called Place One, Place Two, Place Three, Place Four, Place Five," paliwanag naman ng nurse.

"Nakita ka nila sa baybay dagat na walang malay habang nakahandusay sa buhanginan," kwento ng doktora.

"Can you recall what happened to you?" tanong niya. Biglang nanumbalik ang iba't ibang emosyon na nararamdaman ko kanina.

"N-Nahulog ang sinasakyan namin sa bangin diretso sa dagat," pagkukwento ko. Napatango-tango naman sila.

"Where are you from?" tanong ulit ng doktora.

"I told you, I'm from Philippines. Pilipinas. Philippines," paulit-ulit na sabi ko. Napakunot naman ang kanilang noo.

"I think you need to rest more and I'll ask you more later," sabi ng doktora at inayos naman ng nurse ang kumot ko.

I've became frustrated and afraid. I stood up from my bed and felt the sudden pain but I didn't mind it. Inalalayan naman ako ng nurse. I immediately went out of the room. Pinigilan pa nila ako pero umiiyak na ako't nagwawala. I searched for the door going outside and went out of the house. I saw the endless green yard from my sight.

"W-Where am I?" I whispered with fear, trembling. A paper blocked my view. I turned my gaze to someone at my side. He smiled at me. He had curly hair, greenish eyes, thick and long eyelashes, thick eyebrows, long nose, pouted lips, and well-formed jaw. He pointed at the paper he was holding. I turned my sight at it and saw that there was something written.

'Autre Monde'

"That's where you are right now," he said.