CHAPTER 2 [Note: There's a short mention of adultery, depression, and and death by one’s own hand in this chapter.]
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Mir was glad to report that, before she melted under the scorching sun, she found salvation in the form of a black pickup truck that stopped in front of them. The front passenger door opened and a man of medium height and build stepped out, smiling broadly.
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“Vina, my niece!” he exclaimed, wrapping her in a tight bear hug.
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Vina, not one to back down, returned with an even tighter bear hug while cheerfully exclaiming, “Uncle Lito!”
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The man squeaked in pain, yelling out,
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“Ow, ow, OW! It hurts! You’re so thin, but why are you so strong?!”
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“You’re fine, you’re fine,” Vina said sweetly, though her eyes glinted menacingly. She stepped back while smacking her uncle's arm repeatedly, as if the damage she had inflicted wasn’t enough.
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“Ate Vina, Ate Mir,” a lively voice interrupted.
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Enzo, Uncle Lito’s only son, climbed out from behind the wheel to greet them and help with the luggage.
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“Enzo! How are you, cuz?” Vina answered, abandoning her suffering uncle to hug her cousin quickly. She gave him an appraising look before flashing a grin and a thumbs up. “Looking great, I see.”
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Enzo laughed. “Thanks, I guess. It’s been so long – you should really visit more often”
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Then he and Uncle Lito turned to Mir who was standing quietly to the side observing them.
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Uncle Lito had, unsurprisingly, gotten older, but he still looked strong and energetic. Enzo had gotten taller, and his features had become much sharper. He looked like the male version of his mom who was quite the beauty.
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“Mir, I’m so glad you could come,” Uncle Lito said warmly.
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“It’s nice to see you again, Ate Mir,” Enzo added.
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Both embraced her in welcome, though Uncle Lito was far gentler with her than with Vina.
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“Thank you for having me,” Mir said with a smile.
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“Still timid, I see,” Uncle Lito teased as he and his son began gathering their luggage.
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They didn’t bring much, so their luggage was all stashed away at the back of the pickup in a jiffy. Mir and Vina got into the backseat of the vehicle.
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“We’re really glad to have you here,” Uncle Lito started again as they pulled away from the airport.
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“Ate Vina said she worked hard to take you along,” Enzo chimed in, talking to Mir. “I hope you weren't burdened.”
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“No, I’m glad you still remember me,” she responded sincerely. “Thank you for inviting me, too.”
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“Oh, you’re no stranger. Please visit us anytime – with or without Vina,” Uncle Lito laughed heartily.
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“By the way,” Vina interrupted as she stared ahead, clutching her seat belt. “Are we going to be okay? Can Enzo really drive? I’m scared.”
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“Excuse you!” Enzo huffed. “I’ve been driving for a couple of years now.”
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“You sure?”
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“I let him drive so he can get used to it,” Uncle explained. “It’s good to have someone to take turns on long trips.”
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“Well, I guess you can make him useful somehow,” Vina teased.
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“That’s mean! I've always been useful!” Enzo protested.
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“Sure you are!” Vina chuckled, then turned to her uncle. “Anyway, be honest with me.”
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“What?”
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“Although Ate Ena made the plans, you’re the one who insisted on this visit, aren’t you?”
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“What? ‘Course not.”
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“And the reason is… you miss my mama, right?”
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“What makes you say that?”
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“That's why you wanted to see my face!”
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Uncle Lito huffed.. “Well, I can’t really take time off work, but since Ena’s alone with her husband away on business, the timing was perfect. Can you blame me for suggesting it?”
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“Don’t sweat it, Uncle,” Vina said with a laugh. “I know you just miss Mama—and me.”
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Uncle Lito clucked his tongue as his eyebrows furrowed.
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“Even though we keep in touch, I still worry about you living alone. That bastard, your father... I pray your mama haunts the living daylights out of him.”
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Vina burst out laughing. “Come on, Uncle. Let mama rest in peace. She doesn’t need to waste her time on that sorry excuse of a man.”
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Since it was a family matter, Mir – who knew the story anyway – looked out the window to give them some semblance of privacy, especially Uncle Lito, who had gotten a bit emotional.
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Vina’s father had cheated on her mother. The man hadn’t even bothered to be discreet about it. Everyone in the neighborhood had known, which added to the humiliation her mother felt back then. Confronting the man only drove him further into the mistress’ embrace, and when she found out he had even fathered a child with that woman, her mother lost it. Her mental health took a nosedive and... unfortunately, she ended her own life.
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Mir remembered as if it were yesterday. Vina, who had always been like the sun – bright, joyful, warm – had become a violent thunderstorm after her mother’s death.
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At the wake, right by her mother’s coffin, she had pointed a finger at her own father, called him a murderer and swore that if Karma wasn’t fast enough, she’d take revenge herself.
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In front of the many mourners that came to pay their respects, she had taken out a knife and charged. Her father had to flee in terror, tripping and scrambling along the way.
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No one had helped him—no one wanted to. People only halfheartedly slowed Vina down, enough to keep her from stabbing him, because no one wanted her thrown in prison over a worthless creature.
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After the burial, Vina had changed again. From a violent thunderstorm, she had become an endless rain—gloomy and cold.
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She had been a teenager then, but she politely refused relatives who offered to take her in. Because of one person, her trust in blood and family had been tainted. In the end, she had accepted financial support, but lived a solitary life.
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A year later, the cheating couple had gotten married. They had invited her to join them, but she sternly told them never to approach her again – or she would hire a mangkukulam.
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To seal the threat, she lunged at their heads, pretending to pluck hair for a curse.
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Mir laughed at the memory. The shrieks from the woman and the terror in the man's face – they were priceless.
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It was one of Mir's most precious memories.
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"Mir’s laughing by herself!" Vina accused, though she had a good idea why.
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It’s fortunate Vina hadn’t stayed in darkness for too long. With the help of her friends and relatives, Vina had been able to move on and was now building a happy life for herself.
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“I was just remembering something,” Mir chuckled.
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“Oh! I think I know what it is,” Uncle Lito said with a grin, giving Mir a high five. She laughed harder.
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Ah, that pandemonium—Vina hurling herself at the couple like a wild animal, causing screams, falls, bruises, overturned furniture, and unnecessary panic—it was pure chaos, and unforgettable.
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When the laughter subsided, Uncle Lito sighed.
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“I’m always worried about you living alone. Maybe you should move here with us?”
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“I like it better there, Uncle – and this is the hundredth time you’ve asked!” Vina laughed. “I’m happy as long as that man stays far, far away.”
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Uncle Lito shook his head, still looking concerned, but did not press the issue. Instead, he said,
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“Well, just remember—you’re always welcome here. Both of you. Come anytime you need fresh air.”
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“Thanks!” Vina chirped.
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“Thank you,” Mir echoed.
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The conversation carried on as the pickup sped through the small town. Mir mostly listened, content to look at the scenery outside the window.
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Between the airport and their destination, there wasn't much to see. Lining the road were humble homes, little shops, plots filled with vegetation, and occasional small-scale rice paddies. Through gaps in the trees and structures, she also caught glimpses of the sea and the faint silhouette of a mountain.
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The drive wasn’t long. Soon enough, the pickup rolled to a stop at their destination.
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NOTES:
1. mangkukulam – black sorcerer or witch who casts curses on their victims with the intention to harm, may sometimes even end in the death of the victim
2. ate (Name) [AH-teh] - (Ex. Ate Ena) an honorific that means “older sister”, may also be used for any female who’s a few years older than the speaker, blood-related or not
3. Western Visayas (mentioned in Chapter 1) - an administrative region in the Philippines located in the western portion of the Visayas archipelago [The Philippines has 3 major islands: Luzon (north), Visayas (middle), Mindanao (south)]
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AUTHOR’S MESSAGE:
Hi! I’m Vanda and I really want to introduce Philippine folklore to the global audience. Each book will feature Vina and Mir + guests (depending on where they are going), and a mythical creature or a local belief or concept. This is not intended to be a hardcore novel, by the way. This is more like a simple story-telling of what happens when two best friends go on trips, but somehow experience weird situations. Each chapter will only be 1,200 – 1,700 words because I’ve learned from a previous project that I need to pace myself or face burnout. Yep, definitely learned my lesson.
I also need to explain that I’m just a novice writer with no backing. Naming may cause trouble, so I can’t drop names, locations, or even use precise landmarks – just the acceptable general direction (ex. an island in Western Visayas, a popular lighthouse up a hill, an old church famous for its bells from 1700s, etc.). The Philippines is a country full of different ethno-linguistic groups. For now, I will be covering creatures that are considered national rather than regional. And in the future, if it becomes possible, maybe I will receive the right to talk about the more indigenous ones. Let’s see where this takes us. Anyway, I hope you enjoy. 126Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4y3um0oDKZ
and then Add to home screen.