Wild Encounter

Chapter 2 - Elysian Island

Ang akala ko'y maingay na club, iba't ibang kulay na masakit sa mata, at amoy usok na lugar ang madadatnan ko. I don't know if I should be thankful for Lin brought me to a pub that barely has a customer. Tranquility blasting through the corners with soft music, delicate neon lights enough for my sensitive ken to handle, and above all, the light ambiance this pub has brought me.

Nilibot ko ang tingin sa tahimik na lugar. It was only me and Lin who decided to celebrate my birthday, a guy was serving us drinks and there were few people sitting not far from our position.

"I thought we were going to a pub?" Nagtataka kong tanong sa kaniya.

Lin smiled. "Gusto mo ba?"

Mabilis akong umiling. "Hindi rin. But knowing you, Lin. Nakakagulat na rito mo ako dinala... I was expecting to see a crowd in the middle with all those loud songs. Dagdag mo pa ang masakit na mga disco lights."

Bahagya siyang natawa. "Silence is better, Zuri. Kilala kita... Marinig mo lang na maingay, yayain mo na ako pauwi hindi pa man tayo nakakapasok sa club."

Tumango-tango ako bago tinuon ang atensiyon sa baso na hindi ko pa nagagalaw.

Today is my eighteenth birthday. Four years since my parents died, I haven't experienced extravagant celebrations during my birthdays like I used to.

I remember my father telling me that I'd have a sumptuous debut when this day comes, my mother assuring me that she'd plan everything for me to have a glorious celebration.

Noon, oo. Nangangarap ako ng magarbong pagdiriwang. Isang beses lang naman. Hindi naman masama na hingiin ang bagay na 'yon. For I know that it would cost less, and that they were willing to make my dreams come true. Kasi anak nila ako... Mahal nila ako.

But now that it came, I felt like they failed to make me happy. To make this day extra special.

Four birthdays without them and yet, I'm still not used to the loneliness it makes me feel.

"What's your plan?"

Napasulyap ako dahil sa kaniyang tanong.

"Plan about what?"

"You're eighteen, Zuri. You always wanted to leave. Ngayon na nasa tamang edad ka na, you can now decide for yourself."

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa baso ng alak.

I already made plans, saved enough, and built the courage to leave and start living by myself. Pero ngayon na nasa sitwasyon na ako, tila nagdadalawang isip ako. I always wanted to be independent, not just to learn how to live, but certainly to escape from the grasps of betrayers.

Pagod na pagod na akong maging alila sa mga kamay nila.

There were a lot of questions and doubts. Kaya ko ba? Ako at ako na lang ang sasalo sa sarili ko at wala ng iba. If I fall, no one would come to help me. It's only me who can help myself stand up again to keep moving forward.

Wala naman akong maaasahan. Besides, I don't want to burden my friend thinking of my struggle. Ayoko rin maging dependent sa kahit na kanino pa. For years, I've learned to not lean onto someone whenever there's a glitch in my life.

This is my choice, asking for help isn't a bad idea but I'm choosing to stand firm and refuse to let everyday problem burdens me or anyone.

"I'll leave," I said with conviction. "There's no choice, Lin..."

"There's a lot of choices, Zuri. You just chose to close the doors and stick to one option. Pero may tiwala naman ako sa 'yo. You won't make such a decision without putting a lot of effort to go for it or nah."

Muli ko siyang binalingan. "Kung mayroon man, ano naman 'yon?"

Lin fixed her gaze at me, unmoving. Ilang segundo ang lumipas ay hindi siya nakapagbigay ng sagot.

Eventually, she shrugged and drank her tequila.

Hindi yata niya napag-isipan ang kaniyang sinabi sa naging reaksiyon niya.

I chuckled without humor. "Wala, 'di ba? If you were in my shoes, leaving would be your only option."

"I'm sorry..." she uttered.

Nagkibit lamang ako ng balikat. "Don't be. Wala ka naman ginawang masama para humingi ng tawad."

"It's just that... I'm kinda sad about what happened, Zuri. Sobrang layo ng buhay mo noon sa ngayon. I always look up to you — even until now for how strong you have become for the past years. At sobrang proud ako sa 'yo."

Her last statement almost had me in tears.

"This is what life gave me. Wala kang ibang choice kung hindi ang piliin lumaban."

Everyone was fighting for their battle to be free from whatever it was that keeps them awake. Hindi ko man nakikita pero alam ko sa bawat tao na nakakasalubong ko, may bigat na dala. It may be too shallow or not for others but still, the problem is a problem.

It's a battle of strengths. If you let your emotion takes over, you'll lose. So I trained my mind to be stronger to win.

"Saan ka mananatili?" Lin asked, pouring another batch of liquor into her glass. "You hate big cities, right? I'm assuming that you'd live far away from here. Maybe in a province? On an island? Anywhere silent?"

“Hmm... Are you familiar with Elysian Island?”

“Elysian Island? The one we saw on the internet before?”

I nodded. “Yup... May nakausap na ako na naninirahan sa isla. Malayo mula rito pero sa tingin ko ay magandang lugar iyon upang makapagsimula.”

“Of all places, Zuri. Bakit doon pa? We knew how small that place is. Sobrang tahimik at hindi mo alam kung safe ba.”

Umiling ako sa kaniyang tinuran. “Hindi naman. I’m sure it’s safe. Doon naninirahan ‘yong kaklase natin before.”

Umasim ang kaniyang mukha na ikinatawa ko nang mahina.

“Remember Reynaldo? ‘Yong mapayat at matangkad na may gusto sa ‘yo noon?”

Dinala ko ang baso sa labi ko at inamoy ang likido. I never tasted alcohol before. I hated how it affects one sanity. Natuklasan ko na kung paano malasing si Lin at ayokong matulad sa kaniya kung sakali.

Binaba ko rin agad ang baso nang rumehistro sa ilong ko ang matapang nitong amoy.

“So, kailan ka aalis? Do you need help perhaps?” pag-iiba niya ng usapan.

Muli akong umiling. “Bukas...”

Just like that, the next morning, I arrived on Elysian Island after hours of traveling on land.