51: Ang Palakol. Bow!

SAM'S POV

"Pwede bang bagal-bagalan mo naman 'yang paglalakad mo, Mr. Del Fuero? You know I don't have two long legs like you have so sana naman, matuto ka namang hintayin ako!"

When I uttered that, I only received a grumbling sound from him saka mas lalo pang binilisan ang hakbang nito with his black backpack on his back. Stiffly walking like a walking poste na kahit bakas man lang ng pawis, wala ka man lang makikita rito. As if he was so used to this and this was just a piece of cake to him. Habang ako rito, nagmumukha ng aso while gasping for air!

This giant! Ang sarap sarap na talagang batuhin nito ngayon! Tignan ko lang kung di pa'to titigil at hihintayin ako!

It would have even better if he'd offer a piggyback. Grrrr..

Come on, Sam! Hindi ka nga nililingon, piggyback pa kaya? Ano ka? Bata?

At the thought of that, pinilit ko na lamang na bilisan pa lalo ang paglalakad ko. Trying to keep up with him while I kept wiping off the sweats on my forehead at the same time.

I could even feel my legs started to shake now, ready to give up with all this shit. Dagdag pa sa hirap ko ngayon 'tong backpack na dala-dala ko sa likuran ko.

Mukhang kulang na talaga ako sa ehersisyo sa lagay na'to.

Kasalukuyan kaming naglalakad na papunta sa Sitio Mabundok where we can find Domingo Ganzan and fucking fate! Halos isang oras na kaming naglalakad sa mabato at medyo matarik na daan na'to but still, hindi parin kami nakakarating! Not that it was so steep like its slope is undefined but just closed to that. Positive one million lang siguro.

Talagang tirik na tirik pa ang araw ngayon that made this hike quite a job.

Buti nalang may mga nadadaanan kaming mga puno ng niyog sa daan that made this hike quite bearable. At mas buti na rin talaga na dati ng maitim 'tong balat ko because if I wasn't, I'm sure magmumukha akong sunog na bangus pagkatapos nito.

I didn't know na nasa paanan pa pala ng bundok ang Sitio Mabundok na ito and bloody luck! Talagang sa paanan pa talaga ng bundok makikita ang lugar na'yon! Ang malas talaga! I didn't know this trip would be this hard!

"Bilisan mo diyan, Ms. Javier. Mukhang malapit na tayo."

That made me groaned in annoyance nang bigla nitong sabihin 'yon, throwing him a dirty glare habang hingal na hingal parin.

"Mauna ka nalang! Magpapahinga lang muna ako sandali!" Sigaw ko nalang sa kanya saka napapangiwing napapaupo na lamang sa malaking bato na nasa tabi ng daan.

An exhausted sigh escaped from me the moment my butt had touched the rock.

Hooh! I swear isang matagalang masahe ang kinakailangan pagkauwi ko nito.

I quickly took off my backpack then placed it on the ground beside me. My feet was throbbing now at dagdag pa ang sobrang init ng panahon ngayon, making me want to just give up now. But no, nandito na'ko at malapit na'ko sa Domingo Ganzan na'yon so I have to do this. But for now, I'll just take a short break before doing that.

I started massaging my legs to at least calm my aching muscles.

From here, tanaw na tanaw ko ang mismong bayan ng San Isidro at ang daang dinaanan namin kanina papunta rito pati narin ang malalawak na rice and sugarcane fields from a far.

Sitio Mabundok is located at the very foot of the mountain but it was quite elevated from San Isidro proper kaya naman medyo mahirap ang paakyat papunta rito.

Mason had chose to stay at the airport at doon na lamang maghihintay sa pagbabalik namin. And from the airport, It took us almost two hours bago makarating sa bayan na'yon. At pagkarating dito, nagsimula na agad kaming magtanong sa mga tao roon about Sitio Mabundok and Domingo Ganzan. At mukhang magkakakilala lang ang lahat ng tao rito because the moment I asked the first person na nilapitan namin kanina, binigyan niya agad kami ng direksyon kung saan makikita ang pesteng Sitio Mabundok na ito na talaga namang mabundok talaga.

Just like how Mason had guess it.

Then add to the fact na iba ang dialect na ginagamit ng mga tao rito as I had experienced it earlier.

"Ah si Doming ba ang ginapangita ninyo, inday? Ay sus didto rana sa buntod dapit nagpuyo!" ("Ah si Doming ba hinahanap nyo, ineng? Ay dun malapit sa bundok yan nakatira!") Saad nito sabay turo sa malaking bundok na'to.

Everytime na maaalala ko ang sinabing 'yon ng ali kanina, di ko mapigilang mapailing-iling na lamang. Still unable to understand that alien language one bit.

But one thing is for sure, Bisaya ang mga katagang 'yon. The dialect that Mindanaoan uses here. Good thing the bastard del Fuero had able to understand them so we were able to get this direction. This goddamn direction.

Again, a loud exhausted sigh escaped from my mouth when I thought about it.

Hayyy... It would've been better if someone would offer me some help now. Kahit man lang konting tubig o ano, that would've been-----

I frowned when an open hand appeared on my eyeview. Curious to know kung kaninong kamay 'yon, I looked up with hopeful eyes but to my utter disappointment, the usual stoic face of some bastard greeted me.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" Usisa ko agad rito with suspicious look on his offered hand and to him.

"No more questions, Ms. Javier. Just take my hand now before I change my mind at iwan ka nalang dito."

My lips instantly formed in a thin line when he growled that, sounding as if I just have to be thankful to him kaysa sa pumutak pa'ko rito. This shit!

Akala niya talaga siguro gustung-gusto kong mahawakan man lang ang kamay niyang 'yon, huh! Kung alam niya lang!

I was dying to hold it and---- No. I mean. Hindi na niya kailangang malaman 'yon.

"Bakit? Kung tatanggapin ko ba 'yang kamay mo, are you going to offer your back para kargahin ako paakyat?"

His brow instantly shot up while giving me an 'are-you-serious' kind of look.

"You don't weigh like a damn document in my office, Ms. Javier so don't even dream about that. Just take my hand now nang makarating na tayo and be done with all of this."

Hearing that words from him, 'di ko mapigilang madismaya rito.

He was right, Sam. Don't even dream na gagawin niya ang bagay na'yon. I'm sure he'd rather carry a box of gold than carry you in his----

Hindi ko na naituloy ang iba ko pang iniisip when he suddenly gripped my hand and pulled me up. The action which made me suddenly got up on my still aching feet with wide surprised eyes.

"W-What are you doing?" Tarantang tanong ko rito pagkatayo ko.

He just groaned and then grabbed my backpack from the ground and then my hand saka hinila ako palapit sa kanya saka itinulak na'ko paakyat, pushing me by the small of my back na siyang mas ikinalaki pa lalo ng mga mata ko!

OW-MY-GOSH!!

"You should do some workout exercise after this, Ms. Javier. You're way too weak para mapagod agad." Saad pa nito while kept pushing me to the top nang wala man lang kahirap-hirap. Making my climbing so easy and fast.

But heck! Kung anong bilis ng paglalakad namin ngayon ay siyang bilis rin ng tibok ng puso ko ngayon.

Why the hell I feel this weird feeling again now???!!

"N-Nag-eehersisyo naman ako---"

"But not enough to build a strong stamina. You must do it regularly.."

"No. I was just thirsty kaya---"

"Stop talking now. We have to hurry. We have to do what we've came here as soon as possible nang makauwi na agad tayo." He cut off while he kept pushing my back.

He must've really workout regularly dahil parang hindi man lang ito hinihingal ngayon.

I wonder kung naiinis parin ito sakin ngayon with me not buying him a new shirt at the airport. Nakabihis na ito ng bagong shirt niya ngayon, and this time, he was in his blue shirt that gave justice to his muscled but sexy form.

"Y-You know I can walk on my own so-----"

"Silence, Ms. Javier. Wag ng matigas ang ulo. Just move now."

When he had barked that order, I didn't know what had gotten on me pero ang ginawa ko lang was just obediently complied with his order saka tahimik lang na naglalakad with his warm and firm hand kept pushing me up.

I swear my heart was ready to explode now with how loud and wild it had thudded against my chest right now. Making me unable to say anything. Shit!

I just stayed like that, completely mute for a few minutes but when the awkwardness was almost unbearable, I tried to open up some topic.

"Aherm.. have you ever seen Mr.Domingo Ganzan before, Mr. Del Fuero? He was your father's trusted driver so I believe you know him----"

"I have seen him, yes.... Pero matagal na 'yon because I had lived almost half of my life in Canada kaya hindi ko na ito halos matandaan ngayon."

'Di ko mapigilang mapatango-tango na lamang when he answered that.

Oohhhh.. So halos sa Canada na ito lumaki.... No doubt I had met him there before at 'the Genius' bookstore. And unfortunately, it wasn't a very good first encounter with him.

At the thought of that memories, I quickly cleared out my throat to cover up my laugh that were threatening to explode.

"Ah by the way... Ba't parang bihasa ka yata sa pagsasalita ng bisaya? Nag-aral ka rin ba kung paano magsalita ng dialect meron sila rito?"

My brow shot up when I heard him scoffed behind me. I could even imagine him shaking his head right now.

"And who says I know how to speak their dialect here, Ms. Javier?"

"You're not??" di makapaniwalang tanong ko rito and I was about to looked at him over my shoulder pero syang gulat ko nalang when he hastened up more on his pace that made me do the same.

Goddammit! I swear my feet would ache like hell later with this. And it would be his fault!

"Nakakaintindi lang ako ng konti but I'm not really good at it. Malapit na tayo."

When he said that, hindi na'ko kumibo until we've reached the very foot of the Mountain. The Sitio Mabundok itself.

Kahit na ilang minuto na kaming nakakarating sa lugar na'yon, my nerves was still in a total riot while my heart kept thudding like someone kept pounding a drum in my chest.

Oh no. This isn't good! Not like this when he doesn't even seem like he was affected with all of this!

From the corner of my eyes, I can see him started to approach someone na pagtatanungan namin dito, oblivious with my abnormal heartrate.

Napapahawak na lamang ako sa dibdib ko while trying to calm my nerves and heart. This isn't right. Hindi ko dapat nararamdaman 'to ngayon. I didn't came here para maramdaman 'to kundi tapusin ang case ko so that I could stay away from him ASAP.

"Excuse me manong, saan po ba rito ang bahay ni Mr. Domingo Ganzan?"

Nang marinig kong tinanong niya 'yon sa isang may edad na lalaking halatang kakagaling lang sa pagbubukid ito by just looking at his muddy clothes and a muddy rope in his hand.

The old man had looked at him with creased brows, na para bang naguguluhan ito. I just hope he won't strangle him with his rope dahil sa hindi nito maintindihan ang sinasabing 'yon ni Mr. Del Fuero.

For a while, he just stared at him with confused eyes pero mga ilang sandali lang when he had probably understand him, agad naman itong tumango-tango. As if he had finally decoded his question.

"Ah...Si Domingo ba hinahanap mo, dong?" Tanong nito maya-maya which Mr. Del Fuero had answered with a nod.

"Ay punta ka doon sa bahay na'yon, dong." Saad nito while pointing to a small nipa hut sa may 'di kalayuan. Kukunti lang ang bahay dito at hindi masyadong malapit ang mga ito kaya naman it was just easy for us to locate that now.

May mga matatayog na puno ng niyog sa palibot ng maliit na bahay na'yon and even a mango tree na hitik sa bunga was there.

"Andiyan dira si Doming ug asawa niyang si Loring, dong. Puntahan niyo nalang." He added which made me nodded as well while throwing that way a look of satisfaction.

Owwww... So this is it! Nahanap na rin namin ang Doming na'to!!

"Let's move now, Ms. Javier."

When he uttered that beside me saka nauna ng naglakad patungo sa maliit na bahay na'yon, I quickly followed him, now with my backpack with me.

Hindi ko ba nasabi? Ibinalik niya agad sa'kin ang bag ko pagkarating na pagkarating namin dito so eto, karga karga ko na naman ang letseng bag na'to.

Di bale, makakauwi narin naman kami nito mamaya.

"Tao po? Tao po??" Tawag agad nito the moment we've reached the front part of that house.

Halos gawang kawayan lahat ang bahay na'yon habang gawa naman sa dahon ng niyog ang bubong nito. This is really a perfect example for a bahay kubo na kadalasang nakikita sa libro ko back in elementary days.

For a few seconds, wala kaming naririnig mula sa loob ng bahay but when the impatient Del Fuero had called out again, that was the time na may nauulinigan na kaming munting kaluskos mula sa loob ng bahay then not long, a slightly whitehaired man had came out from the door. Nakasaklay ito ngayon habang paika-ikang lumabas ng tuluyan mula sa pintuan.

"Sin-o man ang ginapangita ninyo, dzong?"(Sino ba hinahanap niyo iho?)

"Anong sinasabi niya?" Agad na bulong ko sa kanya when I didn't understand what this old geezer was saying now.

"Alam kong nagtatanong siya pero ano man kaya yan dzong?" Panggagaya ko rito sa matanda, not even looking at his way.

I just heard him groaned beside me saka agad ng nagsalita, not to answer me but that old man...

This shit! Inisnob pa talaga ako ng gago!

"Ah manong, itatanong lang po sana namin kung dito po ba nakatira si Mr. Domingo Ganzan? Hinahanap lang po namin siya."

Hearing him, my brow shot up when he sounded so polite using that 'po' thrice in a row!

Owwww.... Sobrang magalang yata ng gago ngayon ah.. nakakapanibago!

Alam kong magaling sa tagalog ang mga bisayang 'to kaya naman the moment he asked that, agad na kumunot ang noo nito and suddenly became cautious while slowly taking a step backward pabalik sa pintuang pinaggalingan nito kanina. Na para bang takot ito sa'min and that we were going to attack him anytime.

This is weird. This old man was weird. Why would he react this way dahil lang sa tanong na'yon? Don't tell me he was----

"Anong kailangan niyo sa kanya? Anong pakay niyo rito??" Galit na tanong nito sa'min habang busy naman ang isang kamay nito sa gilid nito, as if he was looking for something behind his bamboo door.

Aba't---- ano naman kaya ang hinahanap ni manong ngayon? Is he perhaps looking for another pair of crutches para sa sarili nito?

I'm really curious to know kung anong hinahanap nito. May saklay na naman ito pero bakit kailangan niya pa ng isa pang pares-------

My eyes instantly widened in horror nang tuluyan na nitong mabunot ang hinahanap nito sa likuran ng pinto nito and I finally got to see that.

"HOOWLY SHIT! PALAKOL!"

"GOOD GOD!" I heard Mr. Del Fuero's exclaimed that beside with the same surprised reaction as me.

"Anong kailangan niyo sa'kin mga hayop kayo??! Bakit hinahanap niyo ko huh???!!!" Galit na sigaw nito while he started to limply charge towards us habang hawak-hawak ang makapangyarihang palakol na'yon ni Thor. Abandoning his other crutch para lang mabibit ang palakol na yon.

Diyos ko po! Nagtatanong lang kami pero etong si manong, may balak pa atang lapain kami!! Cannibal ba ang isang 'to???!

I prepared myself for a run, just in case tuluyan na talaga itong makalapit at managa sa'min. But before I could even make a run, bigla na lamang may humarang sa harapan ko and then came Mr. Del Fuero's rigid back in my view.

"Stay right there, Ms. Javier.. I'm going to talk to him and maybe calm him down." Saad pa nito with a calm and cool look on his face, sounding as if I had nothing to worry about at sya na ang bahala dun at tumakbo na lamang ako.

This shit!

I want to smack his head hard now. Nang sa ganun malaman naman nitong hindi ko kailangan ng kalasag because I want to witness a bloody fight right now and not a bloody knight, goddammit!

"Don't blocked my way, Mr. Del Fuero! I'm dying to see some bloody fight right now so out of my way!" I shouted at him and shoved him out of my way.

"Just shut up, woman! Hindi lang ito isang laro and this is serious!"

"And I am not some damsel-in-distress that needs some bloody knight like you kaya tabi!! I can calm him down myself!"

A loud growled sounded from him while deadly glaring at me.

"And how would you do that??"

"Well of course, by beating him up! Ano pa ba sa tingin mo??"

An utter disbelief look instantly flashed through his face at that.

"You--you!!" Saad pa nito, pointing his damn finger at me.

"You can't do that!!! You---" he was cut off when the old man shouted again.

"Kung sino man ang may utos sa inyo na puntahan ako rito, magkakamatayan muna tayo rito bago niyo pa makukuha ang gusto niyooooo!" And then with that, he charged again towards us hakbang paika-ika ito.

He was no doubt struggling to carry that ax.

I didn't know this mission wouldn't be as easy as what I had expected it to be.

"MGA YAWA MO!!!!"(Mga demonyo kayo!!)

Sigaw pa nito. Then with that, agad na nitong iwinasiwas ang palakol niyang 'yon kay Mr. Del Fuero but unfortunately, he was able to dodge that attack with ease sabay tulak sa'kin ng malakas palayo sa kanya na siyang ikinatumba ko.

And I cursed out nang muntikan ko na madaganan ang mainit-init pang dumi ng hayop sa damuhan.

Holy gross!

Just seeing those shits, I've quickly got up on my feet in disgusts.

I didn't even know there were lots of animal manures that had scattered all around here!

"Akala niyo siguro magagawa niyo kong tapusin ng ganun-ganun lang! Nagkakamali kamong mga YAWAA MO!!!!" And then again, he had swung that to Mr. Del Fuero's face na mabilis naman nitong nailagan 'yon.

This must be stopped now! Hindi na'to nakakatuwa ngayon. Mukhang wala na nga sa sarili nito ang matandang to at baka mapa'no pa ito if he'll continue like this!

"Mang Doming! Hindi ho kami masasamang tao! Nandito lang ho kami para sa iilang katanungan sa'yo!" I tried to talk to him that made him snapped his head to my way, growling like some injured rabid dog na handa na'kong lapain anumang oras.

Oh-oh.

"Hindi ako si Doming!!!! At wala akong pakialam kung anuman ang kailangan niyo rito! Panglayas mong mga YAWAA mo!!!"

"Hindi ho kami aalis rito, Mang Doming!"

Mr. Del Fuero quickly glared at my way.

"Stop provoking him, Ms. Javier!!!" He growled out at me pero hindi ko na pinansin ito.

"Hindi kami aalis rito hangga't hindi mo itatranslate sa tagalog 'yang mga pinagsasabi mo!!!"

Pagkasigaw ko dun, it wasn't just this old geezer had growled at me kundi pati narin si Mr. Del Fuero.

"For goodness' sake, Ms. Javier! Pwede ba!! Seryosohin mo naman ang sitwasyon na'to!"

"But I am more than serious here! Hindi ko lang talaga maintindihan ang mga sinasabi niya so I want a translation goddammit!"

"This isn't something ----" again, he wasn't able to finish his sermon nang marinig na naman namin ang sigaw ng matanda.

"Mga inatay mong mga bataa mo!! Gibinuangan raman tali ko ninyo!!!"(Mga bweset kayong mga bata kayo! Pinaglololoko nyo lang yata ako!)

"Mamatay kayoooooo!!!" He shouted like he was declaring a world war.

Then with that, he swung his ax again at Mr. Del Fuero.

Mr. Del Fuero quickly avoided that attack but unfortunately, not the animal shit na nasa tapat nito. A horror instantly flashed through his face.

"HOLY SHIT!"

When he exclaimed that with his face grimacing in disgusts, I wasn't able to stop myself.

I burst out in a pit of laughter.

~~~~~~~