Over the Mountain

CHAPTER 32: THE MOUNTAIN

They say that the mountain is a mysterious one. Mountain has a lot of treasures and a lot of mysteries that are hard to decode. There were also a lot of myths about the mountains. Scary stories and more. Truth to be told, when Dad said that I will be going to work in the mountain, I…I disagreed a lot. But before I could even speak, Dad immediately said that I can’t say no. I have amnesia, but I could see in Dad’s eyes that she is disciplining me. I tried to ask grandma what I did, but she just smile at me, telling me that I will be going to love the mountain and the things that the mountain can only offer.

Gusto kong tumanggi. Ayoko magtrabaho sa bundok. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko kakayanin. Pakiramdam ko ay mayroon akong malaking kasalanan sa bundok? Pakiramdam ko ay mayroong kung ano sa bundok na takot kong matagpuan o makita. Napabuntong-hininga ako. Hindi pa man din ako nagsisimula sa trabaho ko ay umaayaw na agad ako. Pero ayaw ko talaga. Pero pakiramdam ko talaga, kapag hindi ako sumunod ay malaking kasalanan iyon.

What happened before that gives me a feeling like this? Why am I so scared to disobey my dad?

“Apo, huwag mo munang husgahan ang iyong trabaho,” biglang salita ni lola na nasa tabi ko na pala.

“Hindi ko naman po hinuhusgahan, lola,”

“Ayaw mo lang?”

Napayuko ako. “Yes, lola. Pero hindi ko rin po magawang tumanggi kay Daddy,”

Ngumiti naman ng masuyo si lola sa akin. “Bakit ayaw mo sa bundok? Malay mo ay doon mo makatagpo ang pag-ibig mo,” pabiro niyang sabi.

“Lola,” sabay nguso ko. “Hindi naman po ako naghahanap ng magiging nobyo.”

“Bakit naman? Mayroon ka bang naiwang nobyo sa Manila? O dito?”

Nangunot ang noo ko sa tanong ni lola pero mabili siyang tumawa. Nagsisimula nanaman siyang mang-asar sa akin. At sa tuwing inaasar niya ako ay pamilyar na pamilyar sa akin ang pakiramdam. Kaya naman minsan ay natatagpuan ko na lang ang sarili kong nakikipag-sabayan kay lola sa pang-aasar. Halos magda-dalawang buwan na rin pal amula noong makalabas ako sa ospital pero ni isang alaala ay wala pa ring nagbabalik bagaman minsan, nakakaramdam ako ng kapamilyaran sa mga bagay-bagay. At tulad ng sabi ni Tita Ria ay maghihintay na lamang ako kung kailan tuluyang babalik ang alaala ko. At kung babalik pa ba.

Just like what dad said, I just choose simple clothes. A pair of tee-shirts and a pair of jean that is comfortable and stretchable. I only used my small shoulder bag, puts my personal stuff, phone, and such. Then a lot of ponytails. I hug grandma and Tita Ria before joining dad in leaving the house. We ride the car and just a few minutes later, we already reached their station. And it’s very close to the mountain.

I have been staring at the mountain since I move out to the hospital but looking at it this near, I couldn’t help but to simp over its beauty. Dad on the other hand lets me simp over the mountain and he just disturbed me after a long minute of staring at the mountain. When we finally enter the station, the calming ambiance of the station welcomes me right away. Then the station employers welcome us.

“Good morning, Chief,” everyone said in unison.

Lima silang nakatayo at nakahilera habang nakaharap sa amin. At habang isa-isa silang tinitignan ay may kung anong umalon sa aking puso. Lalo na nang dumako ang aking paningin sa isang babaeng maputi at may mahabang buhok. The way she looks at me is very deep and intent. Tila ba sinusuri ako hanggang sa kaibuturan ng aking kaluluwa. She…she feels familiar. But I don’t remember. I swallowed hard and diverted my gaze to the girl beside her. Hanggang balikat ang buhok nito at may halong kulay na naglalaro sa kupasang pula. Nakatitig din siya sa akin tulad ng naunang babae at pakiramdam ko ay kilala ko siya. Pero hindi ko siya maalala. Kaya naman ay nailipat ko na lamang ang aking tingin at dumako naman iyon sa isang lalaki na matipuno. Matangkad ay clean cut ang kaniyang buhok. Katulad ng dalawang naunang babae ay nakatitig din siya sa akin ng mariin.

He feels familiar. But I don’t remember him. Nakakahiya lamang sapagka’t pakiramdam ko ay kilala ko sila pero hindi ko sila maalala. Nakakahiya dahil sa uri ng kanilang tingin ay tila kilalang-kilala nila ako. But they just remain staring at me as daddy introduces me to them and he introduces them one by one to me.

“We can be both,” Suzy—the girl with shoulder-length hair said after I ask her if we are park rangers or forest rangers. “We can be both because of the duty we do. But forest rangers are broader than park rangers,”

I nod. Her voice is very feminine. “What work do forest rangers usually do?”

She looks at me and smiled. “We do a lot of work. But on top of that, we protect the mountain as well as the people visiting the place,” she explained. “The country is having a shortage of rangers that’s why we both partake on the same work ground. But we, forest rangers focus on the mountain. But when the other law enforcement department as for some help, we always offer our hand.”

I nod at her. She handed me the GPS, the radio, gloves, my gear, and the ranger bag. She handed me everything that I needed. I winces when I carried my ranger bag and it was somehow heavy. Suzy immediately explains what’s inside the bag, so I understand now why it must be this heavy. I also change my shoes to a protective and proper shoe as well as my uniform. Suzy always stares at me and then she will just smile right away. I wanted to ask her, but I keep my mouth shut.

Celestine—the woman with long straight hair oriented me the things I need to know about my work and her voice is a pitchy one and very lively. I could feel that she always stares at me ang longing is in her eyes. But whenever she blinks, that emotions suddenly vanish. I did my best not to ask them questions even though I wanted it so much. This is my first day and I don’t want to sound nosy. So, I just shut my mouth.

“Are you…are you really feeling better now?” Celestine asks me as I read some information and things I need to know about our work.

I lift my gaze and meet her concerned eyes. I blink. I was stunned at how concerned she is. “Y-Yes. I’m better now.”

Celestine genuinely smiled at me. “That’s good to hear.”

“You know me,” bigla ko na lamang sambit habang nakatitig ako sa kaniya.

Imbes na sumagot ay ngumiti lamang si Celestine sa aking totoo. And she is very beautiful. And her smile made my flicks and an image suddenly flashes. It was quick. Hindi naman sumakit ang ulo ko pero nabigla ako.

“Are you okay? May nagawa ba akong ikinasakit ng ulo mo?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Celestine.

“No, Celestine. I’m fine. Hindi sumakit ang ulo ko,” agap ko kaya ay nakahinga siya ng maluwag.

“Just call me Tin,” aniya at tsaka muling ngumiti.

“Alright, Tin,” I said and tried to smile too.

Nagpatuloy ako sa aking pagbabasa habang si Tin naman ay matyaga akong inasikaso. Unang beses ko pa lamang siyang makilala at makita pero naging magaan agad ang loob ko sa kaniya. Her personality is very vibrant. Nakaka-hawa iyon kaya ay natagpuan ko na lamang ang sarili kong nakikitawa na sa kaniya at kay Suzy. Their company feels familiar. It’s very warm. It’s accessible that it was easy for me to get along with them.

They were nice and warm. But I still don’t like to work in the mountain. It feels like I have a ghost in the mountain. And I’m scared to see it.