Mt. Banahaw Untold Dimension

Chapter 1 Hiro’s Point of View “Do you really have to search for have to search for the leaf of that plant, Son?” Dad asked as I prepare my lab apparatus in a bag. “Yes, Dad. But don’t worry, Eros and Lloyd will accompany me in search of Gongrospermum in Mt. Banahaw. I really need some leaves as specimen for my dissertation. “You’re son is such a biology geek, Love,” Mom said to Dad as she chuckles on a confuse look of Dad when I mentioned about Gongrospermum. “But you said that it is endangered. You may be charged by law for wildlife protection,” Dad retorted. “Dad, don’t worry, only a certain international organization held it as endangered but it is very endemic here in our country. But it is not usually available in plant markets. And Mt. Banahaw is the nearest place to look for it. Beside there is Eros to protect us from wild animals lurking in there.” “Son, I warn you. That mountain is sacred and mysterious. If something odd happened, remember to pray.” “Mom, don’t worry, I have a Bible and prayer book in my bag,” I showed her the books I’ve mentioned. I place it in a compartment separate from my laboratory apparatus. Dad and Mom left my room and proceeded to the living room. I pack some important things as contingency plan paraphernalia if something goes wrong Seriously, my bag seems to carry my whole life in it. I think it weighs approximately 30 pounds! I’ll let my twin brother carry this, he’s stronger than me. I peeped my head out of the room, “Eros! Can you carry my bag? This is so heavy.” Eros rushed to my room and was shocked to see my bag. “Did our parents asked you to move out from our house. Seriously, you’ll bring this only in search of that leaf?” Eros exclaimed. “Bro, relax. There are paraphernalia there if something goes out of the plan.” “And I’ll be the one to carry that? Bro, I just want to remind you that it is still September, too early to exercise penitensya(tradition in the Philippines every Black Friday to depict the passion of Christ; it is colloquially use in doing a tedious task).” “Bro, you can handle that, between the two of us, you’re the one who’s stronger.” “If not only you’re my twin, I will never be doing this,” he said moving his head sideways in disbelief as I assist him in putting the bag on his shoulder like a sack of wheat. When we got to the living room, Mom, Dad, and Lloyd eyes widen at the sight of my bag on Eros’ shoulder. “Hiro, Son, if your room is too small for a laboratory, we can make you a separate laboratory. You don’t have to move out and excuse yourself of looking for genius-know plant leaf,” here goes Mom again and her advance thinking. She’s more of a millennial than me(millennials in the Philippines are thinks in way too advanced). “Mom, I will not move out, its just that everything in that bag is necessary,” I smiled sheepishly. “Seriously? Isn’t that just having excess baggage?* she asked still in shock. “Mom, we’ll not know what will happen, its best if I’ll prepare for contingency plan,” I reasoned out. “Okay, okay. Suit yourself. Just make sure your brother will settle with that,” Mom said. “It’s okay, Mom, I still can carry if he himself add up to my burden,” Eros said. “Bro, don’t worry, you’ll be the first one in the acknowledgement section of my dissertation,” I consoled him. “Hiro, your brother seems having some trouble carrying your, uhm, necessities?” Lloyd said, uncertain on the word necessity to refer to my things. “Don’t worry, he can manage.” Lloyd is my colleague both in doctorate degree in Biology and research institute as well as he is my partner in inventing some advanced robotics and machinery. And, well, he said he’ll come along for some inspiration for a new research topic. Oh well, he wants to add up another achievement inside his suit and fish for recognition, that’s him. In the middle of the forest at the side of Mt. Banahaw… “Let’s take some rest, Hiro. Its already noon and this bag of yours seems getting heavier from time to time,” Eros complained. I already had heard hundred of his complains since we left our house this morning. He is so grouchy. “Okay, lets rest for a while. And Bro, can you also let me rest for all the grouch you let out since this morning? I’m also tired,” I said with a hint of tiredness in my tone. “Are you really getting some specimen? Or you’ll stay here in the mountain for good to conduct here your dissertation and research studies. Where is your laboratory so I can bring your things as early as possible. My limbs ate getting tired with your belongings. Can you lend some of your strength,” another complain coming from him. “Eros, I said enough,” I calmly said, but he knows that when I called him in his name instead of Bro, I’m way to go before I lost my temper. Thank God, he stopped. After getting some rest, we continued with our quest. But for heaven’s sake, that Gongrospermum is as elusive to find as chameleon in his camouflage. “Its good that I brought my full charged cellphone with me. We have flashlight. Hiro, I tell you, this search of us is a dead end. Its better if you think of another topic for your dissertation,” Lloyd said, obviously getting tired. Meh, I didn’t even asked him to go with us. He volunteered to join. “Lloyd, even you? Okay, if you’re tired of this, go ahead, leave me. But I will continue this,” I said as I hold my phone to turn the flashlight on. “Bro, of course we’ll accompany you. It is only you who is grouchy. We still have energy,” Eros said. What? It’s the other way around. “Yes, we’ll go through this together. That’s what friends are for, right?” at last, he said that we’re friends. I thought he only see me as his rival in research institute. “Wait, I saw a light of a flame from a distance. Maybe we can settle with them just for this night,” Eros said, his gaze aiming at right side direction. I also saw that light. Must be campers searching for trekking adventure. We followed the direction of the flame until we reached an open acre. There are two built-in tents and a bonfire not so far from it. We are surprised when we recognize the silhouette of three people who turned out to be a man and two woman. The guy has a chinky eyes, pointed nose, and thin, apple-red lips. He is tall but thin and has his cross necklace that symbolizes his personality. The girl who looks like the guy wears a turban on his head. The other girl has a regular-sized eyes, pointed nose, and tantalizing eyes and wearing a purple bonnet. “Joseph? Johanna? Rosselen?” I said in shock as I recognized them one by one. “Oh, Hiro, Eros, Lloyd, what are the three of you doing here? Are you up for trekking also?” Rosselen was the first to recover from shock. “Hiro, you didn’t tell that you’re tailing us. You don’t have to because ever since you know that I’m into you,” Johanna said amusingly while trying to impress Hiro with her looks. Joseph looked at his sister in disbelief. Okay, older brother issues. “Sorry to pop your bubbles, Jo, but we’re looking for a certain specimen for my dissertation,” I retorted. “Hi, Johanna,” Lloyd greeted. “Mr. Know-It-All, tss,” Johanna rolled her eyes on him. “Hi there, Johanna,” Eros greeted. “You, womanizer. Even you look like Hiro, I don’t like you,” Johanna retorted. I laugh for Eros looks dumbfounded. “Ouch, Jo. That hurts you know,” Eros acted hurt. We all laugh. “So, Joseph, what do you think you’re doing?” I asked him secretly. There’s a hint of mockery in my tone. “What’s with the tone? I’m accompanying my sister,” he said defensively. “Really? Are you sure?” even its already dark, I know that he is as read as tomato because of shame. “Yeah, that’s only it. What are you trying to imply?” Joseph ask, looking so bothered. “Accompanying your sister or more like, subtle move for someone’s heart,” I said, then slowly turned my gaze to Rosselen. Rosselen, on the other hand, mouthed “What?” because of my meaningful look while Joseph gave me a “Don’t-Tell-Her-I-Warn-You” look. I shook my head to Rosy but I cannot stop myself from laughing. Then I sighed. I just thought, they are into someone but I still lay my eyes on biology studies and robotics theory. Jo is into me but I only see her as a friend. Lloyd and Eros like Jo. But Eros is a little bit womanizer so I don’t think he’s serious about it. Joseph has a crush on Rosy. I saw Rosy recently looking unto Joseph like a heart-eyed emoji. I wanted to think that I am asexual. But hey, romantic isn’t just my thing. It sounds like broccoli and cabbage to me. Gross! We all crowded around the bonfire. Mountain atmosphere chills us out to the bone. The serene surrounding gives me an eerie feeling. We seated like this: Rosy – Joseph – Johanna – I – Lloyd – Eros. Rosy is sitting next to Eros since we encircled around the bonfire. “Guys, I think its best for us to enjoy the night. And since its dark here, I think we should tell horrible stories, may it be based on our own experience or we only heard. I will start,” Eros suggested. Everyone agreed. “When we are in the 9th grade, there is an odd event happened,” he started narrating. I know this story. We had no teacher in the room since our teacher is in the Physical Education room for our practical test and we are summoned by five per batch. Our president stood in front of the drawer near the comfort room to check her face on the mirror atop of the drawer. From her peripheral vision, he saw a guy ran towards the comfort room. She followed the guy because she banned everyone to use the comfort room because she put muriatic acid on the toilet. But when she opened the door, she didn’t see anyone. She laughed, thinking of how moron she was. Some of our classmate assumed that she saw the shaft of the guy that’s why she’s laughing. It turned out that they really saw a guy running towards the comfort room about our I and Hiro’s height. It would be impossible that the guy escaped from the comfort room other than the door because it was enclosed. They had mistaken that it must be me or Hiro but we are in the PE room that time,” Eros narrated. “How lame, dude! My turn,” Joseph intrude. Even I, I didn’t find that story horrible. “Back when we were Seniors, foundation day of our school, one of the cafeteria staff saw a girl wearing their uniform but her clothe has blood stains and she is crying while chopping dish ingredients. Our school stopped hosting Junior-Senior Promenade because every time they call this celebration, random students were possessed and three men wearing tuxedoes appear but they had no heads,” he narrated. I can feel goosebumps all over my body. I sat on my bag and held it tight. “I have a friend who had a classmate in her 8th grade that invited her in their town feast. But that place was rumored to be the dwelling place of aswangs(shape-shifter; a ghoul who transforms into a predator bird or wild dog and attacks sick and old people, pregnant, and babies). An old man warned her to bring a small citrus fruit and squeeze it into a food that she will get. If the food move on its own and change its color, the meal was made up of human flesh. She did as what she was told. She got a meat food and secretly squeezed the citrus. It moved and change its color and human distinct body parts appeared. When she saw a dog, she gave the food. A woman asked her about that. She only said that she was full and hurriedly escaped without saying goodbye to her classmate. If ever she has eaten that food, she might be an aswang nowadays,” Lloyd told his story. “I have a story about aswang and manananggal(ghoul who’s body cuts into halves at waist level and show a pair of wings similar to that of bat and attacked with only his upper body) also that our driver told me,” I started. “He was a teenager that time. He will attend a night party that time. On the way in the midst of the wilderness when the sun has set, a puppy and an adult dog blocked his way. To his dismay, he kicked the puppy and hurried to the party place. When he was there, a young boy pointed him out to the latter’s father and said that our driver was the one who kicked him. He can’t remember kicking a child because what he kick was only a puppy. To his fright, even the party ended at midnight, he told his friend that he want to stay there until morning. But since there were many visitors that will stay, he was told to stay on the neighbor’s house. By 1 o’clock of dawn, he rose up to pee. But he saw on the living room that there were many legs but don’t have their upper body. Those people inside that house were manananggals. He went back to were he lied and pretended to be asleep. When morning came, he hurriedly bade goodbye.” Everyone was getting goosebumps so Joseph started a trivia, “By the way, you know what, someone told me that every person named Joseph can get an abundant wealth from caskets buried in a river.” The fire almost consumed the firewood. Rosy stood up, “I remembered something. I have another plan aside from camping and trekking for coming here. Do you know that there are supernatural wonders about this mountain? I’m here to test that.” Everyone seems interested about whatever Rosy is planning while I smell danger about it. She left for a while and came back with a coconut husk which I think she put something inside. “Do you want to experience some adventure?” she asked, with a mischievous smile flashed on her lips. Uh-oh, I have a bad feeling about this. “I don’t like whatever is running on your mind. Drop it,” I interfered. “C’mon, Hiro, don’t be such a kill joy,” she said. They agreed in unison. “My grandmother is a tagahatid(medium that can travel between human and enchanted dimension). When I was young, I managed to take a look on her book and tried to cross dinension. I succeeded but my grandmother found out what I did and take me out. She said its too dangerous. I brought that book with me so w can do that and I also brought a sack full of coconut husk. When this coconut husk burned, look at my eye reflecting the flame and slowly close your eyes,“ she instructed as she scattered coconut husk on the embers and place the coconut husk she held at the center. We all did as she said, all of them for the sake of fun while I just did because I don’t want to be left behind. We look at her eyes reflecting the flame. I smell a scent of frankincense. So that’s what inside those coconut husk. To my nervousness,I held my bag I’m sitting on as I close my eyes. “Open your eyes,” she said. We all did. The surroundings is just like area where they assembled the tent only that those tents are missing. And to our surprise, the surroundings appeared under the daytime light that passes through the leaves inside the forest. “Here we are,” Rosy said enthusiastically. “Where are we?” Jo asked. “Welcome to the enchanted dimension,” Rosy smiled. “Is that for real?” Seph asked amusingly. “Yes, and the time frame of human dimension is contrary to enchanted dimension, that’s why its still daytime when we got here.” “Rosy, take us out of here. This dimension screams danger,” I nervously blurted out. “Relax, we have a lot of time, the fire cannot consume the husks in just a while.” To my surprise, I saw my bag also traveled with us. I recalled that I clutched my bag on nervousness. So that explains why it got transported. “You’re prepared,” Rosy remarked. “I didn’t know it will be transported with me.” “Kkkyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!” I heard Jo screamed in horror. We become alert because there are impaktos(human large goblin) arrived. “Human intruders!” “How dare them come here!” “Kill them and lets spread grim on their dimension!” I immediately got some improvised weapon and threw it to my companions. We fought using with our fencing skills. I might be fragile looking but our university when we were block mates in college offers Physical Education of self defense. We managed to eliminate those impaktos. “Fighting them has made me no sweat at all,” Eros and him being conceited. “Its not the end yet,” Rosy announced. We saw many impaktos approaching us. Unlike before, they are many in number. We prepared ourselves to fight those in front of us but we heard awful yell from our right direction. There are also impaktos appearing from our left. There are also coming from our back. We instantly positioned back-to-back to fight these enchanters but our survival level is at stake. Its impossible for us to eliminate these large number. As I’ve conceived, its not really good to go here. I’m wondering if we can still survive or our life ends here. What have we done to deserve this kind of punishment?