Pen

Chapter 7

I felt a pair of hands shaking my left shoulder. “We're here Tim. Wake up.”

I slowly opened my eyes to see Lucas standing infront of me, a bag on his back. Nilibot ko ang paningin ko at nakita kong naka-bukas ang hatch at tanging kami na lang ni Lucas ang nasa loob. Umupo ako ng maayos at kinusot-kusot ang mga mata ko.

“Palawan?” tanong ko at nilingon siya. Tumango lang siya at lumayo ng kaunti.

Tumayo na ako at kinuha ang natirang duffle bag sa tabi ko. Sabay na kaming lumabas ng plane. Akala ko nasa isang Airport kami dito sa Palawan. Pero nagulat ako nang makitang runway lang ang nandito at kasalukuyan kaming nasa taas ng isang cliff (AGAIN). Sa baba ng cliff ay beach.

“Where are we exactly?” tanong ko kay Lucas.

“I don't really know. ” Nagulat ako sa sagot niya kaya napatigil ako sa paglalakad ko at ganon din siya.

“Ano?! Bakit di mo alam?!” I asked.

“Look. I told Rayven not to land in any airport here kasi baka ma-trace tayo. Hindi natin alam kung may nag-aabang din na alagad ni Lexus dito sa Palawan.” Sagot niya naman at nagtuloy sa paglalakad. Magsasalita sana ako pero hindi ko naituloy nang makita ko sina Miles at Nico na papalapit sa amin. San sila galing?

“May nahanap na kaming pinaka-malapit na bayan. Just down there.” saad ni Nico at tinuro ang daan pababa ng cliff.

Hindi ako nagsalita at nagtuloy lang ang paglalakad papunta sa slope. Sumunod naman sila.

Ang lakas ng hangin dito. The sky is clear. Beautiful view of the sea. Perfect for an adventure—and by adventure, I mean rescue-mission.

“Approximately 6 miles from here is Holsu. Bale sa sunod na bayan iyon.” Pahayag ni Rayven.

“Ang lapit na pala natin.” saad ni Miles.

“Malapit na tayo. Pero may kailangan pa tayong hanapin.” sabat naman ni Lucas.

Napalingon kaming lahat sa kaniya. At inabangan ang sunod niyangsasabihin.

“Ano?” tanong ko.

“We had a sorcerer back then when the kingdom has not yet fallen. Travelers from other kingdom and dimension have always gone through her before they can get inside our territory.” paliwanag ni Rayven.

“Let me guess. We need to find her for us to get to your Kingdom.” Sabat ni Nico.

Tumango naman si Rayven.

“Well, can at least eat first?” mungkahi ko sa kanila. Lumingon naman sila sa akin.

“Aye!” Miles agreed and nodded really hard while staring at Lucas.

Lahat kami napatingin sa kaniya, carefully waiting for his decision.

“Fine. Yung hindi crowded.” sagot niya.

Napatakbo naman si Miles at nauna na sa amin. Di nagtagal sinundan na namin siya at napatakbo na rin.

“Miles! Teka lang!” sigaw ni Nico.

After a few minutes of walking down the hill, we finally and officially stepped into the town. There were no buildings to be found here. Everything was either made up of bamboo or plywood. There were no cars either—that's why the air was so fresh and clean. People here were wearing only simple clothes and some wore an attire that was based from their culture, I guess.
They all hard dark skin and a some of them had brown hair. Everything here reminded me of the field trip where I first met Pen.