The Treacherous Land

iii.

I'm now wondering at the forest 'again' thinking of what I have read in Mom's journal. That familiar knot starts to form in my forehead, remembering the words written in there.

Entry #6

While I was walking around at the forest, I saw a gate. It seems broken though. I thought no one owns the land behind those I gate, on its top, there a logo, a book with different kind of symbols on its pages.

I think it stands fir different seasons. Out of curiosity, I strode in. After walking for a while in the property, following the concrete path that was in there, I saw a beautiful garden. But that's not what surprised me, what surprised me is the creatures that was in there.

Creatures? But that's not what confused me. It's the garden part. I think it's the same garden that I saw, excluding the creatures' part since I only saw a man in there, just him. Even the gate. It's the same gate that I saw! It almost scares me.

That's not the only thing written in that diary though.

Namutla ako ng makita ko ang gate na kanina lamang ay inisip ko. I was scared but my curiosity strikes. Reading what's on that journal and what I saw before, I have this urge to know more what's behind that gate.

With all the courage I mastered, I entered the mysterious gate. I saw the concrete path. I was nervous but I continued walking in that path. Not long, I saw the garden. I was mesmerized.

Natulala ako sa ganda ng hardin. Naglakad lakad ako hanggang sa makarating ako sa gitna. There a pavilion in the, silver pavilion.

Pinuntahan ko naman yung pavilion. The view in there is even more beautiful, I didn't get to see this pond beside the pavilion. I was marveling the view when I heard a baritone voice.

"Who are you?"

I quickly turned around to see the owner of the voice and once again, I was rendered speechless. He was that man whose playing the harp, I may not saw his face before but her hair and voice is the same as that I'm sure of it.

Kumunot naman lalo ang nuo nito ng mapansing nakatitig ako sa kanya... but I didn't get to look away because of his eyes... their violet. I was gawking when I heard him coughed. I looked away, embarrassed.

"I said who are you?" Pasinghal niting tanong na ikinagulat ko naman. "I-uhmm" I coughed to compose my self before introducing myself.

"I'm Ellalia Maileen Vivior, I'm sorry... is this your garden?... I'm sorry for trespassing" kinabahan ako ng hindi sya mag salita. Ala galit ata, sana naman wag nya akong idemanda.

"No this is not mine" she said, still frowning. "You're not from here"

"From here! Is there a town in here? Where am I exactly" lalo namang kumunot ang nuo nya sa tanong ko. "How did you came here?" Seryoso nitong tanong sa akin. "Through a gate?" I said, unsure. "While I was wondering around the forest, I saw this weird gate and I entered" I said smiling to him, hoping to ease the tension, but to my dismay, after I utter those words, the tension only grew thicker. Oh God! What's with the tension. Seriously, sino ba tong lalaking ito at bakit sobrang seryoso nya naman. I mean, I can't blame him, I trespass after all. "I'm really sorry if I trespass. I was just very curious. I didn't see that gate every time I go here in Canada so I was so curious about what's past the gate" I said, apologizing. I hope he'd forgive me.

"Canada? What is that? Is that a place? There is no such thing as that here in Magla Harpia, Telasco"

Para akong binuhusan ng malamog na tubig ng marinig ko ang mga salitang yun. 'Telasco' It's the same place as mentioned in Mom's notebook. I stood there in dazed remembering what's written in the notebook about this 'Telasco'