The Flame

The Flame- Chapter 2

Chapter 2
Wild

Inayos ko ang tent ko. I put everything inside my tent. Tiningnan ko ang nakatayong tent ni Bry sa ibabang bahagi ng ilog mula sa talon na malapit sa kinaroroonan ko. Nasa loob siguro siya. Dali-dali akong nagbihis ng two-piece ko para makaligo na sa talon. I went out from my tent and made sure that I am alone in the falls. Mabuti nalang at natulog na siguro iyon.

I stepped my foot in the water. Ang sarap ng tubig! Ang lamig! I shivered due to the coldness of the water but I feel excited as well. I, then submerged myself in the cold water. Sanay akong matagal na di humihinga sa ilalim ng tubig dahil palagi akong nag da-diving sa resort namin.

I drowned myself in the water. Ah! This is heaven. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam na ang tanging naririnig ko lamang ay ang lagaslas ng tubig. Kahit hindi ako humihinga, komportable parin ako. Career na career ko na sana ang pagsi-senti ko sa ilalim ng tubig nang biglang may bumuhat sa'kin.

Nang maramdaman ko na tumama ang likod ko sa mga damo, agad kong binuka ang aking mga mata. Napabangon ako, biglang tumama ang ilong ko sa pisngi ni Bry. Nilingon niya ako, muntik nang maglapat ang mga labi naming dalawa. Kinapos yata ako bigla ng hininga! Parang huminto bigla ang ikot ng mundo ko.

The deafening silence enveloped the both of us. The only thing that's making some noise right now is our uneven breathing. I, then realized our position- our nose touching, his lips very close to mine, our eyes locked and his body covering mine.

"W-what are you... d-doing?" I asked, stuttering. He immediately stood up as soon as he realized our very awkward position.

"What the hell were you thinking? Why the fuck did you drown yourself in the water? Are you out of your mind! How could you plan on performing suicide in front of me, huh?" he sounded so frustrated.

My forehead creased. Was he worried? For real? No.. Why does he think I was killing myself? Goodness, I am not suicidal yet.

"I wasn't killing myself. I was just trying to find... peace. Yeah, peace." I answered honestly.

"By drowning yourself?" he asked, confusion and anger lacing his voice.

"Yeah. Wait, were you worried?" di ko mapigilang magtanong.
Instead of answering me, he just stood there and looked at me. It's like he was try'na figure out if I was telling the truth.

"Don't move." he said seriously. Nakakapagtaka kung ano ang tinitingnan niya sa likuran ko. "I said don't move, whatever happens. Never ever move." he warningly told me.

Kahit nagtataka ako, di ako gumalaw. Sinunod ko and gusto niya. Few seconds later, naramdaman ko na may kung anong malamig na bagay ang lumapat sa balat ko. I crouched a bit to see what was it. Sobrang nagsisisi ako na tiningnan ko kung ano iyon.

"B-bry.... a-ahas." I have never been this scared all my life. Napakalaking ahas ang dumadaan sa'king gilid na naging dahilan kung bakit sumayad ito sa aking balat. Nakakatakot. Natatakot ako.

Dahil sa kaba at takot, umiiyak na ako. Hindi ako humagulhol, nahuhulog lang mula sa mga mata ko ang aking luha. Gusto kong sumigaw at tumakbo pero gaya sa tunay na buhay, hindi ka pwedeng tumakbo na lang pa bigla-bigla. Minsan, kailangan mo na tumayo lang, hayaan ang sarili na matakot at umiyak tsaka isipin na lang na lahat ay lilipas din.

My heart's beating wildly. I've never felt my heart beat this wild. Hindi ko namalayan na napatay na pala ni Bry ang ahas. Ang tanging nasa isip ko na lang ay ang takot na nararamdaman ko mula kanina hanggang ngayon.

Nangangatog ang binti ko, konti na lang at bibigay na ako. Panigurado, babagsak ako sa lupa. Wala rin akong balak na sagipin ang sarili ko mula sa pagbagsak dahil wala na akong lakas pa para gawin iyon.

I just closed my eyes and waited for my back to reach the sand but it didn't. I just felt Bry's arms wrapped around me and hugged me so tight.

I should be afraid because he's a stranger. A stranger is hugging me, tight. Pero imbes na matakot, nakaramdam ako ng seguridad. It's like I'm secured for whatever may happen. My heart, again, is beating wildly, in this place full of wild animals, my body wrapped by his arms and his eyes looking straight at me, very reassuring.