What the Trees Kept Whispering [COMPLETE]

• CHAPTER 23 •

"Ano ba kasing nangyari sa 'yo?" mapag-alalang tanong ni Euthymios habang dinadampian ako ng basang bimpo sa aking mukha.

I was still in total shock and mystification about what I had encountered. Parang sobrang daming nangyari sa loob ng kakaunting oras na iginala ko ang aking sarili sa gabutan.

And all I ever wanted is to cross the river and find Joko.

Speaking of which, mas lalo akong nalito kung sino nga ba ang mas nararapat kong hanapin. One second, the trees were whispering Joko's name then the next, it was a certain Ralph. Parami na nang parami ang mga pangalang binubulong ng mga puno and I can't even get a hold of what they are really trying to tell me!

It's like a honeycomb in there—a seemingly endless labyrinth with lots of bees buzzing by, and with their own names, too! Sobrang nakakalito!

Not to mention the very obscure imagery of torment I have witnessed. It was all strange, yet I could still hear the barely audible cries that resounded all over the place. It all felt real...

It has to be real.

Buti na lang at sakto akong naabutan ni Euthymios doon. I almost passed out. I can't seem to move a muscle when all those horrors abruptly vanished. He consoled me with much care, helped me walk about, until we reached his hut.

And now we're here.

I winced when I felt a stinging feeling just around my neck while Euthymios was damping it with the wet towel. Nakaramdam ako ng sugat nang marahan ko itong hawakan.

"Sorry..."

"N-no. Okay lang," I reassured. "Nadali lang siguro 'to kanina ng sanga habang natakbo ako."

Euthymios dipped the towel back in the basin before wringing it out. Pinasadahan naman niya ngayon ng punas ang aking mga braso. Unti-unti akong nahihimasmasan sa kanyang bawat hagod.

I watched him closely; how the locks of his hair twirled in the air, how his brows furrowed while he dabs the wet cloth over and under my limb, how his hands gracefully slide around my skin, and how his breath tellingly huffed with the air that kept me warm. Everything about him just makes me so... at ease.

"So, hindi mo talaga ike-kwento sa 'kin kung anong nangyari sa 'yo?" he keenly chimed. "Ang dami mong putik-putik sa katawan. Halatang-halata pa mga galos sa mga binti't braso mo. Imposibleng walang nangyaring 'di kaaya-aya sa 'yo do'n sa labas."

Should I tell him?

He cupped my chin, looking me straight in the eye. "You know you can tell me everything, right?" He has this glimmer in his eyes that alluringly seized every inch of me.

I held the side of his face before slowly pulling him in for a gentle kiss. His lips tasted of cherries that already topped the sweet gesture he's been doing for me. Our string of gaze did not break away once I pulled away, but anticipation strengthened in his eyes.

I sighed. "Can you promise me na hindi ka mawi-weird-uhan sa kung ano mang ikekwento ko sa 'yo?"

"Promise! Cross my heart. Mamatay man." He straightened his stance as he pledged, drawing an imaginary cross over his chest.

Humugot ako ng lakas upang tingnan siya nang mata sa mata.

"Thing is, simula no'ng mapadpad ako rito sa probinsya, parang iba na yung naging pakiramdam ko sa mga puno—lalo na sa mga puno rito sa gubatan. I don't know...." I trailed off. "It is as if they were calling out to me. Para bang may gusto silang sabihin sa 'kin."

Euthymios blew a rasp. "Hindi kaya naninibago ka lang? I mean, normal lang naman ma-feel na parang nakikipag-connect sa 'yo ang kalikasan kaya siguro nararamdaman mo 'yang mga 'yan," aniya. "Ang hindi ko gets ay kung anong kinalaman ng pakikipag-reconnect mo sa nature sa nangyari sa 'yo ngayon."