AMARAH: The Chronicles of Afaria

CHAPTER 2

TULALA AKO NGAYON HABANG PINAGMAMASDAN ang tulog na hayop...o kung ano man ang tawag dito. It looks a harmless at napaka-amo ng mukha, pero hindi pa rin nito maitatanggi na hindi siya pangkaraniwang uri ng hayop na makikita dito sa mundo. For sure! Just where this creature come from?

Ilang araw na ang lumipas pero hindi pa rin ito nagigising. Halos half-day na nga lang ako sa flower boutique sa takot na bigla itong magising, kung ano pang mangyari. 

Ngayong gabi, mas natitigan ko ito. If I will describe it, it feels like a fictional mythical character sa fictional world.  I'm not fan of any fantasy dahil lumaki akong hindi fond sa technology. I would rather play in the garden and explore the world than being active in social media. Iyan din siguro ang dahilan bakit kakonti lamang ang nagkakainteres maging kaibigan ako kasi hindi ako into sa mga bagay na interes nila sa loob ng digital world, probably they find it hard to talk about things they aren't used to. Well, I understand that so well and I wouldn't mind either.

However, aside from that I would've thought that I will found this and it pushes me to go search in social media's about it's identity for days. Malay ko bang baka naman laruan lang ito, flushies? I don't know. I just want to think any other possibilities dahil baka mabuang ako kakaisip na totoo nga. 

I sighed, Tumingala ako ang buwan na kitang-kita mula dito sa balcony at  saka lumingon uit  sa kama ko kung saan ito nakahiga ngayon. Naalala ko tuloy yung gabi kung kailan ko ito nakita...

 ' "T-tulong..g-gusto k-ko p-pang m-ma...m-mab-bu-hay...", rinig na rinig ko kung saan ito nanggagaling. May kabog sa dibdid ko na hindi ko maintindihan. Naawa ako dahil sa boses palang ay ramdam ko na ang sakit. Nang makalapit ako kung saan ito naparoroon...napahinto ako at nagulat.

'A-anong...a-anong n-nilalang i-ito!?'  I'm flabbergasted. Is it real or I'm just tired? 

Kataka-takang hindi ako natakot, para bang kusang gumagalaw ang katawan ko at hindi ko namamalayang ibinalot ko ang cardigan upang matakpan siya at saka binuhat. Sa bilis ng pangyayari, I found myself at home aiding this peculiar creature. 

Buti nalang walang masyadong katao-tao dito sa corridor. I sneak it in and immediately put it on my bed gentely. Nang malock ko na ang pinto, saka ko pinagmasdan ang creature na ito. It's unconscious.

I pull out the cardigan and didn't saw any blood. I silently observed it.  It has a size of  Savannah Cat kaya hindi ako nahirapang itago at buhatin. Strangely, may pakpak, paa at mukha ito nang ibon like a falcon---I assume. But its body is like a cat and the tail, it seems like a a feather or what. Lahat ay puti, is it albino?  

My head...it feels like spinning. This is unbelievable. What more is...how come it talks a while ago? at ako lang ang nakakarinig? 

Why is it in pain? How come? Wala namang dugo? I tried to look at the wings and other parts, wala namang bali o anything na mali. I'm about to touch it but stopped, should do something like first aid? Hindi naman ako veterenarian? I'm a florist. Paano pang nagising ito? What should I do? What about me? Am I safe? 

'Gosh, I'm overthinking. I need to relax.'

I closed my eyes and take a deep breathe. Oky, think first before act. I need informations...'

That night is one of the stressful sleepless nights ko dahil babad ako sa internet kakasearch tungkol dito, but all I found is just a mere fantastical novels, arts and stuff. Puyat at anxious because I may wanted to help but the fear in uncertainty strikes, that night pa talaga kung kailan naiuwi ko na. Now its under my responsibilities. As much as a I love flowers, of coarse, I love also the nature and animals are part of them. It's just that...hindi ko naman ineexpect na darating hanggang sa pagiging mythical o out fo this world.