A JOURNEY TO AUTRE MONDE

CHAPTER 1

"Toyo, suka, asin, wala na bang kulang?" tanong ko sa aking sarili habang binabasa kung ano ang nasa listahang binigay ni mama. Inutusan niya kasi akong mag-grocery sapagkat may importante siyang lalakarin.

Nang mapagtanto kong nakuha ko na lahat ng nasa listahan ay dumiretso ako sa may mga junkfood. Kumuha ako ng Oishi na may spicy flavor pagkatapos ay pumunta naman ako sa may mga chocolate. Hinanap ko ang Beng-Beng at nang matagpuan ay kukuhanin ko na sana ang isang karton nito na nag-iisa na lang nang may pang-babaeng kamay na kukuha rin. Napalingon ako sa kaniya at nagulat nang makilala ko siya. Si Maivy.

Binitiwan ko ang dapat na kukunin at dali-daling umalis sa lugar na iyon. Nagpa-counter na ako agad para magbayad.

Grabe ang halo-halong emosyon na nararamdaman ko. Galit, takot, lungkot, at mga katanungang nakapukaw nito.

It was six years ago. I heaved a deep sigh.

Hours later, I went back home from buying groceries. Tanghali na nang makauwi ako. Hindi pa dumating si mama. Inilagay ko ang aking mga pinamili sa kani-kanilang lalagyan. Pagkatapos ay dumiretso ako sa kwarto para magbihis at magpahinga. Sobrang napagod ako.

Zzzzzzzzz...

"Anak?" Narinig ko ang mahinang boses ni mama. I slowly opened my eyes. Kinusot-kusot ko ito habang sumagot kay mama.

"Hmm?"

"Magbihis ka na. Pupunta tayo kina lola't lolo mo ngayon. We'll celebrate our weekend there," sabi niya. Tumango naman ako at dahan-dahang bumangon.

"Magpi-prepare na rin muna kami. Maghanda ka na d'yan," she said before leaving my room.

Nag-inat muna ako bago tumayo mula sa aking kama. I went inside my bathroom to wash my hands. Lumabas ako para magligpit ng dadalhing gamit.

I opened my closet and picked clothes to wear and bring. Tiningnan ko muna ang mga damit na naka-hanger kung may magustuhan ako. I decided to wear my cherry print mini cami dress with my denim jacket. Nagdala ako ng white, grey, pastel pink, and pastel blue plain v-neck shirts, shorts, dresses, skirts, pants, jackets, hoodies, and pajamas. After picking clothes, pumunta naman ako sa may shoe rack para pumili ng footwears, obviously. Nagdala lang ako ng tsinelas, sandals, and closed-shoes.

Inilagay ko sila sa aking pink na maleta at maliligo na sana nang tumunog ang aking phone. Kinuha ko ito na nasa aking kama at binasa ang notification.

"Ate? Gawan niyo ako ng essay, please." Mheira, one of my friends, messaged me.

"Sure," I replied. I couldn't say no to my friends no matter what's happening in my life. I just couldn't afford to lose them.

Inilagay ko ang aking phone sa kama at pumuntang banyo para maligo. I brushed my teeth first. Hinubad ko ang aking damit at inilagay sa may basket para sa mga dirty clothes. I turned on the shower and let the water flow on my body. Ipinikit ko ang aking mata at naguluhan nang maramdamang may mga maiinit na likidong rumaragasa sa aking pisngi. Sumabay sa pag-agos ng tubig ang aking mga luha. Hindi ko malaman kung ano ang dahilan. I was just feeling tired. I soaped my body and hair, and when I felt cleaned already, I went out of my bathroon to wear clothes. Nagpatuyo muna ako bago isinuot ang napili kong damit. Pumunta ako sa harap ng salamin para magsuklay ng aking buhok. Hinayaan kong nakalugay ito. Nang handa na ako ay pinalitan ko ang aking sinuot na indoor slippers sa hot red doll shoes. Lumabas na ako ng kwarto at pagkatapos i-lock ay pumunta na ako ng sala. Nakita ko naman sina mama't papa na ready na rin. We've checked everything before leaving the house. Pumasok na kami sa aming sasakyan at umandar.

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.