Believe

01

Chapter 01

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ASHLEY

Water? That's the first thing that came to my mind after feeling something moving all around my body. Naramdaman kong lumubog ang kamay ko nang sinubukan ko itong galawin. What is this? When I woke up, I felt a throbbing pain in my head. Sinubukan kong tumayo, pero pagkagalaw ko ay lalo lang itong sumakit.

Ano bang nangyari sakin? As soon as the pain subsided, I sat up successfully and surveyed my surroundings. Where am I? Tinignan ko ang kamay ko at dito ko nalaman na buhangin pala ang kanina kong naramdaman.

Hundreds of trees that are swaying caused by the gentle breeze was what I saw located behind me. I panicked. Just what am I doing in a place like this? Hinawakan ko ang ulo to try remembering what happened before I got here. Ngunit naudlot ito dahil nakaramdam ako ng ibang presensya.

Agaran akong napalingon nang makarinig ako ng paglubog ng buhangin sa aking likuran. I couldn't help but be surprised as I saw someone.

"You're already awake." He said as he put out his hand for me. Napakunot ako ng noo sa ginawa niya. At first hindi ko alam ang gagawin, but then I realized that his intention was to pull me up. I accepted it and he helped me to my feet. I stumbled dahil sa agarang pagtayo but he immediately caught me in his arms to steady me.

"Are you all alright?" Tumango ako. When I already got myself in balance, he asked to me follow him and so I did.

I have many questions running through my mind right now but I don't know where to start. I don't even know if this man knows me. Wait, does he?

Patuloy lang ako sa pagsunod sa kanya, even though I have no idea what we will be doing or where we're heading. We were silent the whole time as he led me to who knows where.

We went inside the forest. The only sound you can hear is the leaves crunching underneath our feet as we walk and the sound of waves growing more distant as we went deeper into the forest. After minutes of walking, I began to wonder and cannot stop myself from asking.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" Hindi niya ako pinansin, at para pa ngang hindi niya ako narinig. Huminga ako ng malalim upang pigilan ang inis ko. Anong akala niya? For me to trust him that much that I'm letting myself get dragged on like this? Okay, I'm not getting dragged but, "Hey, can you at least talk to me." Finally, the man turned to me, but I didn't expect his next action.

He smiled. This is getting weird. Bakit siya ngumingiti? Is there something to smile about? I chose to follow him silently and decided that it's better to just keep my mouth shut and wait for what comes next. Besides, mamaya ko na siya kakausapin kapag andun na kami sa kung saan man niya ako dadalhin. Baka sakaling magsalita na siya. I didn't realize that we're already here, until the man held my wrist and led me inside.

Nilibot ko ang mata ko sa paligid, then I realized that this might be his house. This house is made of wood judging from the outside appearance and from its interior, everything makes you feel like living inside a tree.

As we entered this house, or his house, umalis siya saglit at pagbalik niya ay may dala na siyang mga damit. It must've been for me dahil alam ko, and I don't even need a mirror, that I look somewhat terrible waking up ashore.

He handed them over to me. Dinala niya ako sa isang kwarto rito. "I think you should change for now and get some rest, you need it. We'll talk pagkagising mo at kapag maayos ka na." I absent-mindedly nodded to everything he said and last saw him smile to me as he closed the door.

Napahinga ako ng malalim. Of course, he's right. I need some rest. My body ached all over. And, my head is still throbbing. At dahil kanina pa ako nagtitiis, lalo itong sumakit ngayon nang ipaalala sakin ng lalaki na magpahinga.