Paradise of Corpses (Trinity Series 3)

10 : The Ugly Hunt

"Napakainit naman talaga sa Pilipinas. Letse."

Narinig ko ang pagrereklamo ni Ligaya Medicus habang parehas kaming nakatago sa may halamanan at nakasilip sa paligid. Katanghaliang tapat ay narito kami at hindi na nagpaligoy-ligoy pa. He said that he has seen the mountain of corpses in Luneta Park that is why we are here. It will be more dangerous to move at night, so we took advantage of the time. Narito pa nga siya at ngumunguya. Dala-dala niya ang pagkain niya paparito habang ako ay ang inis lang ang dala.

"Deal with it. Pinanganak ka sa bansang 'to, mamatay ka sa bansang 'to."

"Wow. Hindi puwedeng mamili ng death destination? Hindi puwedeng sa mahimlay sa Japan o sa Switzerland?"

I almost smacked his face because he is talking so loudly. Kulang na lamang ay sumigaw-sigaw siya rito. Balak pa yata niya akong ipahamak sa ginagawa niya lalo na at napakarami kong nakikitang mga kookoo na palakad-lakad. Most of them are looking good, walking just fine but they smell like shit.

"Sa mismong Luneta ba? Doon sa libingan ni Rizal?"

"Libingan n'yong dalawa kung gusto mong sumali."

I just heaved a sigh to try and calm myself down. Hindi maaring pangunahan ako ng inis lalo na at siya nga ang kasama ko. All of us decided to go here. The other three are in the same location but different entrances. Ang magkasama ay si Grunge at Amugay, ako at si Ligaya, and Amaya is alone because she will be just fine because she can walk by any kookoo and somehow, they won't know it is her. Malaking-malaki ang advantage ng abilidad niya sa mundong ito. Her bodily configuration is the most useful prowess anyone can think of in here just as much as Grunge, Ligaya and Amugay's. Kung susumahin ay swak na swak ang lahat ng kanilang abilidad habang ako ay para bang naligaw lamang.

Amaya can act and be like those walking kookoos, Grunge and Ligaya's prowess revolves around medicines and illnesses, and Amugay around deaths while I am just a serpentine. My prowess here is completely useless. I do not even know if I can be useful to this team.

"Sa dinami-rami ng lokasyon, bakit dito pa? Tss." mahina kong reklamo.

"You'll be surprised to see the mountain of corpses in daylight. It's quite interesting to look at."

Hindi na ako muli pang nagsalita at nagpatuloy na sa pag-oobserba sa paligid. There are too many eyes, too may kookoos that might see us as we go. I do not know exactly how to move and when. Limitadong-limitado ang pwede naming gawin dahil sa dami ng dapat naming ikonsidera.

"So did you and your paradise talk?" mayamaya ay tanong sa akin ni Ligaya. Nang tingnan ko siya ay nakangisi siya sa akin na para bang nang-iinis. "I can tell that you two did but you're the only one who cared. I can see from his eyes that he does not care for you at all. Pati nga si Amaya halatang inis sa iyo. Did you...by any chance, was told to-"

"Are you here to mock me or what?"

"I am just here asking you. Masyado namang ironic kung tayo-tayo na nga lamang ang magkakasama sa mundong ito ay hindi pa natin kikilalanin ang isa't isa, hindi ba?"