Over the Mountain

CHAPTER 33: FAMILIAR

“Thank you,” I said as Erik—the guy who seems familiar opens the car door for me.

“You are much welcome,” he said before closing the turn and turning around to get inside the driver’s seat.

On the other car is where Suzy, Troy, and Niel rode. This is my second day and today, we will be going to patrol on the mountain. This is the first day of my official work and I don’t know what I am feeling. At first, I was curious as to why Celestine will not join us, but they later explained that he is the station’s secretary. She is a ranger too but she’s more on the inside than outside like what we will about to do.

I sigh as the car starts to move. Kay lapit lamang ng bundok sa kung saan ang station namin. Abot tanaw ito at mas lalo lamang gumanda ngayong nakikita ko ito sa malapit. Pero gayunpaman, hindi pa rin nawawala ang pag-ayaw ko sa trabaho ko ngayon. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ito ang trabaho ko. Pero wala akong magawa dahil natatakot din naman akong tanggihan si Daddy. Tama rin naman si lola na subukan ko muna bago ko sabihing ayaw ko sa trabahong ito.

But still…I’m afraid.

Ilang minuto lang ay huminto na ang sasakyan namin at ganoon din sila Suzy. Sa gildi ng kalsada ay inihinto ni Erik ang sasakyan. Ito ay sa tapat mismo ng isang b****a na mayroong gate at nakasara. The signage says ‘Gate 1E’ and that’s when Erik started to explain me that this way is the gate 1 from the east. This is the shortest arc in the area as to where we are going to patrol. Habang sina Suzy naman ay pinanood lamang kaming pumasok sa arko at muli na silang sumakay ng sasakyan at umalis. Ayon kay Erik ay sa gate 2N naman sila sapagka’t doon malapit ang kanilang pagpa-patrol-an.

Habang naglalakad kami ni Erik ay hindi ko lubos maiwasang namnamin ang bawat nadaraanan namin. Iyon ngang sampong hakbang na hagdaan ay hinakbang ko sa pinaka-mabagal na paraan kaya naman nang marating ko ang dulo ay tinawanan ako ni Erik.

“What are you laughing at?” tanong ko.

“I will let you do that just for this once. But as a ranger, you should be fast,” he said and smiled.

“You told me that this whole week is my training week. Then you wanted me to be fast already?”

“You are now an official ranger. And your works officially starts today,” he stated. “Sinabi ko man na ngayong linggo ay training week mo pero hindi ko sinabing magbagal ka,” aniya sa kaswal na tanon. “Hindi natin alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa bundok. What if there’s someone who needs our help? Tapos nagbabagal ka? Can we able to save that someone?”

I roll my eyes. “Puwede ka namang mauna. Hindi mo ako kailangang hintayin.”

“You are my partner, and I am your senior ranger, therefore, you are my responsibility…I’m willing to take,”

My mouth hangs open after his statement. There’s something inside me that is making me feel weird. As if I shouldn’t accept that statement. And while looking at Erik, I couldn’t help but feel the deep familiarity. But my mind couldn’t remember him.

I sigh. Weird. It’s weird. Hindi ko maipaliwanag kung ano ang eksakto kong nararamdaman matapos marinig iyon. Basta ang alam ko, hindi sang ayon ang puso ko sa sinabi niya. It’s double meaning. Damang-dama ko ang pagkahulugan niyon. Kaya naman ay hindi na lamang ako kumibo pa. Umirap ako at nauna nang maglakad sa kaniya. Lalo lamang sumama ang pakiramdam ko matapos ang kaniyang pahayag. Tila ba kasalanan kung tatanggapin ko iyon. Napa-kamot ako ng ulo. Hindi ko magawang lasapin ang ganda ng bundok sa malapitan dahil sa kakaibang nararamdaman ko. Halo-halo at gusto ko na lamang bumaba sa bundok at umuwi sa bahay.

Kaya naman nang sabihin na ni Erik na tapos na ang pagpa-patrolya namin ay nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Ilang parte rin ng bundok ang napuntahan namin. Pinakita rin niya sa akin ang ilang mga rota sa bundok, mga madalas pasyalan ng mga hikers at madalas na paglaanan nila ng buong gabi. May ilang hikers din kaming nasita pero warning lang muna.

“Napagod ka?” Tin asks the moment I sit down in my cubicle.

Tumango ako. “Pinagod ka agad ni Erik?” tanong ni Suzy sabay tingin kay Erik.

I glance at Erik, but I immediately roll my eyes. I heard Tin scoffed. “Are you okay?” I ask.

She nodded. “Gusto niyo nang meryenda?” alok na lang niya.

“Hindi ako nagugutom.”

“But you have to at least eat even a little,” aniya at mayroong kung anong umalon sa aking pakiramdam.

“O-Okay…” ang tanging naisagot ko.

“Pinahirapan ka niya agad?” bulong ni Suzy na lumapit pa talaga sa aking cubicle.

I sigh deeply. I cannot explain what made me exhausted. Of course, Erik did nothing. He was patient in letting me move lazily. He was patient in touring and educating me around the mountain. He was patient in teaching me those punishments for those who violated the rules and such. And I was listening. I was hardly listening, trying to convince myself that I need to listen because it is part of my work.

“No,” tipid kong sagot.

“Then why do you look upset and exhausted?” she asks, and we both glance at the guys who left the room.

“You speak now,” Tin said while carrying our snacks. She already gives the guy’s snacks as well. “Don’t be shy on us,”

Again, wave of familiarity travels down to my body. I stare to them, and I could see how sincere they are to me. Nangangati na ang aking dila na tanungin sila kung sino sila sa buhay ko. Kung ngayon ko lang ba sila nakilala. Kung ngayon lang kami nagkita. Kung ngayon ko lang ba sila nakasama. Kung bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko. Kung bakit ganito sa akin. At kung malaking parte ba sila ng nakaraan ko. But I held my tongue. I stop myself. I didn’t ask and just remain silent.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at tsaka ko na sinimulan ang pagkwe-kwento sa naging pag-patrol namin ni Erik kanina. I told them what he exactly said, and I caught the two exchanges a meaningful look right after I said Erik’s statement. Huling-huli ko sila sa akto pero hindi na lamang ako umimik. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagkwe-kwento at talagang sa tuwing may nababanggit na ako sinabi ni Erik ay nagpa-palitan sila ng makahulugang tingin. Pero pinalampas ko lang muli iyon.

“You will be going to love the mountain,” Suzy said, and she smiled at me.

“Just give your work a chance. The mountain is enchanted. It might enchant you sooner,” Tin said. “And about your lost memory…” she bit her lower lip. “The right time will come, and your memory will come back.”

I nod at them. And just like what they said, I slowly learn to appreciate and love the mountain as well as my work. Erik and I become more comfortable too as well as with the other rangers. I had also met the other rangers from the other station and blended with them. Tin and Suzy also becomes stickier to me, and I did the same. We were like sisters who had known each other for years. I listen to what grandma said—let the river in me flow freely. That’s why I did for the next following days, and it was a big help.

Sa loob lamang ng ilang linggo ay nagawa ko nang matutunan at magawa ng tama ang aking trabaho. And Erik being my senior ranger and partner is so proud of me. Ganoon din si daddy na nagagawa na ngayong ngitian sa trabaho. At sa tuwing sabay kaming uuwi ay nagkwe-kwentuhan kami ng tungkol sa naging araw namin. And this feels very lively.

“Ouch…” I said as my head hurts so bad.

Pero nang mawala ang sakit ay wala naman akong naalala. Wala namang alaala na bumalik. Kaya ay napabuntong-hininga na lang ako at akmang tutungo sa higaan ko nang may isang bagay na nakahagip sa pansin ko.

It was a rectangular vintage box.