Pages of Pain

CHAPTER 3

“Mikaza, what did you see in that forest really?” My mother said as she handed me a soup.

“You did not do your daily activities anymore. It’s not like I’m complaining about you not being able to picked foods from that forest. But I’m concerned Mikaza”

Weeks after that scenario, I did not came back from that forest. My mother gets food from the small salary that she gained from Argus. Speaking of that, I did not saw Akio. Maybe he goes back to the city for his studies.

“I’m fine Ma. Don’t worry now”

“But you look sick”

“Uhm, it’s just dysmenorrhea Ma” I shyly reasoned out. Even if that is not truly the reason, I just blurted it out for my mother to stop worrying.

After that conversation, she bid goodbye for her work at Argus’ cloth line. I decided to walked in our village and see the children studying. It has been a year now that there are female teachers here assigned by the government to teach the youths here. Although the salary of these two teachers is low and constantly delayed, they volunteered and continue to teach here. The children look so blissful as they eagerly engaged in the class. Very unlikely for those other children in the city that chose to stop in their studies even though their parents can afford and pay everything for all their needs and even wants. This is what my Mama said to me as Argus constantly reminded Akio to pursue his studies diligently.

“When you get at the right age, what do you think is your profession or job now?” one of the teachers asked. They managed to settle themselves in a small hut made of old nipa. I smiled as they enthusiastically raise their hands and answered in chorus with their different answers.

“Doctor Teacher to cure my Mama”

“Engineer so I can change our classroom” Even though this is unlikely a classroom.

“I wanna be like you Teacher”

“I wanna be the president of Africa!” Everyone gleefully laughed and cheered at the last answer of that certain boy who looks very proud of what he just said. Staring at their innocent eyes,

If I were to ask, maybe I’m a writer. I wanna be a writer dwelling my stories with the hard realities here to voice out how arduous our condition was.

“Mikaza!” It was teacher Alaida, one of the teachers here. She is assigned in teaching them English and moral values. She recognized me here because she always saw me glancing and sitting near the study area.

“Hi teacher Alaida!”

“Cut the teacher, you can call me Alaida only” I shook my head as I find it awkward. I have big respect for generous teachers like her. Plus they studied and worked hard to achieve this kind of profession. So it is just right to show them respect as part of their reward in that field.

“You came here without any fruits?” She asked teasingly. I smiled as I remember that I used to give them together with teacher Polina, a basket of fruits as a present for their families. But my smile fades as I remember on why I was not able to give them now.

“Teacher Alaida, sorry. I did not able to go in the forest these past few days”

“You said that place is your escape as it gives you hope and peace”

It’s true. The forest is standing there in a peculiar way. Who would have thought that there will be a forest in the midst of a vast desert? That’s why everytime I look on it, even if my hope decreased each day, the aesthetic shade of the forest recharges my hope. It gives me a sign to keep living and to keep surviving no matter how toilsome it is.

“Uh, I just felt tired in g-going there Teacher”

She eyed me carefully.

“Did you find something w-weird in there Mikaza?”

My heart pounds fast as the images of those people flashed in my mind.

“I did not mean to scare you but-

“W-what is it teacher?” Am I the only one who does not know those people or tribe exist? It’s impossible thou. Mama will completely prohibits me if she knew that there is something weird and dangerous there.

Teacher Alaida slowly let me sit on the wooden rounded chair.

“There is a myth or gossips perhaps about that forest Mikaza”

“I did not hear any myths about that forest Teacher. Mama used to tell me old stories about our place or in our country but I don’t know that there is something going on with that forest”

“This is just a myth thou. No assurance that it is true but it is not also bad to believe it”

“My grandfather told me this Mikaza. He said there are people living inside that forest. I don’t know if people would be a right term for them” W-what?

“Why?”

“They ate humans Mikaza”

Cannibals?!

“There are sayings that they abduct people here every two years”

“W-what’s the purpose of abducting our fellow villagers Teacher?”

“That is the question I cannot answer Mikaza”

Could it be for an offering? I gasped as I suddenly remembered the person I saw in the middle together with that fire! Is that one of the villagers here in our place, or the neighboring villages perhaps?

“Mikaza, come on were going home now” My reverie came back as my mother called me few meters away from me.

My mother holds my hand gently as we walked into our small house.

“What really happened way back in that forest Mikaza? You’re not as enthusiastic as before”

“Nothing Ma. I’m just really tired. I’ll go there later”

“You should rest. You are not in good condition. Look at you, you suddenly get thin”

I pursed my lips.

“I’m still sexy right?”

We laughed together as she playfully showed me here thumbs down.

Blended with the gentle wind and tantalizing moon, I readied myself to go in the forest. I need to do these two things: To get foods and to cure my curiosity.

I meticulously made my way out in our house. I placed my sack blanket on my mother. Even though it is not severely cold during nights in here, I ensure to give my blanket on my mother and carefully removed it at dawn for her to not notice it. I’m sure she will ask Argus to made us a blanket made of thick fabric. It is another debt again! And another debt means double loads of work for her. I’m afraid she might get cough and colds. Her body is not as good as before. She looks older for her age.

I took a peek at Akio’s house. They have electricity but they turn their lights off. My eyebrows knitted as I saw Argus readied his hunting bow. It’s eleven in the evening if I am not mistaken. He will go for a hunt? I did not heard any news that he goes there for some foods ‘cause eventually they can afford it. I hide in one of the water wooden container near me.

He was glancing repeatedly from all sides.

I was having a hesitation if I should call and ask him, or to follow him secretly. Because no matter how much I deny, my instinct says loudly that there is something wrong.

He is far now. I made sure that he will not notice my shadow or presence. I hastily halted my steps as he stops. My heart pounds fast. Did he notice me?

He raised his bow hunt and picked an arrow. He n-notice! I nervously glanced at my sides for any possible thing to cover me. There is a woods stack for cooking purposes but it is kinda far from where I am. And if I run rapidly in there, he will immediately notice me because of my visible shadow as the moon shines brightly!

I am in the middle of thinking about what should I do when I saw how blood that stains my shoes. I nervously took a glance as I saw a dead deer. I clutched my chest as I felt relieved and decide to go in the forest in other time as I felt accusing Argus to have hidden agenda interconnected in the forest. But my feet stop as I heard words that send shivers on my spine.

“You wanna be the next?”