The Forbidden Tribe

Chapter 10: The New

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Naori and I spent the rest of the night just sitting, still staring at the tree and not saying a single word.

Habang nakatitig ako sa punong 'yon ay bigla akong napaisip tungkol sa tribe namin . . .at sa ibang tribes.

I wonder how the other tribes will react if they found out about our existence? They already know about Hadashi but do they still remember him? Or do they even care about him? Will they still fear us like the times before? Ever since I learned to understand things when I was a child, I've been taught that we were different from them. That we will never be part of them. Which I thought was so unfair. We may differ with our abilities and our eyes but it shouldn't be the reason for them to treat us like we're some sort of toxic people. Because we belong in the same erityian race.

But what if they never really see us that way?

Paano kung, all this time, hindi naman talaga sila threat sa amin? What if it's just our perception caused by the lack of connection with the other tribes?

'Always remember to protect our tribe.'

Noon pa man ay paulit-ulit ko talagang binasa ang katagang 'yan. Masyado kasi itong broad. At malalim. Bakit kailangan pang ipaalala ni Hadashi na, "we should always 'remember' to protect our tribe", eh 'yun naman talaga dapat ang unang-unang isa-isip at isapuso namin. And . . .protect from what? Sa mga senshins? Sa erityians? Sa mga humdrums?

Hays. Hindi ko alam.

Hinimas-himas ko 'yung noo ko dahil medyo sumasakit ang ulo ko sa mga naiisip ko. Dala na rin siguro ng antok kaya medyo pagod nang mag-isip ang utak ko. Then, all of a sudden, muli kong naalala ang nag-iisang bagay na labis kong kinatatakutan sa tribe namin.

Being the tribe leader's nephew.

Our tribe leader is my father's only brother. I don't have any siblings nor cousins and in our family, the three of us are the only ones left.

The tribe's current primary rule in attaining the position as the tribe leader is that one must belong with the same blood line as the forefather and there could only be one candidate every generation. Though, it is still changeable if there is no one who will inherit the position. But as of now, I'm at first place on the list of our tribe's next future leaders.

If only she was still here. She could've guide me.

Hindi kasi kami gaanong close ni Dad at madalang kaming magkaroon ng pagkakataong magkapag-usap o magkasama dahil sa pagka-busy niya sa pagiging co-leader ng tribe namin.

So, here I am. Longing for both of my parent's presence and love.

"Mukhang sobrang lalim ng iniisip mo ah."

Napalingon naman ako kay Naori.

"Ah . . .hindi naman." sabi ko. "Konti lang." Dugtong ko at medyo natawa siya.

It's a good thing she couldn't read what's going on in my head. Isa pa kasing advantage ng mga Vitantur kapag naka-reach na ng 5th Stage is magiging closed by default na ang isip nito. At ito'y hindi basta-basta maaaring mabasa. Unless one is skilled enough.

"It's getting late. 2:17 AM na. Let's head back to quarters." sabi niya.

Napatingin naman ako sa relo ko at oo nga, madaling araw na. Tumango ako sa kanya at naglakad na kami pauwi sa quarters namin. Sa sobrang pag-iisip ko kanina, hindi ko man lang namalayan na madaling araw na pala.

Habang naglalakad kami, napansin ko ang pamilyar na expression sa mukha ni Naori. Minsan lang niya ito pinapakita kaya kabisadong-kabisado ko na kung anong ibig sabihin nito. Dahil mas nauna akong maglakad sa kanya, huminto ako kaya napahinto rin siya.