CHAPTER 5: BELIEVE IT OR NOT

THE WHO ?! "

My hands find their way to my head as I try to process everything he said.

"So you're saying I'm His son? I'm ... what's the name again? Apo ... apo- what?"

"Apolaki--"

"Damned world, who's this Apolaki and why are you telling me I'm him ?!" I gritted my teeth in anger. "What kind of wizards are you? Or ... did Einstein succeed in making his time machine on the parallel universe? Are you from the parallel universe or from the future? Why are you after me? Leave. Me. Alone!" I shouted.

I can't believe these people. I can't trust them either. Too vague, I must say.

"Wait, you're the one who's playing pranks on me. Is this for a gag show? Damn these humans, you're recording 'right? Tell me where's the camera so I can say a little shoutout to my coolest dad in the world, "I said sarcastically.

The three of them covered their mouths as they tried to stop their laughter.

"Not funny," I said dead serious.

"It's still wrong, what is that. Okay, you think there, there's a camera there," Lakambini said and pointed somewhere.

I look at the place where he pointed. Suddenly, they all laugh. What's wrong with these guys?

"Do you really believe?" Lakambini said in disbelief. "Uto-uto," he mumbled.

"WHAT DID YOU--"

"Stop!" Lakan Danum, trying to stop whatever might happen. I saw Lakan Bakod punched Lakambini on his right arms. That's good.

"Aray!"

"Paul," Lakan Bakod started and my attention somehow turned to him. I'm desperate. I wanted to go home. "You're not being pranked or on a gag show. Everything we told you is true." He said in an as-a-matter-of-fact tone.

"And, that's true," Lakan Danum said as he stretched his arms and laid them on the lake. A ball of water levitated, and from that, it made a picture of an eagle.

Lakan Bakod and Lakambini touched the ground, and a tree grew from it with fruits in a matter of seconds.

These guys are peculiar. I need some help from Miss Peregrine, I guess? God, please save me. These guys are crazy. I can't believe them. I wanted to pass out and teleport to another dimension of this world.

I blinked my eyes repeatedly.

It's true.

I wanted to run away but my feet won't move. My mouth opened and the only thing that came out is the word: "How?"

They explained to me everything, nothing too much, nothing too little. My questions in my head are already answered, but it still doesn't sink in. Things are complicated. I can imagine myself with my mouth open and a loading sign on my forehead.

"We are back here again to watch over you until the day comes when you finish your mission here on earth," Lakan Danum stated.

"WHAT MISSION ?! IS THERE A MISSION? IS THAT REALLY REQUIRED? TANG-- I WANT TO GO HOME!" I shouted.

Maybe this is the reason why I felt like something is still missing. My life has always been perfect but I'm still not satisfied. Maybe. 'You're not sure. Why am I even believing their words? There's no reason to trust them. Trust no one.

"Bathala is weakening. You are the one he wants to replace him as the leader of all God and all people. You are the next leader of all," Lakan Danum explained.

Too many shits from the last 48 hours. A not-so-proud father, a breakup, beaten, starts glowing and set a bar on fire, saw guys floating on water, controlled the water, controlled the trees, and now I'm in this weird scenario where these guys told me I'm the son of Bathala. I've never been in this such worst situation. It made me lose my shortest temper.

"Guys, listen up," I tried to calm myself down but still, I shouted, "You all are telling me I am the son of the most powerful guy in the universe ?! You don't know what I have been through! You don't know me, and that is none of your businesses! I'm SO TIRED OF EVERYTHING! CAN YOU HEAR ME? WHY. ARE. YOU. DOING. THIS. TO. ME !? " I clenched my fists.

The three of them looked at me still, no traces of change of their expression. "it's coming soon."

"What's coming soon !?" I laughed, but still, tears came down from my eyes. Are these tears of annoyance? Joy? Sadness? I don't know either.

"The end."

I wiped my tears off, stood up straight, and point each one of them, "You, you, and you, take me home! Thank you, I want to go home! Give me a dress! I don't want to look like a beggar! PLEASE JUST, TAKE ME HOME, RIGHT NOW! "

"Not allowed." Lakan Bakod said.

"And why ?!"

"You make a fire in an establishment, naturally they'll look for you because they thought you were trapped inside. But you weren't there, only your clothes were left there," Lakan Bakod replied, "All they know is, you're dead. "

I fall to my knees and started crying.

If you're going to ask me what am I doing when I can't solve the problems my life has given me, well, I just cry. Why does everything seem so complicated? My existence, everything. Everything that happens seems so bad, and it feels like I'm going in circles, every time.

"If I really was the son of Bathala and He really is my dad, then why did he let me suffer like this? It's so hard. Does he really love me? Or is he like my foster parents?"