“Me Rabel!” Rabel pointed to himself as he continuously mentioned his name to Sophia. “Rabel,” he repeated.
“You are… Rabel?” Sophia guessed as she pointed her finger to him.
Rabel nodded, and they were astounded by her quick guess.
“Your turn,” Rabel told Abanir, with a dare.
Abanir accepted the challenge and began introducing himself, too. Swallowing a lump in his throat, he faced Sophia with a determined gesture. After that, he pointed to himself and said, “I’m Abanir.” He repeated, “Abanir.”
Abanir? His name’s Abanir?!
Abanir said his name again, with a shaft of light coming out of his face.
“You are… Abanir?” Sophia asked, interested.
“Yes, I’m Abanir!” Abanir’s enormous chest, heaved, in glee.
Sophia realized she had learned their names! She felt awestruck!
To keep it rolling, Rabel pointed to Sophia. “Your name?”
Right away, Sophia guessed that he was asking for her name. “I’m Sophia.” Sophia pointed to herself. “Sophia,” she repeated.
“Oh, Sophia!” Simultaneously, Abanir and Rabel reacted, in amusement.
Sophia simpered, perhaps carried away by the two’s humor, as they spoke her name again and again.
As the moon brightened the dark shadows, Sophia could feel the growing chill of the forest, while she was still seated beside Abanir, inside the plain kubot. The shawl that still hung around her shoulders was not enough to warm her. She clutched her hands together and then hugged herself, awkwardly, in an attempt to warm herself.
Abanir saw it, sensing her need of warmth. Straight away, he made signs, for Sophia to come close to the fire, but the suggestion wasn’t helpful. Imagining her slowly freezing to death, he volunteered to wrap his body around her, close enough, and that caused her some goose bumps.
“Oh, God!” Sophia spoke to herself quietly, fighting the escalating tension.
Controlling himself, he tightened his clasp, and that made Sophia’s cheek press hard against his lean and broad torso. Yet finally, he was giving her the heat she longed for.
While her thoughts were in chaos, Sophia felt him more, as his wings suddenly flapped, and she looked at them.
With profound tenseness, Abanir hid his wings, flapping it down to the limit. He suddenly felt shy.
Sophia closely scrutinized him, over and over, until Abanir was completely subdued.
To abscond from getting more pushed to the edge, Abanir concentrated his eyes on Rabel who was now resting at the tree branches, nearby.
As they stood together before the fire, they watched its flames grow bigger, but Rabel suddenly broke out in a song:
Well, there is this shy yet brave Kravena;
A Kravena who never learned to smile;
But the night grows and the
moon shines on her face;
And his gloomy face turns bright;
As the owls chant, so is his heart;
Oh, what does this human have
that sweetened his bitter heart?
Oh lalalala lalalala!
“Rabel!” Abanir shouted, embarrassed, with his eyes blazing like the fire. Still, his warm body remained wrapped around Sophia.
Sophia gave the two an earnest smile, getting the hint that they were making fun of each other.
Rabel laughed out loud, turning Abanir’s infuriation into something much worse.
Sophia tilted her head up, staring at Abanir, eye-to-eye. Then, she gradually brought up her hands to touch his back, bit by bit, until they reached the core of his wings.
It gave Abanir an electrical current that triggered his wings to spread to their utmost, and so magnificent was the sight, that he appeared like a god of beauty, to Sophia.
So splendid!
Now, mutual adoration rushed in between them and bonded them together.
“You saved my life,” softly, Sophia spoke.
Vaguely, Abanir listened to her, trying to understand each word that came out of her tiny, bloodshot lips.
“You saved me not just once but twice,” she whispered again, and leisurely laid her head on his chest, once more. “Thank you.”
Abanir carefully rested his chin on her head and compressed her further.
Along with the flickers of the fire, another strong scent of dama-dama howled through the night, sending more quickening impulses to Sophia.
“It’s dama-dama,” Abanir said, facing Sophia again, to tell her of the flowering shrub. “Dama-dama,” he repeated.
“Dama-dama,” Sophia agreed, beaming.
The night carried on, and drowsiness now invited Sophia.
Abanir carefully led her back to the kubot and offered his chest as her pillow, until they both finally closed their eyes.
Chapter 27
Confuse Me Not
The first light of the day shone vibrantly, at the forest.
Sophia woke up and found her face still leaning against Abanir’s chest, as they both laid down inside the plain kubot.
But he was now fully awake.
“Hi,” she greeted him as she smoothly leaned backwards.
Slanting a fresh look, Abanir unwrapped her and let her move.
Subsequently, Sophia stood up, and detected the return of her strength. She looked at her wounds and they were already healed.
Abanir also stood up and followed her every move.
She eyed everything around her, and was extraordinarily amazed by the beauty of Harem Falls at day. It was a paradise! There were bees, birds, dragonflies, and butterflies freely flying, with hums pleasurable to the ears. A celestial symphony! And there were various flowers nurturing around, completing all the colors of the rainbow. Their daylight scent was divine. It was as if she was hurled straight to heaven in a full blast.
“Wow!” she expressed as she initiated a step outside the kubot and approached the falling water.
Abanir ceaselessly smirked as he trailed her footpath. Such an amused grin of him was witnessed by her, and it brought her to a pause. Then, she began to sink her unwounded foot into the fresh water and indulged herself with its refreshing coldness.
Rabel was also awakened and joined them as Sophia explored more of the Shangri-La right before her eyes.
Subsequently, Abanir signed to Sophia to hold on to him, for he would ascend with her into the air.
Sophia went along with him.
In a flare, Abanir flew her around the vicinity of Harem Falls.
It was an incomparable experience for Sophia to be flying under the wings of a strange creature. And as her skin was embracing the gentle wind, she looked down. The shimmering waters of falls and the enchanting green forest were nothing but bravura, something out of this world. Gazing at Abanir, her admiration elevated.
In return, Abanir flew higher and faster.
It made Sophia scream, making her close her eyes in fear and excitement.
Laughing in excessive enchantment, Abanir decided to slow down the moment he felt her clasp had tightened.
They finally landed on a huge stone close to the falling water. Looking at Sophia, a white beautiful flower from behind her enthralled Abanir’s eyes. Quickly, he picked it up and handed it to her saying, “Dama-dama… just like you. Pure as white… and exquisite.”
Taken aback, Sophia accepted it and noticed its heart-shaped leaves and four elongated petals. Then, she breathed in with its sweet fragrance, and offered him her most grateful smile.
Not long after, Abanir looked at her passionately and started to sing his heart out.
In the sky so vast,
a weary soul flew alone;
Famished and parched
for a new path;
A new path to the
calmness of the wind.
For very long, these weak wings
were once broken;
Then there came you
and these wings can soar again.
Sophia could not understand his
words but they sounded amazing. His voice was angelic and she did not want him to stop.
Abanir moved closer to her, his eyes constantly changing colors for another time.
Time and again, she was stunned.
Sophia quickly dropped her gaze. She was scared, scared to fall into his spell. This is not right! She hindered herself.
For Abanir, he never skipped any second to gawk at her.
Witnessing the burgeoning admiration the two shared, Rabel left them and returned quickly like a lightning was about to strike.
“Raha, I saw the Sulabuns heading to Kravena.” Rabel shivered while informing his raha. “And they, with them, are the Fegratus.”
Shocked by what he just heard, Abanir hastened to look at Sophia one more time and told her that he needed to take her to the place where he first saw her—the lake house—where she could be safe there.
Sophia could not understand him.
Though desperate to let her understand, Abanir immediately carried her and flew her away from Harem Falls, making the flower of dama-dama fall from Sophia’s hands. He ordered Rabel to inform their tribe about the joined attack and that he would take Sophia first to the lake house.
Far away, Abanir could see the Sulabuns and the Fegratus at the Samo River. Faster, he flew to the lake house.
When they were almost there, Abanir saw people moving in and out of the lake house and decided to leave Sophia nearby, so that no one would see him.
Sophia also saw them, and assumed that they were looking for her.
Abanir hastily landed, took a passionate look at Sophia, and on the spur of the moment, kissed her steadfastly. He looked at Sophia once more and then flew away, in a blast of tempest wind.
Sophia was left blankly staring after his white beautiful wings. She lingered, until he was already hidden by the tall trees.
Then, the stride of a person coming from behind distracted her. She turned around and saw Jericho approaching.
Instantly, Jericho wrapped her up with his arms.
“Thank God! You’re safe, Sophia!” Jericho held her for as long as he could.
Sophia’s mind turned vague. Her emotions were worn out, into shreds.
Jericho! Abanir! And... Giovanni!
Seeing people at the lake house, Jericho directed Sophia there.
When Grandma Lucy, Philippe, and Elizabeth finally saw them, they ran to Sophia at high-speed. They grabbed her tightly while the cops started to arrest Jericho.
Jericho openly surrendered himself, but Grandma Lucy rushed to slap him in the face.
Philippe sprinted, to stop his mom.
Jericho looked down, entirely ashamed of himself, but never missed a stealing glance at Sophia.
Sophia saw what her grandma did to him, so she ran to his aid. But alas, the cops were already pushing him into the police car.
Through the hazy car windows, for the last time, Jericho bequeathed Sophia with a look of longing, as the police car sped away from her.
Watching him go, tears completely blinded Sophia’s eyes now.
Her parents crept closer to her and embraced her, very much relieved that Sophia was with them now, safe and sound. They led Sophia inside their car, and as they left, Sophia found herself holding the white piece of cloth around her shoulders, while staring at the wild Forest of Evergreen.
Epilogue
Leaving the Fate Behind
The Vabuerettis finally arrived at the town proper.
Getting Sophia inside her room, Elizabeth dampened a towel and quickly wiped it on her daughter’s arms, going through a lot of dense emotions as Sophia remained docile, sitting on her bed.
Through the half-closed door, Philippe and Grandma Lucy watched the mother-daughter scene. They wanted to know what happened to Sophia in the woods, more particularly when they saw the wound-mark at Sophia’s right foot.
“Hey.” Philippe’s voice unfocused Elizabeth. “How is she?”
Elizabeth was not able to answer him right away, absolutely drained and feeling out-of-herself.
Feeling the need to leave the two, Philippe then offered something. “I’ll go and make chicken soup.” He tried to smile.
Still standing outside Sophia’s room, Grandma Lucy decided to join Elizabeth. The second she got closer to eyeing Sophia, the more she tried not to reflect all the objectionable things about her granddaughter’s misconduct.
“Mom...” Elizabeth wanted to say something to her mother-in-law. “Mind if you continue cleaning up Sophia? I’ll just look for a dress she could wear,” she said, and went to Sophia’s closets.
“Sure.”
Elizabeth went through Sophia’s old clothes and noticed the red dress, appearing like it was never worn. She reached for it, and a small card fell off the floor. It said,
My dearest Sophia, on your 13th birthday,
remember to smile. Wear this dress, and I
will be there, with the moon, watching you.
- B.V.
Elizabeth was suddenly beside herself with worry. BV? She mulled it over and looked at Grandma Lucy, her look questioning, hoping that Grandma Lucy knew something about it. Elizabeth only knew one person who had initials of BV, and it was Benjamin Vabueretti, Philippe’s long-time missing brother and the Most Wanted Criminal charged with rape. Her heart cracked into fragments, speechless at the thought that the person who molested her sister, long ago, was actually out there, hiding somewhere close.
Her pondering was cut short when Sophia unexpectedly stood up and went straight to the bathroom, then wept and wept, as if for the last time. Jericho was now in prison and Abanir—it was his unexpected kiss that enormously troubled her.
How it all ached! Her heart was aching, not knowing what to do!
Then, she realized she wanted to see Jericho. After all, she was the reason why he was arrested. But in her mind, how could she ever see him, when everyone here was guarding her? Then, she decided to seek her father’s help, and he was at the kitchen, cooking.
Philippe’s worry intensified. His daughter was asking for his car key, and he found it hard to refuse.
“There are just two places where she’ll want to go, either to the lake house or to the precinct!” intruded Grandma Lucy.
“No, she won’t go to the lake house, nor to the precinct!” Elizabeth put in.
Sophia became deadly quiet. She wanted to see Jericho, but it seemed like there was no chance now. I am betrayed by everyone! She sobbed to herself silently. She could not bear to leave Forest Green knowing Jericho would be in jail.
Now, Grandma Lucy spoke again, “You have two choices, Sophia. First, if you insist in being with him, Jericho will be behind bars forever…”
Sophia’s eyes clouded further, while hearing these words from her grandmother.
“And second, you can leave today, but I guarantee you, Jericho will be released from jail. But you have to promise me... that you will never... ever come back to him... again!” Grandma Lucy’s voice was now at its utmost pitch.
Sophia, now on her feet, felt near-collapse. It was as if a lot of knives had stabbed her already-bleeding heart. Her agony worsened but she realized she must not be selfish. She wanted Jericho to continue his life, and she had no choice but to let him go.
“Fine,” she answered in a spineless, quaking voice. “I will... leave... but you have to truly promise me that you will free him.” More tears filled Sophia’s eyes.
Grandma Lucy and Elizabeth were very much relieved, as if flaming chains had just been removed from their necks. Finally, Sophia would no longer be connected to the guy that disgusted them all, the most.
“At this very moment, I can call the precinct and withdraw my allegation against him. He could be freed, any time. I guarantee that, Sophia,” Grandma Lucy reassured her.
When Sophia heard it, she went straight to the car without looking at them, making a sign that she was now ready to leave Forest Green.
As a result, Philippe and Elizabeth hastened their goodbyes t
o Grandma Lucy.
Grandma Lucy felt extremely sad about the things that happened, but she convinced herself that she did the right thing for her granddaughter.
It was almost sundown when the family finally left Forest Green.
In Kravena, Abanir bestowed his utmost strength to battle the united forces of the Sulabuns and the Fegratus. He had unleashed every command to his fellow Kravenas and struggled vigorously to win the battle, for his tribe and for the human he yearned to be with—Sophia.
The battle persisted heavily. The forces of the Kravenas were dominating, in spite of their smaller number. They craved—for so long—for a victory that would give justice to their fellow ones who sacrificed their lives for them.
Abanir unleashed every deadly arrow he had at his back and stabbed his bolo through and through, at every single foe—in his mind, to grant revenge for Karan.
After the very long battle, some of the Sulabuns and Fegratus were now fleeing. They were now losing the fight.
Abanir looked around thoroughly, hoping to see, at least, the wings of Banaak. He was dismayed. Banaak did not join the battle, not even his son Kalib.
After the enemies completely escaped their territory, Abanir checked on his family. He was very thankful; they were there, alive and well at the palasyon. Abanir still roamed around, searching for Rabel. Out of nowhere, suddenly, Rabel’s voice was heard—coming from the trees, yelling that he was all right.
Abanir was somehow relieved that his dear hakaro was alive. Still, he continued securing their territory, speculating that some enemies might still be around.
Right after that, the other Kravenas began cleaning the place and lamented, for a few of them did not survive the battle.
Abanir, with an intense pounding in his chest, felt the need to see Sophia. He asked Rabel to watch the tribe for him, and then rushed to the lake house.
Landing there, he noticed its quietness, and to his extreme disappointment, there was no presence of Sophia there. In spite of that, he persisted and waited for the human he longed for—hoping, at least for a moment, that he could see her silhouette.
Ardently, he waited. Yet at the crack of dawn, not a thing stirred his senses. The sadness in him ruptured his heart. Desolately, he went back to Kravena—still, with the aching hope of seeing Sophia. Again.
Lost in the Wilderness - The Forest of Evergreen Book 1 Page 21
