" Enough of all these... Here is your demand, I want Martina back!" barked Dona Fausta. "No one will take her place, this ransom money should suffice."
She threw the bagful of silver coins over to the leader, who after a few seconds delays, signalled one his men.
From out of the falls' watery curtains, two men appeared. After another cue from their leader, they pushed the indignant Martina; her eyes blindfolded, while her hands were tied together, towards the other two ladies.
At that precise moment, Dona Fausta grabbed hold of Martina, and screamed out loudly, " Hepeeeee!!"
Suddenly, two groups of military men came running down from both sides of the cliff, and started firing guns towards the Bandidos.
" Son of a...!" shouted the Tulisan leader. " Take cover comrades!"
There were loud sounds of "bangs" and bullets went hissings.
One of the Bandidos brought out a dynamite from his sack.
" Bastards! Here's a token gift to all of you!" He said, and threw it forcefully towards the cliff, where the military men were rushing downwards, simultaneously, as the three women were making their way upwards to safety.
" Kaboom!" A loud explosion followed.
A few seconds later, the dust slowly settled, and the mantle of dark smokes dispersed.
Amidst the continuing gunshots, the leader of the Tulisan stood up to survey the grounds. He took off his handkerchief from his face, surveyed the surroundings, and called loudly, "Martina... Ustang... Tinang, where are you?"
He heard nothing, so he rushed up to the top of the cliff, one part of which has caved in due to the explosion.
" Uhu... Uhu! Metring!!" He repeated despite the thick smokes, making him cough harshly.
Upon reaching halfway, he saw the three ladies all slumped on the ground, covered with mud and debris.
He quickened his pace, turned the ladies one by one, " Fausta... Fausta, wake up! Metring, hoy... are you ok? Martina... Martina!"
The young lady slowly lifted herself.
" Oh no! Mama... Mama Fausta!" Martina cried out, and hugged her in a tight embrace. " Please ... say something!" She saw a red line of blood slowly snaked down from her whiten lips. " Noooooo! Mamaaaa don't go!" Tears cascaded on the young woman's face, like the waterfalls behind her.
" Andoy? Huh... What happened Andoy!!! " Metring sat up, shooked her head as if she was trying to recollect something, and asked.
"Where are we? Oh Andoy... It's you!"
" I'm sorry ... Metring!!! Tinang!!! "
He kneeled down, and lifted Dona Fausta from the muddy ground.
" There... There's the leader of the Tulisan!" pointed out Hepe Diosdado He raised his pistol, and fired a shot.
" Ping...!" went the bullet.
It pierced Armando straight through his heart, and made him slumped back down to the muddy trail. Still carrying the load in his arms, he kilted forward, and landed crisscrossed over Dona Fausta's cold body.
Their bodies formed a crucifix-like symbol.
"Metring... Metring... I'm sorry..." Armando started to lift his bloodied right arm towards Metring.
" Hush... Andoy, it's alright..." Metring assured him.
" Metring... I'm such a failure in life... but... " breathing heavily he continued, " ... but please, I want you to know, you are my forevermore... I ... Love..." with that last word, the head of the Tulisan gasped his last breath.
The rest of the Bandidos, seeing their previous leader gone, retreated back to where they came from.
One of them, a tall young man scooped the bag of silver, and ordered to the others,
"Let's go... I got the loot! Heeehaaa!"
The others cheered. "Mabuhay...cheers to Kapitan Joselito! Cheers to our cause!"
They all disappeared behind the curtains of the Casaroro Falls.
Metring moved closer to the two fallen bodies. She did a sign of the cross and cried.
" Oh Andoyyyyyyy... May God forgive you... rest in peace!" Slowly she touched his face, and ever so gently closed the eyelids of Armando Dela Fuente. " Poor poor Andoy!"
Martina looked up from where she was slumped on the muddy ground.
" Hepe... Please, we are here!!"
She called to the chief of the military, then Martina tentatively made her way to Metring,
" Yayay...Mamay Metring!! Dear Mamay!" she hugged the elderly woman tightly.
Metring teared up, but said nothing.
She gently looked up towards the resplendent sky; and saw a rainbow, from underneath the waterfalls, rose up towards the other side of the lagoon, its multicoloured rays dazzling under the setting sun.
" Ah... Sinag-Tala..."
Metring murmured.
YOU ARE READING
FOREVERMORE ( Simula Ng Walang Hanggan)
Historical Fiction" According to stories, which may or may not be true, this was half of a whole. This used to be a tiara, a mini crown when Nana Sepa got it. She was awaken one midnight by a voice calling her name...Sepa! Sepa! So she followed the calling, well thr...
