His Greatest Regrets (Taglish)

Chapter 8-Bakawan

Tatlong araw ang lumipas, napagpasyahan ni Roxanne na dalhin sa bakawan si Jake, pagkatapos kasi niyang tinutukan ng baril ito, bigla na lang bumait sa kanya at hindi na siya iniinis nito.

Kaya napagdesisyunan niyang isama ito sa bakawan na nabili nung isang taon ng ate MJ niya sa kabilang bayan. Medyo malayo layo nga lang at malayo rin sa sa bayan ng mga nitibo, kailangan pa nilang maglakad ng mahaba habang oras upang makarating sa bakawan, meron namang tauhan na nakabantay rito lagi't lalo na ngayon ang anihan na ng mga alimango.

Tinawagan niya ito kahapon at inalam ang panahon. Nagpaalam naman siya sa nanay Malda na isasama nga niya si Jake at pumayag naman ito. Mga tatlong araw silang mamalagi doon para subaybayan ang pag aani ng mga alimango.

Pagkatapos maghanda ng dadalhin, handa na silang umalis. Kanya kanyang backpack na dala. Pagkalipas ng kalahating araw na biyahe nakarating na din sila sa maliit na bayan at mag lalakad na lang papunta sa bakawan dahil napakaliit ng daan papunta dun at hindi makakadaan ang baby itim niya.

"Jake, are you done? Let's go we should hurry or risk walking in the night." Kailangan nilang magmamadali dahil parang uulan pa yata at madilim ang kalangitan, napakalakas pa ng hangin.

"Yes, I'm ready." Jake replied as he noticed an eerie silence settled over the mangrove region of the little town. The extended howling of the natural wind was discontinued in unison. Birds of prey and insects prowling their next meal froze in place as though aware of the great mysterious big car of MJ, emerging from the lands. The noises, the movement, all the signs of life that filled the late afternoon just stopped as if warning them for something.

"Roxy, this place is creepy." He whispered

Mabuti naman at naramdaman nito. Kaya nga nandito tayo eh!

"Of course it's creepy after all, storm is coming and the sun's gone!" Wika niyang nagsisimula ng maglakad ng dahan dahan.

“What the heck, Roxy? You know it will going to rain and you did not tell me this?" Blurted Jake as he wipes his mouth with the sleeve of his dark jacket, striding towards the woman who seems to be grinning.

"Of course I did not know that!" She swallowed the dry lump on her throat and bit the inside of her cheek. She couldn't find or form any words to answer him. Heaving a deep sighed as another set of acid reaching out from his stomach, teka ang hapdi ng tiyan niya ah, di yata pala sila kumakain. Nagugutom na pala siya. "...Let's eat first. Nanay Malda gave us a baon for snack. I believe you have it in your backpack.

Makalipas ang limang minuto, tapos na nilang pinagsaluhan ang sandwich at sumang dala. Uminom lang sila ng tubig sa dalang water bottle at nagsimula na naman sa paglalakbay.

On this bakawan land, Jake felt a rising uneasiness in this exotic place, he'd sense a more alarming ring on his brain. He could almost feel the individual droplets of his sweat sliding down the sweat moist skin on his forehead, one after the other, gliding across the ridge of his brow before dropping onto his cheek. He could almost hear them dripping down, slow, tortuous progress across his tightened, weary face.

An hour of walking, he surveys the surroundings, no humans. It was a salt-tolerant forested wetland at the interface between the terrestrial landscape and the marine environment. On their left was a distant little valley settlement. Roxanne called it the natives town. But it was too far away.

"This place is nice in a good way that made me think that we are indeed on the edge of the earth," Jake murmured.

Ka OA. Edge of the earth ka dyan. Nasa bakawan lang tayo kung maka edge of the earth. Takot na yata dahil medyo dumilim na ang kalangitan. Well, kahit siya nama'y sanay na sanay dito pero pag ganito ang panahon nakakatakot din baka magsilabasan pa ang mga buwaya.

Here, the dominant vegetation were several species of mangrove: hundreds of woody trees and shrubs with a thick, partially exposed network of roots that grow down from the branches into the water and sediment. The soil was so damp that the worms and some crabs had surfaced to breathe and the crows fluttered over the little wet ground with their inky wings, each of them eating at the sudden buffet. The heavy rains have carved a model canyon in the path. Certainly, the soil was made soft by the gentle rainfall the prior day.

The bakawan were thick but not overgrown with underbrush. Occasionally there would be a break in the trees, and he'd look out over a wet grassroots meadow by the banks, thick with water lilies and some unknown vegetation. Jake couldn't see any sign of another human being. Only to curse inside his head when he found out that it's almost evening and he was cold as he tightened his jacket, yet Roxanne seemed not bothered at all. This woman was brave. The more he likes it.

The crickets and frogs silenced as they went past, proceeding with their songs after they’d gotten far enough away. They watched the little pond of water lilies for a few moments. It soothed them as they all admired the reflected gleam from the sundown.

A small crocodile head was meters away from them. “What the hell was that?” Jake asked in surprise and he stopped.

"Crocodile, why? Scared?" She answered. Natakot bigla ka higanteng tao takot sa napakaliit na buwaya.

“No! But seriously? A croc in this wetland, and you did not inform me?” Jake's brows furrowed. His brain cleared, the enthusiasm in his head came back, his vision began blurring, and most of nausea melted away and yet he felt light-headed. His stomach revolted with its extensive emptiness, and he battled with the impulse to place his hand on his belly and shush it. He felt like he was about to again. Dammit! He must be hungry again.

"Jake that is a very small croc, if we are not in hurry I might take it and dun dun! Food for later." Sinadya niyang maging seryoso sa sinabi. Kahit hindi naman totoo at hindi naman ito nakakain. Kadiri kaya. Pero hindi naman alam ng kumag yun. So she might as we enjoy his anxious face.

The surprise was an understatement. He was baffled and awe at the same time. What could have been the explanation of this sudden disgusting food to be? He inquired herself as such notion was beyond him, he was all the more confused and disturbed at the same time. He just hopes Roxanne was kidding as it was his fears and if that croc attacked him he might be needing her help so badly. He doesn't want to remember such memories with his father who was attacked by those kind in the zoo. It was scary as hell. And he doesn't want to relive that moment.

Whatever was ahead of them, it could be a tremendous and dark challenge if there were many of it , and there could be shouts and profanities or death but it was their journey to take and so he trusted and hoped for good luck for himself.

Anyare dito? Parang hindi makagalaw? Ang liit liit ng buwaya, parang na shock yata. "Are you okay?" Parang may phobia yata ang gago. Kawawa naman naman ang higanteng nilalang.

"Yes!" Sagot naman nito.

Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas padilim na at yung araw na nawala kanina ay lumabas ngunit paalis na rin. Trees nearby filtered the orange sunset. She dipped her hand into the little muddy puddle and found that the water was quite cold. She took a glance around, biting her lip. Parang tataas na yata ang tubig.

"Good, we are all alone here. We might as well hurry up." Roxanne whispered. Her hand stroked a crooked rock as she reached out to steady herself, coming to land in a patch of overgrown clearing on a jagged uneven path forward. Jake followed her silently.

Ano kayang iniisip nito't biglang tumahimik? Kanina lang ang ingay nito dahil maraming lamok na kumakagat rito, ngayon naman ang tahimik na. Himala.

Malapit naman din sila sa maliit na bahay ng caretaker ng bakawan. Ilang minuto na lang makikita na nila ito.

Birds called around them, so much a part of the moment that it was as if they hadn't broken the stillness. Jake could hear the hum, the buzz, and the grumble of insects as they venture more forward.

"We're here!" Sigaw niya rito.

"Where?"

"That little house."