OLYMPIANS' LOST PROGENIES

CHAPTER TWO - Gigante de Montalban

 

My head throbbed. I could feel my body lying on a cold ground matted by tiny grasses. I knew I was sleeping but I couldn't remember how long. I opened my eyes slowly without making the slight move. I could only see the pile of leaves on branches above and heard the relaxing sound of chirping birds.

 

"You ever wide awake?"

 

I heard someone said in a cheery kind of voice. I'm not sure if it came from a nearby spot or somewhere far. My eyes wandered around. I found out I was lying underneath a massive tree. A sky-high tree surrounded by lots of dry vines. From somewhere nearby, I started to hear the swift flow of water over the rapids. There were spectacular view of wild, colorful flowers anywhere.

 

"You almost died there."

 

I jumped. The voice boomed like it came from inside a cave. I turned around facing the huge tree, and there it was, a man as high as that tree, sitting on the ground with his leg crisscrossing. He was smiling at me. Although he had that brawny built, long greasy hair and rag-like clothings, he struck me as a kindly creatures.

 

"Who are you?" I said, almost yelling.

 

"Me? You called me, didn't you remember? I heard your voice. I couldn't say no. It was my pact to save your kind."

 

"Called you? I didn't."

 

"Sálvame Bernardo, Gigante de Montalbán? You're kidding me. The tiktiks could've killed you if I didn't come."

 

The tiktiks. I recalled that moment. So that was the sense of the words from the booklet, summoning a giant to rescue me? I was in my Mother's embrace when I felt that wallop on my nape. It was the pain that made me unconscious. I touched my head down to my nape. Could it be that this giant was the one who hurt me?

 

"I'm sorry about that." The giant looked ashamed but he managed to remain pertinacious to what he had done. He answered the question on my head. "I had to destroy the wall of your house so I can get you out of it."

 

I just stared at him, then I looked around the place. It was a forest. I didn't know where I was but it was really a peaceful place. My heart began to fret, started to get worried about someone. "Where is my Mother?"

 

"Do you mean Maria Sinukuan?"

 

"Maria Sinukuan? No. I meant my Mother, Mariana Arevalo-Perez."

 

"Mariana Arevalo-Perez? It sounded more to me like Mount Arayat-Pampanga."

 

I was starting to get annoyed by this giant's trivial answers. "What was your name again?" I changed the topic so I could have time to pacify myself.

 

"I didn't say it yet."

 

"So what is it?"

 

"Bernardo Carpio."

 

"Where I am?"